Colo Railroad Builders celebrates safety record, appoints director of mechanical services

Colo Railroad Builders’ Chicago Division surpassed the one-year recordable injury free mark on June 4, 2013.

SEPTA plans Trolley Tunnel outage for construction work

Due to overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel the evening of August 2 through early morning August 12.

Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project reaches half way point

TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project has hit 50 percent completion. Construction on the 7.3-mile line began in May 2012 between downtown Portland and North Clackamas County, with bridge construction over the Willamette River in July 2011.

WMATA Board approves four-year agreement with union

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors has approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Local 689 Union, which freezes employee wages for one year and provides for employee contributions to their pension funds.

APTA to recognize six public transportation systems for sustainability

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will recognize nine public transportation systems for outstanding sustainability achievements.

Transport Canada issues emergency directive to increase rail safety

Transport Canada is moving forward to build upon the safety advisories received recently from the Transportation Safety Board and further enhance existing safe railway operations and the security of railway transportation by issuing an emergency directive pursuant to section 33 of the Canadian Railway Safety Act to increase rail safety.

Port of Vancouver USA approves Tesoro rail project

In the state of Washington, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year lease with the Tesoro-Savage Joint Venture (TSJV) for a crude oil handling facility at the port.

City of Sioux Falls releases environmental report for rail yard development project

An Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Rail Yard Redevelopment Project in Sioux Falls, S.D., has been signed by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration officials.

SEPTA sets ridership record in FY13

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has set a new regional rail ridership record, with 36,023,000 trips taken by customers during Fiscal Year 2013, the 12-month period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Ridership on SEPTA’s 13 regional rail lines increased by 2.2 percent during the course of the year.

Axion ships crosstie order to Calgary Transit

Axion International Holdings, Inc., has shipped 500 composite crossties to Calgary Transit for use in crossings. Calgary Transit has been a customer of Axion’s for four years and has purchased ECOTRAX ties annually.

Sound Transit releases Lynnwood light-rail environmental study

Sound Transit has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the light-rail line between Northgate and Lynnwood.

Illinois HSR trackwork moves on to Bloomington-Normal area

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific are performing another phase of upgrades to Illinois’ high-speed route from Chicago-St. Louis for future 110-mph operation of Amtrak Lincoln Service trains.

PIR picks contractor to rebuild Desert Line

Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR), has entered into a construction agreement with Watkins Environmental, Inc. to restore the Desert Line in Southern California.

Mexico plans million-dollar infrastructure program

Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto said Monday that his administration plans to invest Mex$4 billion (US$318 million) in infrastructure projects over the next five years.

UP strengthens transportation infrastructure in Illinois, Iowa

Union Pacific will strengthen transportation infrastructure in Illinois and Iowa by investing nearly $27 million in the rail line between Manlius and Edelstein, Ill., and the rail line between Boone and Denison, Iowa.

Construction kicks off for LYNX Blue Line extension

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, North Carolina Governor Patrick McCrory, Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey and other local officials celebrated the start of construction on the LYNX Blue Line extension from downtown Charlotte to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte campus.

Metropolitan Council unveils cost estimates to resolve freight, light-rail issues

Construction of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Minnesota (Green Line Extension) may require freight rail traffic currently running along the preferred LRT route to be kept with adjustments or relocated to St. Louis Park.

MWAA says Silver Line Phase 1 delayed

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), in conjunction with Dulles Transit Partners, said expected substantial completion of Phase 1 of the Metrorail Silver Line project will be delayed by approximately eight weeks.

Seattle’s light rail celebrates four years of service with strong ridership

Sound Transit‘s Link light rail celebrated its fourth birthday July 11 amid continued strong ridership growth and record-setting trends this summer. The line has carried more than 30 million riders since it opened to the public on July 18, 2009.

Herzog launches its P.L.U.S./Smart Train Inertial System

Herzog Railroad Services Inc. (HRSI) says its GPS ballast trains “are one of the safest and most efficient advancements of railroad maintenance equipment in decades. The tasks of unloading a ballast train were labor intensive and the risks to personnel were significant.

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