BNSF recognizes Employees of the Year
BNSF recognized a special group of employees for their outstanding achievements in 2014 at an awards ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, April 13.
Track Maintenance
AAR launches latest Freight Rail Works campaign
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) debuted the latest installment of its Freight Rail Works campaign, an exploration of freight rail’s investments in building, growing and maintaining the nation’s freight rail network. The campaign combines television, radio and online components to showcase the projects and innovation that help give U.S. businesses a competitive edge.
Rep. Steve Cohen tours Atlantic Track’s Memphis facility
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (R-TN-09) joined representatives from Atlantic Track and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of Atlantic Track’s Memphis, Tenn., operations and facility.
UP increasing train speed following improvements on Madera County line
Recent track upgrades meeting or exceeding all applicable Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards will allow Union Pacific to increase train speed from 60 mph to 70 mph on nearly 15 miles of its rail line between Chowchilla and Madera, Calif.
GE wins All Aboard Florida signaling contract
All Aboard Florida (AAF) has selected GE Transportation to design and manufacture signaling equipment for the entire length of the 235-mile rail corridor connecting Miami and Orlando. The passenger-rail project is scheduled to begin initial service from Miami to West Pam Beach in late 2016.
SEPTA breaks ground on 69th Street West Terminal renovations
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) kicked off the West Terminal Improvements Project at 69th Street Transportation Center.
Dallas returns streetcar service following half a century absence
Dallas streetcar service resumed April 13 after a near 50-year absence on a 1.6-mile route from downtown’s Union Station to Oak Cliff’s Methodist Dallas Medical Center. This marks the first phase of Dallas’ modern streetcar system.
TTC, Bechtel sign project management contract for Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has entered into an agreement with Bechtel Canada Co. for project management of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) for up to $80 million.
New U.S.-Mexico rail bridge to open in second half of 2015
The first railroad bridge to be built in more than a century connecting the U.S. and Mexico is expected to be operational by the second half of 2015.
Proper handling for moving materials
Multi-purpose and safe equipment is what the railroads want.
Does missing ballast result in development of track geometry defects?
The correlation between missing ballast and the development of geometry defects is explored.
Robust design behind the Tanana River Bridge
Alaska’s longest bridge is designed to withstand floods, large debris, ice jams, road and rail traffic and just about anything else the wilderness can throw at it.
STB approves Louisville & Indiana track upgrade
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has approved a joint proposal by Anacostia Rail Holdings’ (ARH) subsidiary, Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I) and CSX to upgrade a key freight corridor between Indianapolis, Ind., and Louisville, Ky.
DEIS published for Sound Transit for Federal Way Link Extension
Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration have published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for extending Link light rail to Kent/Des Moines and, when funding is available, to Federal Way.
WMATA to return Red Line to automatic train operation
Following years of signal upgrades, independent testing and the closure of key National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations, Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority will return the Red Line to automatic train operation (ATO) on April 13.
Skanska awarded contract to rehab trio of Brooklyn stations
Skanska has signed a contract with Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit (MTA-NYCT) for the renewal of three train stations in Brooklyn, N.Y.
RLW named subcontractor for Skyway Bridge
Sterling Construction Company, Inc.’s subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW) was selected as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on construction of the Skyway Bridge for North Metro Rail in Denver, Colo. Construction of the 9,800-foot bridge is planned to begin in May 2015 and to take two years to complete. RLW’s portion of the project has a value of approximately $29 million.
Genova named RTD interim GM
The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) Board of Directors named David Genova interim general manager, succeeding Phillip Washington, who will resign April 15 to assume the helm of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“Stand Up For Transportation Day” aims to spur support of federal transportation funding
Stand Up for Transportation Day, April 9, is an effort headed by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) that aims to galvanize support of federal funding of America’s public transportation, roads, bridges and rail systems.
MBTA special panel calls for Fiscal Control Board to help fix “management failures”
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s special panel tasked with reviewing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) functions and practices outlined a plan of action to reform and improve the authority. The panel’s recommendations include creating a five-member Fiscal and Management Control Board, as well as the creation of one, five and 20 year spending plans after the group “uncovered massive structural and management failures that are on pace to bankrupt the system if left unchecked.”