Senate Appropriations Committee transport bill includes money for HART, Gateway Tunnel

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill by a vote of 28-1. The measure will now be reported to the full Senate for its consideration.

SFMTA releases Union Square/Market Street Station contract for bid

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station has gone out for bid, marking the latest advance in this major improvement to San Francisco’s public transportation system.

Amtrak names Stadtler operations VP

Amtrak named DJ Stadtler the new vice president of operations, overseeing the railroad’s transportation, engineering and mechanical departments, effective immediately.

HDR part of JV providing construction/program management to North Shore Connector

Pittsburgh’s North Shore Connector, a project nearly two decades in the making, recently opened to the public. The $523 million light-rail expansion boasts a 1.2-mile alignment of underground and above-ground structures, including a dual bored tunnel under the Allegheny River.

CTA Loop track renewal work begins this weekend

This weekend, crews will begin work associated with the Loop Track Renewal project in Chicago and replace deteriorated rail and track components along the Wells and Van Buren elevated structure.

Denver RTD to pursue competitive bidding process for I-225 light-rail

The Denver, Colo., Regional Transportation District will be advertising a Request for Proposals, after determining that an unsolicited proposal for the I-225 Light Rail Project has merit.

LYNX Blue Line Extension Project celebrates dedicated state funding

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) and state and local leaders will “Stake their Claim” at a State Full Funding Grant Agreement ceremony for the LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension Project, on Thursday, April 19. The event will take place on the campus of UNC Charlotte at its Bioinformatics Building.

FTA unveils new environmental benefits website

The Federal Transit Administration celebrated Earth Day by unveiling a new environmental benefits website highlighting a commitment to investing in affordable, innovative and sustainable public transit alternatives that reduce the nation’s carbon footprint and help secure an independent energy future.

Maryland Transit Authority plans summer repair projects

The Maryland Transit Administration has made plans to complete repair projects for the light-rail system and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority subway system.

SFMTA Board approves two-year budget, includes $485 million for rail Infrastructure

The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees all transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway, approved the agency’s two-year budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 and FY 2014. The fiscal year is July 1 to June 30.

TSA recognizes Amtrak’s BASE security program as Gold Standard

Amtrak is being recognized by the Transportation Security Administration for earning the agency’s Gold Standard on the railroad’s most recent Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancements (BASE). This designation recognizes Amtrak’s dedication to building a strong security program.

The Tide hits 1-million rider mark

Hampton Roads Transit in Virginia will celebrate a major milestone on Tuesday, April 17 – one million rides on The Tide light rail.

Bombardier and MARTA partner to improve track worker protection

Bombardier Transportation has teamed up with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in a demonstration project to enhance the safety of rail transit workers at the track side.

NYCT completes work on three stations, another successful FASTRACK round

Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit finished work at three Queens stations three days early, just in time for the weekend. Manhattan-bound platforms at Sutphin Blvd (Hillside Avenue), Briarwood-Van Wyck Blvd. and 75th Avenue reopened at 3 p.m. Friday, April 13 instead of 5 a.m. Monday, April 16 as originally scheduled.

Vancouver station restoration complete

The completion of a CA$6.9 million (US$6.89 million) project to restore VIA Rail Canada’s heritage train station in Vancouver, B.C., was celebrated on April 13.

Construction begins on BART rail extension to Silicon Valley

The Santa Clara Valley Construction Authority broke ground on a 10-mile extension of the San Fancisco Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system out to Silicon Valley that will provide a new choice for residents who commute to the high-tech corridor each day.

Tucson Streetcar Project breaks ground

Construction began on a new 3.9-mile modern streetcar line project that will directly connect thousands of commuters with Tucson, Ariz.’s major downtown employers, health care facilities, the University of Arizona and regional attraction.

Sound Transit purchases land for East Link light rail

Seattle-area’s Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle have finalized Sound Transit’s purchase of 1.1 miles of former BNSF track in Bellevue for construction of East Link light rail, as well as easements for future access to 37 miles of the Eastside rail corridor.

CHSRA Board passes revised business plan

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board passed a 2012 revised business plan that will provide for high-speed rail service within a decade, connect the state’s major metropolitan areas, utilize existing rail infrastructure in northern and southern California and provide earlier statewide benefits to commuters in the Bay Area and Los Angeles at a cost of $68.4 billion.

WSDOT, ODOT work toward continuous rail corridor goal

Washington and Oregon are creating a new partnership and will develop a plan for managing passenger-rail service between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C., Canada, as one continuous rail corridor rather than two separate state operations. Transportation officials for each state signed an agreement as another step toward offering faster, more frequent Amtrak Cascades service.