AECOM completes acquisition of URS Corporation

AECOM completed its acquisition of URS Corporation on Oct. 17, 2014, following approval of the merger agreement by URS’ stockholders and the stock issuance proposal by AECOM’s stockholders at each company’s respective special stockholder meetings held on Oct. 16, 2014.

FEIS, ROD issued for CREATE’s 75th Street CIP

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program partners and the Federal Highway Administration announced the availability of the combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (75th Street CIP).

New Metra station awarded Illinois funds

A new Metra station at 79th Street in the Chicago neighborhood of Auburn Park-Gresham received a $21.5-million boost in state funds. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced the funds Oct. 11 and is part of the governor’s agenda to create jobs and build infrastructure to drive the state’s economy forward.

CN officially opens Illinois training facility

Canadian National (CN) opened a new employee training center in suburban Chicago. The 55,000-square-foot facility will host up to 250 CN students from across the United States every week, with hands-on training for all key railway jobs.

Wisconsin awards funds to six freight projects

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has approved six freight rail improvement projects totaling more than $24 million in grants and loans. The goal of Wisconsin’s freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.

CTC allocates $78 million to BART maintenance shop and yard improvements project

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $1 billion to repair its transportation system and alleviate traffic delays statewide, including $78 million to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for its maintenance shop and yard improvements project.

SCVTA marks BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension milestone

On October 13, Hostetter Road at the intersection of the future Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) corridor fully re-opened from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, marking the completion of an important milestone on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension project.

HDR wins Sound Transit East Link contract

Sound Transit has awarded HDR its construction management services contract for East Link’s light rail Bellevue Segment. Voters approved the measure to construct and operate a light-rail transit system in the Puget Sound region.

Bentley Systems names Be Inspired finalists

Bentley Systems, Inc., a company dedicated to providing software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has announced the project finalists in the 2014 Be Inspired Awards competition.

Mizzou professor looks to tackle challenge of why weeds like crossings

A plant scientist at the University of Missouri, Reid Smeda, has been working for more than a decade to help make railroad crossings safer through vegetation management with herbicides.

Rock Hill recapitalizes Rail Services & Logistics; acquires Rail Tie Solutions’ assets

Rock Hill Capital Group has completed a majority recapitalization of Rail Service & Logistics, LLC (RSL), a railroad services provider involved in the removal and disposal of wood crossties.

Axion receives fourth tie order from Russia

Axion International Holdings, Inc., has received its fourth purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to Russia for its transit system.

UP plans classification yard in Robertson County, Texas

Union Pacific says it will move forward with plans for a new rail yard in Robertson County, Texas, that will strengthen Texas as a national freight transportation hub, create jobs and deliver significant economic stimulus to the region.

ConnDOT plans to replace Walk Bridge

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) plans to close a $188-million funding gap for the design and replacement of the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Conn., which malfunctioned in two separate incidents within a two week period over the summer, and is used by Metro-North New Haven Line trains.

Houston METRO delays opening of two light rail lines to 2015

The opening date for Houston METRO‘s new East End (Green) and Southeast (Purple) Lines have been revised. Issues affecting completion of the additional 10 miles of rail include problems on non-METRO construction projects in the central business district and the performance of equipment used to regulate METRO’s light-rail traffic.

Metro-North; city of Mount Vernon partnering on trio of bridge replacements

Metro-North Railroad and the city of Mount Vernon, N.Y., have agreed to work together to replace up to three bridges that carry vehicular traffic over Metro-North’s New Haven Line. The bridges are located at Tenth Avenue, Sixth Avenue and North 14th Avenue.

Groundbreaking ceremony held for LACMTA Regional Connector

Los Angeles Country Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Regional Connector, a two-mile light-rail transit segment connecting three existing transit lines in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

Tentative price agreement reached for Sarah Mildred Long Bridge replacement project

The Maine and New Hampshire Departments of Transportation have reached a tentative price agreement with Cianbro Corporation of Pittsfield, Maine, for the replacement of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge in Kittery.

SCVTA receives funds for Mountain View Double Track Project

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission allocated $8 million in federal funding for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) Mountain View Double Track Project.

MTA proposes $32 billion five-year capital plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program, which details its plan to ensure safe and reliable service for a growing region by investing in the subway, bus, commuter railroad, bridge and tunnel network.

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