The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded more than $31 million in grants and loans for seven freight rail projects in the state. The goal of Wisconsin’s freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has scheduled critical work in 2016 on the Flushing 7 Line between Manhattan and Queens.
The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Hall of Fame Selection Committee unanimously selected Cosmo Lawrence Laurello, known as Larry, Sr., as this year’s only entrant into the NRC Hall of Fame, who will be honored at the 2016 NRC Conference in San Diego, Calif.
Gross & Janes Co. has named Scott McBride vice president of procurement, appointed Bill Behan to vice president of plant operations and promoted Heather Bridges to controller.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has adopted 27 projects, valued at nearly $154 million, that it says will support needed upkeep on California’s aging roads and bridges, alleviate traffic delays and encourage use of alternative forms of transportation, including biking, walking and transit. CTC has allocated more than $96 million for rail projects alone.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad has detailed its latest results of a systemwide track reconstruction effort that has rebuilt miles of the railroad in the past two and a half years, delivering smoother, safer and more reliable service to customers.
On March 19, 2016, Valley Metro will open its second light-rail extension on 19th Avenue in Phoenix, Ariz., giving more riders regional access to destinations across the Valley.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board has approved a $13-million contract for the Green Line West Track Renewal Project, a track improvement project on the Lake branch of the Green Line.
On Dec. 4, 2015, U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member Colo Railroad Builders for a tour of its new facility in Minooka, Ill.
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW), was selected by Denver’s Regional Rail Partners (RRP) as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on two Regional Transport District (RTD) projects. These projects, which entail construction on multiple segments of the North Metro Rail Skyway Bridge, are the second and third jobs awarded to RLW by RRP during 2015.
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (R&N) announced on Nov. 24, 2015 that it will take over ownership of the rail infrastructure at the Humboldt Industrial Park beginning Jan. 1, 2016 through an agreement with the park’s owner, CAN DO, Inc., according to CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell and Andrew Muller, Jr., owner and CEO of the rail company.
In addition to owning and maintaining all of the track, R&N will also provide service to all of the customers in the industrial park.
CAN DO entered into an agreement in 2012 with R&N to take ownership of the more than seven miles of rail line inside Humboldt at the end of 2016. As a result of negotiations between the park’s current rail provider, Norfolk Southern Railroad Company (NS), and Reading & Northern, the timeline was accelerated to Jan. 1, 2016, O’Donnell said.
Muller said R&N plans to run a scheduled service, but will provide additional rail switches when business needs warrant them. The company will also offer railcar storage and personalized service for each business customer. Muller noted that all traffic to Humboldt Industrial Park will be received at Reading and move directly to Humboldt via Tamaqua and that no traffic to Humboldt should move through downtown Hazleton.
“Each customer will have their own local account representative who can assist them with all their rail needs and any issues that arise,” said Wayne Michel, R&N’s President. “At Reading & Northern the customer comes first and Humboldt customers will learn what our existing customers already know—our service is superior to that of any other railroad. Every Humboldt customer will be visited at least twice before we take over service. During those visits we will get to understand their needs. We will then design a service plan that guarantees every customer a service window and up to six-days-a-week service that meets their needs,” Michel said.
O’Donnell said CAN DO is excited to have R&N as a partner in its economic development efforts to attract new industry to Greater Hazleton. “Rail service is critical to many companies and has been instrumental in the growth of our industrial parks. The new provider promises to be an asset in our future growth.”
“As for potential customers, we will follow-up on all opportunities with our award-winning industrial development team. Reading & Northern, like CAN DO, has a national reputation for its innovative approach to economic development. We have won national awards for our efforts to attract business to the railroad,” Michel said. “We make investments in plant and equipment and we assist customers with their development. We also work to make rail infrastructure decisions easy by charging less for the needed rail work and being more flexible on track design. We have a strong team focused on industrial development and that team will work hand in hand with CAN DO.”
CAN DO constructed the 7.5 miles of track in its Humboldt Industrial Park, which is the region’s largest rail-served industrial park. CAN DO launched the rail service more than 40 years ago with a $165,000 matching grant from the Appalachia Regional Commission and has extended the track numerous times since. Currently, more than 15 industries are dependent on rail service to the park. In 2013, 4,569 rail cars moved through Humboldt and the number increased to 4,633 last year.
R&N is known nationwide for its commitment to working closely with economic development organizations. Michel said the company is proud to continue this approach in its partnership with CAN DO.
R&N is the largest privately owned railroad company in Pennsylvania and was the only railroad to be named Regional Railroad of the Year three times by Railway Age, receiving the honor in 2002, 2011 and 2015.
Construction on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) Mountain View Double Track project is nearly complete.
In Chicago, the Metra Board of Directors approved a $945.5-million budget that provides for $759.8 million in operating costs and $185.7 million to fund capital improvements in 2016.
Major repairs to restore the Siskiyou Rail Line in southern Oregon have been completed and stakeholders held a ceremony, Nov. 10, marking the return of freight service, which was halted along 95 miles between Ashland and Weed, Ore., in 2007.
Gradall Industries, Inc., has entered into a business agreement with Kinshofer Crane and Excavator Attachments to make new options available for railways, municipal transit systems and others who purchase Gradall Railway Maintenance Machines.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE, FRA’s long-term investment framework for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Mass.
The Greenfield Rail Line Improvement Project commenced in June 2015 with the contractor, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, working to improve the bridges, crossings, rail and signals along 29.5 miles of railroad from Greenfield to Midland, Ohio.
Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $6.5 million in 2015 on rail and bridge improvement projects on its Vicksburg Subdivision in Louisiana, helping to grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on its cross-border network.
Crosslinx Transit Solutions has signed a $9.1-billion contract to complete the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (Crosstown LRT) project, delivering the LRT by 2021.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc., for a tour of its track project at Heritage Cooperative on October 30.