On the night of May 29, crews working on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s East Side Access project brought a 642-ton tunnel boring machine to a halt underneath Sunnyside Yard in Queens seven weeks ahead of schedule, completing the third of four tunnels the MTA is building in Queens.
The Chicago Transit Authority, in partnership with IMG Worldwide, issued Requests for Proposals, seeking naming rights and sponsorships for 11 ‘L’ stations. O’Hare, Fullerton, Belmont, Addison, Chicago, Grand/State, 95th, North/Clybourn, Midway, Ashland 63rd and 79th stations could become the new location for businesses to showcase their brands.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission authorizing the installation of flashing lights and gates at three grade crossings in Butler and Richland counties.
BNSF plans to invest an estimated $306 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvements in California, Minnesota and North Dakota in 2012.
Following an extensive international search, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors hired Jeff Morales as the authority’s new chief executive officer.
The Restoring Rail Service Act has been passed by Canada’s House of Commons. The Act would end the work stoppage at Canadian Pacific and its labor disputes with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
GE Transportation has chosen Chicago, Ill., as its global headquarters. Erie, Pa., will remain the headquarters for GE Transportation’s global locomotive business and key manufacturing site.
Legislation has been introduced in Canada’s House of Commons aimed at restoring Canadian Pacific Service. The Honorable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labor Minister, introduced the Restoring Rail Service Act, which was put in place to end the strike at CP.
In recent analysis, the Federal Railroad Administration said its Close Call Confidential Reporting System (C3RS) demonstration project has shown significant improvements in both safety and safety culture since C3RS was introduced, including a decrease in derailments.
The California Transportation Commission voted to allocate $37.6 million in state bond funds to construct the Baldwin Avenue grade separation project in the City of El Monte. The award of funds will permit the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority to prepare to release the project for bids from contractors.
The Honorable Steven Fletcher, minister of state (transport) and member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assinniboia, Manitoba and VIA Rail Canada announced a CA$6.5 million (US$6.36 million) investment in Winnipeg’s Union Station to improve public areas, accessibility, passenger services and amenities and the exterior of the heritage building.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority safely completed a key National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, the Guarded #8 project, late Monday, May 28, with the installation of the 178th mainline guarded rail switch on the Metrorail system.
Chicago Transportation Authority’s Red North Interim Station Improvement project will begin Friday, June 1, resulting in the temporary closure of the Granville station for up to six weeks.
Canadian National says that members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers have ratified a new collective agreement covering approximately 210 train dispatchers in Canada.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors adopted a $4.5 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012. LACMTA’s FY 2013 budget does not propose raising fares, which already rank among the lowest in the nation; its farebox recovery will stay at 28 percent.
BNSF plans to invest an estimated $111 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement projects in Montana this year.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors approved WMATA’s $2.5 billion operating and capital budgets for fiscal 2013, which fund critical projects to enhance safety and reliability, as well as customer service. WMTA’s fiscal year begins July 1.
The Honorable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labor Minister, said that the federal government has put the Restoring Rail Service Act on notice to end the current Canadian Pacific work stoppage involving the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
BNSF plans to invest an estimated $30 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement projects in South Dakota this year.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, elected officials, community leaders and other dignitaries gathered to celebrate the completion of a federally-funded, non-stimulus $7.9 million renovation project at Ryers Station.
