Search Results for: track structure

Significant progress made on CSX’s National Gateway

CSX Transportation has work completed or construction underway at one-third of the clearance projects included in phase one of the National Gateway, keeping the major American infrastructure initiative on track for completion by 2015.

The National Gateway is a public-private partnership that will create a double-stack freight rail corridor between Mid Atlantic sea ports and the Midwest. The improvement projects are designed to increase the vertical clearances at 61 locations on CSX rail lines in the region to accommodate intermodal trains carrying double-stack intermodal containers. To date, work is complete at five of the locations and crews are working at 15 other locations. The progress to date means almost one third of the clearance projects are completed or underway for the National Gateway’s phase one, which spans an existing rail corridor between North Baltimore, Ohio and Chambersburg, Pa.

The projects already completed include bridges in Hyndman and Chartiers Creek, Pa., which were modified for double-stack usage. In Coraopolis, Pa., CSX worked closely with local officials to ensure the safe and efficient removal of an antiquated pedestrian bridge. At the request of local officials, the aging structure was not replaced. Similarly, CSX worked closely with city officials in Akron, Ohio, to remove the previously closed Park Street overpass. In Niles, Ohio, CSX removed a damaged and antiquated overhead highway bridge and is constructing a new, modern replacement structure.

CSX has begun work on other projects in its phase one of construction, with five tunnel improvement projects underway in Confluence, Pa.; Hansrote, W.Va. and Magnolia, Md. where tunnel linings are being modified to provide the necessary clearance for passage of modern, double-stacked freight rail containers.

In Ohio, CSX is also raising four highway bridges and lowering the tracks at three others to improve clearances.

Other bridges in Kent and Ravenna, Ohio, and Paw Paw, W.Va., are being replaced with modern, new structures.

CSX recently announced that it will invest an additional $160 million to complete the National Gateway. The investment brings CSX’s planned private investment in the critical infrastructure project to about $575 million over several years.

"We are pleased to invest in these projects that will improve America’s transportation infrastructure, helping create jobs and cleaner, more efficient freight transportation," said Louis Renjel, vice president of strategic infrastructure initiatives, CSX Transportation. "Over the next few years, the National Gateway will move forward aggressively to invest in strategic freight rail infrastructure that will prepare our nation for continued growth and competition in the global economy."

Caltrain to install new bridge Oct. 15

Shortly after midnight, Saturday, Oct. 15, San Francisco’s Caltrain will remove the railroad bridge that spans Jerrold Avenue in San Francisco and replace it with a modern single-span steel bridge. The "big move" will be accomplished in one night, before train service begins Saturday morning.

The only impact to passengers will be at the Bayshore station, where all trains will operate on a single track and north and southbound passengers will board from a single platform all weekend.

In addition to the new bridge, the project also includes new steel structures and columns to support the bridge, new tracks through the area, new pavement on the street under the bridge and new sidewalks.

This week, crossing gates and lights on the adjacent freight train tracks will be temporarily removed, support frames will be constructed and the cranes that will be used to move the bridge will be mobilized.

Jerrold Avenue has been temporarily closed to through traffic between Rankin and Quint Streets. This temporary closure will last until Nov. 5. The closed street is being used to assemble the new bridge and dismantle the old one.

The project is necessary because the existing bridge is more than 100 years old and has reached the end of its useful life.

CREATE’s $133 million Englewood Flyover project breaks ground

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood helped break ground on the Englewood Flyover project, a critical component to the Chicago hub of the Midwest high-speed rail network. The construction project will build a bridge to separate traffic along two railroads, allowing 130 trains per day to move more quickly through one of the worst bottlenecks in North America. The investment will improve on-time performance of passenger trains, reduce freight congestion and create nearly 1,500 jobs. Secretary LaHood was joined by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Congressmen Bobby Rush and Dan Lipinski, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other state and local elected officials, as well as business, labor and civic leaders.

"Projects like this one are exactly why President Obama has made transportation such a big part of the American Jobs Act," said Secretary LaHood. "We have workers on site today, American factories producing new supplies and when the project is completed, people and goods will move more quickly and easily through the Midwest, making the region a better place to start a business or hire new workers."

