Search Results for: Purple Line

U.S. DOT signs $900 million in funding agreements for Houston light rail

U.S. Department of Transportation sealed two agreements providing $900 million in federal funds to extend Houston’s major light-rail system by an additional 12 miles.

The two projects being funded, the North (Red) and Southeast (Purple) lines, are already under construction, with more than 400 workers on the job now and 1,800 additional jobs expected over the next two years.

Expanding Houston Metro’s light-rail service to the north and the southeast is part of the city’s sweeping plan to connect Houston’s workforce with major downtown employment centers, including the Texas Medical Center and the University of Houston. With 18 new passenger stops along the way, the expanded light rail will also take riders to Reliant Park, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, a new major league soccer stadium now under construction, the Museum District and the George R. Brown Convention Center/Discovery Green Park.

The new light rail lines, both scheduled to open for service in 2015, will provide alternatives to congested Interstate 45 and U.S. Route 59. They are expected to carry more than 58,000 riders on weekdays, including more than 13,000 new transit riders a day, by the year 2030. The two $450 million grant agreements signed are funded through Federal Transportations Authority’s New Starts capital transit discretionary grant program.

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.

 

Lawmakers challenge LA mayor on subway funding






Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa’s efforts to fast-track the long-stalled Westside subway faced a
challenge (Oct. 20) when a bipartisan group of congressional representatives
said the current plan is unlikely to bring immediate federal funding to L.A.
County, The Los Angeles Times reports.

CTA to extend station canopies at Belmont and Fullerton

Canopies that cover the platforms at the Belmont and Fullerton stations will be extended following the Chicago Transit Board’s approval of a change in the original contract with FHP Tectonics Corporation to renovate the stations as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project. The canopies will be extended to approximately 320 feet – the equivalent of a six-car train – rather than the original distance of 128 feet or a 2 1/2-car train.

“We knew we wanted to offer back some amenities that our customers really needed and wanted,” said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez. “The increased ridership on the Brown Line demonstrates more customers are using the Line and extending these canopies will help protect them from the elements and make their commutes more pleasant.”

Belmont and Fullerton are busy transfer points for Brown, Red and Purple Express Line customers. On an average weekday, the Belmont station records 12,064 entries and Fullerton 12,717.

The Brown Line capacity expansion project involves modernizing 18 stations, extending platforms and making each facility ADA compliant. To date, 15 of the 18 stations included in the project have been completed. The only station now closed for construction is Wellington, which will reopen to customers later this summer. Although construction remains under way at Belmont and Fullerton, service continues to operate at both stations.

The cost of the contract change order is $5.5 million.