Toronto City Council dissolves existing TTC board, appoints new board
Toronto City Council dissolved the existing board of the Toronto Transit Commission and appointed a new board made up of seven city councilors and four private citizens.
Rapid Transit/Light Rail
U.S. Mayors press for passage of bipartisan transportation bill
The nation’s mayors renewed their call for enactment of job-creating bipartisan transportation legislation now pending in Congress.
MARTA Board approves contracts for Atlanta Streetcar Project, security cameras
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a $46.6 million design-build contract for the Atlanta Streetcar Project. MARTA selected URS Corporation after a competitive procurement process.
NTSB issues safety recommendations regarding storm water drainage to US DOT
The National Transportation Safety Board made safety recommendations regarding storm water issues that push for greater collaboration between entities affected by these issues. The following recommendation was sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation:
Fry named curator of Barriger National Railroad Library
Nicholas Fry was named curator of the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, the sixth archivist/curator since the creation of the Barriger collections at the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association in the early 1980s.
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.
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.
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.
NYCT second round of FASTRACK improvements declared a success
Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit wrapped up its second FASTRACK line segment closure successfully completing an ambitious schedule of work on the Seventh Avenue Line from 34 th Street-Penn Station to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. NYCT said it remains clear that the FASTRACK program is both a safer and more efficient way to maintain and clean a 24/7 subway system.