The $133 million construction project is funded through a $126 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s high-speed intercity passenger rail program, with a $6.6 million contribution from Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! construction program. This marks the start of the second major construction project in the Midwest, as work is also under way on the Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail Corridor. Workers will build a bridge to carry 78 daily North-South Metra Rock Island commuter trains and approximately 60 East-West intercity passenger and freight trains that operate on the Norfolk Southern corridor. The new bridge will allow all trains to pass through without conflict and is designed to allow for additional tracks to be added to both corridors to accommodate future growth.

"The Englewood Flyover will make life easier for tens of thousands of commuters every day and put people to work immediately," Governor Pat Quinn said. "This vital project will eliminate a problem spot and set the stage for future passenger rail growth while boosting Illinois’ position at the economic engine of the Midwest."

"As a result of this federal funding, the hard hit construction industry in the Chicago metro area will see 1,500 jobs, good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. If we are going to continue growing our economy, we need more projects like this one, not fewer, which is why the American Jobs Act is so important," Senator Dick Durbin said.

"Every day, nearly 1,300 trains pass through Chicago-making it one of the busiest rail hubs in the United States," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "CREATE will invest in critically needed improvements to increase the efficiency of passenger and freight rail infrastructure, enhance the quality of life for residents and ensure Chicago remains a competitive destination for travel and trade."

"There aren’t many projects that deliver this kind of bang for the buck," Congressman Dan Lipinski said. Having obtained the initial $100 million for CREATE back in 2005, I’m very glad we’re finally breaking ground."

 

NJ Transit, GCRTA open new stations

NJ Transit customers who travel to and from the City of Garfield on the Bergen County Line will now benefit from the recently opened, new and improved Plauderville Station, which is fully accessible to customers with disabilities and provides more convenient access to the station from the parking area.

"Construction of a new station and high-level platforms ensures full accessibility for customers with disabilities, while enhancing overall convenience for everyone who uses it," said NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein. "A major benefit of the new station is that the relocated platforms provide customers with immediate access from the parking area to the station."

In August 2009, the NJ Transit Board of Directors authorized a $7.9 million contract with Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., of Maplewood, N.J., for the construction of two 450-foot high-level platforms, as well as a new heated waiting area on the inbound platform, canopies, lighting, electronic signage, closed-circuit television cameras, ramps and sidewalks.

The new platforms were built adjacent to the parking area located between Midland Avenue and Outwater Lane, south of the existing low-level platforms, providing customers with more convenient access to the station. With the opening of the new station the old station, located adjacent to Midland Avenue, closed.

Plauderville Station is the first NJ Transit facility to incorporate platforms constructed with an innovative material called Armor Deck, which is a structural polymer composite system used in place of concrete. The use of this material will result in a substantial cost savings to NJ Transit in terms of repairs and replacement over the years, as it resists corrosion and is maintenance free.

Located on the Bergen County Line, Plauderville Station serves about 400 customers on a typical weekday.

After more than a year of construction and seven years of planning, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority East 55th Street Rapid Station will officially be dedicated Tuesday, October 11, at noon. Reek havoc

The $9.4 million, ADA-accessible station is not only an icon in the Slavic Village neighborhood, but will also be as versatile as it is aesthetically pleasing. Construction called for a move to the southeast corner I-490 and East 55th St., making for a more visible landmark and providing easier access to pedestrians and vehicles.

East 55th is unique because it is one of the few stations that services the Red Line, as well the Blue and Green Lines, connecting east side and west side transit, along with linking bus-to-rail service.

The new parking lot and entrance allows buses and automobiles to drop passengers off right at the door of the station. Also new to the station is a center platform that allows convenient transfer between the Red, Blue and Green line transit without having to cross the tracks. At more than 800 feet in length, the platform was a major piece of engineering.

The modern design was selected to embrace the future of its surrounding neighborhood. The stone façade was selected to represent the many churches in the East 55th vicinity.

Public art surrounds the facility, with the structure’s purple and cement façade serving as an art form in itself. Art featured includes a mural titled "Space, Speed and Time," along with red figures that appear to move as your train arrives and departs the station.

 

Detroit-Chicago corridor receives $196.5 million

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $196.5 million grant to the Michigan Department of Transportation for track and signal improvements between Detroit and Kalamazoo, Mich. These improvements will allow for speeds up to 110 mph on 77 percent of Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services between Detroit and Chicago, resulting in a 30 minute reduction in travel time between those destinations.

