Roberts Bank Corridor Combo Project underway
Construction of the Combo Project in Surrey, B.C., Canada, an investment along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC), is now under construction.
ON Track Maintenance
Washington UTC approves funds to improve safety at King County crossing
The state of Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has approved $20,000 from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) to pay for upgrades at a railroad-highway grade crossing in King County.
FRA publishes NPRM for rail inspections
The Federal Railroad Administration published a Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register Oct. 19, proposing to amend the Federal Track Safety Standards “to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.”
CREATE Belmont Road grade separation completed
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined state and local officials and representatives of Metra and BNSF on October 17 to mark the completion of the Belmont Road grade separation project in DuPage County, Ill.
Caltrans and partners restore former L.A. Union Station tracks, platforms
On October 17, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Amtrak, Metrolink and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority celebrated the opening of three new Los Angeles Union Station tracks and a platform to serve Amtrak and Metrolink passengers.
Schumer: Provisional funding secured to repair damaged NY rail lines
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has provisionally committed to award $4,718,000 in federal disaster funding for the Chenango Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to move forward with the Utica Main Rail Line Revitalization project.
Valley Metro receives funding for Central Mesa Extension
The Federal Transit Administration awarded the city of Mesa, Ariz., $75 million for construction of a 3.1-mile light-rail extension connecting the city with Phoenix and Tempe.
NYCT FASTRACK begins on Seventh Avenue Line
Metropolitan Transit Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK back to the Seventh Avenue Line beginning Monday, October 15, when the 1, 2 and 3 Lines will be shut down from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., suspending service between 34th Street-Penn Station and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and 34th Street-Penn Station and South Ferry, in both directions for four consecutive weeknights.
Regional districts asked to contribute to Vancouver Island Rail bridge rehab
The five regional district members of the Island Corridor Foundation are being asked to contribute CA $3.2 million (US $3.26 million) for the structural repairs to the 48 bridges between Victoria and Courtenay, British Columbia.
Massachusetts five-year capital plan puts spotlight on infrastructure investment
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan, which he said continues the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to support long-term economic growth and stimulate job creation by calling for significant investments in higher education, transportation, economic development, housing and other infrastructure and assets.
Union Pacific to spend $8 million improving Illinois infrastructure
Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Illinois’ transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $8 million in the rail line that runs between Villa Grove and Findlay.
L.B. Foster rebrands Portec Rail Products as L.B. Foster Rail Technologies
L.B. Foster Company said that it is changing the names of several of its subsidiary companies acquired from Portec Rail Products, Inc., to L.B. Foster Rail Technologies
Union Pacific to improve Nebraska infrastructure
Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Nebraska’s transportation infrastructure by investing more than $29 million in the rail line that runs between Grand Island and Havens.
Harsco Rail secures trio of international orders
Global diversified industrial company Harsco Corporation secured three new international orders within its Harsco Rail group totaling more than $85 million in projected revenues and further adding to the group’s multi-year production backlog.
Plane crash takes two industry veterans
Patsy Crisafi, co-founder, principal and executive vice-president of Roadway Worker Training, Inc., and Vinnie Vaccarello, president and co-owner of All Railroad Services Corporation, both of St. Augustine, Fla., were killed in a small plane crash on Oct. 3 in Gary, Ind.
Vermonter improvements completed on time and on budget
The two-year project making upgrades and repairs along 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon on Amtrak’s Vermonter line was completed on time and on budget.
Massachusetts accepts “keys” to Framingham/Worcester line from CSX
In Massachusetts, an agreement with CSX Corporation was completed that paves the way for increased commuter rail service expected to begin October 29, 2012 and strengthens the state’s rail freight network to support the region’s economy.
Union Pacific to improve infrastructure in Kansas and Wyoming
Union Pacific plans to enhance Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing more than $9 million in the rail line that runs between Menoken and Junction City.
LACMTA receives $545.9 million TIFIA loan for Crenshaw/LAX project
The U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $545.9 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will enable the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to advance construction of a new light-rail transit line along the Crenshaw corridor.
Connecticut receives $120 million for high-speed rail
Connecticut will receive $120 million in high-speed intercity passenger rail program funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete construction on the Hartford segment of the New Haven to Springfield, Mass., passenger rail corridor.