LACMTA renames its Transit Mall Station
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Blue Line Transit Mall Station in Long Beach has been renamed Downtown Long Beach Station to more clearly reflect the location.
OFF Track Maintenance
Watco names director of engineering/project management
Watco Companies has hired Drew White as director of engineering for project management. In this position, White will report to Ron Close, senior vice president of supply chain management and become a team member of the Project Management Team.
IGSM renamed Continental Rail Corp., acquires shortline consulting company
IGSM Group, Inc., has repositioned itself within the railroad industry as a publicly-held shortline and regional railroad holding company. As part of the shareholder-approved plan, IGSM has filed to change its name to Continental Rail Corp. (CRC).
Stacy and Witbeck awarded Detroit streetcar contract
M-1 Rail has selected Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., to serve as construction manager/general contractor for the construction of the 3.3-mile Woodward Avenue streetcar in Detroit, Mich. M-1 Rail is slated to break ground by early fall between Larned Street and Adams Street in downtown Detroit.
Cambium Group to produce ACZA-treated ties in Canada
The Cambium Group, Inc., a licensee of Lonza Wood Protection (LWP), has started production of ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (AZCA)-treated crossties. Cambium will be the first Canadian producer of these ties, which the company says are an alternative to creosote crossties.
SFMTA begins tunnel boring for Central Subway
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) tunnel boring machine (TBM) Mom Chung has launched, commencing construction beneath downtown San Francisco of one of the Central Subway‘s two tunnels.
Colo Railroad Builders celebrates safety record, appoints director of mechanical services
Colo Railroad Builders’ Chicago Division surpassed the one-year recordable injury free mark on June 4, 2013.
SEPTA plans Trolley Tunnel outage for construction work
Due to overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel the evening of August 2 through early morning August 12.
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project reaches half way point
TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project has hit 50 percent completion. Construction on the 7.3-mile line began in May 2012 between downtown Portland and North Clackamas County, with bridge construction over the Willamette River in July 2011.
WMATA Board approves four-year agreement with union
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors has approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Local 689 Union, which freezes employee wages for one year and provides for employee contributions to their pension funds.
APTA to recognize six public transportation systems for sustainability
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will recognize nine public transportation systems for outstanding sustainability achievements.
Transport Canada issues emergency directive to increase rail safety
Transport Canada is moving forward to build upon the safety advisories received recently from the Transportation Safety Board and further enhance existing safe railway operations and the security of railway transportation by issuing an emergency directive pursuant to section 33 of the Canadian Railway Safety Act to increase rail safety.
Port of Vancouver USA approves Tesoro rail project
In the state of Washington, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year lease with the Tesoro-Savage Joint Venture (TSJV) for a crude oil handling facility at the port.
City of Sioux Falls releases environmental report for rail yard development project
An Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Rail Yard Redevelopment Project in Sioux Falls, S.D., has been signed by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration officials.
SEPTA sets ridership record in FY13
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has set a new regional rail ridership record, with 36,023,000 trips taken by customers during Fiscal Year 2013, the 12-month period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Ridership on SEPTA’s 13 regional rail lines increased by 2.2 percent during the course of the year.
Axion ships crosstie order to Calgary Transit
Axion International Holdings, Inc., has shipped 500 composite crossties to Calgary Transit for use in crossings. Calgary Transit has been a customer of Axion’s for four years and has purchased ECOTRAX ties annually.
Sound Transit releases Lynnwood light-rail environmental study
Sound Transit has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the light-rail line between Northgate and Lynnwood.
PIR picks contractor to rebuild Desert Line
Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR), has entered into a construction agreement with Watkins Environmental, Inc. to restore the Desert Line in Southern California.
Construction kicks off for LYNX Blue Line extension
Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, North Carolina Governor Patrick McCrory, Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey and other local officials celebrated the start of construction on the LYNX Blue Line extension from downtown Charlotte to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte campus.
Metropolitan Council unveils cost estimates to resolve freight, light-rail issues
Construction of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Minnesota (Green Line Extension) may require freight rail traffic currently running along the preferred LRT route to be kept with adjustments or relocated to St. Louis Park.