SCVTA begins work on light-rail pocket track

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) has begun work on the Santa Clara Pocket Track, a third light-rail track on Tasman Drive. This additional track will allow SCVTA to store light-rail trains and put them into service quickly to meet increased service demands.

Details of Canada’s 10-year infrastructure plan unveiled

Prime Minister Stephen Harper released important details on the New Building Canada Plan, including support that will ensure small communities have stable, long-term access to funding for vital infrastructure projects.

RTA, UIUC sponsoring two educational events

In June 2014, the Railway Tie Association (RTA) and the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will host joint activities that will provide educational and networking opportunities relating to crossties and fastening systems. These events are expected to draw domestic and international attendees that include rail infrastructure component designers, manufacturers, researchers, and end users such as Class I’s and transit operators.

Pasadena to Azusa Foothill Extension more than half way complete

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority says that its 11.5-mile extension from Pasadena to Azusa is now more than halfway to project completion.

LACMTA and Caltrans to hold a High Desert Corridor Rail webcast

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are hosting a live webinar to discuss the High Desert Corridor’s (HDC) potential rail component and connections to the Palmdale Transportation Center in Palmdale and Desert Xpress in Victorville.

FEC begins laying tracks for Port Everglades yard

Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) is installing crane pads for the new Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at Port Everglades, which is slated to open in the summer of 2014.

Site clearing work begins on Caltrain’s San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project

In the San Francisco area, a vegetation removal crew has started initial site clearing work along four Caltrain crossings as part of its San Mateo Bridge Replacement Project.

Second rail-focused UTC opens in Texas

The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, officially opening the new University Transportation Center (UTC) for Railway Safety, which was made possible through a two-year, $3-million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

Sound Transit to host open house on Tacoma Trestle project

Sound Transit will conduct an open house on February 13 to provide the public an early opportunity to learn about the proposed concepts for replacing the aging Tacoma Trestle, a timber bridge east of Freighthouse Square, which was originally constructed more than 100 years ago and will be replaced with a modern, concrete, double-track structure.

Transport Canada proposes new grade crossing regulations

Transport Canada has proposed grade crossings regulations that would establish new safety standards for federally-regulated grade crossings.

KCS praises MOW team for handling of Winter Storm Nika

Kansas City Southern (KCS) was prepared for a hard hit by Winter Storm Nika, which blanketed Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma with several inches of snow, while southern portions of the network experienced some snow, ice and unusually cold temperatures.

PATH lays out plan for PTC work

Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) says it is on track to meet the federal government’s December 2015 deadline for implementing positive train control (PTC) with work to begin on February 14.

CSX to build new rail yard in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Kentucky

CSX plans to build a new rail inspection yard in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Ken., which will support hundreds of local construction and trade jobs while being built and will initially provide more than 50 on-site jobs servicing the growing freight rail corridor that stretches from the Southeast to the Midwest.

NYCT completes $54 million in station work

New York City Transit (NYCT) has completed a $31-million rehabilitation of Upper Manhattan’s Dyckman St. 1 Interborough Rapid Transit Station (IRT) after two years of work, including a new elevator linking the mezzanine level and the southbound platform.

Four teams competing for Dulles rail yard and maintenance facility

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has selected four teams to bid on a contract to design and build Package B of Phase 2 of the Silver Line project. Package B consists of the design and construction of a rail yard and maintenance facility to be built at Dulles International Airport.

Sen. Heitkamp secures commitment from FRA for Casselton track inspection program

U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) secured a commitment from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to deploy a new track inspection program to Casselton, the site where a recent derailment occurred and where four derailments have taken place in nine years.

CTA awards station rehab contract

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board of Directors awarded a $25.6-million design/build contract to F. H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen and Associates, LLC, for the rehabilitation of the Damen, Western and California stations to improve and upgrade the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line.

BNSF plans whopping $5 billion capital program

BNSF has planned a capital commitment plan of approximately $5 billion for 2014, approximately a $1 billion increase over its 2013 capital spend.

PANYNJ proposed 10-year capital plan includes $3.3 billion for PATH

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) has proposed a 10-year, $26.7-billion Capital Plan, which will maintain and build transportation infrastructure for its airports, tunnels, bridges, ports and rail system and includes $3.3-billion for projects on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) system.

NYCT crews take care of Brooklyn track maintenance work

For the first time, New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK maintenance program came to the 2, 3 and 4 lines in Brooklyn between Crown Heights and Downtown Brooklyn.

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