"This is an important investment that will reduce travel time, improve reliability and on-time performance and attract more passengers," said Secretary LaHood. "We are creating jobs in Michigan, building our rails with American-made materials and growing the regional economy."

Dollars for this 135 mile segment between Detroit and Kalamazoo will support preliminary engineering, final design and construction. The project includes new, continuously welded rail and ties, fiber optic lines and infrastructure to support a positive train control system, rebuilding 180 highway-rail grade crossings and gates and flashers at 65 private highway-rail grade crossings. The project will create approximately 800 new jobs during the construction phase, which is expected to begin late spring 2012 and will facilitate service to current and future freight rail customers, including major shippers like Ford Motor Company.

In addition, MDOT is designated to receive a $150 million DOT grant later this year to purchase this 135 mile segment of track, when grant conditions are met. This will allow for the implementation of 110 mph service along the corridor that will bring improved passenger service, ensure capacity for freight operations through double tracking on the busiest freight segment and deliver long-term economic benefits to the State of Michigan.

CTA faces $277 million deficit in 2012

The Chicago Transit Authority faces a $277 million budget deficit for 2012, the result of skyrocketing labor costs and an end to years of borrowing. The CTA’s current operating budget is $1.35 billion.

Citing archaic and expensive work rules, dramatically escalating pension and health care mandates and the highest cost-adjusted rail and bus operator salaries in the nation, Claypool said current CTA labor costs are unsustainable.

Noting that the CTA has borrowed $554 million in the past four years to cover operating deficits, despite a 2009 fare hike and 2010 service cuts, Claypool said it was time to deal with these challenges and make decisions that will fix the CTA’s broken fiscal system.

"We can’t defer the hard decisions any longer. The CTA’s cost structure is too high given the revenues and tax receipts we have to operate it," Claypool said. "Changes are needed now to shore up the CTA’s fiscal situation. A robust, modern transit system is not just important to transit riders. It is important to the livability of the region and its ability to attract jobs and businesses. An investment in transit is an investment in the future of this region."

The financial crisis affecting the CTA has taken years to develop, Claypool said, and has its roots in funding formulas that shortchange the agency, a neglected infrastructure and a growing list of expensive state and federal mandates.

But the biggest contributing factor has been unrestrained wage and benefit growth in labor agreements, even during the Great Recession and a plethora of arcane work rules that cost the agency tens of millions annually, Claypool said.

Despite the shortfalls and in the absence of funding that would allow it to implement more sweeping changes, CTA is making improvements to its infrastructure and safety to ensure that the customer experience remains a good one.

Two weeks ago, CTA announced a program called "Station Renewal" that involves the cleaning and repair of 100 rail stations over the next 12 months and last week, the agency unveiled the new LED signs that will bring Bus Tracker to 400 bus shelters across the city.

Claypool also announced in July that 50 new, full-time police officers will be patrolling the CTA in 2012 and that CTA is doubling the number of security cameras along the system from 1,500 to 3,000 by year’s end.

"As we work through the many challenges that exist today and that lay ahead, we know that mass transit can help create more jobs, stronger neighborhoods, improve property values and provide a better quality of life. It is imperative that we address the challenges before us so that the CTA remains a strong and vital part of our city and region," Claypool said.

Alaska Railroad holds groundbreaking ceremony for North Rail Extension Project

Phase One of Alaska’s Northern Rail Extension project is just underway with construction beginning on a bridge over the Tanana River at Salcha, Alaska. A project ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, at the construction staging area.

The ground-breaking ceremony will feature members of Alaska’s congressional delegation, governor’s office, local community dignitaries and railroad executives. The event will celebrate the start of the long-anticipated rail extension, which is expected to boost local and state economies with millions of dollars spent on local equipment, materials, supplies and lodging. More than 200 construction jobs are projected during the summer months and about two dozen year-round.

The multi-phased Northern Rail Extension project will eventually expand railroad track infrastructure from North Pole / Eielson, 80 miles southeast to Delta Junction. It is expected to be a three-year effort, NRE Phase One will construct a new bridge across the river and an associated levee. The Environmental Impact Statement was completed in 2010.

