Search Results for: track maintenance

LS&I extends agreement with RailComm

Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad Company in Michigan has extended its maintenance and support agreement with RailComm for its computerized Centralized Traffic Control and Track Warrant Control System.RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller dark territory train control system has been in service since 2005.

The DOC software-based control system is an advanced command, control, communications and information server-based platform that supports a wide variety of integrated solutions for indication, control, access and distribution of critical operational data across the corporate enterprise.

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.

 

AECOM awarded preliminary engineering contract of Edmonton LRT expansion

AECOM Technology Corporation has been awarded a US$35.5-million contract by the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for its Southeast to West light-rail transit expansion.

Under the contract, the company will provide preliminary engineering design services for the Southeast LRT line from downtown Edmonton to Mill Woods and the West LRT line from Lewis Estates to downtown Edmonton. The new, low-floor LRT system will include approximately 17 miles of double track with more than half a mile in tunnels and one mile on elevated structure, as well as 29 stations. The project will also include a new light-rail vehicle operations and maintenance facility, transit centers and a park-and-ride facility.

"AECOM is pleased to further its relationship with the city of Edmonton as we help to advance its mass transit systems and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors," said John Dionisio, AECOM president and chief executive officer.

The preliminary design is slated for completion by September 2013.

NEC receives $745 million for upgrades

U.S. Department of Transportation will give nearly $745 million for construction along the Northeast Corridor to upgrade some of the most heavily-used sections. The NEC will receive $449.94 million to upgrade electrical systems and tracks between Trenton, N.J. and New York City, resulting in improved on-time performance and reliability and an initial increase in top operating speeds up to 160 mph and future maximum speeds of 186 mph. Another $294.78 million will alleviate major delays for trains coming in and out of Manhattan with new routes that allow Amtrak trains to bypass the busiest passenger rail junction in the nation.

"These grants are a win for our economy and a win for commuters all along the Northeast Corridor," said U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We are creating new construction jobs, ordering American-made supplies and improving transportation opportunities across a region where 50 million Americans live and work."

The announcement is part of the Obama Administration’s capital investment in the Northeast Corridor and the improvements will allow for the fastest passenger train speeds attained in North America to date. Thanks to these investments, Acela Express trains will soon reach up to 160 mph (up from 135 mph today) along a 24-mile segment of the corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, N.J., with the replacement of electrical catenary, supplemented power supply and modernized signals and tracks. In the future, as Amtrak purchases new, next generation high-speed train sets, passengers will travel at world-class speeds of 186 mph along the improved track.

Improvements to the Harold Interlocking rail junction in Queens will eliminate congestion between intercity and commuter trains and allow for the future growth of high-speed service along the corridor. A new flyover will separate Amtrak trains traveling between New York and Boston from Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter trains, and N.J. Transit trains accessing Sunnyside Maintenance Yard in Queens.

"With gas prices on the rise and congestion clogging our roads, more and more Americans are choosing to travel by train," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "With our population expected to grow by 100 million more people between now and 2050, we are investing in a high-speed rail system that connects to other modes of transportation, reduces congestion and improves the efficiency and reliability of travel in America. Increasing speeds and improving service on the Northeast Corridor, which is the most heavily-traveled passenger rail corridor in the nation, is a crucial part of our effort."

Both projects are expected to generate 12,000 jobs. Pre-construction work between Trenton and New York City will begin in late 2011, with initial construction commencing in 2012. The project is expected to create 400 jobs per year over the period of construction. Through the Obama Administration’s strict implementation of the "Buy America" requirement, the opportunity for U.S. manufacturers and suppliers continues as more than 100 miles of wire, hundreds of catenary poles and a large volume of electrical equipment such as transformers will be used as part of the upgrades.

 

Caltrain recommends new operator to run train system

Caltrain management has negotiated a proposed contract with TransitAmerica Services Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo., to operate the Peninsula commuter rail system and that it will recommend the contract for approval to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board at its September 1 meeting.

The recommendation is based on a competitive process that extended more
than 15 months and included detailed and expert evaluation of five
proposals from top rail management firms.

