SNC-Lavalin completes acquisition of Atkins
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. completed the CA$3.6-billion (US$2.77-billion) acquisition of WS Atkins plc on July 3.
OFF Track Maintenance
AAR honors Andrew Paul of NS with Chafee Environmental Excellence Award
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) awarded the 2017 John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award to Andrew Paul from Norfolk Southern. The award recognizes a railroad employee who has demonstrated the highest level of environmental stewardship in the previous year.
UTA plans double track for S-Line streetcar
Utah Transportation Authority’s (UTA) S-Line streetcar could soon see a double track added to a portion of the line in South Salt Lake.
TTC named Outstanding Public Transportation System for 2017 by APTA
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named Outstanding Public Transportation System for 2017 by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) TTC last won the award in 1986.
MTA plans to overhaul subway system
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an edict to the MTA to focus on “transformational change” for the city’s rapid transit network, the first segment of which opened in 1904.
New York area transit takes steps to increase rail safety
A New York area passenger transit has acquired Strukton Rail North America Inc.’s remotely controlled ZKL 3000 RC shunting devices.
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.
Whirlpool Canada building at CN’s Calgary Logistics Park
Officials from Canadian National and Whirlpool Canada came together on June 28 to break ground on a new distribution center at the railroad’s Calgary Logistics Park in Rocky View County, AB.
Ottawa extends RTG contract for Stage 2 LRT
The city of Ottawa and Rideau Transit Group Partnership (RTG) have extended existing contractual arrangements under a new agreement for Stage 2 of the Confederation Line.
Hall named FRA Deputy Administrator
The Federal Railroad Administration has named public relations practitioner Heath Hall as Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator, a post that does not require Senate confirmation.
Alene Tchourumoff appointed to replace Duininck on Metropolitan Council
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Alene Tchourumoff to serve as chair of the Metropolitan Council.
Calgary Green Line approved by city council
Calgary city council has approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for Calgary’s 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project, the first phase of which is estimated to cost around CA$4.65 billion (US$ 3.39 billion).
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.
Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approves Six-Year Improvement Program
The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the latest Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).
Anderson, former airline CEO, to succeed Moorman at Amtrak
Amtrak has named longtime aviation executive Richard Anderson as its president and chief executive officer, effective July 12.
Canadian government pledges CA$333M to Finch West LRT project
The planned Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto, ON, Canada, secured a CA$333-million (US$251.4-million) federal funding commitment under the Building Canada Fund.
Elevated LRT alignment to be studied for Sound Transit extension
Sound Transit will study an option to elevate the planned extension of light rail to downtown Redmond per a directive from the transit agency’s board.
L.B. Foster partners with German-based Knorr-Bremse to expand market reach
L.B. Foster Company’s wheel flange lubrication systems will be available to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and South Africa thanks to a recent distribution agreement with German-based Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems.
UP veteran Tate joins RailPros Field Services
RailPros Field Services, a provider of railroad engineering and field support, has named Terry Tate as Assistant Vice President of Rail Operations. He will focus on the expansion of existing projects and the development of new business ventures.
WSP USA’s new tunnel doctor
Dr. Axel Nitschke has been named a tunnel practice leader in the Washington, D.C. office of WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff).