Illinois will provide $8.6 million for Springfield HSR corridor

The state of Illinois has made a $8.6 million commitment toward the Phase II engineering studies on high-speed rail service on a consolidated 10th Street corridor through Springfield, should that be the chosen corridor in the Record of Decision. The planned commitment coincides with the Federal Railroad Administration’s approval to release Draft Environmental Impact Statements on future enhancements to the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed route currently under construction.

Sound Transit sets budget, schedule for Northgate extension

The Seattle Sound Transit Board of Directors adopted a lifetime budget and schedule to extend light rail from the University of Washington to the Northgate area north of Seattle. Sound Transit expects to break ground on the North Link project this summer and open for service in 2021.

HART requests $1.55 billion in New Starts funding

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation submitted a request for $1.55 billion in federal New Starts funding for the Honolulu rail transit project.

OneCity Transit Plan for Toronto outlined in letter to City Council

A new 30-year, $30-billion plan to enhance Toronto, ON, Canada, transit was unveiled yesterday.

CTC approves $61.3 million for SFMTA Central Subway Project

California Transportation Commission unanimously approved a commitment of $61.3 million in state high-speed rail connectivity funds to the The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Central Subway Project.

Metro-North tweaking summer schedules for construction projects

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad is making minor schedule changes effective Monday, July 2, 2012, on the Hudson and New Haven Lines to accommodate several construction projects. There are no changes on the Harlem Line.

Former N.Y. Governor David A. Paterson joins MTA Board

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority welcomed Former New York Governor David A. Paterson to its board. Gov. Paterson was nominated to serve on the board by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 23 and was confirmed to the position by the New York State Senate on June 20. He succeeds Nancy Shevell, who served on the board from June 2001 through January 2012. His term expires on June 30, 2017.

IDOT recommends Springfield 10th Street alignment in Tier 1 DEIS for Chicago to St. Louis corridor

The Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating high-speed rail service improvements along the 280-mile Chicago to St. Louis Corridor was released on Tuesday, June 26. A key question with the improvements was what route to funnel freight and passenger traffic as it traversed through Springfield, Ill. The Illinois Department of Transportation recommended rail traffic be moved to the existing Norfolk Southern corridor running along 10th Street.

VIA Rail unveils plan to continue modernization

VIA Rail Canada, as part of its ongoing modernization, is taking action to better meet customer demand. VIA Rail is introducing significant improvements to its operations, including tracks, stations and trains, better interconnectivity with other carriers, enhanced customer experience and e-services.

Beijer Electronics awarded WMATA contract

Beijer Electronics, through its subsidiary Westermo, won a $SEK30 million (US$4 million) contract from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to provide its new solution for IP communication (Westermo IP-train solution).

Remembering William D. Kennedy

William D. Kennedy, a respected expert on tunnel ventilation and former vice president and senior engineering manager with Parsons Brinckerhoff, died on June 23 at the age of 69.

Atkins names practice manager for transit and rail

Atkins, which specializes in engineering and design consultancy, hired Jonathan McDonald, PE, as vice president and senior practice manager for the company’s transit and rail practice. He is based in Atkins’ San Francisco office.

SEPTA celebrates modernization of two 1920s-era subway stations

Two 1920s-era subway stations on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Broad Street Line have been modernized under a $30 million project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Amtrak names new CIO

Amtrak has named Jason Molfetas as chief information officer to lead the company’s information technology team and develop and implement systems to support customer service initiatives, enhance business operations and improve financial performance.

MTA awards contract for station finishes at 96th Street along Second Avenue Subway

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded a contract for the station finishes, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, ancillary buildings and entrances for the 96th Street Station of the Second Avenue Subway. The contract, valued at $324.6 million was awarded to a joint venture of E.E. Cruz and Company and Tully Construction Company Inc.

Raleigh Union Station project receives $21 million TIGER Grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $21 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the Raleigh Union Station project.

New Rail Transportation Center in Delaware receives $10 million TIGER grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $10 million grant to build a new regional rail transportation center on the proposed University of Delaware Science and Technology campus under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $500 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2012 program.

$20 million federal investment jump-starts expansion of 95th Street CTA Station

The Chicago Transit Authority will be able to move forward on major upgrades to one of the busiest stations in its transit system as a result of an infusion of $20 million in federal funding to the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project. The intermodal project will reduce pedestrian and bus congestion, cut travel times, improve accessibility and create jobs on the South Side of the city.

Barloworld and EMD form joint venture in Africa

Barloworld and Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., a subsidiary of Progress Rail Services Corp., a Caterpillar company, formed a joint venture, Electro-Motive Diesel Africa (Proprietary) Limited. The new joint venture will provide rail and transit customers with locomotive products and services, including access to diesel and emissions technology.

It’s official: USDOT’s TIGER IV grants doled out to 47 projects

Forty-seven transportation projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia will receive a total of almost $500 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2012 program.

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