Michael Baker International adds Shepherd as SVP, national market lead for rail/transit
Bonnie D. Shepherd has joined Michael Baker International as senior vice president and national market lead in the railroad and transit practice.
Springfield Rail Project takes a step forward with completed Carpenter Street underpass
Officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 29 to mark the completion of the Carpenter Street underpass, a grade separation project that will also help support larger rail improvements in Springfield, Ill.
SLSI completes pilot phase
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) marked an important milestone with the completion of the Pilot Phase of its work to assess and address safety culture gaps in the shortline and regional rail industry.
Sound Transit selects Absher Construction for Northgate Station work
The Sound Transit Board of Directors selected Absher Construction Company to build the Northgate Station, guideway and parking garage that will serve Northgate Link Extension trains when light-rail service begins in 2021.
TranSystems wins Hay award at AREMA Conference
The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) presented the 2016 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence to TranSystems for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program P-1 Englewood Flyover project.
UTA executive committee recommends Benson as new president
After serving as the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) interim president and CEO for a year, the UTA’s executive committee for the Board of Trustees formally recommended Jerry Benson this week to hold the title permanently.
LACMTA, NCDOT outline plans for federal grants
Officials on opposite sides of the country outlined plans to enhance safety of local rail systems using recently awarded federal funds.
Secretary Foxx visits BART Silicon Valley work site
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx visited the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase 1 construction site this week to observe how the $900 million investment in the project by the Federal Transit Administration is being put to use.
Hall to take over as FEC’s VP of sales
Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) has announced that Bradley S. Hall will serve as the company’s new vice president of sales in the carload segment.
Sound Transit to open new light-rail station in Seattle
Sound Transit, the Greater Seattle area’s regional transportation system, has announced that light-rail service will begin Sept. 24 at the new Angle Lake light-rail station.
TEX Rail construction gets underway
The 27-mile TEX Rail commuter rail project kicked off construction activities with a trio of groundbreaking ceremonies in Fort Worth, Grapevine and North Richland Hills, Texas on Aug. 24.
Indiana Rail Road, Venture Logistics launch intermodal warehouse
Two Indiana-based transportation companies, the Indiana Rail Road (INRD) and Venture Logistics, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 24 at the new Venture Rail Warehouse and Distribution Center on Indianapolis’ south side.
CDPQ Infra enters aerial structure agreement with CN
CDPQ Infra announced Aug. 24 that the company has entered an agreement with Canadian National Railway (CN) to further its Réseau Electrique Métropolitain (REM) project.
University of Huddersfield finds cost-effective way to increase crossing safety
A United Kingdom-based team says it is feasible to enhance grade-crossing safety using a network of tiny wireless sensors powered by vibrations of an approaching train.
Union Pacific named Railroad of the Year
Union Pacific Railroad has been awarded the title of Railroad of the Year by the Railway Industrial Clearance Association (RICA), adding to the railroad’s list of more than a dozen awards in 2016.
CSX to boost capacity, efficiency on Indiana route
CSX Transportation (CSX) has announced that longer, faster trains—and more of them—will travel along an Indiana route as early as Sept. 7.
Canada, Ontario reach US$2.3B funding agreement for infrastructure
The government of Canada and the province of Ontario reached an agreement that makes CA$2.97 billion (US$2.3 billion) in combined funding available for infrastructure improvements in the province.
MTA uses special machine to speed up track laying
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that Metropolitan Transportation Authority has completed track laying between Central Islip and Ronkonkoma for the Long Island Rail Road Double Track project (LIRR).
Michael Baker International awarded $8 million SEPTA contract
Michael Baker International (MBI) has been awarded an $8 million contract to provide services to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) projects.
CTC allocates $55M to rail, safety projects in California
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $814 million to 135 transportation projects in the state and includes $55 million to four rail and safety projects.