• April 24, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

HART begins construction on columns, foundations

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will begin on the first section of the elevated guideway for the rail transit system. With all the necessary state and federal approvals needed to move forward in hand, HART gave contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. the green light to begin drilling for the concrete foundation shafts and support columns. The work started on April 23 in East Kapolei near Farrington Highway in the first section of the 20-mile route.

• April 20, 2012
• Commuter/Regional

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.

• April 20, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 20, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 19, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 19, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 19, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 19, 2012
• OFF Track Maintenance

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.

• April 18, 2012
• Commuter/Regional

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.

• April 17, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 17, 2012
• Safety

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.

• April 16, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 13, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 13, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 13, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

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.

• April 12, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

FTA funds give 175 transit agencies flexibility in fuel prices

Selected transit agencies in cash-strapped municipalities from coast to coast and Puerto Rico may now use certain Federal Transit Administration funds to cover the cost of the gas, diesel and electric power that keeps buses, light rail, streetcars and other transit vehicles up and running.

• April 12, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

Metrolink implementing $1.6 million communication system upgrade

This month, Southern California’s Metrolink will complete the first phase of implementation of a $1.6 million upgrade to its communication system that will provide passengers with more timely train schedule information and status updates at Metrolink train stations. The new system is now installed and operational on Metrolink’s San Bernardino, Orange County, Inland Empire-Orange County and 91 lines.

• April 12, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

TriMet releases FY13 budget, final proposal for service cuts and fare changes to help close budget

After six months of extensive public outreach, Portland, Ore.-area TriMet released its final budget proposal to close the $12 million to $17 million shortfall in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The budget begins July 1, 2012.

• April 11, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

Fairfax Country confirms Dulles rail project participation, approves station Names

The Virginia Fairfax County Board of Supervisors confirmed the county’s participation in Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

• April 11, 2012
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

HART CEO promises more transparency

Daniel Grabauskas, the new executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, pledged greater transparency for the Honolulu rail transit project.