Trackwork to begin on Metra’s Rock Island Line

As part of Metra‘s continued efforts to maintain and improve the quality and reliability of its service, a major tie replacement and track resurfacing project will begin August 17 on the Rock Island Line to Joliet.

Semi-annual ballast update:Part 2

Customer-driven focus leads to faster and more accurate ballast maintenance.

Engineers share views on 2015 trends

For North American railroad engineering departments, safety is the top feature required in a piece of equipment, while dealing with tight work windows is a shared issue across both freight and passenger operations.

First U.S.-Mexico rail bridge in more than a century is now operational

The West Rail Bridge, the first rail bridge connecting U.S. and Mexico in more than 100 years, became operational August 7.

ACE provides grade separation updates

Legislators voiced support for the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) rail-roadway grade-separation projects during a progress update briefing, which focused on six projects in construction or final design and located in the cities of San Gabriel, Industry and Pico Rivera and unincorporated Los Angeles County, including Rowland Heights.

Two Connecticut passenger lines undergoing improvements

Crews will be out along Metro-North Railroad’s New Canaan Branch in Connecticut during the first four weekends of August to renew railroad crossings at three intersections with local streets and rebuild the railroad bridge over the Merritt Parkway.

UP to complete $13.5 million in Wyoming trackwork by mid-September

Union Pacific plans to strengthen its infrastructure in Wyoming by investing $13.5 million in its line between Laramie and near Hanna. The project began July 16 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.

USDOT: Substantial demand underscores need for TIGER grants

Applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s seventh round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants totaled $9.8 billion, almost 20 times the $500 million set aside for the program, demonstrating the continued need for transportation investment nationwide.

KCS opens new terminal in Texas

Kansas City Southern (KCS) celebrated the dedication of its new intermodal terminal in Wylie, Texas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local public officials July 30. After 12 months of construction, the more than $64 million terminal opened for operations on July 13.

Union Pacific to complete $10 million in Kansas track work by mid-August

Union Pacific will strengthen its Kansas’ infrastructure by investing more than $10 million in the rail line between near Delia and near Onaga. The project began July 24 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-August.

LIRR releases draft environmental assessment of Mid-Suffolk Yard-Ronkonkoma Yard Expansion Project

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) made public a study that assesses the potential environmental impact of its proposed Mid-Suffolk Yard/Ronkonkoma Yard Expansion Project, which would enlarge the LIRR’s existing Ronkonkoma electric train yard just east of Ronkonkoma Station on land already owned by the MTA.

RTD Board approves Balfour Beatty contract for Southeast Rail Extension

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors approved a $140-million, two-phased contract award to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. to design and build the Southeast Rail Extension.

Georgia to build inland port to be served by CSX

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Murray County and CSX signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish the Appalachian Regional Port in Chatsworth. Its service area will include North Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and parts of Kentucky.

British Columbia commits funds toward future E&N rail line

The British Columbia government has affirmed its commitment to provide CA$7 million (US$5.4 million) to the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) to support the future of the E&N rail line on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada.

Canada pledges funds toward Ottawa’s Stage 2 LRT

The Canadian government says that it will provide CA$1 billion (US$800 million) in funding for Ottawa, ON, planned Stage 2 light-rail transit project.

LACMTA Board approves project to enhance pedestrian safety at 27 Blue Line intersections

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board approved a budget of $30 million for a project that will add pedestrian gates on both sides of the tracks at 27 LACMTA and Union Pacific intersections along the Blue Line.

Crosslinx Transit Solutions Consortium awarded contract for Eglinton Crosstown LRT

Crosslinx Transit Solutions Joint Venture has been awarded a contract for the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit project in Toronto, ON, Canada. In 2010, the province of Ontario announced an investment of CA$5.3 billion for construction costs for the Crosstown LRT.

ASLRRA boasts Senate progress on 45G

The Senate Finance Committee met to debate legislation put forward by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to extend expiring tax credits, including the Section 45G railroad track maintenance credit.

Harsco Rail moves intelligent solutions under Protran brand

Rail infrastructure and maintenance company Harsco Rail plans to move all technology products and services under the Protran Technology brand, including Zeta Tech.

Jacobs awarded contract for California High-Speed Rail

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a contract to provide design services for the Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3) of the California High Speed Rail, which represents the continuation of construction on the California high-speed rail system south towards Kern County.

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