Sound Transit to study alignment for potential Tacoma Link expansion
Sound Transit has identified an alignment along Stadium Way and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to the Hilltop District for the planned expansion of Tacoma Link light-rail service.
NYCT continues Montague Tube reconstruction through a cold, hard winter
Deep through the heart of winter, work on New York City Transit‘s Montague Tube continues with a focus on the demolition of concrete walls and removal of debris caused by Superstorm Sandy.
Metrolink names new CFO/treasurer
Metrolink has hired Sam Joumblat, a veteran financial expert with more than 30 years of business and engineering experience, as its chief financial officer and treasurer, effective March 17.
President Obama outlines $302-billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization effort
President Obama proposed a $302-billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization effort while visiting the historic Union Depot train station in Saint Paul, Minn.
Sixth round of TIGER grants will make $600 million available
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) sixth round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants is making $600 million available to fund transportation projects across the country.
Additional funds to aid WMATA’s strategic plan
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has received an increased capital commitment of $75 million by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, to reduce crowding and add system capacity.
CN reaching out to communities to review safety, share dangerous goods information
Canadian National is reaching out to municipalities along its North American rail network to review its safety practices, share relevant information on dangerous goods traffic and discuss emergency response planning.
CATS receives FTA approval to enter Gold Line Phase 2 project development
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and the city of Charlotte received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enter project development for Phase 2 of the CityLYNX Gold Line.
Houston METRO names Lambert as president/CEO
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO) has named Tom Lambert president and chief executive officer. Lambert has been acting in the role on an interim basis for more than a year.
PennDOT Oks funds for 33 freight rail projects
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has approved $34.7 million in funds for 33 freight rail projects across the state which will create more than 43,000 jobs.
FTA green lights Durham Orange LRT project development
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Triangle Transit‘s request to enter project development on the 17-mile, $1.34-billion Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project.
CSX J&L Tunnel Project earns two engineering awards
CSX‘s J&L Tunnel Modification Project in Pittsburgh, Pa., has won the Project of the Year Award from the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) and the Diamond Award for Engineering Excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA), recognizing the project’s safe completion, sustainability, cost-effectiveness and community benefits.
Colorado high-speed rail technically, not financially, feasible
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has issued two draft reports summarizing the feasibility of high-speed transit systems in both the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor and I-25 Front Range Corridor.
Five teams qualified to bid on next segment of California HSR project
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) received five qualified bids for the next 60-mile phase of high-speed rail construction from Fresno to the Tulare-Kern County line near Bakersfield, which will be worth $1.5 to $2 billion.
IDOT Tier 2 environmental studies to look at Joliet to Chicago HSR options
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials held the first of a series of public meetings on Monday, Feb. 24, introducing the public to the next step of the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail project and asking for feedback as it begins Tier 2 environmental studies.
Airports Authority points finger at contractor for latest Silver Line delay
Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is facing another delay after the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) stated that “the contractor has not yet met the contract requirements for substantial completion.”
MTA launches passenger and worker safety initiatives
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a series of initiatives to improve safety throughout its operations by strengthening reporting responsibilities, emphasizing management oversight and installing automatic speed controls.
CTA to begin Blue Line improvement program in March
Starting in March, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will begin the first project for the Your New Blue improvement program for the Blue Line O’Hare branch, a $492-million program to provide faster, smoother commutes and improved stations.
The Your New Blue includes a number of track and station improvement projects along the 12.5-mile stretch of the O’Hare Branch between the Grand and O’Hare stations and is the largest, most comprehensive investment in the Blue Line since the O’Hare branch was extended to the airport from Jefferson Park in 1983-1984.
“Your New Blue Program represents a huge investment in CTA riders and visitors traveling to Chicago via O’Hare and the many vibrant communities along the North and Northwest Sides,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “These long-overdue improvements are part of Mayor [Rahm] Emanuel’s efforts to modernize our transit system for the 21st century.”
The first phase of Your New Blue involves replacing crossties, tie plates and other track materials on the Milwaukee elevated track structure between the Damen and Logan Square stops.
Later in 2014, the CTA will begin rehabilitation projects at the Western, Damen and California rail stations. In all, the four-year Your New Blue program will upgrade 13 stations, including adding a new elevator at Addison; improve tracks and signals; install new water-management systems and repairs to ensure dry and clean subway stations and upgrade traction power to improve service and reliability.
Funding for Your New Blue is being provided by a variety of local, state and federal sources, including $86 million from Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s Jump Start program.
Hakim elected as NJ Transit’s next executive director
New Jersey Transit‘s Board of Directors appointed Veronique Hakim as the new executive director, effective March 1, 2014.
CHSRA awards utility relocation design work contract to local California firm
California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the design-build contractor, Tutor-Perini/Zachary/Parsons, awarded a contract to Blair Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers (BC&F) for utility relocation design work in the Central Valley.