MTA’s Port Jervis line to reopen by year-end with $50 million in repairs

Massive repairs on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Port Jervis Line, at an estimated cost of $50 million, will allow train service to resume by the end of the year, according to a damage assessment presented Sept. 26, at the MTA Metro-North Railroad committee meeting.

The full pre-storm train schedule will be restored when the second track between Harriman and Suffern is finished in fall 2012.

"We are committed to restoring the Port Jervis Line as quickly as possible. It is an important part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s regional network," said Metro-North Railroad President Howard Permut. "In the meantime, Metro-North has marshaled the resources of MTA Bus to provide alternative service during reconstruction and Metro-North forces are building access roads to the tracks to literally lay the groundwork for the outside contractor. NJ Transit, Leprechaun Lines and MTA Bus have all been very helpful and cooperative in this crisis," Permut said.

Metro-North will seek a contractor to rebuild the line, which was ravaged by floods during Tropical Storm Irene last month. An expedited bidding process is planned with a reconstruction contract to be awarded by October 15.

The first priority is to restore train service on one track for the four miles between Suffern and Sloatsburg, which was double tracked, and on the 10 miles between Sloatsburg and Harriman, which is a single track. This includes rebuilding the track bed sub-grade, replacing stone in the washout areas, compacting the loose stone and surfacing the right-of-way. Also critical is repair work on the bridges that carry tracks over streams and roads and rebuilding the slopes adjacent to the river.

The initial work will be performed jointly by a contractor working 24 hours a day, seven days a week and by Metro-North maintenance-of-way forces. The contract will be structured with financial incentives for early completion before the end of the year and penalties for delays in completion.

With the slopes shored up, reconstruction of the second track between Suffern and Sloatsburg, repair of the signal system and long-term bridge repairs can be undertaken. Some of this work will have to wait until spring because it can’t be done when temperatures are below freezing.

 

New York

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority completed tunneling for the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway when a tunnel boring machine (TBM) reached the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station, breaking into the existing tunnel. The completion of tunneling marks a major milestone in the $4.45 billion project that will provide service from 96th Street to 63rd Street as an extension of the Q train.

Wisconsin grants give $17 million to freight rail improvements

Wisconsin doled out 10 state awards totaling $17,452,415, which will be used to construct freight rail-related facilities and preserve and upgrade rail infrastructure as part of an overall effort to support job growth and Wisconsin’s economy.

"Wisconsin’s freight rail system plays a major role in our state’s economy, moving raw materials to industry and finished products to markets," Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said. "These awards will help support economic growth in communities across our state and help ensure Wisconsin remains open for business."

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is administering six loans totaling $4,605,824 through the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program. A revolving loan program, FRIIP awards are provided to private industries, railroads and local governments to improve rail infrastructure, highway-grade crossings and to construct new rail-served facilities, with the overall goal to boost economic development and jobs. As FRIIP loans are repaid, the dollars are used to help fund new projects.

Four grants totaling $12,846,591 are being distributed through the state’s Freight Railroad Preservation Program. FRPP grants cover up to 80 percent of the cost of projects designed to preserve rail service or rehabilitate fixed facilities on publicly owned rail lines.

Freight Railroad Preservation Program grants 
(Some include FRIIP loans)

Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad Co.
• Marinette Marine spur track rehabilitation: The Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad will receive an $845,940 FRPP grant to cover 80 percent of the costs of rehabilitating 1.1 miles of track in the city of Marinette in Marinette County, Wis. WisDOT will provide another $105,743 in the form of a FRIIP loan to cover one-half of the 20 percent local match. The remaining 10 percent, or $105,743, will be provided by the E&LS. Total project cost will be $1,057,425. Repairs will be made to ties, ballast, surfacing, turnout and roadway crossing elements on the spur track.

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co.
• Bridge study for Federal Railroad Administration required records: Wisconsin & Southern Railroad will receive an FRPP grant of $1,063,200 to cover 80 percent of the cost of completing a comprehensive bridge rating and evaluation study of bridges located on the rail system owned by WisDOT and the various rail transit commissions and operated by WSOR under contract. WSOR will also receive an FRIIP loan of $132,900 or 10 percent of the total cost. The remaining $132,900 or 10 percent will be provided by WSOR. New FRA rules require bridge studies to be done by rail line owners, which in this case are WisDOT and the rail transit commissions. The WisDOT/rail transit commission owned system has approximately 277 bridge structures.

