Gov. O’Malley allocates $280 million for Purple Line
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has allocated nearly $650 million in transportation investments for Prince George’s County, including $280 million for design work and land acquisition for the proposed Purple Line light rail transit project.
LACMTA and Caltrans to hold meetings on HDC project
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and he California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is holding a series of four public meetings to provide information and seek comment on a proposed new transportation corridor linking Palmdale and Victorville called the High Desert Corridor (HDC).
Phoenix Valley Metro and Valley Metro Rail elects new officers
Phoenix’s Valley Metro and Valley Metro Rail has elected new board officers for FY 13-14.
PUCO approves upgrades to three crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization at three highway-rail grade crossings in Licking, Stark and Wood counties.
CN to serve new Alberta frac sand transloading terminal in November
Canadian National will start serving a new frac sand terminal north of Grande Prairie, AB, Canada, starting in November 2013.
NRC launches scholarship program
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) has made scholarships available for tuition assistance to children or grandchildren of NRC members.
CTA to close Kimball stop for trackwork, provides update on Red Line South Reconstruction project
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will temporarily close the Kimball Brown Line station for nine days beginning early Saturday, July 13, to allow crews to replace track and rail system components that are 50 years old and beyond their useful life.
NYCT launches Fix & Fortify initiative with Greenpoint G Tube repairs
The first weekend in July saw crews making repairs to the Greenpoint G Tube as Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit launched the Fix & Fortify initiative to repair and strengthen portions of the system damaged in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
A dozen states awarded Operation Lifesaver safety grants
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), awarded more than $200,000 in grants to 12 states for a variety of rail safety public education projects and public service announcements.
TIGER grant finalized for Montana Multimodal hub
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has finalized a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2011 grant for the Port of Northern Montana Multimodal Hub Center in Shelby, Mont.
Ann Arbor Railroad to lease Ohio track from NS
Ann Arbor Railroad, Inc. (AA), filed with the Surface Transportation Board on June 24 for permission to lease approximately 3.69 miles of track in Toledo, Ohio, from Norfolk Southern (NS).
Tutor Perini awarded Amtrak concrete casing contract
Tutor Perini Corporation has recently been awarded a contract by Amtrak to construct an underground concrete casing (box tunnel) beneath the Eastern Rail Yard of the Hudson Yards site in New York City.
TriMet points to the importance of safety near WES tracks
TriMet’s WES Commuter Rail engineers see pedestrians and even vehicles disregard crossing arms and signs or cross where prohibited every day.
RTD approves I-225 Montview Station move
In Denver, Colo., the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors approved a request to move the planned Montview Station on the I-225 Rail Line to a new location on Fitzsimons Parkway.
RTA hires new director of communications
The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) hired Susan Bisno Massel, who will serve as director of communications and public affairs.
TranSystems hires SVP of passenger and freight rail
TranSystems hired Sam Mansour, P.E., as senior vice president and client manager for the company’s passenger and freight rail practice areas. Mansour will be responsible for business development, client service and growth strategies across the West region.
Watco Mechanical Services names new VP of marketing and sales
Watco Mechanical Services promoted Marty Riedlinger to vice president of marketing and sales.
Riedlinger will be responsible for marketing and sales for all mechanical repair facilities, over¬seeing the estimating department for mechanical and meeting with corporate customer service representatives.
Riedlinger joined the Watco team in May 2011. He has previously served as direc¬tor of estimating and as a corporate customer service representative.
Holland names new North American sales manager MOW
Holland L.P has promoted Russ Gehl to North American sales manager maintenance of way and will be based out of the Crete, Ill., office.
Foxx Sworn in as 17th U.S. secretary of transportation
Anthony Foxx was sworn in as the nation’s 17th secretary of transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones in a private ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters July 2, 2013.