Four companies vying for Oklahoma’s Sooner Sub rail line
The Sooner Subdivision rail line between Del City and Sapulpa, Okla., garnered bids from four companies interested in purchasing the line.
Track Structure
Rep. Honda tours Berryessa Extension Project
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA-17) recently toured the 10-mile Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension Project.
Chicago RTA plans $100-million in state of good repair projects
The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors recently authorized issuance of up to $100 million of 30-year general obligation RTA bonds to finance multiple state of good repair projects to bolster the condition of the region’s transit infrastructure.
“State and federal dollars are not sufficient to support our capital needs, so the RTA is using its bonding authority to keep our region in a state of good repair,” said RTA Board Chairman John Gates, Jr. “Our region needs approximately $33 billion to bring the existing system to a state of good repair. The RTA is meeting a portion of the need with this bond issuance. The recent favorable reports from the three ratings services only reinforce the importance of the RTA and its ability to benefit the region in this way.”
The bonding will fund projects that benefit the region’s public transit riders through enhancements to Chicago Transportation Authority, Metra and Pace bus capital assets, specifically tied to state of good repair, in the categories of rolling Stock, track and structure, electric signal and communications and stations and passenger facilities
Qualifying projects would include projects that upon completion would have a useful life of at least 20 years; projects that will reduce the region’s state of good repair backlog and projects that replace assets, which fall into the category of “worn” or “marginal” as identified in the Capital Asset Condition Assessment.
California Transportation Commission allocates nearly $27 million for rail projects, including high-speed
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $27 million in new funding to three projects that it says will improve passenger rail and further strengthen the state’s economy.
MBTA awards contract to repair Merrimack River bridges
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) awarded a $24-million contract to repair and rehabilitate three bridges spanning the Merrimack River in Haverhill to JV: LM Heavy Civil Construction and Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti – CMC di Ravenna. The bridge work will allow the MBTA to continue to operate safe and reliable passenger rail service on the Haverhill Line.
Koppers extends sales contract with Norfolk Southern
Koppers Inc. and Norfolk Southern have agreed to extend their two existing sales contracts to supply railroad crossties and related rail products and services for an additional three years.
FRA issues final rule concerning rail-flaw detection processes
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a rule in the Jan. 24 edition of The Federal Register, amending the Federal Track Safety Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.
HNTB Corporation names rail and transit leader in southern California
HNTB Corporation, an infrastructure solutions firm, has hired Graham Christie, PE, as associate vice president, Southern California rail and transit leader. Christie brings more than two decades of project management, design and construction management experience working with various transportation agencies on rail and transit projects throughout Southern California.
MTA receives first reimbursement for Sandy-related repairs
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has received more than $886 million in federal aid to help cover costs associated with repairs from Superstorm Sandy, primarily in the Montague, Greenpoint and Steinway subway tunnels, and to make New York’s transportation system more resilient to any future storms.
NYCT to begin next found of repairs to Flushing Line in February
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will begin the latest round of ongoing work to modernize, improve and fortify NYCT’s Flushing 7 Line in February.
Koppers completes acquisition of Canadian crosstie treating business
Koppers Inc., has completed the purchase of the crosstie treating business and related manufacturing facility of Tolko Industries Ltd., located in Ashcroft, BC, Canada.
Cutting out the extra brush
The latest brush-cutting technologies and herbicide treatment applictions help to keep unwanted vegetation at bay.
The found flaw
Advancements in equipment and technology push detection of rail flaws to new levels.
MassDOT unveils first draft of new five-year capital plan
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) released the first draft five-year MassDOT Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for FY2014-FY2018, a $12.4-billion program that will create growth and opportunity for residents across the commonwealth.
Koppers signs purchase agreement for Tolko Industries
Koppers Inc., has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the crosstie treating business and related manufacturing facility of Tolko Industries Ltd., located in Ashcroft, BC, Canada.
Axion ships new order to European railroad for testing
Axion International Holdings, Inc., has shipped an order to a second European railroad for in track testing. The shipment includes 700 crossties and three switch sets and will be used on a narrow gauge passenger railway as part of their annual refurbishment and renewal program.
IntegriCo receives an order for 22,000 crossties
IntegriCo Composites, Inc., manufacturer of recycled plastic railroad ties, has received an initial 22,000 crosstie order for its composite railroad ties from a Class 1 railroad.
Axion receives order for composite crossties
Axion International Holdings, Inc., producer of ECOTRAX® composite rail ties and STRUXURE® building products, received a purchase order worth $925,000 from “a major domestic transit line located in the South Central region.”
NYSDOT receives federal grant to improve freight, passenger train movement
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) received an $18.5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reduce passenger and freight train congestion along Amtrak’s Empire Corridor at the Syracuse, N.Y., train station.
NCRR pays dividend to state freight rail and safety fund
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) paid a $15.5-million dividend to the state of North Carolina on December 20, 2013 to be designated for a freight rail and safety fund to support the state’s economic development efforts.