Construction authority issues bid packages for next phase of LA Metro Gold Line






At its
January 28, Board meeting, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction
Authority Board of Directors issued the following two bid packages, seeking
design-build-finance teams to construct Phase 2A (Pasadena to Azusa):  (1) the Request for Proposals (RFP) for
the Iconic Freeway Structure project and (2) the Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) for the Phase 2A Alignment project. These actions keep the Foothill
Extension on schedule to break ground in June 2010 and be completed to Azusa in
2013.

NJ Transit hires new executive director






NJ Transit board members
approved the appointment and contract of former Transportation Commissioner
James Weinstein as the state commuter agency’s new executive director Jan. 28,
the Asbury Park Press reports. Weinstein was nominated by Gov. Chris Christie
earlier this month. The contract is effective Jan. 30. Former executive
director Richard Sarles is retiring.


HRT board appoints Philip Shucet President/CEO






The
governing board of Hampton Roads Transit has selected Philip A. Shucet as HRT’s
president and CEO. One of Virginia’s leading transportation administrators,
Shucet is the former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation,
where he imposed a series of reforms that greatly improved the agency’s on-time
and on-budget performance.

AAR: High-speed rail grants recognize rail’s vital role in economy






(The following is a
statement from Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R.
Hamberger in response to President Barack Obama’s award of $8 billion in
federal grants to 31 states around the U.S. for high-speed and intercity
passenger rail projects.)

"Moving more people and
goods by rail is good for America. The Obama Administration’s announcement recognizes
the vital importance of rail to our nation’s economic recovery.

Amtrak to benefit from federal investment in high-speed rail






The
Amtrak national route network is a significant beneficiary of President Obama’s
historic federal investment in intercity passenger rail as approximately $4.5 billion
of the $8 billion awarded in grants are for state projects that support
improvements to current or future Amtrak routes.

Ayer, Mass., commuter line debated






The latest meeting
between state authorities, local officials and concerned citizens regarding the
possible construction of a parking structure in downtown Ayer, Mass., revealed
not only that the groups were miles apart about the type of structure that
could be built, but that one of the key sources of funding for the project
might not be available, the Ayer Public Spirit reports.

Paper company seeks grant for track repair






Irving Tissue is seeking
state funding for a $1 million project that would repair 4,200 feet of railroad
tracks leading to its Fort Edward, N.Y., plant, the Glens Falls Post Star
reports. The repairs to the tracks are needed to accommodate the expected
increase in train traffic to the plant when a new paper machine comes online in
the fall, Fort Edward town Supervisor Mitch Suprenant said.

CTA Orange Line trains to reroute on Loop Elevated Tracks






Chicago Transit Authority Orange
Line trains in the Loop will be temporarily rerouted to operate on the Brown
Line tracks from approximately 5:50 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 31 due
to track work. Orange Line trains will be rerouted from the inner track to the
outer Loop track, and travel counterclockwise.

Metro weekend rail service changes Jan. 29-31






Track maintenance on the
Red Line in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29-31 will cause inbound and outbound trains
to take turns sharing one track. Metrorail customers traveling between the
Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations should add at least
20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace rail fasteners that
stabilize tracks, and make tunnel repairs.


Trinity Railway Express track project receiving $7 million in federal funds






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Dallas
Area Rapid Transit and the Trinity Railway Express will receive nearly $7.2
million in federal funds to help complete the construction of a five-mile
section of double-track rail line between West Irving and CentrePort/DFW
Airport stations. The funds are from the Federal Railroad Administration’s 2009
appropriation for passenger rail service.

 

OnTrackAmerica adds three staffers






Expanding on the
momentum it built throughout 2009, OnTrackAmerica (OTA), the Philadelphia-based
non-profit transportation consultancy is expanding its staff to fully develop
its comprehensive agenda for 2010.

 

LIRR bridge installation, NYC Transit Rockaways station work






There will be no train
service along the Long Beach Branch Jan. 30-31 due to the installation of two
new MTA Long Island Rail Road bridges over Powell Creek and Hog Island Channel.
The $24.5 million project, funded through the MTA Capital Program and Federal
Transit Administration grants, will also require the shutdown of train service
on four other weekends later this year – March 20-21, March 27-28, May 1-2 and
May 15-16.

 

L.B. Foster supplies concrete ties for EGT Columbia River Grain Terminal






CXT, Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of L.B. Foster Company, has been awarded a contract by
West Rail Construction to supply 23,000 concrete rail ties for the unloading
system at EGT’s Columbia River Grain Terminal. CXT plans to start shipment of
ties from its Spokane manufacturing plant to the new Longview, Wash., riverside
facility in February.

Portland’s WES marks first year in service






TriMet WES Commuter Rail
line marks its first year in service on February 2. Oregon’s first commuter rail
line connects the Portland suburban cities of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and
Wilsonville with weekday rush hour service.

Commission votes in favor of Oakland Airport Connector






The commission for the Bay
Area’s transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency voted 11 to 5
to keep $70 million in Stimulus funds with the Oakland Airport Connector Project.
However, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will revisit the issue at a
special February 17 meeting.

Working on the railroad: Projects could add hundreds of jobs to region






Two large-scale projects
being pursued by Riverport Railroad, LLC, in Savanna, Ill., have the potential
to add 350 to 400 new jobs to the Carroll County area, said Jack Koster, Riverport’s
president and CEO, the Freeport Journal Standard reports. The projects in
question will not only create jobs, but generate significant property tax
revenue and establish a "Rail Car Mall" serving companies across the U.S.,
Koster said.

Panel warns of Hudson River tunnel delay






Construction of a second
commuter train tunnel under the Hudson River, one of the biggest public works
projects under way in the country, could be delayed by issues about the use of
eminent domain to take property on the West Side of Manhattan, The New York
Times reports.

ICC approves safety improvements at five Illinois grade crossings






February 14, 2001

The Illinois
Commerce Commission has granted approval for safety improvements at five grade
crossings around the state. ICC OKed the installation of new automatic flashing
light signals and gates and roadway approach grade improvements at the N. 9th
Avenue highway-rail grade crossing of Norfolk Southern track near Litchfield,
Montgomery County The total estimated cost for the new automatic warning
devices is $280,806. The Grade Crossing Protection Fund will be used to pay 95 percent
of the signal installation costs, not to exceed $266,766. NS will pay all remaining
installation costs, as well as all future operating and maintenance costs
related to the new automatic warning devices. All work is to be completed by Jan.
6, 2011.