The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) broke ground Dec. 8 on the Wilson Station Reconstruction Project, which will modernize the 91-year-old stationhouse and the station’s more than 100-year-old track structure.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board received an update from Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) officials on its Automated People Mover (APM) project, saying that the light-rail-line could be in service by 2024.
Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healy Railroad Corporation, promoted Phil Pietrandrea to president. Pietrandrea, who joined Unitrac in 2006, most recently served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the company.
Work began December 4 on Caltrain’s San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project, an infrastructure project that will provide seismic upgrades to four aging railway passes on the Peninsula.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released its proposed $2.9-billion Operating Budget and $3.6-billion Capital Budget. Combined, together with debt service, the proposed agency budget for 2015 totals $7.8 billion in proposed spending.
The Alabama State Port Authority contracted R.T. Milord Company to develop Phase I of the Garrows Bend Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at the Port of Mobile (Alabama).
Beginning on December 4, Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) trains will be operating on a revised schedule as contractors begin work on the next phase of the Ben Franklin Bridge rehabilitation project, which connects Philadelphia, Pa., and Camden, N.J. The new schedule will affect service between midday Thursday and early Monday morning and will remain in effect until early February 2015.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) awarded approximately $560 million to 77 transportation projects including light-rail projects throughout the state.
The East Rail Line in Denver, Colo., reached a milestone November 24 when the “Golden Spike” was put into place joining the final rails of the 22.8-mile passenger rail line between Union Station and Denver International Airport.
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) is moving forward with more than $13 million in economic development investments across the state, which will expand rail access, improve safety and sustain rail projects spanning from Mecklenburg County northeast to Durham County and from Durham County southeast to Wake and Craven Counties.
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple said he is pleased with actions taken by BNSF in response to the comprehensive review and analysis of rail operations and infrastructure around Casselton, N.D., following the Nov. 13 derailment, the second derailment in the area within the last year.
Three bridge concepts presented for the Kenilworth channel crossing on the Minneapolis Southwest LRT (Green Line Extension) would reinterpret the existing wooden railroad bridge with new, low-profile structures.
Cardi Corporation has been awarded a $42-million contract for the replacement of four bridges in New Bedford and Fall River along the future South Coast Rail Line in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) said the improvements will advance South Coast Rail, while providing immediate benefit to the active freight operations in the region.
The Connecticut State Bond Commission has approved more than $53 million for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to begin work to replace the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will be performing a major switch renewal and maintenance-related work on the B, Q and F lines in Brooklyn for two consecutive weeks beginning November 21 until December 1.
BNSF ‘s planned capital expenditures for 2015 will be $6 billion, which will go toward maintenance and expansion of the railroad in order to meet the expected demand for freight rail service.
Union Pacific will strengthen Colorado’s transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $11 million in the rail line between Sterling and near Messex, Colo. The project, which is funded entirely by Union Pacific, began November 8 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.
Union Pacific will strengthen Illinois’ transportation infrastructure by investing $12 million in the rail line between West Chicago and Franklin Grove. The project began October 1 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.
On November 13, 2014, an eastbound BNSF train carrying lumber and paper product in Casselton, N.D., derailed 21 cars that subsequently struck a passing westbound train derailing 12 empty tank cars. BNSF said the underlying cause of the derailment appears to be a broken rail. No injuries were reported.
BNSF crews worked through the night to clear the area and opened both tracks late November 14. BNSF is working with the Federal Railroad Administration to learn what factors led to the break. The railroad said the track was visually inspected earlier November 13 with no issues and has been regularly inspected in accord with BNSF’s track inspection program, which complies with federal standards.
BNSF stated, “As we continue working to understand what occurred in this incident, we will also undertake a broad-based review of the infrastructure in this vicinity to assure the residents of Casselton of its integrity.”
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple is urging BNSF to perform an exhaustive inspection of the track system in the Casselton area.
“I was pleased to hear that Matt Rose plans to have BNSF make a special priority to perform a complete analysis of rail track both east and west of Casselton,” Dalrymple said. “He assured me that the analysis will be comprehensive and will include a thorough inspection of rail, base, ties, crossing areas and other infrastructure.
“While we continue to press the railroad industry to improve rail safety, we are also moving forward on safer rail tank cars and a stronger state role in rail inspections,” Dalrymple said.
Two North American companies won top honors for Bentley System, Inc.’s Be Inspired Awards, part of Bentley’s annual Year in Infrastructure Conference, held in London, U.K., Nov. 4-6. Bentley provides software solutions to engineers, architects and constructors for sustaining intelligent infrastructure. The awards recognize users’ efforts to improve the world’s infrastructure.