Oklahoma lawmaker wants commuter rail

Oklahoma could soon have a commuter rail transportation system to get people to and from work and ease travel, the Tulsa Beacon reports. 
State Rep. Charlie Joyner has been working to make that a possibility.
 Joyner met with representatives from Trinity Railroad Express, BNSF, Amtrak and Dallas Area Rapid Transit this week in Fort Worth to discuss the possibility of getting a commuter rail system in Oklahoma. He discussed the projected costs and pros and cons.


D.C. Metro sets weekend renovation on Red, Blue, Yellow lines






August 20-22, Washington,
D.C., Metro will upgrade its track, platforms and bridges on the Red, Blue and
Yellow lines to improve reliability and service. As a result of this crucial
work, which is critical to maintain the railroad in a state of good repair,
riders can expect delays of up to 30 minutes. 



Sound Transit begins construction on Edmonds Station upgrades






Sound Transit celebrated
breaking ground on the first phase of construction of a new Sounder commuter
train station in Edmonds, Wash. The transit hub, scheduled to open next spring,
will replace a temporary structure south of the Amtrak station with a new east
platform, passenger shelter, re-paved parking area, upgraded lighting and
secured storage for bicycles.

New milestone for New York MTA’s Fulton Street Transit Center






The Metropolitan
Transportation Authority in New York City said underpinning for the Corbin
Building and the foundation for the Fulton Street Transit Center are complete.
This marks a major milestone in the $1.4-billion project that will connect five
subway stations and 10 subway lines, improving access for over 300,000 daily
customers that pass through this major transit hub in lower Manhattan. The
overall project, funded primarily with federal funds, remains on schedule and
will be completed in 2014.

DHS scientists to continue studying airflow in MBTA subway system






Commuters in Boston’s MBTA
subway system will notice scientific equipment and researchers with electronic
monitoring devices throughout the system August 20 -27, while the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues a scientific study of airflow
throughout the underground portion of the subway system. The first portion of
the study was conducted in December.

Ohio trail to change for CSX rail line






CSX Transportation wants to
raise a portion of the Keystone Viaduct on the Great Allegheny Passage at Sand
Patch so its double-decker train cars can clear the structure, the Somerset, Pa.,
Daily American reports. The Somerset County commissioners approved a memorandum
of understanding Tuesday with CSXT that outlines all the improvements the
railroad will need to make for the project. The agreement also lists who will
be responsible for construction, closure of the trail and when the actual work
is being performed.

Dow launching rail boot system at AREMA exhibition






The Dow Chemical Company
will introduce the TRAXSYSTM Rail Boot System in North America and present its
extensive rail technologies portfolio at the AREMA Conference and Exhibition in
Orlando, Fla., Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, 2010. Dow experts will be on hand at booth
#130/128 to discuss how the Company’s offerings can advance rail transport
safety and extend the working life of tracks, platforms and equipment 

TriMet launches TransitTracker by text






Portland, Ore., TriMet
riders have a new way to receive real-time arrival information for buses and
MAX: text message. This arrival information option, one of the first in the
nation, is useful for mobile phone users who have text message service plans
but not more expensive mobile web service plans.

Potential workers L.A. ask MTA to speed up construction






Los Angeles is known for
its vibrant car culture – and for all the problems that come along with it,
such as air pollution and congestion, according to the South Los Angeles Report.
Twelve transit projects are under way to provide relief for commuters. But transit
officials say that may take up to three decades to complete, according to the
South Los Angeles Report. Thousands of labor union members gathered in front of
downtown City Hall on Friday to show their support for a plan that would speed
up construction of the transit projects and create much-needed jobs.

FRA receives 77 applications for high-speed passenger rail funding






In an overwhelming show
of support for the Administration’s high-speed rail initiative, U.S. Secretary
of Transportation Ray LaHood said that the Federal Railroad Administration has
received 77 applications from 25 states for the most recent round of High-Speed
Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grant funding. Application requests total more
than $8.5 billion and will be considered for funding from more than $2.3
billion appropriated in FY 2010.

Maryland Transit sets subway work






The Maryland Transit
Administration is advising Metro Subway customers of upcoming track
maintenance. The overnight work will improve track functions between the Rogers
Avenue and State Center/Cultural Center stations and is scheduled to have
limited impact on Metro Subway service.

L.B. Foster extends tender offer for Portec Rail Products

L.B. Foster Company said it is extending its previously announced cash tender offer, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Foster Thomas Company, for all outstanding shares of common stock of Portec Rail Products, Inc., until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 30, 2010. The tender offer was previously set to expire at midnight, New York City time on August 16, 2010.


St. Louis Metro offers information on changes coming August 30






With the most significant
transit-service changes in years coming on August 30, Metro employees in St.
Louis will be at MetroBus Transfer Centers and MetroLink stations on weekdays
until then to provide customers with information on changes coming to 53
MetroBus routes. Teams of Metro employees serving as "ambassadors" will meet
with customers during the morning and afternoon rush hours with details.

L.B. Foster supplying 24,000 CXT® concrete ties for Calgary transit extension






CXT, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of L.B. Foster Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been awarded a
contract by City of Calgary Light Rail Transit to supply 14,500 CXT Concrete
Ties and fastening systems for use in the construction of line extensions to
expand the system to the northwest and northeast of Calgary, Alberta. CXT concrete
ties began shipping for this project in June from L.B. Foster’s Spokane, Wash.,
facility and will complete delivery by November 2010.