Gov. Cuomo touts $5.6B LIRR transformation

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at a July 19 luncheon for the Long Island Association where he outlined the historic $5.6-billion transformation of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

Quandel Consultants welcomes three veteran engineers to its team

James R. Push, James LeVan and Dean Smith have joined Quandel Consultants. The company says it’s added the three veteran engineers to its team this spring in order to “further enhance the firm’s expertise and client offerings.”

FRA issues Gulf Coast passenger rail report; Class 1s not fully on board

A report submitted to Congress on July 17 says restored Gulf Coast Amtrak service would expand travel markets; improve access to jobs, education and healthcare; reduce vehicular congestion and provide support for disaster and emergency response during coastal storm events.

FRA issues ROD on NEC FUTURE

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued its Record of Decision (ROD) on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) FUTURE program that details a long-term vision for the corridor to improve and grow passenger rail service at a cost between $121 billion and $153 billion.

House Appropriations Committee THUD bill: TIGER eliminated; preserves other grants

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill July 10.

Sens. Schumer, Booker renew call to fund Gateway Program

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) renewed their call for the Gateway Program to advance with funding commitments.

Hudson Tunnel DEIS identifies $13-billion preferred alternative

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement review (DEIS) for the Hudson Tunnel Project was released July 6 and identifies a nearly $13-billion preferred alternative that would build a new rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York and rehabilitate the existing North River Tunnel.

Grade separation planned in Columbus, Ind.

A $30-million grade separation will be built in Columbus, Ind., in anticipation of increased train traffic following planned upgrades CSX is making on the Louisville & Indiana (L&I) Railroad line between Louisville, Ky., and Indianapolis, Ind.

Illinois Sens.: FASTLANE change could delay key rail projects

A pair of U.S. senators from Illinois say the restructuring of the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program could delay progress on two key rail projects: the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project and Merchants Railroad Bridge Project.

Sound Transit begins East Link construction on I-90 bridge across Lake Washington

Sound Transit’s East Link construction is now underway in the center lanes of the Homer M. Hadley floating bridge across Lake Washington.

WMATA begins pilot program to combat water infiltration

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) approved a pilot program that it says could have long-term benefits for Red Line riders.

USDOT rebrands FASTLANE grants as INFRA grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program.

Union Pacific implementing technology to monitor bridges

Union Pacific is incorporating “smart monitoring,” a technique the railroad says has the potential to revolutionize how the railroad’s 18,000 bridges are inspected.

Faster trains to O’Hare could depend on a boring plan

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has long sought a way to get trains between downtown and O’Hare airport more quickly and he may have found a new option: Elon Musk’s tunneling concept.

Union Pacific to invest $2.5 million over two key projects in Wisconsin rail maintenance

Union Pacific is planning a $2.5 million infrastructure investment in Wisconsin this year as a part of its $3.1 billion 2017 capital program.

FONSI issued for Susquehanna River Bridge

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been issued for the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project.

RFQ issued for Barrie Rail expansion project

The planned expansion of the Barrie GO line in Toronto, ON, Canada is taking a step forward with the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Administration aims to reduce environmental permitting process to two years

President Donald Trump joined U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and other infrastructure stakeholders at USDOT’s headquarters to close out Infrastructure Week and push the regulatory reform element of his infrastructure plan.

Washouts, high water force OmniTRAX to suspend HBR service

Severe flooding and washout conditions have caused OminTRAX Inc. to suspend operations June 9 on northern segment of the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) between Amery and Churchill, Manitoba.

Union Pacific allots $55 million for track, $10 million for bridge maintenance in Iowa this year

Union Pacific plans to spend $68 million in Iowa rail this year to improve its infrastructure. The state-spending plan is part of the Class 1’s $3.1-billion 2017 capital program.

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