Bells & Whistles—MTA steps in to fix LIRR’s budget issues with rail projects

FRA publishes final rule for state highway-rail grade crossing action plans Maryland to pay $250 million in Purple Line settlement U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announces $544.3 million in federal funding

Maryland to pay $250 million in Purple Line settlement

The Purple Line project in Maryland is not getting any more ugly, but the state is taking a hit or two. Maryland will pay the companies handling the Purple Line project $100

Bells & Whistles—Texas Central needs permits for high-speed rail construction

Permits, a lawsuit and the Texas state legislature are in the way of high-speed rail project More rail tunnel problems for San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency Maryland is ready to seek new

Maryland is ready to seek new partner for Purple Line project

If the state of Maryland and Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) cannot reach a deal in the coming weeks, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will be looking for another investor to take

Purple Line aid for businesses sits while state tries to figure out fiscal challenges

If the coronavirus is not bad enough, businesses in Maryland have had to deal with a Purple Line virus. Many of them located along the construction corridor, which is now infected with

Maryland takes over Purple Line project after private firm walks away

The Maryland Transit Administration is taking over day-to-day management of the Purple Line project after Purple Line Transit Partners walked off the job. Hundreds of contracts are now being handled by the

Bells & Whistles—Purple Line project could hit a wall

Report shows Washington, D.C., Metrorail lack strong safety culture. Fire destroys nearly 100-year-old railroad bridge. NTSB preliminary report of Union Pacific derailment in Arizona contain more details about accident. Judge says Purple

Judge says Purple Line concessionaire is free to leave

A Maryland judge has sent the Purple Line Transit Partners packing, saying the concessionaire can leave the Purple Line project due to nearly $800 million in cost overruns because of delays. The

Too many D words for L.A. Metro’s latest tunneling project

L.A. Metro’s Purple Line has been renamed the D Line, and right now the tunnel boring machines are taking on the difficult portion of the line. For Metro, that also stands for

Bells & Whistles—Maryland prepares to take over Purple Line project

Signs point to Purple Line builder, investor leaving project. Canadian National’s Autonomous Track Inspection Program. Tempe: Replaced section of rail bridge needs to look like original. With BNSF out, Metropolitan Council announces

Purple Line

Signs point to Purple Line builder, investor leaving project

The public-private partnership fueling the Purple Line light-rail project in Maryland might be reduced to just public. The private portion is showing signs of leaving, and the partnership could be all but

Bells & Whistles—6/12/20

L.A.’s Purple Line extension runs into trouble with tunnel construction. Sound Transit’s Tacoma Link light-rail extension costing more. Metro-North Railroad ready to begin construction on rail bridges. California lawmakers want to take

Bells & Whistles—5/22/20

Railroad track construction starts at Pikes Peak. Crews take just 36 hours to build tunnel system in Michigan. NTSB releases report on deadly train accident in N.Y. Discussions with Purple Line workers

Purple Line

Purple Line builders want millions in delay costs as negotiations continue

The two sides are talking, sometimes multiple times a day. However, Purple Line Transit Constructors (PLTC) is still planning on walking off the Purple Line project in Maryland. Negotiations are ongoing, and

Maryland’s Purple Line project takes another hit

Maryland’s Purple Line might as well be called the Black-and-Blue Line. The hits keep on coming. Earlier in May the contractor building the project said he was going to quit due to

Purple Line

With D-B contractor ready to walk, Fitch Ratings downgrades Purple Line rating

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the rating to ‘BB’ from ‘BBB-‘ on approximately $313 million of Maryland Economic Development Corporation senior private activity bonds (PABs), series 2016A-D issued on behalf of Purple Line

Purple Line

Crash wall, COVID-19 adds time, money to Maryland’s Purple Line project

What was at first lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit is now delay after delay after delay for Maryland’s Purple Line project. It will take an additional five months and over $187 million

Class 1 fuel surcharges

Bells & Whistles—4/17/20

Bonds approved for Virgin Trains USA’s rail route from Las Vegas to southern California. Third lawsuit against Maryland’s Purple Line project fails. Union says railroad companies need to use unemployed workers before

Purple Line construction in Maryland a go after third lawsuit is dismissed

Construction on Maryland’s Purple Line is no longer under a “stop-in-place” order. Lawsuits forced work to be put on pause, but on April 13 a federal judge dismissed the third and final

Bells & Whistles—2/28/20

Railroad companies might have to deal with another wet spring. Atlanta board passes plan that includes $11 billion for rail transit. Judge removes himself from Purple Line case. Amtrak decides to repair

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