Springfield, Mass., Union Station to receive $21 million for renovation

Nearly $21 million in federal funding has been formally approved for the Springfield, Mass., Union Station and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, according to a statement from Rep. Richard Neal’s office . Approximately $17 million will be used in the planned renovation of the historic landmark in the city’s northern blocks region and an additional $3.9 million will be directed to the PVTA for the maintenance of the local public transportation system.

ASLRRA: Majority of Congress supports shortline tax credit

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association reached a major milestone by securing the 51st Senate co-sponsor of legislation to extend the Short Line Rehabilitation Tax Credit (45G). The legislation has now been sponsored by a majority of both houses of Congress.

Building demolition begins for future Berryessa BART Station

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority contractor Skanska Shimmick Herzog (SSH), a Joint Venture, will perform demolition of industrial buildings to prepare for construction of the future Berryessa Bay Area Rapid Transit Station campus July 19 through the end of August.

Arbitrator appointed for CP labor disputes

William Kaplan has been appointed arbitrator in the disputes between Canadian Pacific Railway and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing bargaining units of approximately 220 rail traffic controllers and 4, 200 locomotive engineers, conductors, trainspersons and yardmen.

Sen. Schumer urges FRA to unlock funding for international rail station

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) urged the Federal Railroad Administration to work with western New York stakeholders and City of Niagara Falls officials to finalize the last procedural steps to unlock an approved $16,500,000 in Department of Transportation funding for the Niagara Falls Intermodal Transportation Center.

OmniTRAX managing director and EVP retires

Mike Ogborn will retire from OmniTRAX, Inc., as its managing director and executive vice president. Ogborn began his career with OmniTRAX representing it before the Interstate Commerce Commission and other venues in the mid-1980’s and then spent the next 20 years working within the company in various capacities. After retirement, he will continue to serve the company as a member of the OmniTRAX Advisory Board and will provide consulting services to it.

Sound Transit’s Link light rail hits three-year mark

Seattle’s Sound Transit Link light rail turns three years old, amid continued steady ridership growth since opening day. Link has carried an estimated 21.6 million riders since it opened July 18, 2009.

CTA preps for track renewal project with job fair, land lease

The Chicago Transit Authority Board has approved a temporary lease for property that will be used as a staging area for construction related to the Red Line South Track Renewal Project.

PUCO approves upgrade of rail crossings in Logan and Scioto counties

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to install flashing lights and gates at two grade crossings.

InnoTrans discounts registration to North American attendees

Hundreds of U.S. and Canadian buyers will make their way to InnoTrans this year at the Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Berlin, Germany. Show dates are September 18-21, 2012.

CTA plans $205 million maintenance and repair facility modernization

The Chicago Transit Authority unveiled a $205 million initiative that will rehabilitate and modernize the agency’s bus and rail maintenance facilities, which will benefit commuters and the local economy with the creation of more than new 500 jobs.

Dulles Rail aerial guideway complete

The Bechtel Corporation-led team building Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor extension project completed construction of the aerial guideway that will carry Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority trains and passengers over major highways and through

CHSRA releases revised Environmental Impact Report for Fresno to Bakersfield section

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released a Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 114-mile Fresno to Bakersfield Project section. This document provides alternatives for public consideration and comment; no decisions have yet been made on these proposals. In its continued efforts to receive public participation in its process, the CHSRA has lengthened the public comment period to 60 days, which is 15 days more than what is required by law.

LIRR tie replacement on the Ronkonkoma Branch enters final phase

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Rail Road’s work to replace wooden ties on the Ronkonkoma Branch on weekdays between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma is entering its final phase starting Monday, July 23.

CP, Smart Sand to build frac sand facility

Smart Sand and Canadian Pacific Railway have entered into a long-term partnership, under which the two companies will supply and ship premium, Northern White frac sand to the unconventional oil and gas industry in North America producing regions (including the Bakken and Eagle Ford formations and the Utica and Marcellus Shales). The two companies also announced the partnership’s first initiative: building a new frac sand transload facility, expected to be the region’s largest, in Makoti, N.D., that will serve the Bakken formation in the Williston Basin beginning in early 2013.

Crouch Engineering plans expansion

Crouch Engineering has plans for expansion, including a top-to-bottom review of personnel and departments. The changes come as a part of the firm’s plans for future expansion after more than two decades servicing America’s railways.

Ottawa light rail receives Canadian government environmental OK

The City of Ottawa has received Federal Environmental Assessment approval for the Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) project from the Canadian government.

RRV&W marks 25th anniversary

The Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company (RRV&W), a shortline railroad that provides local rail freight service to mostly rural North Dakota communities formerly served by the Burlington Northern, now BNSF Railway, will mark its 25th anniversary July 19.

CSX, State of Ohio dedicate Fifth Street Bridge

CSX Corporation hosted a dedication ceremony for the new Fifth Street Bridge in Niles, Ohio. The upgraded bridge’s higher vertical clearance helps clear the way for CSX’s upgraded, double-stack freight rail corridor, the National Gateway, linking East Coast sea ports with the CSX Northwest Ohio Terminal and other Midwest distribution and manufacturing hubs.

Uptown Station dedicated

Federal and Illinois state officials, along with representatives of the town of Normal and Amtrak dedicated a multimodal transportation center to serve as a station for Amtrak rail and motorcoach passengers, as well as local transit buses.

LOAD MORE