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.

Poll says Torontonians prefer LRT to subway

According to Leger, The Research Intelligence Group, who did an independent survey recently, the majority of polled Toronto residents want to build a seven-stop light-rail transit (LRT) line in Scarborough rather than a three-stop subway extension. The poll question did mention that a subway option would mean a CA$1-billion (US$903-million) tax increase over 30 years.

TriMet, LIRR and unions spar

In Portland, Ore., TriMet has called upon on the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) to represent employees on the issues of wages and benefits before the 150-day statutory bargaining period ends on February 4.

Metropolitan Council releases drafts of independent freight, water reports on Southwest LRT

The Metropolitan Council released two draft reports prepared by independent consultants to examine important issues that affect the proposed Southwest light-rail line serving the communities of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.

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.

The Indiana Rail Road Company and Pam Am Railways join AAR

The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) and Pan Am Railways, Inc., have joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR) as new full members.

Charlotte City Council approves streetcar funds; awards Blue Line contract

Charlotte, N.C., City Council approved authorization of $12 million during its January 27 meeting to advance CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 project and stay on track to meet current and future goals.

TriMet makes implementing audit’s safety recommendations priority

TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane responded to the release of the Oregon secretary of state’s audit, thanking the team of auditors for their diligence during their review of the agency’s finances, transparency and operations.

Second SFMTA Central Subway TBM continues to progress

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) says the Central Subway‘s second tunnel boring machine (TBM) will soon pass beneath Powell Street Station and the existing Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Muni Metro tunnels, passing under Market Street from SoMa into Union Square.

When the Central Subway opens, the new tunnels will allow T Third Line trains to travel quickly beneath 4th Street and Stockton Street, cutting transit travel times by more than half along this busy corridor.

Jack Stephens named SFRTA interim executive director

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Governing Board named Jack Stephens interim executive director. He replaces Joseph Giulietti, who is leaving SFRTA at the end of January to become president of Metro-North Railroad in New York City. Stephens has served as the SFRTA’s deputy executive director since May 2003.

LIRR ridership jumped two percent in 2013

A surge in train travel during the last three months of 2013 helped boost Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) ridership for the second year in a row with the LIRR recording a two percent jump in passenger rides over 2012 totals.

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.

Jacobs awarded contract from Volpe Center to support FRA

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a contract from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) to provide monitoring and technical assistance for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant and loan Program.

Stacy and Witbeck now accepting proposals for Detroit streetcar construction

With critical utility relocation work underway for the Detroit, Mich., Woodward Avenue streetcar project, M-1 Rail‘s construction manager, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., is now seeking proposals from local contractors and suppliers for construction.

RailComm provides Forth Worth rail yard with its Blue Flag Indicator System

A North American railroad yard in Fort Worth, Texas, has upgraded their current Domain Operations Controller System to include RailComm’s Blue Flag Indicator (BFI) System within their facility.

CN, New Brunswick reach agreement to preserve freight service

The province of New Brunswick in Canada and Canadian National have reached an agreement to preserve freight rail service on the line in northern New Brunswick.

DART kicks off construction of South Oak Cliff Three Line extension

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officials and city staff celebrated the start of the DART South Oak Cliff Three Line extension January 24.

BART enters Sister Agency Agreement with Shanghai Metro

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed to develop a sister transit agency affiliation with Shanghai Metro, the subway system in Shanghai, China.

BART says such an affiliation will benefit both urban rapid transit systems and their customers by the mutual sharing of experiences, challenges and solutions.

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.

LACMTA begins construction of Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project

Construction began January 21 on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, an 8.5-mile, $2.058-billion light-rail line that will run between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) Expo and Green lines and is expected to open in 2019.

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