MBTA operating budget continues path towards fiscal responsibility

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) adopted a Fiscal Year 2018 MBTA operating budget.

LIRR publishes FEIS of expansion project

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a proposed Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) expansion project has been issued following more than a year of data collection, analysis and public outreach.

UP invests $135 million in Arkansas infrastructure, consolidates Wichita Service Unit

Union Pacific (UP) is boosting safety and efficiency with an approximately $135 million infrastructure investment in Arkansas this year. The company is also consolidating its Wichita Service Unit management with its Kansas City, Fort Worth and North Little Rock service units.

Keith Holt: From Amtrak to WSP | PB

Veteran railroad signal engineer Keith Holt has left Amtrak, where he was deputy chief engineer, Communications and Signals, to become director of engineering for Railroad Systems at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.

SFCTA allocates funds to advance Phase 2 TTC/DTX engineering work

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) approved $5.46 million in funds to advance engineering associated with the second phase of the Transbay Transit Center/Caltrain Downtown Extension (TTC/DTX) project.

Hawaii House extends rail transit funding excise tax for two years

The Hawaii House of Representatives extended the general excise tax (GET) that helps fund Honolulu’s first rail transit project on April 11. The funding package will contribute an additional $1.2 billion to the project.

ICC approves five-year plan for rail crossing safety and improvements

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved the five-year plan for the Crossing Safety Improvements Program at grade crossings and highway-rail grade separations across the state.

SENSR hosts Rep. Carter for facility tour

Rep. John Carter (R-TX-31) joined SENSR Monitoring Technologies, LLC, (SENSR) for a site tour in Georgetown, Texas on April 11.

Tallarico joins WSP | PB

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has appointed Fred Tallarico Regional Director of Design-Build for the company’s Northeast and Central regions. Tallarico will manage the firm’s pursuit and execution of transit, highway and infrastructure projects using alternative delivery methods such as design-build and P3s (public-private partnerships). He is based in New York City.

VTMI, Inc., selects Dewberry to support South Florida Freight and Passenger Rail Enhancement Project

Veolia Transportation Maintenance and Infrastructure (VTMI, Inc.) has chosen Dewberry to perform services under its design-build contract for new rail connections between the Florida East Coast (FEC) railway and the South Florida Rail Corridor (SFRC) in West Palm Beach and Miami, Fla.

Union Pacific to invest $77.1 million in Oregon rail infrastructure

Union Pacific (UP) is investing approximately $77.1 million in Oregon infrastructure this year to increase safety and efficiency.

Trio of senators call for Amtrak funding following derailments

Three East Coast senators are highlighting the need for increased funding of Amtrak following two derailments at New York Penn Station.

Industry-Railway Suppliers hosts Rep. Quigley for tour, public policy discussion

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) joined representatives from the Illinois rail industry for a public policy discussion and a tour of Industry-Railway Suppliers, Inc., (IRS) at its Elmhurst, Ill., headquarters on April 10.

LACMTA, Waze to provide rail crossing alerts for drivers

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) Transit Safety Programs (TSP) is partnering with the navigation app Waze to provide rail-crossing safety alerts for drivers beginning April 10.

Metra launches 2017 construction program

Chicago’s Metra and its railroad partners announced plans to begin $216 million worth of infrastructure investments in 2017.

Amtrak to review maintenance practices following Penn Station derailments

Amtrak has completed repairs to tracks at New York Penn Station following two derailments in the past month and the railroad’s CEO has pledged a review of its maintenance practices to ensure the situation is not repeated.

ASLRRA creates Short Line Education Fund to support education, training and industry programs

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has created the Short Line Education Fund to address industry training and certification needs.

LACMTA’s Harriet the tunnel boring machine finishes second tunnel

Harriet the tunnel boring machine completed its second mile-long tunnel on April 6. The machine arrived at the Leimert Park Station, marking another milestone for the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority (LACTMA) Crenshaw/LAX Line.

Union Pacific to spend $180 million to improve California infrastructure

Union Pacific plans to invest $180 million into its California infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1’s $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

Vossloh names new management at several divisions

Vossloh has made six leadership changes that will affect its divisions serving the North American rail market.

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