Metra proposes four more stations in McHenry County






A proposed $500-million
project to improve commuter train service in Chicago and its suburbs includes
adding four stops in McHenry County, the Chicago Tribune reports. Prairie Grove
and Johnsburg would get train depots. Those communities are along a branch line
off the Metra UP Northwest Line that veers north near Crystal lake, Ill., to
the city of McHenry. The other proposed stops would be about 1.5 miles apart
along tracks that run parallel to U.S. Highway 14. Those stops would be between
existing downtown depots in Crystal Lake and Woodstock.

Final weekend for downtown San Jose rail rehab project






Weekend motorists, cyclists
and pedestrians using the intersection of Almaden Boulevard and San Carlos
Street, and VTA light rail riders using or passing through the Convention
Center Light Rail Station insane Jose, Calif., should allow more time for their
trips the weekend of Nov. 7-8.

BNSF, BLET reach tentative agreement






BNSF
has reached a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Trainmen to settle wage and work rule matters concerning BNSF’s locomotive
engineers for the major round of collective bargaining that will begin Jan. 1,
2010.

Historic railway yanked away for Sioux City project






It’s been decades since
select ground just east of Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City, Iowa, was exposed to
sun and other elements, the Sioux City Journal reports. Now, the area is being
laid bare by workers moving southward, pulling out old railroad spikes and
prying up the steel track.

D.C. Metro sets weekend track maintenance






Track maintenance on the
Washington, D.C., Metro Orange, Blue and Yellow lines Nov. 6-8 will cause
inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track. Customers should
add 30 minutes to their trips.

Dulles Metrorail project update






Beneath a busy interchange
on top of the highest point in Tysons Corner, Va., crews are mining a tunnel
that will carry the Dulles Corridor Metrorail tracks from Route 123 to Route 7.
Working two 12-hour shifts per day, crews began tunnel construction, using the
New Austrian Tunneling Method to mine the first of two tunnels, the outbound
segment. Construction will start on the inbound tunnel in the coming months.

Final girder to be installed on West Valley TRAX bridge






Utah Transit Authority in
the Salt Lake City area is scheduled to place the final girder on the new West
Valley TRAX bridge over Union Pacific’s Roper Yard Nov. 5. The bridge is the
largest single structure on the West Valley TRAX line and its completion is an
important milestone on the project. The West Valley TRAX Line will extend TRAX
service from 2100 South Central Pointe station on the North-South TRAX line
southwest to West Valley City Hall.

CN, disgruntled communities meet






Barrington and Aurora,
Ill., officials met separately Nov. 4 with new Surface Transportation Board
Chairman Dan Elliott, a day after he toured the EJ&E rail line with
representatives of its new owner, Canadian National, the Daily Herald reports.

NCRA, SMART release timeline for trains






February 14, 2001

Construction work is
finished on the railroad tracks that will carry freight trains through Novato,
Calif. Now the tracks need to be inspected, and then freight trains are
expected to start rolling by March 2010, the Novato Advance reports. Meanwhile,
planning and design work is under way for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit
(SMART) commuter train, and construction work should start in 2011.

INVISTA, CSXT dedicate new rail infrastructure






February 14, 2001

INVISTA, a global
manufacturer of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers, and CSX
Transportation celebrated the expansion of rail tracks and other infrastructure
in a ceremony today at INVISTA’s Spartanburg, S.C., plant. The capital
investment will result in increased efficiency and improved customer service.

Levelland sets sights, lines for West Texas big business






February 14, 2001

Despite the national meager
economic outlook, Levelland, Texas is on the right track for big business.
Literally. After voting unanimously just over one year ago to commit $1.5
million to build an Industrial Rail Park in the 12,866-population town, the
Levelland Economic Development Corporation’s vision has begun to be realized.

BART seeks public comment on extension to Livermore






February 14, 2001

On November 5, BART will
release its Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for an extension between
the Dublin/Pleasanton Station and the City of Livermore, Calif. The goal of
extending BART to Livermore is to increase mobility to, from and through the
Tri-Valley region. As added benefits, a new station in Livermore would reduce
transportation-related greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions; improve
community livability and reduce congestion on the I-580 corridor. The DPEIR
evaluates alignment options, environmental impacts and mitigation measures for
extending BART to Livermore. BART is seeking public comment on the Livermore
extension and its proposed alignments.

KCSR partners with Operation Lifesaver, LADOTD, MDOT






February 14, 2001

Public safety around
railroad operations is best promoted when there is participation from everyone
involved. In public-private partnerships with Operation Lifesaver, the
Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company is
doing its part to promote safety at public grade crossings for motorists,
pedestrians and the railroad operation.

UP says, ‘Upgrade rails for passengers, not freight’






February 14, 2001

(The following opinion
article, "Rail upgrade needed for passenger service, not freight,"
was written by Joseph Bateman and appeared Nov. 4, 2009, in the Springfield,
Ill., State Journal-Register. Bateman is vice president for public affairs of
Union Pacific.)

Contrary to the headline
and opinions expressed in the Oct. 25 article "High-speed rail spending to be a
boon to freight rail companies," Union Pacific does not need for its freight
operations the improvements contained in IDOT’s proposal for high-speed
passenger service in the St. Louis-to-Chicago corridor.

As work proceeds, P&N lacks an operator, necessary funding






February 14, 2001

Work crews with heavy
equipment were busy Nov. 3 repairing the historic Piedmont & Northern Railroad
off of Ozark Avenue in Gastonia, but while the restoration of the rail line is
moving ahead, the project’s bottom line still has obstacles to overcome,
according to the Gaston Gazette.