• Bridge rehabilitation and replacement: The WSOR will receive a total of $4 million in FRPP grant funds to cover 80 percent of costs for emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction work on system bridges. A FRIIP loan of $500,000 will also be provided to cover 10 percent of the project costs. The remaining 10 percent, $500,000, will be provided by the WSOR. Total project cost will be $5,000,000. These projects have been identified by engineering studies as emergency repairs that are vital to keep state-owned railroad corridors operational. The WSOR has identified over $33 million of bridge work that is needed over the next several years. The $5 million will complete work on 10 bridges located in Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Milwaukee, Rock, Sauk and Winnebago counties.

Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co.
• Saukville to Elkhart Lake Phase 1 track rehabilitation: The WSOR will receive $6,937,451 in FRPP grant funds to pay for 80 percent of the total $8,671,814 costs of Phase 1 rehabilitation work on the Saukville to Eklhart Lake rail line in Washington and Sheboygan counties, Wis. WSOR will also receive a FRIIP loan of $867,181 to cover 10 percent of the cost of the work. The remaining 10 percent of $867,181 will be provided by WSOR and the East Wisconsin Counties Railroad Consortium. The Phase 1 work includes renewal of 15 grade crossings, reconstruction of 16 rail turnouts, adding 53,000 tons of new ballast and replacement of 50,000 crossties. Phase 2 work, which will likely include replacement of worn rail with new 115 lbs. welded rail, will occur at a later date.

Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP) loans

Zenda Grain LLC
• A $1.5 million FRIIP loan to Zenda Grain will construct two additional grain storage bins including one 90-foot diameter bin for additional corn storage and one 78-foot diameter bin for soybean storage. The total estimated cost of the two bins is $2 million. Zenda Grain is applying for the program limit for non-rail improvements of $1.5 million. The remaining cost will be assumed by Zenda Grain. The project is located at the company’s Zenda, Wisconsin property. The Zenda Grain LLC facility is located on a rail line served by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Company on right of way owned by the state of Wisconsin.

United Cooperative
• United Cooperative will use the $1.5 million FRIIP loan to construct a new grain elevator including grain storage and rail loading facilities near Sauk City, Wis., on the state-owned segment of railroad right-of-way between Mazomanie and Sauk City. United Coop will be constructing two, 48-foot diameter grain storage bins, a grain elevator leg and associated conveying equipment to load rail cars on the mainline track. The facility will serve as a rail loading facility for the cooperative’s Sauk City facility and will greatly improve market access for farmers in southern Sauk and northern Dane counties.

Gannett Fleming names Gough VP

William Gough, P.E., was named a vice president of Gannett Fleming. Based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa., Gough serves as a project manager in the firm’s Transportation Division.

With more than 34 years of experience, Gough is responsible for the design, inspection and rehabilitation of highway and railway bridges and viaducts involving multiple structures, staged construction and tight construction schedules. His extensive project experience includes underground highway and transit facilities, railroad electrification facilities, trackwork, rail systems and buildings.

He is a member of the America Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers Society of Pennsylvania, AREMA and the Association for Bridge Construction and Design.

Feds award nearly $20 mil for rail relocation projects across U.S.

The United States Federal Railroad Administration will give eight cities and states a shared $19.4 million to replace, relocate and improve segments of railroad track in order to enhance safety, livability and economic development. The FRA received 51 applications from across the country for the Rail Line Relocation and Improvement grants, seeking more than $202 million.

"The strong desire to improve infrastructure and foster economic development throughout America is evident in the overwhelming demand by our nation’s cities and states," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "These strategic investments will help advance President Obama’s vision to create jobs, build livable communities, and stimulate economic growth through local projects that deliver the greatest public benefits."

FRA’s RLR Grant Program assists projects that improve community livability and promote economic development by addressing the effects of rail traffic on safety, roadway and pedestrian traffic, overall quality of life and local area commerce. Funding for these grants is made available through annual appropriations and requires a 10 percent contribution from the project sponsor. Rail line relocation dollars announced will fund the following projects:

Port of San Francisco, California – Quint Street Yard Track and Signal Improvements – $2,970,000 to improve an approximately one mile-long spur connecting a Caltrain mainline track to the San Francisco Rail Yard. The mainline is under consideration for use as part of the California high-speed rail project and the current condition of the spur track limits the frequency, weight and length of trains that can use the track, causing delays. The improvements will allow freight trains to operate at higher speeds and clear the mainline more quickly.

