New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority recognized agency-wide contributions to a safer work environment at the 15th annual Chairman’s Safety Awards last week. At a ceremony in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall, MTA leaders recognized team achievements within the MTA and its operating agencies.
Miami-Dade Transit opened its 23rd Metrorail station, the new Miami International Airport (MIA) Station on July 28.
In Dallas, Texas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s long-anticipated Orange Line to Irving opened on July 30.
New York City Transit’s intense maintenance and clean-up program, FASTRACK, wrapped up a weeklong stint along the Sixth Avenue B, D, F and M lines. Once again, hundreds of transit workers inspected, repaired, maintained, cleaned and painted subway infrastructure in stations and tunnels between 59th Street-Columbus Circle and West 4th Street.
Dr. Allan M. Zarembski accepted a position as research professor and director of the Railroad Engineering and Safety Program, Department of Civil Engineering, at the University of Delaware.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that up to $17 billion in loans for critical infrastructure projects across the country would be available as a result of the recently enacted surface transportation bill.
Bay Area Rapid Transit in the San Francisco Bay area is looking to give small businesses a boost by increasing contracting opportunities within the transit district. At a recent board of directors meeting, BART’s Office of Civil Rights outlined a comprehensive strategy to change the agency’s processes in awarding contracts to small businesses, especially socially and economically disadvantaged businesses and those who employ disabled veterans. The plan was met with enthusiasm from the community during the meeting with one observer calling it a model for the Bay Area and even the nation.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority was honored by the American Public Transportation Association with the 2012 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award for efforts to enhance service, efficiencies and overall effectiveness.
Union Pacific Corporation elected John Koraleski to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. Koraleski serves as president and chief executive officer of Union Pacific Corporation, as well as president and CEO of Union Pacific Railroad Company. All Union Pacific Corporation board members serve concurrently on the railroad’s board of directors.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that on Monday, Molina, the tunnel boring machine digging the last of the four East Side Access tunnels in Queens, came to a halt six feet underneath the Long Island Rail Road mainline in Long Island City, completing its run. The milestone marks the end of tunnel boring for the East Side Access project and all MTA megaprojects.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the CEO of CSX Michael Ward to discuss improving rail safety. Durbin asked the Association of American Railroads to conduct a comprehensive review of railroad industry plans and practices to ensure trains can move safely and efficiently throughout the country during extreme weather events. Durbin also requested that the findings of this review be made available to the public.
Phoenix Arizona’s Valley Metro received regional approval from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) on the route and transit mode for the Phoenix West extension. Light rail will be extended 11 miles from downtown Phoenix, through the State Capitol area, to approximately 79th Avenue and the I-10 West freeway. This is Valley Metro’s first freeway corridor project, providing the growing West Valley with a higher-capacity and more efficient transit option by 2023.
TriMet in Portland, Ore., received a delivery of 64 steel girders for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. The girders will support the Project’s Harbor Structure decking that will carry the light rail over and under several roadways in South Waterfront.
Metrolinx in Toronto, ON, Canada, is moving forward on its plans for a new Acton GO Station.
Amtrak has released a Master Plan to revitalize the terminal at Washington Union Station.
The Denver, Colo., Regional Transportation District Board of Directors formally approved a proposal by Kiewit Infrastructure Co. to complete the I-225 Light Rail Line to Peoria by November 2015. The line would open in mid-2016 after about six months of testing. With a vote of 14-0 and one member absent, the RTD Board’s decision paves the way for the agency to complete another FasTracks rail line. On July 3, RTD staff recommended the proposal to the board after finding that it offered the best value with a financially sound solution that allows RTD to take advantage of the current market. The Kiewit team includes Mass. Electric Construction Co., AECOM and RBC Capital Markets.
The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to receive nearly 13 miles of rail beginning Monday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 1 for commuter SunRail trains to run on.
L.B. Foster Company has been awarded the company’s largest rail products contract, valued at approximately $60 million, by contractor Kiewit/Kobayashi, a Joint Venture, for the county-wide construction of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) passenger transit system. L.B. Foster rail, concrete ties, direct fixation fasteners, third rail with accessories and special trackwork will be installed throughout the Honolulu Rail Transit Project’s new elevated railway system and maintenance yard.
Michael Baker Jr., Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corporation, has been awarded a $1.57 million contract by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation for a comprehensive study of Long Bridge over the Potomac River to assess existing conditions and options for rehabilitation or replacing the bridge crossing in the future. The heavily-used bridge carries traffic for three railroads, CSX (the bridge owner), Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express and is the sole railroad bridge between the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Harsco Corporation elected James F. Earl to the Harsco Board of Directors, effective immediately.
