All Aboard Florida (AAF), developer of the privately-owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail system that will connect South Florida to Orlando, has selected AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., as the environmental engineering firm overseeing the design planning and environmental compliance and permitting efforts for the 230-mile passenger railway infrastructure.
AECOM Technology Corporation has appointed Thomas Peck as senior vice president and chief information officer.
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc., has appointed Penny Stegeman to chief operations officer, passenger services, to the Las Vegas X Train team.
RailWorks Corporation named Daniel Brown corporate equipment manager.
Canadian Pacific launched new faster intermodal train services connecting Vancouver, B.C., to Toronto, ON, or Chicago, Ill.
BNSF was awarded the 2012 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence during the AREMA Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill.
The Metrolink Board of Directors appointed Michael P. DePallo, a veteran transit leader with more than 30 years of experience, as chief executive officer of the Southern California commuter rail service.
The Regional Transportation Authority unveiled a plan to fund capital improvements for transit systems across Chicago and the suburbs.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Department of the Army permit to the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension project.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released $47.5 million in competitive business development grants, including $2 million for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.
New York City Transit appointed Herbert Lambert, who has more than 30 years of service in Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit’s Department of Subways, to the position of chief transportation officer, rapid transit operations.
Colo Railroad Builders has appointed Wade Hoffmann as vice president of business development.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $71.3 million to Indiana to help alleviate congestion in one of the region’s most delay-prone rail corridors. The Indiana Gateway Project will both relieve congestion and support the development of higher performing intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest.
As part of the ongoing modernization of VIA Rail Canada, Daryl Kramp, member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings on behalf of the Honorable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), officially opened the new Belleville train station, overhead walkway and island platform in Ontario.
The National Transportation Safety Board closed five of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s outstanding safety recommendations.
The Chicago Transit Authority granted approval to begin the process of acquiring property near its 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal on Chicago’s South Side as part of the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project. The project is an estimated $240-million initiative that will expand and improve the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal.
The nine properties identified for acquisition are located directly off the expressway and are primarily commercial properties with a few vacant lots.
This allows the CTA to begin the acquisition process, subject to the requirements of federal and state law. Any purchase of a property by CTA, whether by negotiation or court order, cannot take place without subsequent board action.
The 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal is one of CTA’s busiest, with 24-hour Red Line service and more than 1,000 CTA and Pace bus trips on a typical weekday. The current configuration does not have adequate capacity to efficiently serve customers, which number around 20,000 on an average weekday.
L.B. Foster Company’s CXT Concrete Ties facility in Spokane, Wash., has been selected as a finalist in IndustryWeek magazine’s annual 2012 Best Plants Award for Excellence in Manufacturing competition. The publication reported online that North American finalists for this recognition included the Washington state rail products facility.
RailWorks Corporation has promoted Ed Kennedy to president of RailWorks Track Services, Inc.
Southern California’s Metrolink unveiled its Positive Train Control test train at an event hosted by Metrolink Board Chair Richard Katz and the Metrolink Board on September 10.
The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $4 million in funding for nine rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) program. The rail projects are expected to support the creation and retention of more than 110 jobs within the next three years and spur development of six industrial areas across the state. The proposed developments will leverage millions in new capital investments across the state.
