ON Track Maintenance
Recap of a big month
This is always a busy time of year around our offices. Between the Railroader of the Year dinner, Railroad Day on the Hill and AAR’s annual research review, I sometimes wish I had a cheat sheet of where everyone will be and on what day.
UP working on $14.4 million Kansas infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific is enhancing Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $14.4 million in the rail line that runs between Kansas City and just east of Topeka. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
The 55-mile project includes replacing nearly 11 miles of rail, along with about a mile of rail in various curves, as well as renewing the surfaces at 83 road crossings. In addition, crews will be replacing 52,400 ties, spreading 21,400 tons of ballast to help provide a more stable roadbed and replacing 14 switches.
UP working on $14.4 million Kansas infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific is enhancing Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $14.4 million in the rail line that runs between Kansas City and just east of Topeka. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
Government of Canada will contribute to Vancouver Island Railway restoration
The Canadian government has set aside up to CA$7.5 million (US$7.48 million) for work on the restoration of the Vancouver Island Railway between Victoria and Courtenay, BC.
Fairfax Country confirms Dulles rail project participation, approves station Names
The Virginia Fairfax County Board of Supervisors confirmed the county’s participation in Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.
NCDOT to hold public workshop for proposed railroad safety improvement project
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a citizens’ informational workshop regarding the proposed railway safety improvement project affecting railroad crossings on and between Carmon Road and Frieden Church Road in Guilford County. The workshop will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24.
Rep. Lee pushes for Texas high-speed rail
During Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s recent visit to Japan and South Korea, Japanese and South Korean officials both expressed interest in supporting and providing high-speed rail in the state of Texas. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is laying the groundwork to invite these officials to the 18th Congressional District to see first-hand the needs and plans for an expanded rail transportation system.
USDOT receives 703 applications for TIGER 2012 grants
The demand for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2012 grants have far surpassed the available funding, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Administrator Szabo stresses importance of local planning in passenger rail projects
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo reaffirmed the Obama Administration’s commitment to passenger rail and stressed the need for long-term planning to create market-driven passenger rail corridors while speaking at the Northern Flyer Alliance’s Passenger Rail Symposium at Kansas City’s Union Station.
WMATA proceeds with “Metro Forward” work
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority released a schedule of planned major track work for the second half of 2012. WMATA’s massive rebuilding effort, known as Metro Forward, will resume with midday trackwork on Monday, April 16 and with weekend trackwork on Friday, April 20.
UTA’s FrontRunner to Provo opens in December
The Utah Transit Authority officially announced an opening date of Monday, December 10, 2012, for the new FrontRunner Provo to Salt Lake City line. The new 45-mile commuter rail line is an extension of the FrontRunner Salt Lake City to Weber County line that opened in April 2008.
NYCT FASTRACK coming to the 1, 2 and 3 lines
New York City Transit’s FASTRACK is returning to the Seventh Avenue Line. Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit conducted four FASTRACK line shutdowns in the first quarter of this year resulting in an unprecedented amount of work. During the first late-night shutdown on the Broadway/Seventh Avenue 123 corridor, 800 maintenance workers completed more than 400 tasks each night, a monumental effort that would have taken months under normal operations. And, according to NYCT, there is still more work to be done.
Centennial celebration of San Francisco’s first streetcar kicks off
San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, chair of the SFMTA Centennial Honorary Committee, to launch the 100th anniversary celebration of the Municipal Railway, founded on December 28, 1912.
Michigan trackwork to relieve slow orders, restore Amtrak service
Following work set to begin April 16, Amtrak Wolverine Service and Blue Water passengers can expect normal travel times on Norfolk Southern tracks in Michigan by early May.
SEPTA issues Norristown High Speed Line construction update
For the past several months, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has been working to complete both planned and emergency construction projects on the Norristown High Speed Line.
Iowa City City Council approves railroad infrastructure project
Iowa City will proceed with the Iowa City Industrial Campus Railroad Siding and Spur Improvement Project after the city council approved details of the project with a 6-0 vote.
NYCT launches second track improvement initiative
In New York a major track renewal and component replacement project along the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Queens Boulevard Line will begin on April 7. The track closure will be in effect 24 hours a day as the tracks and support equipment are completely replaced with new ties, tie blocks, plates and rails.
CHSR revises business plan, cost estimate now at $68.4 billion
The California High-Speed Rail Authority revised its Business Plan to launch high-speed rail service, capable of traveling 220 miles-per-hour, from Merced to the San Fernando Valley, within 10 years.
LACMTA to update the public on the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, will hold three community meetings in April to update the public on the Alternatives Analysis study that is evaluating options to improve north-south travel opportunities in the East San Fernando Valley and provide connections to the regional transportation network. The AA study is a precursor to the draft environmental document.