HART awards contract to CH2M Hill
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has awarded a contract for General Engineering Consultant (GEC) support services for the next phase of the rail project.
SCVTA completes environmental mitigation for BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) has completed the Alum Rock Fish Passage, a mitigation effort for the Mission Warren Area Improvements Project, a support project for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension.
MBTA, MassDoT, Massport collaborate on projects for big savings
Three Massachusetts transportation agencies, managing three different projects, worked closely together to save a total of more than $4.1 million while completing the work and limiting disruptions to subway service for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Blue Line Orient Heights Station.
UP’s new Osage River bridge officially opens
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, along with representatives of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Union Pacific, Amtrak and contractor OCCI, Inc., officially opened a new Union Pacific $28-million 1,200-foot railroad bridge across the Osage River, ahead of schedule and under budget.
Sound Transit picks preferred alternative for Lynnwood light rail; plans to open University Link extension early
The Sound Transit Board of Directors identified a preferred alternative to extend light rail from the Northgate mall area in Seattle, Wash., north to Lynnwood in Snohomish County. The preferred route will mostly run adjacent to I-5 with stations in the Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood areas.
MTA wraps up blasting for Second Avenue Subway
All blasting operations for Phase 1 of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Second Avenue Subway Project are complete.
Study says Texas highways would accommodate high-speed rail
A University of Texas, Arlington (UT Arlington), feasibility study of high-speed rail in Texas shows that trips between most city pairs that use existing Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) right-of-way can be made in less than two hours, making it competitive with air travel and superior to highway driving.
Pacific Imperial Railroad names Rohal president
Pacific Imperial Railroad (PIR), which runs freight services on the Desert Line, servicing the Tijuana-Tecate region of Baja California, Mexico and eastern San Diego County, has named David Rohal President of the company, effective December 1.
Gross & Janes begins construction on new crosstie production and treatment facility
Gross & Janes Co. has begun construction of a new $2.2-million crosstie production and borate treatment facility in Camden, Ark. The new facility will replace an existing Gross & Janes crosstie plant and also consolidate production from two other company plants in Taylor, Ark., and Carthage, Texas.
When fully operational after its scheduled completion in March 2014, the plant will employ 15 people and have the capacity to produce 600,000 crossties annually.
“The Camden location was chosen for its logistical advantages in serving three of our largest railroad clients, including Union Pacific, BNSF and Kansas City Southern,” said Mike Pourney, president and CEO of Gross & Janes. “In addition, the surrounding area in southern Arkansas has some of the best oak timber in the country. This area is also home to some of our most productive sawmills.”
Most crossties processed at the new Camden facility will be Gross & Janes’ borate pre-treated crossties called Tuff-Tie. This crosstie is treated with borate using a non-pressurized process prior to drying and shipping to the customer for creosote treatment. The company notes that this two-step treatment process eliminates the cost of pressurized application of borate at the time of creosote application, while also offsetting the amount of oil-based creosote needed for tie protection.
When the new Camden facility opens, the Carthage plant will remain open as a railcar loading facility and the Taylor plant will close.
Caltrans and Amtrak California set ridership record
In 2012-2013, Amtrak California carried a record 3.9 million passengers on its Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin rail lines. Over the past 10 years, ridership on the Pacific Surfliner and the San Joaquin increased by nearly one million passengers and ticket revenues skyrocketed from $44 million to $102 million.
All Aboard Florida picks Fort Lauderdale Station location
All Aboard Florida passenger line plans to develop its Fort Lauderdale station on parcels of land adjacent to the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor on NW 2nd Avenue, between Broward Boulevard and NW 4th Street.
SFMTA launches TBM “Big Alma” to help Central Subway boring
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), says that its tunnel boring machine (TBM) Big Alma has launched, joining her twin Mom Chung to construct the two Central Subway tunnels.
NCDOT performs crossing improvements at two locations, plans meeting to discuss crossing closure
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division has made crossing safety improvements at intersections in Monroe and West End and has scheduled a meeting to discuss crossing closure.
SMART awards design-build contract
Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has selected Shimmick Construction Company as the design-build contractor for its next major construction contract.
Baker awarded contract for Norfolk Southern Rutherford Intermodal Facility expansion
Michael Baker Jr., Inc., has been awarded a two-year, multimillion-dollar contract to provide construction management and construction inspection (CM/CI) services for the expansion of Norfolk Southern’s Rutherford Intermodal Facility near Harrisburg, Pa., which will double the capacity of the current facility.
NARP, Midwest High Speed Rail Association make recommendations for rail reauthorization bill
With the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure moving to organize a mark-up on the rail reauthorization before Congress adjourns for the year, the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) and Midwest High Speed Rail Association are making recommendations.
CTA offers sneak peek at 95th Street Terminal design
Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) unveiled the design renderings for the new 95th Street Red Line station, a project to modernize transit and promote economic opportunity on Chicago’s South Side.
MTA continues Sandy resiliency work on all fronts
Despite a historic level of repair work throughout the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s network of tracks, tunnels and under-river tubes, the authority said that effects of Superstorm Sandy will be felt for years to come.
Metrolink receives OTA grant to promote public safety campaign
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded a $61,325-grant to Metrolink for a year-long Public Safety Awareness on Railroads campaign.
Bel Aire, KDOT partner to construct commerce park rail siding
The city of Bel Aire, Kan., has been awarded a funding package from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to construct a rail siding in the Bel Aire Sunflower Commerce Park.