Minneapolis approves Southwest LRT

The Minneapolis City Council granted the Southwest light-rail transit project municipal consent, allowing the Metropolitan Council to seek approval from the federal government to enter Final Engineering. Hennepin County and the cities of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park all provided municipal consent to the project previously.

CTA to perform renovations on Blue Line station

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will close the California Blue Line station for 42 days beginning Thursday, September 4, for major renovations as part of the “Your New Blue” modernization program for the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line. The station is scheduled to re-open October 16.

Scanlon retiring as head of San Mateo County Transit District

Michael J. Scanlon, who has led the San Mateo County Transit District for the past 15 years, is retiring. The Transit District is an administrative body that holds jurisdiction over SamTrans bus service, Caltrain commuter rail and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

GCRTA opens Cedar-University Rapid Station

Officials from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joined local Cleveland officials, as well as representatives from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Aug. 28 for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Cleveland’s Cedar-University Rapid Station.

MTA’s Blue Ribbon Panel makes final recommendations

A Blue Ribbon Panel of transportation experts studying safety and maintenance practices at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) three railroad operations – Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City Transit (NYCT) – has released its final recommendations for improvement, including creating better data systems to monitor track conditions, adjusting schedules to provide more time for track work and bolstering the safety culture at Metro-North.

Met Council receives federal OK to begin design of Blue Line extension

The Metropolitan Council received federal approval to begin designing the METRO Blue Line Extension northwest of Minneapolis, Minn., the region’s fourth light-rail transit project. Future approvals needed include approval to enter Final Engineering (anticipated late 2016) and approval of the Full Funding Grant Agreement (anticipated in 2018).

LACMTA released DEIS for proposed Eastside rail extension

A Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) on a proposed extension of the Gold Line light-rail system from East Los Angeles to either South El Monte or Whittier was released by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA).

Waterloo light-rail project breaks ground

The Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, celebrated the start of ION Stage 1 Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction August 21. The event took place at the future home of ION’s Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility on Dutton Drive.

Feds close on $1.28 billion TIFIA loan to MWAA for Silver Line Phase Two

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) closed a $1.28-billion Transportation Infrastructure Financial Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) for construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.

LACMTA prepares for Blue Line station and track overhaul

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will begin work on a major upgrade and modernization of the Blue Line in downtown Long Beach September 20.

Hennepin County approves design for Southwest LRT

The Hennepin County Board completed its municipal approval process for preliminary design plans for the Southwest light-rail transit project, in voting to approve the portion of those plans serving the city of Minneapolis.

SCVTA plans for receipt of $39 million for BART Silicon Valley project

On August 20, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) is expected to receive the sixth and final allocation from the state of California’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) for SCVTA’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley project.

DART begins Orange Line service to DFW

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officially launched light-rail passenger service August 18, connecting downtown Dallas to DFW Airport with the arrival of DART Orange Line trains into the DFW Airport Station.

Pennsylvania updates 12-year transport plan; awards funds to 39 freight projects

The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission (STC), building on the Act 89 transportation plan, has updated Pennsylvania’s 12-Year Transportation Program with a $22-billion boost in much needed transportation improvements.

Maryland allocates $100 million to state transit systems

In an effort to increase transit ridership, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is releasing nearly $100 million in grants for Locally Operated Transit Systems (LOTS).

CTA awards contract for Brown and Purple Line trackwork

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) launched the second phase of a major $71.2-million Brown and Purple Line renovation project with a $40.3-million contract award to Kiewit Infrastructure Co., which will upgrade tracks along the Brown and Purple Line between Armitage and the Merchandise Mart.

CTA considering two Red Line extension options

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has narrowed down the proposed Red Line Extension (RLE) Project to two preliminary options.

Officials visit Ottawa’s Confederation Line tunnel to view progress

On August 11, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Royal Galipeau, member of Parliament (Ottawa–Orléans) and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson toured the Confederation Line light-rail transit tunnel to see progress that has been made since mining began in October 2013.

MWAA names new chief of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has selected Charles Stark as the new executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, overseeing construction of the 11.4-mile Phase 2 extension of the Silver Line from Reston, Va., through Washington Dulles International Airport to Ashburn in Loudoun County, Va.

Etherton to serve as interim AREMA chief

Larry Etherton, PE, retired director engineering, Norfolk Southern and former president of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), has assumed the role of interim executive director and chief executive officer of AREMA.

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