Sprague, Connecticut – Providence & Worcester Railroad Willimantic Branch – $5,302,900 to upgrade track on the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company’s Willimantic Branch, allowing freight operations to increase speed from 10 mph to 40 mph. Improvements will provide for more efficient movement of freight shipments originating from or destined to customers across the nation or overseas.

Maryland Department of Transportation- Canton Area Rail Improvement Project – $1,742,240 for the expansion of a Canton Railroad Company yard facility. Current switching operations often cause major motor vehicle traffic delays, requiring traffic to be rerouted around the yard. The improvements will permit more efficient switching operations and create additional car storage, which will help reduce traffic congestion.

Tavares, Florida – Florida Central Railroad Upgrade and Rehabilitation – $2,200,000 to upgrade a segment of track on the Florida Central Railroad in Lake and Orange counties, allowing increases in speed from 10 mph to 40 mph. Coupled with additional track and bridge repairs, freight service can be restored to areas currently not served by rail. The improvements may also benefit potential future SunRail commuter service and an excursion train service between Orlando and the City of Mt. Dora.

Minnesota Department of Transportation – K-Line Rail Improvement Project – $1,469,556 to improve and extend a municipally-owned rail spur. Extending the track will enable a local shipper, whose current location forces it to route traffic close to a high school, to relocate its operations to the industrial park.

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department – Arkansas Midland Railroad/Warren Branch – $2,721,435 to rehabilitate and improve 40 miles of track along the Warren Branch of the Arkansas Midland Railroad, a shortline railroad located in the Arkansas Delta. The planned improvements will remedy poor track conditions caused by inadequate drainage and heavy freight loads, which have contributed to washouts, broken rails, derailments and slow orders that reduce train speeds.

Springfield, Missouri – West Wye Connection Track – $1,898,444 to relocate an existing "Wye" track that runs through the center of Springfield to the western side of the city. The project will enable the permanent removal of 23 highway-rail grade crossings, increasing roadway safety in the area while improving railroad operational performance.

Alaska Railroad – Milepost 142 Curve Alignment – $1,141,840 to reduce the curvature of the Alaska Railroad mainline adjacent to the Native Village of Eklutna. The realignment and improvements will increase track speeds, reduce noise and improve operating safety and efficiency. A new access road will also allow vehicles to access trains for inspection and car repair and provide Eklutna, Inc., tribal members access to their property.

In September, as part of the Rail Line Relocation Grant Program, FRA will issue a Notice of Funding Availability for more than $11.5 million (made available through annual appropriations), with applications due 30 days later.

Feds award $32.5 million to Boston’s South Station

The Federal Railway Administration awarded the Massachusetts Department of Transportation $32.5 million to expand and enhance the historic South Station in Boston. The station currently operates beyond its capacity and expects an estimated 50 percent increase in high-speed intercity passenger rail travel in the coming years along the Northeast Corridor, making expansion necessary.

"These dollars will allow South Station to expand and meet the needs of the traveling public," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Revitalizing and modernizing South Station is not only crucial to accommodating projected population growth, it will create jobs and grow the region’s economy."

The grant will allow MassDOT to complete all necessary environmental reviews as well as preliminary engineering activities for the station expansion, including:

• Development of a new layover facility for train storage during off-peak times.

• Improvements to existing tracks, platforms, interlockings, passenger facilities and other infrastructure.

• Demolition and relocation of an existing, adjacent U.S. Postal Service General Mail Facility to construct new passenger facilities including tracks, platforms, waiting areas with connections to existing platforms and tracks and the adjacent South Station Bus Terminal.

• Design passenger enhancements through improved streetscape, pedestrian, bicycle, local transit and vehicular facilities in and around the station, including the re-opening of Dorchester Avenue for public use.

• Develop a cost estimate for the construction phase of the project.

• Consideration of opportunities for joint public/private development over an expanded South Station.

