Search Results for: transit

Sierra Northern railroad purchase advancing






Sierra Northern Railway
Engine No. 48 rumbles slowly down the tacks toward Watsonville, Calif. A
growling, 125-ton rolling box of steel and fuel, its form or one similar has
hauled people and goods along the 32 miles of the Santa Cruz Branch Line
railroad since 1881. Beneath it, the tracks and the land at least 20 feet on
either side are owned by Union Pacific, as old and imposing a company as you’ll
find in American business. And until the Cemex cement plant in Davenport closed
down in January, Cliff Walters and Wes Swift, the engineer and conductor inside
the train, had plenty of work driving loads both north and south of Santa Cruz,
their bosses at Sierra making a modest but steady profit while turning over
lease payments in cash and services to UP like clockwork.

At aging SEPTA station, a call for more rail funding






Standing
before a Depression-era railroad power station in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gov. Edward Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter warned May 6 that
such aging relics could imperil the region’s commuter rail network and its
highways, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

LA Metro to hold public hearing on proposed FY11 budget






Los Angeles Metro will
hold a public hearing on a draft $3.75-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2010-11
on May 19 at Metro Headquarters next to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The
public can view copies of the budget proposal at Metro.net or request a copy.
Metro directors will consider adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 2010, at their May 27 meeting.

Seattle City Council approves streetcar line






A First Hill Streetcar
route on Broadway was unanimously approved May 3 by the Seattle City Council,
The Seattle Times reports. The $130-million line is to open in 2013, connecting
the International District/Chinatown light-rail station to the train station on
Capitol Hill scheduled to open in 2016. A short loop will pass King Street
Station and Pioneer Square.

Officials kick off $17.4-million MBTA Haverhill Rail ARRA project






February 14, 2001

As part of the Patrick-Murray
Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to support economic development by
strengthening public transit and rail service, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas
joined MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan to announce the groundbreaking
of the $17.4-million Haverhill Commuter Rail Project funded by the American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The project complements a $50-million
ARRA-funded double-tracking and rail improvement project on the Fitchburg
commuter rail line.

CN says its precision railroading model, innovations improve rail service






CN said today that
customer-focused innovation and balanced accountability among transportation
partners are the keys to improving the effectiveness of Canada’s logistics
supply chain. CN, in a submission to the Rail Freight Service Review panel
appointed by the Canadian government, said hard facts compiled for the panel
establish the quality of CN’s rail transportation product, most notably in
terms of hub-to-hub transit time performance.

TransLink’s Statutory Annual Report tracks accomplishments






British Columbia’s
TransLink delivered significant, promised expansion in road and transit
infrastructure and services in 2009 to Metro Vancouver, while also dealing with
softer revenues to successfully reduce the size of its forecast deficit. Metro
Vancouver’s transportation authority prioritized, ensuring that services and
efficiency worked together to produce value-for-money for customers and
taxpayers.

PATH SmartCard use grows as part of overall rail modernization program






February 14, 2001

Sales of SmartCards for
travel on PATH trains has hit a record, jumping to more than 50 percent of
market share on the rail line. SmartCard use, which has tripled in two years,
has eclipsed use of MetroCards, which total about 40 percent of payment methods
on PATH lines. PATH QuickCards make up most of the remainder of fare choices. PATH’s
Automated Fare Collection System was installed in 2003 to phase-out obsolete
payment methods of cash and magnetic-strip cards.

DART sets date for Green Line completion






February 14, 2001

December 6, 2010 is the date for
completion of the final sections of the Green Line light rail project. Two sections,
from MLK, Jr., Station near Fair Park south to Buckner Station in Pleasant
Grove and from Victory Station northwest to North Carrollton, will open
completing the 20-station, 28-mile, $1.8-billion project.

 

Buses replace trains as Cleveland RTA upgrades crossings






February 14, 2001

Because of extensive
grade crossing work, shuttle buses will replace trains for several weekends on
the light rail Blue and Green lines this spring. The lines are operated by the
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. During this time, workers will
replace existing grade crossings, track and sidewalks with a new concrete
crossing surface, asphalt road approaches, new track and new concrete
sidewalks.

MTA beginning rehab of Warren Road light rail parking






February 14, 2001

The Maryland Transit
Administration started upgrades at the Warren Road Light Rail Stop Parking Lot.
These improvements are part of a scheduled maintenance project and include
resurfacing, wheel stops replacement, new pavement markings and new traffic signs.


MTA board approves $26.2 billion plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority adopted a revised 2010-14 capital plan of $26.2 billion that cut $1.8 billion from it’s original plan, but is still $9 billion short of being completely funded.

The new plan includes plans for new subway cars, station improvements, new signals on the Number 7 subway line, new environmentally-friendly buses and larger-scale projects including the Second Avenue subway line and the East Side access for the Long Island Rail Road. LIRR will also receive about a dozen new, smaller diesel trains, which will cost around $78 million. About half the $26.2 billion is earmarked for New York City Transit that is used by about 8 million people a day.

The board adopted the plan without comment after Jay Walder, the MTA’s chairman, spoke about the importance of "consistently investing in our system in consecutive five-year plans" rather than making one-time stabs at rebuilding here and there.

The revised plan will now be submitted to the state’s Capital Program Review Board for approval. Gov. David Paterson, who chairs the board, vetoed the original plan last year because the state’s own economic crisis precluded additional funding for the MTA.

The state, which provides the single biggest chunk of funding for the capital plan, included money for 2010-11 as part of last year’s MTA bailout.

McFarlane selected as TriMet GM

TriMet Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Neil McFarlane as the new General Manager for the regional transit agency. McFarlane replaces TriMet’s current general manager Fred Hansen who will leave the agency at the end of his contract after more than 11 years in the position.

McFarlane is currently TriMet’s executive director for capital projects, a position he has held since 1998. He will begin to transition into the position beginning June 1, and will begin serving as general manager on Thursday, July 1, 2010.

Revised MTA capital program reflects new way of doing business






The New York Metropolitan
Transportation Authority released a revised draft 2010-2014 Capital Program.
The $26.3-billion program reflects a nearly $2-billion reduction as the result
of a comprehensive review and a new MTA focus on cost effectiveness and
efficiency. The plan will be considered by the MTA Board at its monthly meeting
on Wednesday, and if approved will be sent to the State’s Capital Program
Review Board for its approval. Thanks to last year’s rescue legislation, the
first two years of the program are funded and the MTA is seeking approval to
begin work immediately. The full plan and an executive summary are available
online at www.mta.info.

Caltrain budget projections demonstrate reliance on electrification/HSR






Recently released budget
projections show that electrification is essential to Caltrain’s survival. A
modern, electric-powered railroad will provide quicker, more frequent service,
which will attract more riders and generate more revenue. Revenue is projected
to increase 49 percent by 2019, while operating costs remain flat. The commuter
railroad, which currently uses diesel-powered trains, is facing budget deficit
in the upcoming fiscal year.

TransLink restructuring cuts costs to improve efficiency






TransLink in the
Vancouver, B.C., area continues to restructure itself with an eye to cutting
costs and becoming more efficient. Beginning in 2009, 96 positions have been
eliminated at TransLink or its operating companies, including six executives.
On April 16, CEO Ian Jarvis implemented further changes to the executive
structure, assigning new responsibilities and changing reporting relationships.

UTA weekend lane restrictions in West Jordan begin






April 23 marks the beginning
of a series of five weekends of railroad crossing work on Redwood Road at
approximately 8020 South. Utah Transit Authority will be completing crossing
upgrades and new track installation at the location for the new Mid-Jordan TRAX
line. The lane restrictions and closure information for each weekend is given
below.