LACMTA to update the public on the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, will hold three community meetings in April to update the public on the Alternatives Analysis study that is evaluating options to improve north-south travel opportunities in the East San Fernando Valley and provide connections to the regional transportation network. The AA study is a precursor to the draft environmental document.

CSX hiring in Tennessee, Maryland and Alabama

CSX Transportation says it is looking to fill 150 positions in Tennessee, mostly in and around Nashville; 140 jobs in Maryland, mainly in Baltimore and Cumberland and 90 positions in Alabama, primarily in Birmingham.

Port of Los Angeles receives $40.72 million for rail yard project

The Port of Los Angeles received $40.72 million to improve rail operations and access to West Basin rail yards as part of a larger funding allocation from the California Transportation Commission. The CTC distributed $271 million in new funding to 73 projects that will improve the state’s highways and rail systems and enhance the state’s economic recovery.

RT&S launches “Rail Brief” weekly engineering newsletter

The editors of Railway Track & Structures are pleased to bring you “Rail Brief,” a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings breaking news about rail engineering and maintenance-of-way to your inbox. Whether it occurs on or off the track, RT&S “Rail Brief” will cover advancing projects, developing technologies and other updates on rail infrastructure.

KCS improves fluidity with work on Laredo Subdivision

Last week, a Kansas City Southern production gang completed a 50-day effort to install 100,000 crossties and 4.5 track miles of new rail to replace the 112-pound rail in curves. The production gang also renewed crossings and surfaced the track between mileposts 22 and 147 (approximately West Killam to Robstown, Texas) on the Laredo Subdivision.

Iowa Interstate Railroad names two to executive management positions

Iowa Interstate Railroad promoted Dennis Miller from president & CEO to vice chairman of the board, effective March 31. Miller, who has been president since 2002, joined the company in 1985 and previously served as vice president of information systems, customer services and operations. His railroad service also includes 10 years with the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway and two years with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

Unitrac awarded Amtrak contract

Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Healey Railroad Corporation, received a $1.1 million contract to supply special trackwork to Amtrak.

U.S. DOT calls for innovative research proposals from small businesses

The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking innovative proposals from small businesses to address research needs facing the Department’s agencies. On April 2, U.S. DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration/John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center released the final Fiscal Year 2012 solicitation for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The solicitation contains eight research topic descriptions and invites small businesses to submit research proposals no later than June 5, 2012. The solicitation will be available online at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir.

SFMTA recommends two-year budget proposal with maintenance focus

The Transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees all transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), released proposals to balance the agency’s upcoming two-year budget. The proposals make a significant investment in maintenance that will increase Muni’s reliability, reduce overtime through adequate staffing and focus on key initiatives such as the Transit Effectiveness Project.

Granite JV awarded $56 million Arizona streetcar project

Granite Construction Incorporated, in a joint-venture with Old Pueblo Trackworks, comprising Granite and RailWorks Track Systems, has been awarded a $56 million contract by the city of Tucson, Airz., to build the first federally-funded streetcar project in more than 60 years. Granite will book its share, approximately $29 million, into backlog during the first quarter of 2012.

Ground breaks to eliminate major bottleneck in Missouri

A groundbreaking in Osage, Mo., has taken place for a new railroad bridge that will eliminate one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the country. The $28 million project received $22.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

Illinois high-speed rail corridor work resumes

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific will be upgrading Illinois’ high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for future high-speed Amtrak trains, from April 16 through May 25. The improvements for 110-mph service include the installation of new premium rail with concrete crossties and ballast; upgrades to bridges, culverts and drainage; signal and wayside equipment installations and upgrades and roadway-rail grade crossing improvements.

Construction to begin on intermodal facility at Charlotte, N.C., airport

The City of Charlotte, N.C., signed a lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation, a move that will kick off construction of Charlotte’s new regional intermodal facility at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Once operational, the facility is expected to generate $9 billion in economic impact over the next 20 years.