October 27th, 2014, marks the 110th anniversary of the New York City Transit subway system. The first train ran north from City Hall to 145th Street and Broadway. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) notes that the New York City Transit system that now benefits 5.8 million daily customers sprang from a single line that didn’t leave the confines of Manhattan.
On the heels of last week’s completion of all light rail track installation for the Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has achieved another major milestone for the project – completion of all 14 grade crossings for the 11.5-mile light-rail extension, three months ahead of schedule.
On October 23, federal, state and local officials celebrated the opening of the $142-million Englewood Flyover, a major railroad bridge that has eliminated a significant source of train delays on the south side of Chicago and has reduced emissions and noise from idling trains in the neighborhood.
On October 27, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) brings FASTRACK to the 4, 5 and 6 lines in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Service on all three lines will be suspended in both directions between Grand Central-42 St. and Atlantic Av.-Barclays Ctr. for four consecutive weeknights until October 31.
Construction has started on the new passenger rail route connecting Chicago and Moline, Ill. The $23 million in improvements underway at the BNSF’s Eola Yard in Aurora, Ill., are made possible by funds from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) $177-million grant toward the project, as well as $78 million in matching funds provided by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital program.
Axion International Holdings, Inc., received a purchase order from a major West Coast based transit line. The purchase order calls for approximately $377,000 in switch ECOTRAX 100 percent recycled ties for 26 turnouts.
The Foothill Gold Line project from Pasadena to Azusa, Calif., celebrated construction completion of the light-rail track systems for the 11.5-mile project.
London Trackwork Inc. has been awarded the supply contract for special trackwork for the Confederation Line in Ottawa, ON, Canada. The contract, worth several million dollars, will take one-and-a-half years to complete.
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.
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).
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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, Inc., a company dedicated to providing software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has announced the project finalists in the 2014 Be Inspired Awards competition.
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 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 International Holdings, Inc., has received its fourth purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to Russia for its transit system.