Union Pacific implementing technology to monitor bridges
Union Pacific is incorporating “smart monitoring,” a technique the railroad says has the potential to revolutionize how the railroad’s 18,000 bridges are inspected.
Whirlpool Canada building at CN’s Calgary Logistics Park
Officials from Canadian National and Whirlpool Canada came together on June 28 to break ground on a new distribution center at the railroad’s Calgary Logistics Park in Rocky View County, AB.
Ottawa extends RTG contract for Stage 2 LRT
The city of Ottawa and Rideau Transit Group Partnership (RTG) have extended existing contractual arrangements under a new agreement for Stage 2 of the Confederation Line.
Hall named FRA Deputy Administrator
The Federal Railroad Administration has named public relations practitioner Heath Hall as Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator, a post that does not require Senate confirmation.
Alene Tchourumoff appointed to replace Duininck on Metropolitan Council
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Alene Tchourumoff to serve as chair of the Metropolitan Council.
Calgary Green Line approved by city council
Calgary city council has approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for Calgary’s 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project, the first phase of which is estimated to cost around CA$4.65 billion (US$ 3.39 billion).
Faster trains to O’Hare could depend on a boring plan
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has long sought a way to get trains between downtown and O’Hare airport more quickly and he may have found a new option: Elon Musk’s tunneling concept.
Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approves Six-Year Improvement Program
The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the latest Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).
Anderson, former airline CEO, to succeed Moorman at Amtrak
Amtrak has named longtime aviation executive Richard Anderson as its president and chief executive officer, effective July 12.
Canadian government pledges CA$333M to Finch West LRT project
The planned Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto, ON, Canada, secured a CA$333-million (US$251.4-million) federal funding commitment under the Building Canada Fund.
Elevated LRT alignment to be studied for Sound Transit extension
Sound Transit will study an option to elevate the planned extension of light rail to downtown Redmond per a directive from the transit agency’s board.
MTA begins M line repairs July 1
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the $163 million project to rebuild and improve the reliability of century-old sections of the M line will begin on July 1.
L.B. Foster partners with German-based Knorr-Bremse to expand market reach
L.B. Foster Company’s wheel flange lubrication systems will be available to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and South Africa thanks to a recent distribution agreement with German-based Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems.
MTA awards L.K. Comstock $66-million LIRR contract
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded $66.5-million contract for track and system installation for a second track on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to L.K. Comstock & Company Inc.
UP veteran Tate joins RailPros Field Services
RailPros Field Services, a provider of railroad engineering and field support, has named Terry Tate as Assistant Vice President of Rail Operations. He will focus on the expansion of existing projects and the development of new business ventures.
WSP USA’s new tunnel doctor
Dr. Axel Nitschke has been named a tunnel practice leader in the Washington, D.C. office of WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff).
Sound Transit finalizes $87.7M TIFIA loan for maintenance facility
Sound Transit and the U.S. Department of Transportation executed an $87.7-million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to build a new maintenance base in Bellevue, Wash., to support future light-rail expansions.
Union Pacific to invest $2.5 million over two key projects in Wisconsin rail maintenance
Union Pacific is planning a $2.5 million infrastructure investment in Wisconsin this year as a part of its $3.1 billion 2017 capital program.
BART budget looks toward future
In effort to control expenses in the face of a three-percent decline in ridership, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors approved a $1.92 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2018.
LACMTA Board approves first Measure M-funded rail project
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board has approved the first rail project to be funded through Measure M; a voter-approved half-cent sales tax.