DART kicks off construction of South Oak Cliff Three Line extension
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officials and city staff celebrated the start of the DART South Oak Cliff Three Line extension January 24.
BART enters Sister Agency Agreement with Shanghai Metro
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed to develop a sister transit agency affiliation with Shanghai Metro, the subway system in Shanghai, China.
BART says such an affiliation will benefit both urban rapid transit systems and their customers by the mutual sharing of experiences, challenges and solutions.
HNTB Corporation names rail and transit leader in southern California
HNTB Corporation, an infrastructure solutions firm, has hired Graham Christie, PE, as associate vice president, Southern California rail and transit leader. Christie brings more than two decades of project management, design and construction management experience working with various transportation agencies on rail and transit projects throughout Southern California.
MTA receives first reimbursement for Sandy-related repairs
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has received more than $886 million in federal aid to help cover costs associated with repairs from Superstorm Sandy, primarily in the Montague, Greenpoint and Steinway subway tunnels, and to make New York’s transportation system more resilient to any future storms.
NYCT to begin next found of repairs to Flushing Line in February
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will begin the latest round of ongoing work to modernize, improve and fortify NYCT’s Flushing 7 Line in February.
NTSB closes another WMATA safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed another safety recommendation, which advised the transit agency to develop a program to periodically determine that the electronic components in Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) train control system are performing within design tolerances. NTSB has now closed 21 of its 29 recommendations for WMATA.
LACMTA begins construction of Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project
Construction began January 21 on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, an 8.5-mile, $2.058-billion light-rail line that will run between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) Expo and Green lines and is expected to open in 2019.
Metro Transit to open Green Line June 14
Metro Transit will begin service on the Twin Cities’ Green Line light rail on June 14, 2014. The new light rail between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., is opening nearly six months earlier than required by the Federal Transit Administration, which is funding half the $957-million project, which is on budget.
BART to begin testing Oakland Airport Connector
Test vehicles will soon be traveling on the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) tracks above Hegenberger Road in Oakland, Calif., as the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) project moves into one of the final phases before the anticipated opening for service this fall. The first of the new test vehicles was unveiled recently at the OAC wheelhouse.
Watco partners with Great Northern Project Development on new transload terminal
Watco Terminal and Port Services and Great Northern Project Development, L. P. (GNPD) are partnering together in the development and operation of a major multi-purpose rail transload terminal and railcar maintenance shop near South Heart, N.D.
Koppers completes acquisition of Canadian crosstie treating business
Koppers Inc., has completed the purchase of the crosstie treating business and related manufacturing facility of Tolko Industries Ltd., located in Ashcroft, BC, Canada.
CTA to benefit from funding of Core Capacity Program
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) said that as the only transit system currently accepted into the Federal Transit Administration’s Core Capacity Program, the Chicago Transit Authority is poised to benefit from the infusion of funding included in the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill,
Federal spending bill includes $250 million for Honolulu’s rail project
According to Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) officials, the $1.1-trillion federal spending bill that President Obama signed late last week will provide $250 million for the Honolulu transit-rail project.
CSX names regional VP, state government affairs for Virginia
CSX appointed Bryan Rhode to regional vice president, state government affairs in Virginia.
KCS hosts Officer on a Train event in Missouri
Kansas City Southern, the Anderson, Mo., Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol will host an Officer on a Train event January 22 to promote public safety at railroad crossings in Anderson.
NYCT begins FASTRACK in Manhattan and Queens
Starting January 20, Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit will bring FASTRACK to the E, F, M and R lines in Manhattan and Queens. For four consecutive weeknights until early morning January 24, E service will be suspended between Roosevelt Ave. and World Trade Center. F service will be suspended between Roosevelt Ave. and 21 St.-Queensbridge. M service will end early between 71 Ave. and Essex St. each night. R service will end early between 71 Ave. and Whitehall St. each night.
FASTRACK has been designed around the careful determination that there is adequate alternate means of transportation, including enhanced services along some bus lines during work periods.
FASTRACK was introduced in January 2012, devoting four straight weeknights to perform maintenance work in tunnels, stations and on tracks, completely suspending service within a given line segment for a seven-hour period, allowing an army of maintenance workers to perform dozens of tasks.
The next FASTRACK overnight closure will be on the 2, 3 and 4 Eastern Parkway Line, between Atlantic Ave.-Barclays Ctr. and Franklin Ave., beginning January 27 and ending early January 31.
NTSB releases 2014 Most Wanted List
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its 2014 Most Wanted List, the top 10 advocacy and awareness priorities for the agency for 2014, which for the first time includes improving operational safety in rail mass transit.
USDOT issues final rule to streamline environmental reviews for transit, highway projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) implemented a final rule it says will significantly cut red tape, while achieving better environmental outcomes, for certain transit and highway projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and spur them towards completion more quickly than in years past.
House T&I special panel to look at public-private partnerships
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Nick Rahall, II (D-WV), have established the committee’s next special panel, which will focus on the use of and opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) across all modes of transportation, economic development, public buildings, water and maritime infrastructure and equipment.
CP’s E. Hunter Harrison named Morningstar 2013 CEO of the Year
Morningstar, Inc., named E. Hunter Harrison of Canadian Pacific its 2013 CEO of the Year. Morningstar annually recognizes a chief executive who exhibits exemplary corporate stewardship, demonstrates independent thinking, creates lasting value for shareholders and has put his or her stamp on an industry.