Schumer: Get New York rail projects rolling

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer sent a personal letter to the leaders of CSX, Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Railway Administration, urging them to work together and reach the necessary agreements to move forward with rail projects across the state.

From Fiscal Year 2009 and 2010 and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Senator Schumer has helped New York secure $250 million in rail funding, but only $6.5 million has been obligated for specific projects.

Senator Schumer’s letter:

Dear Administrator Szabo, Commissioner McDonald, Mr. Boardman and Chairman Ward:

I write to underscore the critical need for timely and effective allocation and utilization of the funding for high-speed rail projects in upstate New York awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I appreciate the effort each of your organizations has put into reaching an agreement that will allow the projects that define New York’s overall effort to move forward and I urge you to work quickly to finalize those agreements so that work can begin on these important projects.

Specifically, I urge the Federal Rail Administration, New York State Department of Transportation, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and CSX Corporation to quickly finalize the necessary agreements and allow New York to utilize the nearly $240 million awarded to rail projects in Upstate New York that remains to be obligated. This funding is critical for putting hundreds of New Yorkers to work making desperately needed improvements to New York State’s rail infrastructure – improvements that will create the infrastructure needed to build a vibrant economy for decades to come – and delaying the work will only put the funds at risk.

There have been several attempts in Congress to rescind transportation infrastructure funding which has not yet been obligated, including a recently passed House of Representatives Energy and Water Appropriations bill which would rescind unobligated money for ARRA-funded rail projects. This is a short-sighted and mistaken policy that will eat our seed corn, rather than wisely investing in projects that will both put people to work in the short term – when unemployment remains unacceptably high – and lay the foundations of an economy capable of competing and creating jobs in the global marketplace. I will work to keep this provision from being included in the final appropriations bill and will fight against any other efforts to rescind money awarded to New York. However, the best way to prevent high-speed rail funding from the threat of rescission is to finalize the necessary agreements so that the money can be obligated and put to its intended use, and I strongly urge you to do just that.

I worked very hard with my colleagues from the New York State congressional delegation to secure funding for the Empire Corridor, which runs from Niagara Falls to Albany, and south to New York City. Rail passage on the corridor, as it currently exists, is constrained by a bottleneck from Schenectady to Albany that adds significantly to trip times. A portion of the ARRA award totaling more than $87 million will add a second track from Schenectady to Albany, thus eliminating the backlog. This project is of the utmost importance in improving rail travel in New York State, and we cannot afford to waste any time in completing it.

In addition to the second track project between Albany and Schenectady, many other projects in New York State will benefit from the $240 million in ARRA funding that has yet to be obligated. These include much needed track improvements in the Rochester area and important grade crossing and signal improvements across the. All of this work is critical to ensuring faster, safer and more efficient trips for passengers.

I understand that FRA, NYSDOT, Amtrak and CSX are working together to reach an agreement on how these rail projects and subsequent operations will serviced, maintained and financed. I ask that all parties promptly conclude these discussions so as to allow funding to be obligated and the projects to commence. The operating agreements between NYSDOT and Amtrak are of particular importance and will determine how NYSDOT and Amtrak will divide responsibility for maintenance and operating costs. I urge NYSDOT and Amtrak to continue working together to find an agreement through which Amtrak takes responsibility for some portion of the maintenance and operations of the tracks.

Thank you for your continued attention to this important matter. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact my Washington, DC office at 202-224-6542.

Sincerely,
Senator Charles E. Schumer

Caltrain begins ballast deliveries

Caltrain in the San Francisco area, will begin delivering ballast to a storage area on its property between the train tracks and Chilco Street in Menlo Park, Calif. The ballast will be used for a variety of railroad construction and maintenance projects, including the San Bruno Grade Separation.

The deliveries are expected to continue for several weeks. The ballast will be delivered in a 54-car train, which will be staged at Redwood Junction. The train will be divided into smaller trains of six to eight cars that will deliver the ballast to the Chilco Street storage site. A total of three 54-car trains will be needed to complete the delivery.

