In a major step forward for California high-speed rail, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Record of Decision that approved the alignment from Merced to Fresno, allowing construction to begin next year.
As part of its Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System (AGS) Feasibility Study, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) Division of Transit and Rail is issuing a Request for Statements of Technology Information.
The Greater Cleveland and Regional Transit Authority on Wednesday, September 19, broke ground for a new, fully accessible transit facility near Case Western Reserve University that will serve as one of Cleveland’s busiest transit centers, serving the RTA Red Line train and Circle Link shuttle buses.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded more than $74.8 million to the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue development of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor. The funding will help improve passenger and freight rail service between Virginia and Washington, D.C., and reduce delays on the Virginia Rail Express (VRE) commuter service.
All Aboard Florida (AAF), developer of the privately-owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail system that will connect South Florida to Orlando, has selected AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., as the environmental engineering firm overseeing the design planning and environmental compliance and permitting efforts for the 230-mile passenger railway infrastructure.
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc., has appointed Penny Stegeman to chief operations officer, passenger services, to the Las Vegas X Train team.
The Metrolink Board of Directors appointed Michael P. DePallo, a veteran transit leader with more than 30 years of experience, as chief executive officer of the Southern California commuter rail service.
The Regional Transportation Authority unveiled a plan to fund capital improvements for transit systems across Chicago and the suburbs.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released $47.5 million in competitive business development grants, including $2 million for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.
New York City Transit appointed Herbert Lambert, who has more than 30 years of service in Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit’s Department of Subways, to the position of chief transportation officer, rapid transit operations.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $71.3 million to Indiana to help alleviate congestion in one of the region’s most delay-prone rail corridors. The Indiana Gateway Project will both relieve congestion and support the development of higher performing intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest.
As part of the ongoing modernization of VIA Rail Canada, Daryl Kramp, member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings on behalf of the Honorable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), officially opened the new Belleville train station, overhead walkway and island platform in Ontario.
The National Transportation Safety Board closed five of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s outstanding safety recommendations.
The Chicago Transit Authority granted approval to begin the process of acquiring property near its 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal on Chicago’s South Side as part of the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project. The project is an estimated $240-million initiative that will expand and improve the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal.
The nine properties identified for acquisition are located directly off the expressway and are primarily commercial properties with a few vacant lots.
This allows the CTA to begin the acquisition process, subject to the requirements of federal and state law. Any purchase of a property by CTA, whether by negotiation or court order, cannot take place without subsequent board action.
The 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal is one of CTA’s busiest, with 24-hour Red Line service and more than 1,000 CTA and Pace bus trips on a typical weekday. The current configuration does not have adequate capacity to efficiently serve customers, which number around 20,000 on an average weekday.
Southern California’s Metrolink unveiled its Positive Train Control test train at an event hosted by Metrolink Board Chair Richard Katz and the Metrolink Board on September 10.
In Toronto, ON, Canada, the Metrolinx Board awarded the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown tunnel construction contract from the west launch shaft area near Black Creek Drive to Yonge-Eglinton station to Crosstown Transit Constructors
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick appointed Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors, adding to the panel new individuals with extensive expertise and leadership in transportation and business.
ENSCO, Inc., has delivered the TrackIT® Track Chart Management System to Amtrak. The web-based system hosts Amtrak’s official track charts and provides them as high-quality PDF digital copies or hard copies. The system is a module of ENSCO’s TrackIT Data Management System.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s investment in projects to rebuild and modernize its railroad, trains, stations and buses grew by 26 percent to $770 million in FY2012, an increase of nearly $160 million and is on track to continue ramping up to nearly a billion dollars this year.
Construction of light rail is back on the move in Phoenix, Ariz., with the re-launch of the Northwest extension along 19th Avenue from the current end-of-line north 3.2 miles to Dunlap Avenue. The project has received approval to accelerate the completion year from 2023 to 2016. Final design is underway; construction will begin in early 2013.
