New U.S.-Mexico rail bridge to open in second half of 2015

The first railroad bridge to be built in more than a century connecting the U.S. and Mexico is expected to be operational by the second half of 2015.

Robust design behind the Tanana River Bridge

Alaska’s longest bridge is designed to withstand floods, large debris, ice jams, road and rail traffic and just about anything else the wilderness can throw at it.

RLW named subcontractor for Skyway Bridge

Sterling Construction Company, Inc.’s subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW) was selected as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on construction of the Skyway Bridge for North Metro Rail in Denver, Colo. Construction of the 9,800-foot bridge is planned to begin in May 2015 and to take two years to complete. RLW’s portion of the project has a value of approximately $29 million.

USDOT makes $500 million available for next round of TIGER

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making $500 million available for the seventh round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program.

NJDOT grants more than $20 million for rail projects

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), through its Rail Freight Assistance Program, doled out more than $20 million in grants for rail improvement projects throughout the state.

MBTA suspends weekend service on Fitchburg Line to perform track upgrades

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to suspend weekend service on the Fitchburg Line from April 25 until November 22.

Uncertainty clouds key rail bills in Senate

Two bills of substantial importance to railroads—Staggers Rail Act revisions as part of reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and extension of the deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC)—took meaningful steps forward March 25, gaining the imprimatur of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Portland-Milwaukie light-rail construction finishing up

Oregon’s TriMet said construction activities surrounding the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project are now “substantially complete” with some intermittent work taking place this summer.

LIRR begins work to replace Colonial Road Bridge

The Long Island Rail Road’s $45-million Colonial Road Improvement Project is now underway. The Colonial Road Bridge will close to vehicular traffic March 30 and contractors prepare to demolish the 115-year old bridge that spans the tracks in the Village of Thomaston near the LIRR’s Great Neck Station.

CN continues major rehabilitation work on Quebec Bridge

Canadian National has planned its annual major work program for the Quebec Bridge.

CTDOT, Metro-North plan spring bridge and maintenance work on New Haven Line

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and Metro-North Railroad this spring will be making critical repairs on the Devon Bridge on the New Haven commuter rail line and doing maintenance work on the line’s Waterbury Branch.

Proposed TRAIN Act would reform environmental permitting process for rail projects

U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced the Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network (TRAIN) Act, which the senators say will reform the environmental permitting process for rail projects in order to facilitate a more efficient way to approve rail infrastructure.

KCS plan $18 million in work on Laredo Subdivision

Kansas City Southern is investing approximately $18 million in construction and improvement projects on its Laredo Subdivision from Laredo to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Rep. Denham tours Colton Crossing project in California

U.S. Rep. and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Jeff Denham (R-CA) joined representatives from HDR, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation Project.

INRD plans $17.5-million 2015 capex; focuses on bridges

The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) released plans for a $17.5-million capital program in 2015 that will focus heavily on bridge projects, a trend it anticipates will continue in the future.

WSDOT seeks comment on PCC rail system plan

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks public input on a plan for prioritized improvements to the Palouse and Coulee City (PCC) Rail system in eastern Washington. Once finalized, the plan will be used to help develop future funding, policy and planning goals.

Met Council, Park and Rec Board agree to bridge for Kenilworth Channel SWLRT crossing

In Minneapolis, Minn., the Metropolitan Council and the Park and Recreation Board have reached an understanding on the Southwest Light Rail Transit (Green Line Extension) crossing of the Kenilworth Channel.

University of Delaware conference aims to help railroads deal with big data

A railroad track geometry vehicle regularly collects a terabyte or two of data every month. How to store that much data is one challenge, but a much more pressing challenge is how to turn the raw material into useful information.

Simmons-Boardman Rail Group awarded Railway Interchange 2015 event guide contract and electronic media partnership

Simmons-Boardman Rail Group, which consists of Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures (RT&S) and International Railway Journal (IRJ), has been awarded the event guide contract and emedia partner for Railway Interchange 2015.

NJDOT provides $4.3-million grant for rail bridge

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded a $4.3-million grant to replace the rail bridge spanning the Overpeck Creek in Ridgefield Park.

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