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.

Railroad energy harvester among winners of New York clean energy awards

The University of Stony Brook’s work on generating clean energy from railroad track vibrations was one of several to receive an award from PowerBridgeNY, a recently created proof-of-concept center established to move clean-energy ideas from the laboratory to become successful businesses in New York State.

Metro-North completes Bronx track project

Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s Metro-North Railroad completed a track reconstruction effort that began in July 2013 on the tracks through the central Bronx used by New Haven Line and Harlem Line trains. The authority says the work results in a safer, smoother ride and improved operating speeds.

Desert Line receives support from South County EDC board members

South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) board members voted to support the reactivation of the San Diego Arizona Eastern Railway at its May board of directors meeting.

NCDOT to begin Morrisville Parkway Railroad Crossing Bridge project

Work is expected to begin on May 12 on a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) project to replace a railroad crossing on Morrisville Parkway with a bridge to carry rail traffic over the road. This is one of a series of projects to improve at-grade crossings along the rail corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte.

Ouch: House Appropriations Committee cuts transportation FY 2015 budget by nearly $730 million

The House Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill. The committee proposal allocates $17.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, $727 million below FY 2014 funding levels.

SCVTA to close two light-rail stations to speed track construction

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) will be shutting down two light-rail stations and the segment of track in between in Santa Clara, Calif., to help speed up construction of the Santa Clara Pocket Track, an extra track that will hold the trains needed to meet the anticipated increases in ridership.

FASTRACK returns to Brooklyn

Beginning May 5, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK program will return to the A and C lines in Brooklyn.

BNSF 2014 capital program progressing with Northern Corridor projects

BNSF has kicked-off its plan to invest approximately $1 billion to improve and expand rail capacity in states along its Northern Corridor, which spans the northern U.S. between the Pacific Northwest and Chicago. Some of the projects that will help expand capacity and improve traffic flow for all freight and passenger trains for current and future growth on those routes are well underway.

RAIL.ONE opens concrete tie facility in Iowa

The RAIL.ONE Group, a manufacturer of concrete crossties and system provider for rail-mounted tracks, opened a new factory in Clinton, Iowa. Construction of the $22-million production facility began in 2013.

UP invests in Minnesota’s and Iowa’s transportation infrastructures

Union Pacific will strengthen Minnesota’s and Iowa’s transportation infrastructures by investing $17.5 million in the rail line between Butterfield, Minn., and near Mason City, Iowa. The project began April 8 and is scheduled to be completed by mid- July.

LACMTA awards Regional Connector and Union Station rail improvement contracts

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors approved a $927.2-million contract to Regional Connector Constructors, a joint venture between Skanska USA Civil West California District, Inc., and Traylor Brothers Inc. to design and build the Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project.

Metra plans grade-crossing work on Milwaukee Ave.

Chicago’s Metra will perform grade-crossing work on Milwaukee Avenue where it intersects with its Milwaukee North Line in Libertyville, Ill., from May 2-7.

Secretary Foxx visits Birmingham intermodal transit facility, Atlanta Beltline to promote transportation investment

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently visited construction of the future site of the Birmingham Intermodal Facility as part his “Invest in America, Commit to the Future” bus tour, calling it an investment in Alabama’s economic future

Charlotte authorizes $250 million for two LYNX Blue Line projects

Charlotte City Council has authorized $249.8 million for construction of LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) and Blue Line Capacity projects.

CTA plans to rebuild northern section of Red Line and parallel Purple Line

Chicago Transit Authority revealed the next step in its continued effort to modernize the Red Line. The first phase of the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) program, which will completely rebuild the northern section of the Red Line and the parallel Purple Line is expected to begin this fall.

MTA awards two East Side Access contracts

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded two contracts for the East Side Access project, the transportation megaproject that is connecting Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) customers to Grand Central Terminal.

Massachusetts awards grants for freight projects

Massachusetts awarded seven grants totaling $2.5 million for industrial rail projects as part of the 2014 Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP), which is being matched by more than $1.9 million in private sector funds for a total $4.5 million investment.

The real zeal behind railroad maintenance

While Reading & Northern may be smaller in size to other railroads, its employees are never short on enthusiasm, dedication and passion when it comes to maintaining its assets.

LIRR begins Long Beach Branch restoration project

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is starting a $120-million construction program designed to protect the LIRR’s Long Beach Branch from the kind of devastating damage caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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