Bells & Whistles—6/5/20
INVEST Act introduced by the House contains $165 million for transit/rail. Sound Transit projected to lose $12 billion through 2041. Elon Musk company wins project for transit loop in Calif. After train
Watch: Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown project reaches milestone
The Eglinton Crosstown project in Toronto has reached a significant milestone. The underpinning process at the Eglinton Station was complete. Underpinning involves reinforcing the existing TTC station so that work on the
Norfolk Southern braces for Tropical System Cristobal
With Tropical System Cristobal approaching New Orleans, Norfolk Southern issued this service alert today: “The New Orleans Flood Protection Authority will close the floodgates in and around New Orleans beginning Saturday, June
HNTB grows transit and environmental services teams in Atlanta
HNTB Corporation, a national infrastructure solutions firm, is growing in Atlanta to help address the area’s infrastructure needs. The firm has hired Reiner Schwarz, Kenyata Smiley and Alvin Banguilan – three veteran
Precision scheduled railroading: Longer trains means dramatic derailments
Having worked in the industry for 50 years, if you consider my postretirement involvement, I will be the first to admit that today’s railroads are, in many respects, much safer than they
Metra replacing 95th Street crossing on Rock Island Line
Yesterday, Metra began replacing and resurfacing its crossing at 95th Street and Vincennes Avenue on the agency’s Rock Island Line. This crossing will be out of service until Friday, June 12, when
Call it SpaceEx Underground; officials approve Musk’s idea of tunnel transit system in Calif.
Days after Elon Musk reached the stars, he found out he will be able to shine below the surface as well. On June 3, the San Bernardino County (Calif.) Transportation Authority’s Board
Sound Transit projects to lose $12B by 2042 as portion of tax base dies
The economic downturn in the Seattle area has put some businesses on a fatal downward spiral. They will not recover, and the loss has Sound Transit officials looking at a dismal future
BART replacing rail near Hayward Station in July
Between July and September 2020, BART crews will be working around the clock to replace and rebuild the nearly 50-year-old interlocking and other critical track components located just south of the Hayward
CP completes acquisition of Central Maine & Quebec Railway, expanding reach and optionality
Canadian Pacific [yesterday] completed its previously announced acquisition of the Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc. (CMQ US). Together with the earlier acquisition of Central Maine & Quebec Railway Canada Inc.
Rails to trails project not a total loss as 85 miles of track will be refurbished
Lake Placid was home to the 1980 Winter Olympics, which produced the “Miracle on Ice” when team USA defeated the Soviet Union en route to hockey gold. Some might say the Lake
INVEST Act appears to fund Gateway Project but comes down hard on liquefied natural gas transport by rail
The House of Representatives has introduced the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. The measure, introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure
AAR rail traffic for May and the week ending May 30—’somewhat heartening’
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 30, 2020, as well as volumes for May 2020. U.S. railroads originated 740,171 carloads in May
Harsco Rail reaches an important milestone with MTA Long Island Rail Road
Harsco Rail announced that earlier this month they hit a major milestone with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), which is one of the busiest commuter rail roads
MBTA Green Line Extension project reopening 2 major bridges in Somerville
[Last week] the MBTA announced that the Green Line Extension (GLX) project will permanently reopen the Washington Street Bridge / Underpass near McGrath Highway in East Somerville on [this past Sunday]. Following
After April derailment damages La. bridge crews are still waiting to begin repair project
An overpass in Shreveport, La., was left in critical condition following an April 24 train derailment when several railcars left the tracks. Two of the three steel support columns on the 83-year-old
Georgia Port Authority selects RailComm for Savannah Yard automation
The Georgia Port Authority selected RailComm, LLC as the Yard Management System provider for the new Port of Savannah Multi-Modal Connector. In a competitive bid, the Georgia Port Authority awarded the yard
Light-rail construction in Toronto continues to boom
The city of Toronto is continuing to ride the momentum of transit expansion. The Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project continues to make progress, and on June 2 the Ontario government signaled the start
Norfolk Southern derailment in Virginia on Friday morning
A Norfolk Southern train derailed Friday morning in Warren County, Va. Norfolk Southern and its contractors worked through the day to assess the derailment site and begin work to clear the area.
NCRR to build lead track, switches for foundry relocation in N.C.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry will construct a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Oakboro, N.C., an investment of $325 million. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is a North Carolina-based manufacturer and distributer of cast