Caltrain releases Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project FEIR
Caltrain released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the planned electrification of the Caltrain corridor between San Jose and San Francisco, Calif.
LAX could connect to LACMTA light-rail service by 2024
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board received an update from Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) officials on its Automated People Mover (APM) project, saying that the light-rail-line could be in service by 2024.
MnDOT seeks public input on plan for improved freight, passenger movement on Minnesota railroads
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), along with local municipalities and counties, will host an open house Dec. 8, in Willmar, Minn., to gather input for the 2015 update of the Minnesota State Rail Plan.
Team of 13 California U.S. Representatives look to block HSR funding in 2015 spending bill
Thirteen U.S. Representatives sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers and Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey on December 3 requesting that end-of-year appropriations measures include provisions to prohibit federal spending on California high-speed rail (CAHSR).
Unitrac names new president
Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healy Railroad Corporation, promoted Phil Pietrandrea to president. Pietrandrea, who joined Unitrac in 2006, most recently served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the company.
Work begins to replace San Mateo Bridges
Work began December 4 on Caltrain’s San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project, an infrastructure project that will provide seismic upgrades to four aging railway passes on the Peninsula.
LIRR plans signal work for East Side Access Project
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will be performing signal work for the East Side Access project December 5 through December 8, which will require closing two of four East River Tunnels connecting Queens to Manhattan and Penn Station.
FTA promises MBTA Green Line nearly $1 billion
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is pledging nearly $1 billion in funding for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford, Mass.
Railway Association of Canada honors 2014 safety award winners
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) recognized four of its members for their outstanding contributions to rail safety. Representatives from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, VIA Rail Canada and The Roberval and Saguenay Railway Company accepted their awards at the association’s Rail Day event in Ottawa, ON.
PANYNJ releases proposed 2015 capex budget
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released its proposed $2.9-billion Operating Budget and $3.6-billion Capital Budget. Combined, together with debt service, the proposed agency budget for 2015 totals $7.8 billion in proposed spending.
Hoback retiring; Mills named INRD president and CEO
Indiana Rail Road (INRD) Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Hoback will retire, effective June 30, 2015, from the helm of the railroad he has rebuilt from a broken-down branch line into a thriving regional railroad.
Alabama State Port Authority awards contract for intermodal facility
The Alabama State Port Authority contracted R.T. Milord Company to develop Phase I of the Garrows Bend Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at the Port of Mobile (Alabama).
PATCO to begin next phase of Benjamin Franklin Bridge in early December
Beginning on December 4, Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) trains will be operating on a revised schedule as contractors begin work on the next phase of the Ben Franklin Bridge rehabilitation project, which connects Philadelphia, Pa., and Camden, N.J. The new schedule will affect service between midday Thursday and early Monday morning and will remain in effect until early February 2015.
Los Angeles, San Francisco light-rail big winners in recent Caltrans funding allocations
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) awarded approximately $560 million to 77 transportation projects including light-rail projects throughout the state.
First phase of M-1 Rail construction completed
M-1 Rail completed its first phase of construction between Campus Martius Park and Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit.
Safety management and oversight tops TSB’s 2014 Watchlist
Through its updated Watchlist for 2014, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is raising awareness about the safety issues that pose the greatest risk to Canada’s marine, rail and air transportation sectors.
Sound Transit releases SEIS for long-range transit plan
Sound Transit released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that will inform upcoming actions by the Sound Transit Board to update the regional transit Long-Range Plan and develop the next phase of transit investments for the region.
Trimble acquires vehicle lifecycle management firm Nexala
Trimble has acquired Nexala, a provider of enterprise solutions for the rail industry, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
FRA issues safety advisory on roadway worker authority limits
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a safety advisory to the rail industry to better protect rail employees working on rights-of-way under the supervision of a dispatcher.
RTD connects final rails for East Rail Line
The East Rail Line in Denver, Colo., reached a milestone November 24 when the “Golden Spike” was put into place joining the final rails of the 22.8-mile passenger rail line between Union Station and Denver International Airport.