South Station offers travelers access to Amtrak’s high-speed Acela service as well as Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail, intercity bus, rapid transit and bus rapid transit services, including direct service to Boston Logan International Airport. MassDOT will contribute $10.5 million to this phase of the project.

"This is not only a great project for Boston’s MBTA commuters, but for all rail travelers in New England," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "Amtrak’s Acela, Northeast Regional and Lake Shore Limited all utilize South Station, handling more than 1.3 million passengers in 2010."

 

UTA hires HDR to Provide services for Sugar House Streetcar Project

The Utah Transit Authority hired HDR to provide preliminary engineering, with the option to provide final design and design services during construction, for the Sugar House Streetcar project in Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake City, Utah.

The proposed two-mile streetcar line is jointly owned by the Utah Transit Authority, South Salt Lake and Salt Lake City. Project goals include designing and developing a transit corridor with an emphasis on economic potential, livability and walkability.

As part of the new contract, HDR will provide preliminary engineering and final design services for the track work, structures, drainage, utility relocations, stations, street reconstruction and at-grade crossings.
Construction costs are estimated to be approximately $37 million, with the streetcar opening as early as 2013.

Metro-North assessing damage to Port Jervis line

A team of engineers hired by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad is inspecting and assessing the catastrophic flood damage to the Port Jervis Line. Meanwhile buses are providing alternative service for the 2,300 people who normally use the line each weekday.

Santa Clara VTA awards $22.14 million contract for grade separation project

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors voted Thursday, September 1, 2011, to authorize VTA to execute a $22.14 million contract with Gordon N. Ball, Inc., for the construction of the Kato Road Grade Separation in Fremont, Calif. The roadway project is a joint effort between the City of Fremont and VTA to separate Kato Road from Union Pacific tracks. Once the project is completed, Kato Road will pass underneath UP tracks and future BART tracks.

The bid from Gordon N. Ball, Inc., is 19 percent below the engineer’s estimate. The contract is funded by 2000 Measure A and Proposition 1B Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Account. 



"This grade separation will both enable frequent BART service in the future and reduce congestion in the area that has previously been caused by freight movements," said VTA Board Chairperson Margaret Abe-Koga.



Under a VTA Board authorized Project Implementation Agreement with the City of Fremont in 2008, VTA is responsible for the design and construction of the Kato Road Grade Separation Project and the City of Fremont is the lead agency for the environmental clearance and right of way acquisition.



"In addition to decreasing vehicle emissions and commute times, our partnership with VTA enhances safety by separating the freight and future BART traffic from pedestrian and auto traffic," said Fremont Public Works Director Jim Pierson.



The project work includes construction of a steel UP bridge, a cast-in-place reinforced concrete maintenance bridge and reinforced concrete BART Bridge spanning over Kato Road. The BART bridge structure is essential to allow the Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension contractor access along the corridor over the depressed Kato Road. The grade separation activities also involve relocation of sanitary sewer facilities, installation of a pump station, removal and replacement of impacted landscape, trees and irrigation and construction of traffic improvements at the intersection of North Milpitas Boulevard and Dixon Landing Road.

Construction is scheduled to begin in October with substantial completion by spring 2013. Kato Road will be closed for up to nine months during this period.



 

KCS inspection trip solidifies MOW success, sets priorities for future activity

Kansas City Southern executives boarded the Southern Belle business train for an inspection trip from Shreveport, La. north to Kansas City, Mo. and east to East St. Louis, Ill. The objective was to inspect the maintenance-of-way activity that has taken place on these lines over the past three years. This year, KCS is upgrading 30 miles of track between Shreveport and Kansas City and four miles between Kansas City and East St. Louis.

"It’s gratifying to see that our diligent planning, coordination and execution of maintenance-of-way activities over the past three years has resulted in a more durable and sustainable railroad," said executive vice president operations Dave Ebbrecht. "Trips like this help us set priorities for future maintenance activity."

Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer John Jacobsen concurred, saying, "We’ve increased the number of ties replaced per mile. We’re cleaning up the bridges and crossings and replacing curve worn rail and our efforts are paying off. The track is solid and easier to maintain."

Jacobsen added that the current state of KCS’ rail infrastructure is a testament to the teamwork invested by the engineering and transportation team in planning, coordination and execution.

