The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Inc. (NRC), appointed Christian Jostlein, safety manager at Holland LP, as the new chairman of the NRC Safety Committee. Jostlein replaces outgoing Chair Tammy Mathews, corporate safety, health & environmental director at RailWorks Corporation, after her successful term as chair expired.
Construction crews took to Woodward Avenue in Detroit July 28 to start construction activities on the city’s new 3.3-mile modern streetcar line, M-1 RAIL.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to implement a series of new and enhanced safety initiatives to better ensure the safety of its customers and employees.
The city of San Antonio, Texas and Bexar County have withdrawn support of the proposed $280-million VIA Modern Streetcar Project, instead asking VIA to develop a new transportation proposal that could be taken to area voters.
Union Pacific will strengthen Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $8 million in the rail line between Herington and Whitewater. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began July 16 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
Denver’s historic Union Station officially reopened to the public on July 26, 2014, after being closed for extensive renovations on December 2, 2012.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (WMATA) rail system grew 10 percent with five new stations and new direct rail service between the Washington D.C. region’s two largest employment centers, all as a result of the opening of the Silver Line’s first phase.
WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles joined federal, state and local officials for the grand opening ceremony July 25 at Wiehle-Reston East Station.
SNC-Lavalin Group appointed Marc Rivard to the role of executive vice president infrastructure engineering, within the company’s Infrastructure Group. SNC-Lavalin’s Infrastructure Group addresses the full life cycle of infrastructure and includes its infrastructure concession investment, engineering, construction and operations and maintenance businesses.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) released a report outlining recommendations for short-term fixes to improve the reliability of the New Haven Line’s Walk Railroad Bridge in Norwalk, Conn.
The Tucson Sun Link streetcar line in Arizona opened to the public on July 25. Service will be supported by six streetcars seven days a week.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved four highway-rail grade crossing projects in Marion, Holmes, Shelby and Huron counties.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors voted nine to three to approve a $1.6-billion contract with Skanska, Traylor and Shea, a Joint Venture (STS), to construct the 3.9-mile first phase of the Purple Line Extension subway. The first phase, with a total budget of $2.7 billion, is currently forecast to open in 2023.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors have identified a site in Bellevue’s Bel-Red corridor between Bellevue and Redmond, Wash., as the preferred alternative for a new Link light-rail operations and maintenance base. The new facility is needed to store, service and deploy the expanding light-rail train fleet as the system expands from 16 to 50 miles by 2023.
In Vancouver, BC, Canada, Port Metro Vancouver and the government of Canada in have marked substantial completion of the Powell Street Grade Separation project.
Watco Companies named Dan Smith Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP, COO). In this position, Dan will be responsible for overseeing the operational performance, organizational development and process improvements of Watco’s Operating Divisions.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the city of Gilroy have entered into a station-area funding agreement that will allow the city and CHSRA to initiate the planning process for a potential high-speed rail station in the downtown area of the city.
Elecnor has been pre-selected by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) in California as contractor on double tracking the Mountain View single-track segment.
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-08) joined representatives from the Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway (ACWR) and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association for a tour of ACWR’s facility in Candor, N.C.
TriMet hired Dee Brookshire as executive director of finance and administration. Brookshire, who will start August 18, comes to TriMet from the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) where she has served as chief financial officer for the past seven years.
She will be responsible for directing the agency’s financial services; providing oversight and directing procurement and contracts, financial analysis and grants. Brookshire will continue the work of the agency’s five-year plan to ensure financial stability.
Brookshire has more than 20 years experience in public agency and private sector finance. Her background includes substantial debt restructuring and multiple bond issuances for public agencies. She has aided in successful labor negotiations for agencies with multiple bargaining units.
Brookshire lead efforts at RT in economic recovery, bringing back more efficient and cost-effective transportation services following the economic down turn. In addition to her financial experience in transit, she has worked for water and public utility districts, city government and as a public agency consultant.
Among her many community involvements, Brookshire has served on the finance committee for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Sacramento Business Services Center.
Dave Auxier, TriMet’s current interim CFO will stay on full time through the end of August.
