On Friday, April 5, 2013, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in California, will celebrate one-year construction milestones for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project.
United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation workers (UTU-SMART) and Kyle Railroad reached an agreement on a proposed contract for all crafts under UTU-SMART’s jurisdiction, which include: engineers, conductors, brakemen, maintenance of way employees, signal employees, mechanics, helpers and apprentices, carmen and welders.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has signed the Locomotive Fuel Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) exemption bill, designed to encourage further growth of the railroad industry, as well as continued growth of exports and manufacturing in New Mexico.
The Federal Railroad Administration released the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Future Preliminary Alternatives Report. The report presents the process used to develop 15 Preliminary Alternatives that represent a wide range of possible futures for the NEC.
Metrolinx in Ontario, Canada, released a short list of investment tools for consultation that will help decide how transit expansion is funded in the years ahead.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) gave the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) high marks in each area studied for it’s most recent audit, including estimates of cost, revenue, ridership and economic impact analysis.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the rail safety education nonprofit, released its 2012 Annual Report, which reviews the organization’s accomplishments.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) named Paul Worley director of the Rail Division.
President Obama pushed his plan, the Rebuild America Partnership, to encourage private investment in public infrastructure while in Miami, Fla., touring Port Miami’s tunnel project, which provides a direct connection between the port and major highway.
U.S. Department of Transportation released a third round of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) storm-related reimbursements through the FY 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.
Amtrak has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the construction of an underground concrete casing to preserve a right-of-way for the future expansion of rail service between New Jersey and New York.
In Phoenix, Ariz., the PHX Sky Train™ will open to the public April 8 at the city’s airport. When the train opens for service, passengers will find a seamless connection between Terminal 4, East Economy parking and Phoenix Valley Metro light rail at 44th Street and Washington.
The Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies named Lara Karamatsu its 2013 Young Engineer of the Year. A civil engineer in the Honolulu office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Karamatsu is one of the firm’s designers for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.
In its FY 2014 funding request to Congress, Amtrak is emphasizing the need for more federal capital investment to improve and expand intercity passenger rail, while requesting significantly less in federal operating support.
The Board of Directors of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) took steps toward the development of an indoor train layover facility in Brunswick, including the decision to award the design/build contract to Consigli Construction Company of Portland, Maine.
OmniTRAX, Inc., has made four management appointments and promotions.
Work has begun on $88 million in construction projects for three segments of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension in Alaska. Contracts were recently awarded to three construction companies and up to 200 jobs in the construction industry could be created this summer.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., has determined that a confidential unsolicited proposal for the North Metro Rail Project has technical merit. The proposal was submitted Feb. 22 by a team led by Graham Contracting Limited.
Coalspur Mines Limited has reached a definitive agreement with Canadian National (CN) for the transportation of thermal coal from its Vista Coal Project to Ridley Terminals Inc., as well as final agreement with CN regarding the construction of the railway line to serve the mine.
The rail line construction agreement will govern the construction of a 6.5-kilometer (four-mile) long line providing CN access to Coalspur’s loading site. The rail line will enable Coalspur to load the entire train in one continuous load. Subject to regulatory approval, construction activity is expected to begin in Q3 2013 and be completed in early 2015. CN will ensure the rail line meets its design and construction specifications.
“We are very pleased to have finalized these contracts with CN,” said Gill Winckler, Coalspur president and CEO. “The agreements provide further clarity and stability over our operating costs in the initial years of mining at Vista. Rail and port logistics costs account for approximately 50 percent of Coalspur’s Freight on Board cash costs, which are now under contracted rates.
The definitive rail transportation agreement with CN is for a seven-year period, effective from Jan. 1, 2013 and extending through to Dec. 31, 2019. CN will supply the equipment to carry Coalspur’s coal to tidewater. The agreement includes transportation of up to 12 million tons per annum of coal and defined rates with agreed escalation and fuel surcharge calculations.
The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans has given notice to AECOM Technical Services Inc. to begin the design of the port’s new Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal Project.