NYCT says Central Park West FASTRACK a success

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK maintenance program came to the A, C, B and D Central Park West line in Manhattan last week. Hundreds of NYCT employees performed a range of cleaning and maintenance tasks of station and tunnel infrastructure, signal equipment and track and third rail components.

NCDOT awards $16 million for state rail improvement projects

The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded more than $16 million to 40 projects across the state through the Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program.

CN’s Mongeau underscores railroad’s unwavering commitment to safety

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of Canadian National, in a speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, said that dangerous goods are an integral part of everyday life and that CN has an unwavering commitment to moving all traffic safely.

Minneapolis Interchange/Target Field Station open for business

The Metro Transit Interchange/Target Field Station multi-modal transportation hub in Minneapolis, which opened May 17, 2014, links light-rail transit, regional rail and bus service and contains a civic space for retailers, an amphitheater and green space.

House committee approves bill with reduced 2015 transportation budget

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill on May 21 with a vote of 28-21.

RailWorks-Archer Western JV celebrate role in SunRail success

SunRail passenger rail service began May 1 in Central Florida along a 32-mile route comprised of 12 stations between DeBary and south Orlando. The new service marks completion of the first phase of the $1-billion Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit (CFCRT) project.

SEPTA warns public of dangers of ‘Distracted Commuting’

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) warns, it can happen in an instant; just checking e-mail, sending one text or turning up the music can take a driver’s attention from their surroundings and put them in a potentially dangerous situation, especially when at a bus stop, train station or transportation center.

FCC, railroads reach agreement on PTC towers

An agreement has been reached between the seven Class 1 freight railroads and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the installation of positive train control (PTC) antennas, but the Association of American Railroads (AAR) says the delay in developing the process has severely impeded PTC implementation and a fully operable system by the 2015 deadline is not possible.

PATCO set to begin Ben Franklin Bridge Track Rehabilitation Project next week

Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) is ready to start a two-year, $103-million track rehabilitation project on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which connects the New Jersey and Philadelphia portions of the system.

Metro-North undertakes series of safety reforms

MTA Metro-North Railroad has announced details of a sweeping series of reforms it is undertaking to better ensure the safety of its customers and employees. The reforms address factors identified during several serious safety incidents over the past year, as well as issues identified by an in-depth Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) review of its operating practices that took place this past winter.

VIA Rail presents action plan to address Barrhaven-area railway crossings’ challenges

VIA Rail Canada has developed an action plan based on a study conducted by RailTerm, Hatch Mott MacDonald and Siemens that looked into issues with Automatic Warning Devices (AWDs) systems at six Barrhaven-area rail crossings in Ottawa.

Transport Canada issues proposal to fine Railway Safety Act violators

Transport Canada is proposing regulations that will provide Transport Canada with new enforcement tools for railway companies that violate the Railway Safety Act.

Caltrain releases RFQ for electrification portion of modernization program

The Caltrain Modernization Program in southern California released the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the electrification contract portion of the project that will reinvent Caltrain.

UP adds to its 2014 capital spending program

Union Pacific’s Board of Directors approved an additional $150 million in capital expenditures, bringing the railroad’s total 2014 capital spending plan to $4.1 billion.

TIGER grant applications request 15 times more than available funding

The application period for the sixth round of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants recently ended. Once again, USDOT says the request for funds far exceeds what is available. The 797 eligible applications, compared to 585 in 2013, request $9.5 billion, 15 times the $600 million set aside for the program.

Sens. Murray and Collins push for increased safety resources for shortlines

U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, respectively, urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to increase safety resources for shortline railroads, which make up one third of the nation’s rail network, but lack the funding and support that larger, Class 1 railroads receive.

Metro-North continues power upgrades on New Haven Line

An ongoing power upgrade for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line has achieved a major milestone with the installation of a second new transformer at Mount Vernon, providing additional redundancy and increased capacity.

Construction begins on Metra Lombard station improvements

Chicago’s Metra, Union Pacific, the Village of Lombard, Ill., and DuPage County officials broke ground May 14 on more than $9.7-million in improvements at the Lombard Station along the UP West Line, including a new pedestrian underpass, rebuilt platforms and new platform canopies.

Second LYNX Blue Line contract awarded to Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. (BBII), was chosen by the city of Charlotte to build the track and systems components of the new Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension, as well as the Blue Line Capacity Expansion Project.

Proposed MAP-21 Reauthorization Act text unveiled

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) released its proposed bill text for the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (S. 2322). The six-year legislation plans to maintain highway program funds at current levels plus inflation.

LOAD MORE