Hadnett named president of HNTB West Division

Art Hadnett joined HNTB Corporation as senior vice president and president of the firm’s West Division, overseeing vital and complex infrastructure programs in growth markets, including rail/transit.

KCS bolsters its intermodal WIT

The opening of the Wylie Intermodal Terminal centralizes KCS’ Dallas-area facilities and allows the railroad to continue tapping cross-border intermodal traffic.

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.

WMATA receives independent auditor’s report for FY2014

The Washing Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors received an independent audit of its FY2014 Financial Statements from McGladrey LLP, which WMATA says is a significant milestone in its work to improve financial management.

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.

Rep. McKinley tours Warwood Tool facility, discusses rail issues

On August 5, Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV-1) joined representatives from Warwood Tool Company and the Appalachian & Ohio Railroad (A&O) to tour Warwood’s steel tool manufacturing facility and discuss public policy priorities for the business and rail communities in West Virginia.

Sound Transit executes sale of green bonds to help fund light-rail extensions

Sound Transit executed the sale of nearly $1 billion of green bonds that will help fund voter-approved regional transit projects, including construction of more than 30 miles of light-rail extensions.

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.

Norfolk Southern EVP and CIO Deb Butler to retire

Deborah H. Butler, executive vice president planning and chief information officer of Norfolk Southern, will retire Oct. 1, 2015.

New study analyzes condition of Washington state’s shortline railroads; repair costs

According to a recent study by the Washington Department of Transportation and the Washington State University Freight Policy Transportation Institute, more than half of the state’s shortline rail miles aren’t up to modern standards.

Canada commits funds to VIA Rail’s Ottawa-Montreal corridor infrastructure improvements

The Canadian government plans to invest CA$102 million (US$77 million) over a two-year period to support several infrastructure projects that will increase the safety and efficiency of VIA Rail Canada‘s Ottawa-Montreal rail corridor for travelers.

SFMTA begins service along E Embarcadero streetcar line

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) launched the E Embarcadero (E Line) streetcar line, offering a single-seat ride from AT&T Park and the Caltrain station to Fisherman’s Wharf and the northeast waterfront.

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.

Ontario to increase GO capacity on Lakeshore Lines

Ontario is partnering with the Canadian government to help to ease congestion at key crossings along the Lakeshore East and West GO Transit corridors by building new road-under-rail grade separations in Scarborough and Halton Region.

P&L engineers ratify new deal

United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART)-represented engineers employed by Paducah and Louisville Railway ratified a new five-year agreement.

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.

Union Pacific elects Lance Fritz chairman of the board; places executives in new roles

Union Pacific‘s board of directors elected Lance Fritz chairman, president and chief executive officer, effective October 1.

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.

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