Purple Line contractor finalists announced; single track requested in Montgomery County
The Purple Line restart is starting to gain some traction, as the list of design-build contractors has been shortened.
Pandemic challenged BNSF in 2020; railroad ‘in good hands’ for 2021
Despite a 7% decline in volume, BNSF’s profit margin increased by 2.9 percentage points in 2020, Warren Buffet, Chairman of the Board for parent company Berkshire Hathaway, told shareholders.
Civil engineers: rail infrastructure still top of class
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded the nation’s freight and passenger railroads their highest grade — a B — in the “2021 Infrastructure Report Card” released today. Overall, ASCE gave the nation’s infrastructure a C- in the quadrennial report.
BNSF employee killed in rail operation
A BNSF employee was killed in the early morning hours of March 3 after becoming caught between two trains and crushed.
Environmental assessment for Howard Street Tunnel project in Baltimore is released; reconstruction will permit double stacking
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) announced the release of the federally approved environmental assessment for the project to reconstruct the CSX-owned, 126-year-old Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore to allow for double-stacked intermodal container trains to and from the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. This project will increase container capacity and business at the Port and create thousands of jobs.
CSX suffers data exposure by hackers
CSX has been the victim of a ransomware attack, which became apparent when screenshots of internal CSX files were posted to a “leak site” yesterday. CSX told FreightWaves that it recently discovered the attack, and the only data stolen, as far as they know, was personal data of CSX employees, both active and retired.
Granted one final extension, Brightline needs to resolve issues for Tampa route
Brightline has until mid-summer to come to terms with local and state governments that would allow the passenger rail service to extend service from Orlando to Tampa.
SEPTA Board approves five-year strategic plan
The SEPTA Board [last week] approved a five-year Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2021 through 2026. The plan – “SEPTA Forward: A Vision for a Stronger Future” – provides a framework for the Authority’s recovery from COVID-19 and sets a vision for future growth.
Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail announces diversity, equity and inclusion plan
Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR), the developer of the Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Maglev (SCMaglev) Project, [yesterday] announced ambitious goals that would deliver billions of dollars of economic benefits to communities of color, women, and their businesses in constructing and operating the $13 billion high-speed train project.
BNSF bridge in Minnesota damaged after blaze
Firefighters were busy dealing with a fire on a BNSF bridge in Bemidji, Minn., on March 1.
L.A. Metro’s Elsie makes another break through for Purple Line Extension Project
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced that its first tunnel boring machine (TBM), named Elsie, has officially broken through to the Wilshire/La Cienega subway station site in Beverly Hills.
Last full week to nominate for RT&S’s 10 under 40
The nomination deadline for the inaugural RT&S 10 under 40 awards program, which honors engineers under the age of 40, has been extended to March 9.
Crews start work on eliminating final grade crossing of LIRR Expansion Project
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) LIRR Expansion Project is closing the Main Street railroad crossing in Mineola.
Caltrain’s first electric trainset shipped to Colo. for testing
Caltrain’s first electric trainset has arrived at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo. for testing, marking a major milestone in the electrification of the railroad.
Metrolink awarded $13.6M for Antelope Valley Line railroad/highway safety improvements
Metrolink announced [Friday] it was awarded up to $13.6 million of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Section 130 Program Funds for safety improvements at four grade crossings along its Antelope Valley Line in the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster.
Bells & Whistles—Calif. high-rail project digs deeper in trouble
Will New York receive a downpour of federal funding to serve the ‘subway desert’? Going cheap on section of high-speed rail project in Calif. has created hefty cost overruns L.A. councilman calls
Sound Transit Board approves transfer of surplus property to City of Seattle
The Sound Transit Board has approved a motion to transfer 10 surplus property sites in the Rainier Valley at no cost to the City of Seattle for the development of affordable housing, as a part of a partnership that includes a $10 million commitment from the city to build affordable homeownership opportunities.
Refinancing DART loan for Silver Line will save agency millions
The U.S. DOT is providing a $908 million loan to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) for the Silver Line Regional Rail Project.
Report card for America’s infrastructure to be unveiled next week
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will unveil its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure next Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 10 a.m. ET through a virtual news conference.
Maryland governor likes the private involvement in troubled Purple Line, sees using the approach in the future
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan did not like Red a few years ago, but he has higher hopes for something like a Purple.