"Our production gangs are right on schedule for this year. Next year we’ll complete the Heavener Subdivision and start on the Shreveport Subdivision," said Jacobsen. "This inspection trip solidified that what we’re doing is working."

The inspection trip included transportation and engineering team members from various territories. Ebbrecht commented that he was pleased with the professionalism and coordination of the team they met along the way.

 

TransitAmerica to run Caltrain system

The San Fransisco Bay Caltrain Board of Directors unanimously approved TransitAmerica Services Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo., to operate the Peninsula commuter rail system. The approval comes after an extensive competitive bidding process that took more than 15 months and included detailed and expert evaluation of proposals from top rail management firms.

TransitAmerica submitted the highest ranking proposal which was scored in three major areas of criteria: the management, operations and maintenance plan; the cost proposal and the qualifications and experience of the firm and key personnel proposed by the firm as the management team for the Caltrain service.
Caltrain sought competitive proposals last year to obtain the best value and most innovative approaches to managing the iconic 147-year-old rail system.

"We made an important business decision to go to the marketplace and seek new ideas, new energy and new approaches to how the rail operations contract was administered and performed. The result is an opportunity for a partnership between TransitAmerica and Caltrain that can meet the high expectations we have for a safe, reliable, viable Peninsula commuter rail service now and in the future," said Caltrain Executive Director Michael Scanlon.

Under federal regulations, the current employees working on the Caltrain system will have their jobs protected.

With Board approval, there will be a five-month period during which the new operator will transition into place and mobilize its new management team. During that period, Caltrain and Amtrak will remain in a partnership and Amtrak will continue to operate the railroad as it participates in the transition.

The first full year (FY 2013) of the five-year contract is for $59.5 million, within the projected Caltrain operating and capital budgets. Subsequent contract amounts are subject to annual negotiations. With a transition to a new rail contractor, federal regulations provide job protections for current employees.

The major components of Caltrain’s new five-year contract, with five one-year options, include the daily staffing and operations of trains, as well as inspection and maintenance of tracks, the passenger rail vehicle fleet, rights of way, structures, the signaling and communication network, stations and other facilities.

Caltrain expects there to be cost savings and efficiencies over the five-year life of the contract and praised TransitAmerica for producing a proposal that seeks to implement savings.

As part of the contract, Caltrain has secured a new innovative clause that will require TransitAmerica to achieve certain performance standards around management, safety, on-time performance and other critical tasks that are imperative to the operation of the railroad prior to receiving its full management fee.

 

Amtrak to step up security for 9/11 anniversary

During the 10th anniversary period of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Amtrak is enhancing security measures by conducting more passenger and baggage screenings, increasing the use of K-9 explosive detection teams and expanding police patrols at stations, on trains, along the tracks and other key rail infrastructure.

The Amtrak Police Department is performing these security activities in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as with the several host railroads on whose tracks many Amtrak trains operate.

"Amtrak is committed to identifying the most likely security threats and we are focusing our efforts on defeating or deterring the most dangerous and likely threats," said Amtrak Vice President and Chief of Police John O’Connor.

Ten years after the devastating attacks on 9/11, the Amtrak Police Department has transitioned from a traditional police department aimed at preventing and responding to crimes, to a police and security agency geared toward anticipating security threats in the short and long term and staying a step ahead of them. This focus on security allows Amtrak to better protect its passengers, employees and railroad equipment, infrastructure and other facilities.

Throughout the last decade, Amtrak has implemented a number of security programs and initiatives to improve passenger rail safety and security. Efforts include the use of specially trained explosive detection and vapor wake K-9 teams, passenger and baggage screenings and the development of strong partnerships with local, state, federal and international agencies, including active participation in FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to share intelligence and conduct joint security exercises.

Frontline employees who work at stations, on trains and maintain the tracks and other infrastructure are also involved. Thousands of Amtrak employees have received security training to serve as extra eyes and ears of the railroad.

In addition, Amtrak is engaging passengers and the public to be on alert and report safety or security issues as part of a neighborhood watch style program called Partners for Amtrak Safety and Security (PASS). Individuals are encouraged to report behaviors or activities that are unusual or out of the ordinary such as trespassers and suspicious packages by calling Amtrak Police at 1- 800- 331-0008.