IDOT, IAIS agreement advances Chicago to Quad Cities passenger service

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reached an agreement with Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) to perform design work for a portion of the route for the new passenger rail service between Chicago and Moline. Next month, IDOT is planning to begin making improvements to accommodate service on the BNSF portion of the route.

UP performing $11 million worth of work on Colorado, Wyoming infrastructure

Union Pacific will strengthen Colorado’s and Wyoming’s transportation infrastructures by investing $11 million in the rail line between LaSalle, Colo., and near Cheyenne, Wyo. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began July 9 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.

New rail bridge in Pennsylvania to be dedicated next week

The Susquehanna Economic Development Association-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority (JRA) will dedicate the newly constructed Loyalsock Creek Railroad Bridge August 13.

RailTEC’s new research center is unique in North America

Rail safety and innovation has been given an even greater emphasis at the federal level these days. The Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC), based in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is at the heart of cutting edge research

Broken rail with RCF evidence blamed for Ellicott City coal train derailment

The derailment of a CSX coal train on a railroad bridge in Ellicott City, Md., on August 20, 2012, was caused by a broken rail with evidence of rolling contact fatigue (RCF), according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Construction for Detroit streetcar begins

Construction crews took to Woodward Avenue in Detroit July 28 to start construction activities on the city’s new 3.3-mile modern streetcar line, M-1 RAIL.

MTA plans to invest in additional safety measures

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to implement a series of new and enhanced safety initiatives to better ensure the safety of its customers and employees.

UP performing $8 million worth of work in Kansas

Union Pacific will strengthen Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $8 million in the rail line between Herington and Whitewater. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began July 16 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.

WMATA officially opens Silver Line for service

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (WMATA) rail system grew 10 percent with five new stations and new direct rail service between the Washington D.C. region’s two largest employment centers, all as a result of the opening of the Silver Line’s first phase.

WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles joined federal, state and local officials for the grand opening ceremony July 25 at Wiehle-Reston East Station.

Report outlines short-term fixes to better Walk Bridge

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) released a report outlining recommendations for short-term fixes to improve the reliability of the New Haven Line’s Walk Railroad Bridge in Norwalk, Conn.

Tucson Sun Link streetcar opens for service

The Tucson Sun Link streetcar line in Arizona opened to the public on July 25. Service will be supported by six streetcars seven days a week.

North Carolina, Ohio crossings to see upgrades

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved four highway-rail grade crossing projects in Marion, Holmes, Shelby and Huron counties.

Port Metro Vancouver marks completion of grade separation project

In Vancouver, BC, Canada, Port Metro Vancouver and the government of Canada in have marked substantial completion of the Powell Street Grade Separation project.

Elecnor preselected for SCVTA double track project

Elecnor has been pre-selected by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) in California as contractor on double tracking the Mountain View single-track segment.

Development of: Hand gauges for inspection of switch points to prevent wheel climb

Researchers look to techniques established abroad to develop improved tools for switch inspection in order to reduce wheel climb derailments.

The search for stronger welds forges research efforts

Rail welding service providers step up their research efforts to bring new products and stronger, longer lasting welds to North America’s railroads.

Current, former DOT secretaries write letter to Congress urging action on transportation needs

As Congress considers legislation to avoid a shortfall of the Highway Trust Fund, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and 11 of his predecessors wrote an open letter to Congress.

NYCT’s Greenpoint Tube to close for five weeks for post-Sandy renewal efforts

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) Fix&Fortify Sandy recovery work is returning to the G Greenpoint Tube for five consecutive weeks, beginning July 25 and ending September 2.

MassDOT Board approves purchase of Berkshire rail line

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors authorized MassDOT Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Richard Davey to execute an agreement to purchase the Berkshire Line from the Housatonic Railroad Company, a step toward delivering passenger rail service between New York City and the Berkshires.

Administration’s Build America Transportation Investment Center to offer financing options for transportation projects

President Obama spoke at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware on July 17 to announce a new executive action to create the Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide initiative to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth by engaging with state and local governments and private sector investors to encourage collaboration, expand the market for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and put federal credit programs to greater use.