Dennis Riggs: 2015 NRC Field Employee of the year
Dennis Riggs, general superintendent for Railroad Construction Co. of South Jersey, is recognized by colleagues and clients as a trusted source of construction solutions.
NRC Project of the Year: Port of Long Beach, Pier E
Herzog Contracting Corp. and Reyes Construction worked to safely build a 345-acre intermodal yard that will help the Port of Long Beach increase capacity and cut air pollution.
Simplified Green Line Extension plan approved by MassDOT, MBTA FMCB
The planned Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) has been approved to proceed in a simplified version following months of project re-evaluation.
Union Pacific plans $78M in work for Illinois infrastructure
Union Pacific has slated $78.8 million of its 2016 capital program to improve its Illinois rail network.
Environmental review sprouts for northern section of CAHSR project
Both the California High-Speed Rail Authority and its federal partner, the Federal Railroad Administration, initiated the environmental review process for the project’s northern section: the 51-mile line between San Francisco and San Jose.
RailWorks hosts elected officials for tour of Minnesota facility
On May 6, Minnesota State Representative Jon Koznick and Lynda Boudreau, staff for U.S. Representative John Kline, joined GoRail and National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) shared member company – RailWorks Corporation – for a tour of its facility in Lakeville, Minn.
New WMATA safety plan immediately followed by FTA safety directive
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued an urgent safety directive to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) just one day after the agency released a plan aimed at improving safety and maintenance on its rail system.
Event highlights $10M TIGER grant to extend Vermont passenger rail
An event held in Burlington, Vt., placed the spotlight on a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) that will be used to extend passenger rail from New York City to Burlington.
Kansas City streetcar begins to roll
Federal and local officials gathered May 6 to kick off inaugural service of the modern Kansas City Streetcar.
Union Pacific plans $83M in improvements in Arkansas
Union Pacific tagged $83 million of its planned $3.75-billion 2016 capital program to improve infrastructure in Arkansas.
Caltrain Modernization Program secures additional funds
Caltrain’s Modernization Program received an additional $211 million investment following a seven-party agreement adopted by the agency’s board of directors on May 5, 2016.
Cities of Somerville and Cambridge commit $75M in bid to save GLX project
The Massachusetts cities of Somerville and Cambridge reiterated their support and commitment for the proposed Green Line Extension Project (GLX) by pledging a combined $75 million to help bridge the project’s funding gap.
Steps taken to engage public for LIRR triple track project
In a bid to make good on a promise to promote community engagement surrounding the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Expansion Project, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out plans for public meetings, launched a new website and committed to expedited crossing improvements.
Metrolink preps for 91/Perris Valley Line opening with additional testing
Metrolink will increase testing of trains along the 91/Perris Valley Line between Perris and Riverside, Calif.
Union Pacific’s California infrastructure plan tops $121 million
Union Pacific plans to invest $121.6 million in 2016 in its transportation infrastructure in California, which will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency.
TriMet preps for largest MAX rail replacement project ever
TriMet is days away from the biggest rail replacement to date on the MAX system. May 8 through May 21, MAX Blue, Green and Red lines will be disrupted and all MAX lines will run on reduced frequency as crews complete major, necessary improvements on the alignment along 1st Avenue in Downtown Portland.
BART makes case for modernizing train control systems
Less crowding and fewer equipment-related delays are important goals of Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) “Big 3” capital improvement projects. The new train cars, an expanded facility to maintain the much larger fleet and a 21st century train control system are all linked and essential to relieving crowding.
Flores joins STV as vice president
Will Flores, an experienced project executive who has overseen the development of a number of transportation initiatives in the New York metropolitan area, has joined STV as a vice president in its Transportation & Infrastructure Division.
Metrolink names CFO
Ronnie Campbell, a veteran financial expert with more than 25 years of budget and finance experience, will join Metrolink as its chief financial officer on May 23. Campbell has been with the city of Camarillo since 2007, serving as the city’s department of finance director.
NTSB: Ineffective inspection, maintenance, oversight led to January 2015 accident
According to a report adopted in a public meeting of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a short circuit on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system that caused thick smoke to fill a stranded train, killing one passenger and injuring 91 people on January 12, 2015,