NCDOT helps kick off NCVA rail project
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 12 to celebrate improvements along a 52-mile rail corridor that will allow for the transport of 286,000-pound cars.
GWI UK to acquire Pentalver Transport
GWI UK Acquisition Company Limited, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI), has entered an agreement with a subsidiary of APM Terminals (A P Møller-Maersk A/S) to acquire Pentalver Transport Limited for approximately £87 million (approximately US$110 million).
Port of Prince Rupert terminal expansion reaches milestone
The expansion of the Fairview Container Terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia has reached 75 percent complete and is on schedule to open in 2017.
MTA to make Sandy-related repairs to Clark St. Tube
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin the next round of Superstorm Sandy-related repairs in spring 2017 with weekend closures of the Clark St. Tube to fix integral components.
Gov. Cuomo visits Second Ave. Subway as Phase 1 deadline approaches
With January under three weeks away, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited contractors and construction workers building the 72nd and 86th Street Stations on the Second Avenue Subway project to view progress.
Ontario providing CA$334M in gas tax funds for transit improvements
Transit systems throughout Ontario are set to undergo improvements in 2017 with CA$334.5 million (US$254.4 million) being allocated to 99 communities through provincial gas tax funding.
STB, Canadian Transportation Agency sign info sharing agreement
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Dec. 8 to facilitate sharing information between the two agencies.
Canada establishes environmental review panel for CN’s Milton Logistics Hub project
Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and Dr. Scott Streiner, chair of the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), announced this week that a three-member review panel has been formed to review the proposed Milton Logistics Hub Project in Ontario.
PANYNJ $6 billion budget approved for 2017
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners approved the agency’s proposed 2017 budget of $6 billion.
FTA issues WMATA traction power electrification system report and recommendations
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is requiring Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to correct issues with its traction power electrification (TPE) system following an investigation into the TPE condition.
GE Transportation advances ‘smart rail’ push with Iders acquisition
GE Transportation (GE) has announced the company’s acquisition of Iders Incorporated, an electronic product design and manufacturing company catering to the rail industry.
World’s longest rail tunnel ready to begin service
The world’s longest rail tunnel, Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, will launch service Dec. 11. The milestone project will transport passengers through the tunnel running below the Alps in less than 20 minutes, representatives say.
FTA gives HART until April 30 to submit recovery plan
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) until April 30, 2017, to submit a recovery plan for the project.
Texas Central names new CEO
The Texas Central Partners, LLC (Texas Central) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Carlos F. Aguilar as the new CEO of Texas Central and its subsidiaries, effective Dec. 12.
voestalpine Nortrak, KamPa to partner on rail damper and noise control components
KamPa International Inc. (KamPa) and voestalpine Nortrak Inc. (Nortrak) have announced a new partnership to supply North American freight and passenger railroads with noise control components and rail dampers.
Crew member fatigue faulted for Union Pacific Hoxie accident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) named crew member fatigue as the probable cause of a 2014 Union Pacific (UP) Hoxie, Ark., accident that killed two crew members and seriously injured two others.
Modjeski and Masters awarded engineering contract for St. Louis Union Station Tunnel
Bridge engineering firm Modjeski and Masters has been awarded a contract to complete engineering services needed for the rehabilitation and replacement of old portions of MetroTransit’s Union Station Tunnel in St. Louis, Mo.
Vehicle testing begins on Ottawa’s Confederation Line
Ottawa’s O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project team celebrated a milestone last week as its first light-rail vehicle (LRV) assembled in Canada’s capital city began testing on the track between the system’s Blair and Cyrville stations.
Evergreen extension opens in Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver, B.C., gained more than 6.5 miles of rail rapid transit Dec. 2 with the opening of the Evergreen extension.
USDOT awards $300M for UTC grants
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced Dec. 5 that $300.3 million in grants will go to 32 university transportation centers (UTCs) to accelerate research and education programs dealing with the county’s transportation challenges.