 

NJ Transit adopts FY 2012 budgets, advances transit center

NJ Transit Board of Directors approved the Fiscal Year 2012 $1.895 billion operating budget, as well as a $1.16 billion capital program which began July 1.

More than half of the revenue in the FY12 operating budget comes from $881 million in fares with the balance from a combination of $104.3 million in commercial revenues, $309.4 million in state operating assistance and $600.2 million in state and federal reimbursements.

The operating budget reflects an increase in state operating assistance of $33.2 million, which will enable NJ Transit to hold fares stable this fiscal year.

NJ Transit also faced a budget gap of approximately $170 million for FY12, caused primarily by increased operating costs for fuel, maintenance and contractual obligations.

To address this gap the company maintained its policy of proposed fiscal austerity and operating efficiency and was able to reduce the original growth estimate to $85 million, an increase in expenses of less than 0.5 percent compared to FY11 when adjusted for mandatory cost drivers.

The FY12 capital program includes $64 million for investment in systemwide improvements. Rail state-of-good-repair projects will be supported by $217 million in the capital program, including $37 million to replace track and ties and inspect and replace bridges. A total of $41 million will advance electric traction and signal improvements, and $5 million will fund ongoing locomotive reliability programs.

In other news, a project that will create a direct link between NJ Transit’s River Line light rail and Atlantic City Rail Line service advanced as the NJ Transit Board of Directors approved construction of the second and final phase of the $32 million Pennsauken Transit Center.

The board authorized a $13.8 million contract with Terminal Construction Corporation of Wood-Ridge, NJ, for construction of Phase 2 including platforms, a parking lot, drainage improvements and customer amenities.

As part of Phase two, two 300-foot-long, high-level platforms will be built on either side of the elevated ACRL tracks, with a 100-foot canopy on each platform.

Construction of the overall project is expected to be completed in late 2012 and open for service in early 2013.

U of I to test high-speed rail components

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is conducting a $3.3 million study on the performance of certain track components of shared passenger and heavy-axle-load corridors to make them both safer and more efficient.

The research to improve concrete crossties and fastening systems will be undertaken by the university’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC), part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Illinois. It is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration, which contributed approximately $2.4 million to perform the research. Industry partners will contribute the remaining $900,000.

"These joint corridors present unique challenges in terms of the design and maintenance of infrastructure. This research project is aimed at improving concrete tie and fastener design in order to increase safety and reliability and lower their life cycle cost," said CEE faculty member J. Riley Edwards, who is leading the study.

During the two-and-a-half-year study, researchers will conduct laboratory and field testing to compile empirically gathered performance data. Improved understanding of the tie and fastening system is expected to facilitate the development of performance requirements and design recommendations for concrete ties and fastening systems in the United States, specifically those used in joint passenger-freight railway infrastructure. They will also develop a centralized knowledge and document depository about concrete ties and fastening systems.

In addition to Edwards, the research team includes CEE professors Bassem Andrawes, Daniel Kuchma and David Lange and Research Engineer Marcus Dersch, a CEE alumnus.

The industry partners involved in the project include: Amtrak, BNSF, GIC Ingenieria y Construccion S.A. de C.V., Hanson Professional Services Inc., LB Foster Company, CXT Concrete Ties, Union Pacific and Unit Rail Inc./Amsted Rail Inc.

David Francis wins NWMRC Supplier of the Year Award

David Francis, western operations/sales manager for Atlantic Track in Wheaton, Ill., has been named Supplier of the Year by the Northwest Maintenance Railway Club.

Dave has been a member of the NWMRC for more than 21 years.

"The club appreciates Dave’s support and dedication to our organization," the NWMRC said in a statement. "Dave exemplifies the dedication and perseverance it takes to survive and be successful in the railroad industry."

This is the 4th annual award given by the NWMRC.

Caltrain works on five projects this week

Caltrain will work on the San Bruno Grade Separation Project this week until Friday, June 10. The $147 million project will elevate the Caltrain tracks above three existing at-grade street crossings at San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues. A new, elevated Caltrain station will be constructed between San Bruno and San Mateo Avenues, replacing the existing station at Sylvan Avenue.

