AECOM to acquire URS Corporation
AECOM Technology Corporation and URS Corporation have executed a definitive agreement under which AECOM will acquire URS.
Track Construction
Illinois grade separation project awarded funds
More than $25.5 million in state capital investments has been awarded for a major grade separation project in Aurora, Ill. The project will improve traffic flow and safety at the U.S. Route 34 and Canadian National crossing and create 370 jobs.
“Soon motorists on Ogden Avenue won’t have to wait for passing trains at this heavily traveled crossing,” Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said. “This grade separation project will make it easier and safer to travel in Aurora and create jobs for our hardworking residents to help drive Illinois’ economy forward.”
A bridge carrying U.S. Route 34 (Ogden Avenue) will be built over the Canadian National tracks. The project will include retaining walls, new pavement, noise abatement and traffic signals. Herlihy Mid-Continent Company of Romeoville was the lowest of seven bidders for the job with a quote of $25,523,407. Construction will begin this summer and will be managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The average daily traffic volume along U.S. Route 34 at the CN crossing is 31,200 vehicles per day with an average of 42 trains per day. Based on an Environmental Impact Statement, this crossing experiences a total vehicle delay of nearly 73 hours per day. The project will eliminate those delays and reduce the potential for train, vehicle and bicycle accidents by eliminating the at-grade crossing. The work will also enhance emergency vehicle response times in Aurora and the surrounding communities.
The Aurora project is part of Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years.
Valley Metro extension nears halfway point
On July 12 the Northwest Phoenix community, along with national and local officials, celebrated significant construction progress on the 3.2-mile Northwest Phoenix light-rail extension. The first track celebration, on 19th Avenue, commemorated a milestone as the Phoenix Valley Metro project nears the halfway point.
JLP awarded $7-mllion contract
J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (JLP), has been awarded a $7 million contract by the North County Transit District to provide bridge inspection and management services for the district’s major bridge structures.
UP performing trackwork between Milwaukee and Sheboygan
Union Pacific will strengthen Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure by investing $6.1 million in the rail line between Milwaukee and near Sheboygan, Wis. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began June 10 and is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of September.
Gripping fastening systems
Albeit tiny, fastening systems are important to railroads and transit systems worldwide, as they hold everything in place.
CSX completes maintenance jamboree
Earlier this month, more than 525 CSX employees worked to complete the company’s 2014 maintenance “Jamboree” on a section of its network in the Southeast, replacing about 68,000 ties and 200,000 feet of rail and completing nearly 120 miles of surfacing work.
Hudson Bay Railway reopens
The Hudson Bay Railway line reopened on July 5, 2014, with freight train 295 arriving in Churchill, SK, Canada, carrying supplies for the community after OmniTRAX Canada suspended service due to permafrost issues.
NJ Transit adopts FY15 operating and capital budgets
The New Jersey Transit Board of Directors approved a $2.019-billion operating budget that holds fares stable for the fifth consecutive fiscal year and a $1.203-billion capital program that supports continued investments in infrastructure and equipment to maintain the system in a state of good repair for Fiscal Year 2015.
INRD’s track investment results in faster train speeds
The Indiana Rail Road (INRD) is investing millions of dollars in private capital on the north end of its Indianapolis Subdivision this summer, which will result in faster, quieter-moving trains and smooth grade crossings.
Expansion of rail unloading capacity at Port Metro Vancouver complete
Work to expand the rail unloading capacity of the West Coast Reduction facility at Port Metro Vancouver has been completed.
Minneapolis, Met Council’s Southwest LRT tentative agreement removes shallow tunnel from plan
Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) have reached a tentative agreement regarding the plan to build the Southwest Light Rail Project from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, Minn.
LACMTA makes recommendation for Purple Line extension contractor
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) recommended awarding a $1.636-billion contract to design and build a 3.9-mile extension of the Purple Line subway from Wilshire and Western to Wilshire and La Cienega to a joint venture composed of three construction companies.
EDA awards funds to Indiana rail project
The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6-million grant to the city of Madison, Ind., to upgrade critical railroad infrastructure to support increased commerce.
GO Transit marks West Toronto Diamond grade separation progress
GO Transit’s West Toronto Diamond (WTD) continues its progress and marked a milestone in May when the east tunnel opened to rail traffic.
LACMTA signs Regional Connector contract; awards contract for double track design
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has signed a contract with a joint venture for the construction of the Regional Connector, as well as awarded a design contract for a Metrolink double track project.
OCTA completes Kraemer Boulevard grade separation
Kraemer Boulevard is now open to traffic as Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) puts finishing touches on a new grade separation that separates car traffic from the busy freight rail line that now travels overhead.
Optimizing capital planning, asset management topic of Railway Age/RT&S free webinar
It is no secret that rail infrastructure is expensive to maintain and, for North American transit agencies, many of which are working with strained budgets, every dollar spent on a maintenance program must stretch as far as it can go.
Axion awarded fifth European contract for ties
Axion International Holdings, Inc., has received its fifth purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to Europe.
CTC allocates more than $113 million to rail-related projects
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $510 million to 83 transportation projects, including upwards of $113 million for rail-related projects.