CREATE Project B15 complete
As part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), the Blue Island-Riverdale-Dolton Signal Modernization Project is complete.
ON Track Maintenance
Kokomo railroad to reopen after $5.5 million rehabilitation project
Twelve miles of inactive railroad running through the city of Kokomo to Tipton, Ind., will soon be reopened to rail freight traffic by early 2014.
AAR: Freight rail industry invests $23 billion so taxpayers don’t have to
In 2012, the freight rail industry will invest $23 billion to build, maintain and upgrade the nation’s rail network, according to two new ads released by The Association of American Railroads.
FEMA will reimburse MTA for storm damage along Port Jervis line
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reimburse $1,581,244 in disaster funding to New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority for damages mainly along the Metro-North Port Jervis line that runs parallel to the Ramapo River.
ARRC washout repair going better than expected
Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) track repair crews have made better-than-expected progress in repairing a major washout that has left 500 feet of the mainline track dangling just south of Gold Creek (ARRC Milepost 261, about 35 miles north of Talkeetna).
NCDOT awarded $26.5 million to alleviate passenger rail congestion
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $26.5 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to improve reliability and reduce delays on Amtrak service in eastern North Carolina. The resulting improvements are centered in the area between Rocky Mount, N.C. and Petersburg, Va., and will improve service for both the Amtrak Carolinian line, which runs between New York City and Charlotte, N.C., and the Amtrak long distance trains that run between New York City and Florida.
California HSR section receives approval from feds
In a major step forward for California high-speed rail, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Record of Decision that approved the alignment from Merced to Fresno, allowing construction to begin next year.
Port Mac rail project progresses with permit
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Department of the Army permit to the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension project.
CTA to acquire properties for 95th Street Terminal, awards Red Line South project contract
The Chicago Transit Authority granted approval to begin the process of acquiring property near its 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal on Chicago’s South Side as part of the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project. The project is an estimated $240-million initiative that will expand and improve the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal.
The nine properties identified for acquisition are located directly off the expressway and are primarily commercial properties with a few vacant lots.
This allows the CTA to begin the acquisition process, subject to the requirements of federal and state law. Any purchase of a property by CTA, whether by negotiation or court order, cannot take place without subsequent board action.
The 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal is one of CTA’s busiest, with 24-hour Red Line service and more than 1,000 CTA and Pace bus trips on a typical weekday. The current configuration does not have adequate capacity to efficiently serve customers, which number around 20,000 on an average weekday.
Iowa grants more than $4 million to state railroad projects
The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $4 million in funding for nine rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) program. The rail projects are expected to support the creation and retention of more than 110 jobs within the next three years and spur development of six industrial areas across the state. The proposed developments will leverage millions in new capital investments across the state.
AECOM awarded contract to help Denver RTD complete I-225 rail line
AECOM Technology Corporation was awarded a contract to provide final design services for the Denver Regional Transportation District’s forthcoming I-225 light-rail line.
NCDOT halts grade separation project, will continue to study rail safety
After hearing concerns from citizens and re-evaluating the project budget, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has decided not to proceed with the design and construction of the 24th Street grade separation project in Kannapolis at this time. Instead, the department will conduct an in-depth study to determine the most effective location for the project with the fewest effects on residents, business owners and the environment.
UP performs nearly $14 million in Iowa infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific is enhancing Iowa’s transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $14 million in the rail line that runs between Grand Mound and Boone. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by mid November.
BNSF expands Bakken Oil transport capacity to one million barrels per day
BNSF has increased capacity in 2012 to enable the railroad to haul one million barrels per day out of the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. This increased capacity will allow the energy industry to continue the record expansion of oil production in the Williston Basin and to ship the new production to markets throughout the U.S.
NYCT FASTRACK begins next week on the Lexington Avenue Line
Beginning Monday, September 3, segments of New York City Transit’s 4, 5 and 6 lines will be shut down from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., suspending all Lexington Avenue Line service between Grand Central-42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue in both directions for three consecutive weeknights for FASTRACK work.
MTA submits claims for $65 million from Tropical Storm Irene
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York has submitted its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance claims to recover the $65 million in losses it suffered due to flood and wind damage to the regional transit infrastructure related to Tropical Storm Irene, which hit the region on August 28, 2011.
Knowledge Corridor construction advances
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray recently joined Congressman John Olver, Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke for a first look at the potential site of the upcoming Holyoke Passenger Rail platform, signifying that construction is now underway to restore passenger rail service along the Connecticut River rail line, known as the Knowledge Corridor.
BNSF performs maintenance and capacity improvements in Iowa and Illinois
BNSF plans to invest an estimated $154 million on maintenance and capacity improvements in both Iowa and Illinois this year.
CTA continues Red Line South Project with public input
In anticipation of the start of next year’s Red Line South project, the Chicago Transit Authority held meetings with various community and neighborhood groups including local chambers of commerce, block clubs, faith-based groups and other organizations to answer their questions, listen to their concerns and suggestions.
Assembled truss to be moved for CREATE project
As part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Project, on Saturday, August 25, the 130th & Torrence grade separation project general contractor, Walsh Construction, will use four Self-Propelled Mobile Transporters to relocate the fully-assembled,4.3-million-pound, 394-foot-long truss bridge to its final position on the new piers.