Met Council approves reduced Southwest LRT scope, cost

The Twin Cities Metropolitan Council adopted the Southwest Corridor Management Committee resolution recommending project changes that will reduce the cost by $250 million.

BLET members vote to strike at NJ Transit; PEB has been requested

One hundred percent of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members working for New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) voted to strike should the union and the railroad fail to reach an agreement to settle their contract dispute.

WMATA board resumes search for GM/CEO

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors has resumed its search for a new general manager and chief executive officer.

NURail Center names Hanson president to advisory board

Sergio Pecori, P.E., president and chief executive officer at Hanson Professional Services Inc., has joined the executive advisory board (EAB) of the National University Rail (NURail) Center.

Hennepin County commits funds to revised Southwest LRT plan

Hennepin County Minnesota leaders approved a formal funding commitment to the Southwest Light Rail Transit plan with a reduced scope and overall cost.

Archer Western to build Orlando airport rail infrastructure for All Aboard Florida

All Aboard Florida named Archer Western Construction Manager for the rail infrastructure at Orlando International Airport. Archer Western led the construction for SunRail and is also a key contractor building the people mover between Orlando International Airport’s north and south terminals.

Illinois democrats rally behind funding for commuter lines implementation of PTC

A trio of Illinois democrats gathered at Metra’s LaSalle Street Station in Chicago to call on Congress to help fund implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) for commuter rails.

DTE Energy rail project to eliminate crossing

DTE Energy says a project to extend a rail line in its rail yard at West Jefferson and Van Horn in Trenton, Mich., will improve safety and traffic flow for local motorists.

New Jersey and Ohio crossings slated for improvements

Five grade crossings in New Jersey and Ohio will see improvements over the course of the summer.

Study says second train between St. Paul and Chicago would work

A study looking at the feasibility of an additional daily passenger train between Minneapolis, St. Paul or St. Cloud to Chicago produced promising results.

TTC completes Toronto Union Station renovation project

Federal and provincial officials joined members of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to mark the completion a CA$137.5 million (US$108.8 million) renovation project to Toronto’s Union Station.

Tobias steps down from CP Board of Directors

Canadian Pacific, citing personal reasons, said that Stephen Tobias has resigned from the Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Canadian Pacific Railway Company, effective June 29, 2015. Tobias joined the board in May 2012.

Southwest LRT advisory committee recommends ending project at Southwest Station

The Corridor Management Committee, which advises the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council on all issues related to the design and construction of the Southwest Light-Rail project, has made recommendations that reduces the scope and cost of the project.

Baltimore elected officials send letter asking Hogan to reconsider Red Line decision

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, along with elected leaders of Baltimore City at the local, state and federal level sent a joint letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan urging him to reconsider the decision to cancel the construction of the the city’s Red Line.

ABR launches U.S. high-speed division

American Business Research, Inc. (ABR), launched the High Speed Railway Division it says to bring its years of experience developing high-speed railroads to the United States.

KCS commits more than $20 million to line improvements in Missouri and Illinois

Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $20.9 million in 2015 on construction and improvement projects on the Mexico and Roodhouse Subdivisions, with work planned between Clark, Mo., and Roodhouse, Ill.

PANYNJ names new chief engineer

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) named Jim Starace chief engineer. Starace is a 29-year veteran engineer who has been responsible for overseeing some of the agency’s most critical transportation projects.

STV awarded CHSRA environmental and engineering documents contract

STV was awarded a contract with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to prepare environmental and engineering documents for the Burbank to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Anaheim project sections.

RIDOT, Amtrak kick off platform and track project

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Amtrak are beginning work on a platform and track project in South County that officials say will improve operations in the Northeast and long-term transit planning in Rhode Island.

Metra begins Waukegan Station project; preps for switch project

Metra kicked off a $530,000-project to rehabilitate the Waukegan Station on its Union Pacific North Line June 29.

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