NYCT Fix & Fortify tackles Montague Tubes work
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit will commence Fix & Fortify work to the Montague Tubes August 2 and will continue during the weekends for 14 months.
T board advances TEX Rail project by designating its first phase
The board of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) in Texas is scheduled to take action at its August 12 meeting to designate the first phase of the multi-phased TEX Rail commuter rail project.
CSX names Industrial Rail Park a Select Site
The Tuscola Industrial Rail Park in Tuscola, Ill., has been designated as a CSX Select Site. Select Sites are locations for manufacturing projects along the CSX network that can progress rapidly because standard land use issues have been addressed and the site is ready for development following a comprehensive due diligence process. RT&S magazine previously reported the introduction of CSX’s Select Site program January 11, 2012.
“We are excited to add this property to the Select Site program. The community of Tuscola has been great to work with to move the certification program along quickly. This site is competitive and delivers on our program objectives to provide industrial companies with easier development decisions, reduced risk and faster speed to market,” said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president, regional development, CSX.
CSX introduced the Select Site program in 2012 to better serve customers in their own backyards by adding rail transport access routes for some of the premier manufacturing properties in the eastern U.S. CSX partnered with The Austin Company, a nationally-known site selection firm, to screen candidate sites and assist communities with the application and certification process.
“Located in a pro-business community, Tuscola Industrial Rail Park offers industry one of the few location options in the country at the convergence of railroad, interstate and natural gas corridors,” said Jonathan Gemmen, senior location consultant, The Austin Company.
To receive CSX Select Site designation, the location must meet a rigorous list of criteria, including infrastructure and utility availability, environmental reviews, appropriate zoning and entitlement, air quality permitting, rail serviceability, proximity to highways or interstates and other attributes. Once certified, the sites are also featured on a user-friendly web portal featuring press releases, promotional materials and direct marketing to site selection professionals.
In addition to the Tuscola Industrial Rail Park, CSX has designated 10 other sites located across CSX’s 23-state service territory.
MTA secures $200 million of insurance protection
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has secured $200 million of insurance protection that will help pay for future repairs for damage to its infrastructure in the event of a storm featuring destructive storm surges similar to those experienced during Superstorm Sandy.
LACMTA renames its Transit Mall Station
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Blue Line Transit Mall Station in Long Beach has been renamed Downtown Long Beach Station to more clearly reflect the location.
Watco names director of engineering/project management
Watco Companies has hired Drew White as director of engineering for project management. In this position, White will report to Ron Close, senior vice president of supply chain management and become a team member of the Project Management Team.
IGSM renamed Continental Rail Corp., acquires shortline consulting company
IGSM Group, Inc., has repositioned itself within the railroad industry as a publicly-held shortline and regional railroad holding company. As part of the shareholder-approved plan, IGSM has filed to change its name to Continental Rail Corp. (CRC).
Stacy and Witbeck awarded Detroit streetcar contract
M-1 Rail has selected Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., to serve as construction manager/general contractor for the construction of the 3.3-mile Woodward Avenue streetcar in Detroit, Mich. M-1 Rail is slated to break ground by early fall between Larned Street and Adams Street in downtown Detroit.
Cambium Group to produce ACZA-treated ties in Canada
The Cambium Group, Inc., a licensee of Lonza Wood Protection (LWP), has started production of ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (AZCA)-treated crossties. Cambium will be the first Canadian producer of these ties, which the company says are an alternative to creosote crossties.
CSX relocates NC rail yard
N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Secretary Tony Tata, U.S. Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina and Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas joined representatives from CSX July 26 in Greenville, N.C., to celebrate the opening of the relocated CSX rail yard.
SFMTA begins tunnel boring for Central Subway
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) tunnel boring machine (TBM) Mom Chung has launched, commencing construction beneath downtown San Francisco of one of the Central Subway‘s two tunnels.
Tower 55 construction contract awarded
Atkins secured a construction management contract for a Union Pacific at-grade railroad crossing in Fort Worth, Texas and also won a contract to provide government compliance and federal reporting services for BNSF.
Colo Railroad Builders celebrates safety record, appoints director of mechanical services
Colo Railroad Builders’ Chicago Division surpassed the one-year recordable injury free mark on June 4, 2013.
SEPTA plans Trolley Tunnel outage for construction work
Due to overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel the evening of August 2 through early morning August 12.
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project reaches half way point
TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project has hit 50 percent completion. Construction on the 7.3-mile line began in May 2012 between downtown Portland and North Clackamas County, with bridge construction over the Willamette River in July 2011.
WMATA Board approves four-year agreement with union
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors has approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Local 689 Union, which freezes employee wages for one year and provides for employee contributions to their pension funds.
APTA to recognize six public transportation systems for sustainability
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will recognize nine public transportation systems for outstanding sustainability achievements.
Transport Canada issues emergency directive to increase rail safety
Transport Canada is moving forward to build upon the safety advisories received recently from the Transportation Safety Board and further enhance existing safe railway operations and the security of railway transportation by issuing an emergency directive pursuant to section 33 of the Canadian Railway Safety Act to increase rail safety.
Port of Vancouver USA approves Tesoro rail project
In the state of Washington, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year lease with the Tesoro-Savage Joint Venture (TSJV) for a crude oil handling facility at the port.
City of Sioux Falls releases environmental report for rail yard development project
An Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Rail Yard Redevelopment Project in Sioux Falls, S.D., has been signed by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration officials.