Day work includes upgrades to the signal systems, excavation, construction of retaining walls for the future temporary station, drainage improvements at the temporary station, temporary sidewalk closures and modifications on Scott Street and sanitary sewer and utility relocations.

Night work includes demolishing track south of Scott Street, constructing track at the temporary station, upgrading the signal system between the South San Francisco and Millbrae stations, utility encasement, construction of retaining walls for the future temporary station and relocating and installing vehicle and pedestrian gates at East Angus, San Bruno and San Mateo Avenues

Work on the Santa Clara station will take place Monday, June 6 until Friday, June 10. The work will include continued construction on the pedestrian underpass connecting the north and southbound platforms, which will allow two trains to pass through the station at the same time and will improve safety for pedestrians in the station. The work is part of an 18-month station improvement project that will add a new wider, longer center-boarding platform and extend the southern platform 150 feet.

This week, crews will continue building retaining walls and backfilling areas along the tracks by Jerrold Avenue and Rankin Street in San Francisco.

Crews will also continue installing bollards at the Millbrae and San Jose Diridon stations as part of a project to enhance security at three Caltrain stations: San Francisco at 4th and King Streets, Millbrae and San Jose Diridon.

Caltrain will continue retrofitting four rail bridges in San Mateo this week. The project involves seismic improvements to the bridges that cross Poplar, Santa Inez, Monte Diablo and Tilton Avenues.

As part of an 18-month long San Jose Diridon and Santa Clara Stations Improvements Project, Caltrain will conduct work at the San Jose Diridon station until Friday, June 10. Crews will install ballast and replace tactile tile strips on boarding platforms.

Caltrain will perform routine maintenance at several locations next week.

Crews will replace cross ties and resurface tracks between the San Francisco and Hayward Park stations.

Crews will weld tracks and replace rails from the California Avenue station to just south of the San Jose Diridon station.

 

KCS responds to Joplin, Mo., tornado

Kansas City Southern CEO David Starling issued a statement concerning the May 22 tornado that ripped a six-mile path through Joplin, Mo., destroying a significant part of the city.

The statement read in part:

The KCS railroad through Joplin was relatively unscathed. The tornado touched down about a half mile west of its tracks and crossed over the railroad between 18th and 20th Streets. Flashing signals are located at each grade crossing and were severely damaged. A few trees were across the track, but no power lines. KCS maintenance-of-way forces were on the scene shortly after the tornado and the main line was open to run trains by midnight; however, the operating team chose to wait until 7:00 a.m. to start operations due to the uncertainty throughout the city.

The 18th Street crossing signal was repaired and is back in service. The 20th Street crossing is currently protected by flagmen as train operations are back to normal through Joplin with a 25-mile per hour speed restriction. The 20th Street crossing is in the process of being repaired.

KCS has 10 employees living in Joplin. All employees and their families have been confirmed to be safe, although some damage was reported to some homes. KCS is providing assistance to the few families that have specific needs.

The Kansas City Southern Charitable Fund made a contribution to Heart to Heart International, an organization that has already deployed volunteer medical professionals, supplies and a Mobile Medical Clinic. Heart to Heart’s response continuum includes readiness, response, recovery, rebuilding and restoration.

Axion wins first tie order with Mexico

Axion International, producer of railroad ties made from 100 percent recycled plastic, has commenced its first test order of Axion’s Recycled Structural Composite with Ferromex, the largest railway line in Mexico.

Ferromex’s test order will be installed in various coastal regions in Mexico to provide an assessment of Axion’s capabilities in the harsh weather and salt-air environments. The salt in particular can lead to degradation of traditional building materials, at a much faster rate than the dry, salt-free climates further inland.

"Axion is thrilled to be working with the largest railway line in Mexico," said Steve Silverman, Axion’s president and CEO. "This represents yet another international validator for Axion, on top of Morocco, Canada and most recently, Australia. Ferromex is a very significant potential new client and we look forward to exceeding their expectations."

Ferromex has more than 8,000 kilometers (4,971 miles) of main tracks. This extensive network represents the largest coverage in Mexico’s National Railway System. It connects the main cities in the country as well as five points on the border with the United States, four sea ports on the Pacific Ocean and two more on the Gulf of Mexico.

