Amtrak, TxDOT to study new service possibility

Amtrak and the Texas Department of Transportation agreed on the scope of a feasibility study for new Amtrak service between the Bossier City -Shreveport area in Northwest Louisiana and along the Interstate 20 corridor to Dallas and Fort Worth.

HART names Grabauskas executive director

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors selected Daniel Grabauskas as the agency’s CEO/executive director to oversee the Honolulu rail transit project.

Caltrain celebrates renovations and improvements at two stations

San Francisco-area Caltrain and its partners celebrated the completion of a $61 million station improvement project that will allow it to offer more service now and in the future.

Chicago mass transit may get funding boost from proposed gas tax hike

Riders for Better Transit joined with transit riders and advocates from across the Chicago region to propose Transit Fast Forward (SB 3236), state legislation that the group says would improve Chicagoland transit service through increased investment and a dedicated source of funding that would grow over time.

Houston METRO ridership continues climb

Houton, Texas-area METRO’s ridership is on the rise for a sixth consecutive month, recording a 5.2 percent increase to 6,357,131 boardings in January 2012 compared to 6,043,280 in January 2011.

LaHood’s blog reiterates administration’s commitment to HSR

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reemphasized President Obama’s focus on high-speed rail in the United States in his blog, Fast Lane.

Iowa Pacific Holdings joins AAR

Iowa Pacific Holdings (IPH) has become the Association of American Railroads’ newest full member. Based in Chicago, IPH is a privately-held company that provides freight and passenger rail service in six states and the United Kingdom.

Metrolink receives $3.7 million to enhance safety at busy crossing

The California Transportation Commission allocated $3.7 million to fund safety enhancements to one of Metrolink’s busiest crossings, the Broadway/Brazil crossing in Glendale, Calif.

Baker names VP and National Rail and Transit Lead

Michael Baker Jr., Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corporation, hired David Wilcock, P.E., as vice president and national practice leader rail & transit (R&T). In this position, Wilcock will provide leadership in all aspects of operations and business development for Baker’s R&T practice nationwide.

SFMTA completes property acquisition for Chinatown Station

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which manages transportation in the city, said it has completed the acquisition of the property that will be the future home of the Central Subway’s Chinatown Station.

FTA’s Rogoff, Florida officials highlight transit infrastructure investment

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff joined Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Alcee Hastings at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Tri-Rail Station at Dania Beach, Fla., to highlight the president’s FY2013 budget proposal that calls for greater investment in transit infrastructure as part of an America built to last.

HART Board picks finalist for CEO position

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors selected Daniel Grabauskas, chairman and senior strategic adviser of the Bronner Center for Transportation Management and former general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, as the finalist for the agency’s chief executive officer position.

Sound Transit board approves $24 million budget amendment

The Seattle-area’s Sound Transit Board of Directors unanimously approved an amendment to the agency’s 2012 budget to provide $24.3 million in additional funding for establishing a shovel-ready plan to extend light rail from S. 200th Street to the heart of Federal Way.

Twin Cities light rail system has official name: METRO

The Metropolitan Council has approved the final piece of the identity and branding framework for the Minneapolis-St.Paul developing transitway network of light-rail transit and bus-rapid transit.

FTA administrator tours DART Green Line

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff on February 23 visited three stations along the 28-mile Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line light-rail expansion project in Dallas, Texas, to see firsthand the economic development resulting from the federal government’s investments in the region.

Busy year outlined for Central Corridor LRT project

The final year of heavy construction on the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project is kicking off.

WMATA takes a “spring break” from track work for Cherry Blossom season

The Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority will take a break from its aggressive schedule of trackwork and rebuilding to accommodate customers traveling during Cherry Blossom season.

TriMet now producing solar energy at South Terminus

TriMet in Portland, Ore., has a solar project at the South Terminus of the MAX Green and Yellow lines at SW Jackson Street that is now operational. Located near Portland State University, it’s the largest solar project in downtown Portland and a first for the MAX light-rail system.

CTA targets waste to save millions

The Chicago Transit Authority’s President Forrest Claypool exposed millions in waste at CTA supply warehouses, while unveiling a host of improvements to the agency’s system for managing parts and materials; each designed to reduce costs, increase oversight and improve operations.

Unitrac awarded WMATA order

Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., received a three year contract to supply special trackwork to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The amount of manufactured trackwork that will be provided by Unitrac under this contract is valued at approximately $8 million over the next three years.