"What caught our attention about Axion’s RSC is not only the fact that it is environmentally friendly, but that it might have the potential to become more economically efficient on a long-term basis, due to certain reductions in maintenance costs," said Juan Manuel Soler, Ferromex Maintenance of Operative Resources director. "We welcome Axion to supply their test product so we can properly evaluate it, following a suitable protocol, for Ferromex’s long-term consideration going forward."

Feds award $2 billion to various HSR projects around country

The federal government has awarded $2 billion in high-speed rail awards providing an unprecedented investment to speed up trains in the Northeast Corridor, expand service in the Midwest and provide new, state-of-the-art locomotives and rail cars as part of the Administration’s plan to transform travel in America.

LACMTA to hold public meeting on FY12 budget

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority will hold a public hearing on a draft $4.145 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2011-12 on Wednesday, May 18, at Metro Headquarters.

The public can view copies of the balanced budget proposal at Metro.net (type in keyword budget in Search). LACMTA directors could consider adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, following the public hearing or at their Thursday, May 26, meeting.

LACMTA CEO Art Leahy’s budget proposal calls for keeping fares at current levels, however, the CEO is proposing to lower the cost of the Metro day pass from $6 down to $5 for a six month test to help attract commuters and others squeezed by rising gas prices.

In FY 12, LACMTA may expand the Metro Rail system. Trains are being tested for the first phase of the Expo light rail line that will run from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City past USC.

Leahy stressed that LACMTA is not skimping on maintenance or on street supervision and is focused on improving on-time performance, equipment reliability and cleanliness. He also said he is positioning the agency to strategically add service where it’s needed and to give commuters and others more incentives to beat the high price of gas. Service is being added to the Silver Line express bus service from the South Bay into downtown Los Angeles, the Metro Gold Line and the Metro Red Line subway.

For the third year in a row, the budget assumes no wage increase for employees. However, LACMTA is negotiating new contracts with its major labor unions representing operators, maintenance employees and clerks.

The FY 12 draft budget is $247 million or 6.3 percent more than the current $3.898 billion budget. This reflects a significant expansion of the Measure R program in the next fiscal year. In 2008 more than 2 million Los Angeles County voters approved the Measure R half cent sales tax to advance a dozen major transit projects and 15 highway projects. In the new fiscal year LACMTA will be spending $1.164 billion on Measure R projects and programs compared to $889 million this fiscal year.

And the remaining five percent of the budget will be for developing real time customer information such as Nextrip that uses GPS technology to track when buses will arrive, preparing the LACMTA workforce for the next generation, ensuring financial sustainability and advancing Metro’s environmental efforts.

Beware that there are risk factors for the draft budget. LACMTA is not immune to the state and federal budget woes that could cut transportation funding.

 

NS begins construction on $105 million Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility

Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam joined state and local dignitaries and business and community leaders at the groundbreaking for the new Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility in Rossville, Tenn. The $105 million facility is part of the multi-state $2.5 billion Crescent Corridor initiative to establish an efficient, high-capacity intermodal freight rail route between the South and the Northeast on Norfolk Southern’s rail network.

NCDOT performs work on five crossings

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division has made safety improvements at railroad crossings in the Iredell County town of Mooresville, the Buncombe County city of Canton, the Jackson County community of Balsam, the Stanly County city of Albemarle and the Randolph County city of Archdale.

Mooresville:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the intersection of Williams Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $245,796 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent funding from Mooresville. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between Mooresville and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Buncombe:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Old Wilson Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $248,699 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Balsam:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Old Balsam Depot and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $247,643 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Albemarle:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the intersection of Mountain View Church Road and the Winston Salem Southbound Railroad tracks. This $198,590 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and the Winston Salem Southbound Railway Company.

Archdale:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Johnson Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $211,380 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the N.C. Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

All five projects are a part of a comprehensive statewide NCDOT program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Automatic warning devices are now in place at more than 2,400 of North Carolina’s over 4,100 public at-grade crossings