Houston METRO erects first station canopy

Houston METRO has passed several milestones on its way to placing 15-plus miles of new track east, north and southeast of the central business district.

SFMTA receives $942.2 million in federal funding for Central Subway Project

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency received federal approval of an agreement dedicating $942.2 million in federal funds to the Central Subway Project.

Regional districts asked to contribute to Vancouver Island Rail bridge rehab

The five regional district members of the Island Corridor Foundation are being asked to contribute CA $3.2 million (US $3.26 million) for the structural repairs to the 48 bridges between Victoria and Courtenay, British Columbia.

BART and Shanghai Metro to develop Sister Agency affiliation

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Board of Directors voted to authorize the development of a Sister Transit Agency affiliation with Shanghai Metro, the subway system in Shanghai, China.

CP’s McQuade retires, Grassby named SVP/CFO

Canadian Pacific appointed Brian senior vice–president and chief financial officer (CFO) effective November 1, 2012. Kathryn McQuade has informed the company she will retire from the role of CFO on that date.

Massachusetts five-year capital plan puts spotlight on infrastructure investment

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan, which he said continues the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to support long-term economic growth and stimulate job creation by calling for significant investments in higher education, transportation, economic development, housing and other infrastructure and assets.

Union Pacific to spend $8 million improving Illinois infrastructure

Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Illinois’ transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $8 million in the rail line that runs between Villa Grove and Findlay.

L.B. Foster rebrands Portec Rail Products as L.B. Foster Rail Technologies

L.B. Foster Company said that it is changing the names of several of its subsidiary companies acquired from Portec Rail Products, Inc., to L.B. Foster Rail Technologies

Union Pacific to improve Nebraska infrastructure

Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Nebraska’s transportation infrastructure by investing more than $29 million in the rail line that runs between Grand Island and Havens.

Amtrak carries most passengers ever

Amtrak carried more than 31.2 million passengers in Fiscal Year 2012 ending September 30, marking the highest annual ridership total since America’s Railroad® started operations in 1971 and the ninth ridership record during the past ten years.

Harsco Rail secures trio of international orders

Global diversified industrial company Harsco Corporation secured three new international orders within its Harsco Rail group totaling more than $85 million in projected revenues and further adding to the group’s multi-year production backlog.

Metrolink, SanBAG hold groundbreaking for EMF Expansion project

Southern California’s Metrolink partnered with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SanBAG) in its groundbreaking event for the Eastern Maintenance Facility (EMF) Expansion project on Thursday, Oct. 4. SanBAG is the lead agency and funding source for the $13 million project.

MARTA selects Parker as new GM and CEO

The MARTA Board of Directors selected Keith T. Parker as MARTA’s next general manager and chief executive officer on Oct. 4.

Plane crash takes two industry veterans

Patsy Crisafi, co-founder, principal and executive vice-president of Roadway Worker Training, Inc., and Vinnie Vaccarello, president and co-owner of All Railroad Services Corporation, both of St. Augustine, Fla., were killed in a small plane crash on Oct. 3 in Gary, Ind.

Vermonter improvements completed on time and on budget

The two-year project making upgrades and repairs along 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon on Amtrak’s Vermonter line was completed on time and on budget.

Massachusetts accepts “keys” to Framingham/Worcester line from CSX

In Massachusetts, an agreement with CSX Corporation was completed that paves the way for increased commuter rail service expected to begin October 29, 2012 and strengthens the state’s rail freight network to support the region’s economy.

Union Pacific to improve infrastructure in Kansas and Wyoming

Union Pacific plans to enhance Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing more than $9 million in the rail line that runs between Menoken and Junction City.

FTA independent review verifies rail financial plan

An independent financial review of the rail Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation project in Honolulu, Hawaii, confirms the financial capacity to construct and operate the rail system and that the project’s financial plan is reasonable and able to withstand and successfully address risks.

CTA unveils Wilson Station plan

The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) unveiled the design renderings for the planned reconstruction of the Wilson Red Line station, one of the largest CTA ‘L’ station projects in the agency’s history.

The $203-million reconstruction project, slated to begin in 2013, will create a brand-new, reconfigured station to serve the CTA’s busiest rail line and facility that will serve as an anchor for economic development in the Uptown neighborhood.

“This is a great starting point for the future design of an important station that helps thousands of Chicagoans get to work and school each day,” said Chicago Mayor Emanuel. “The Red Line is the backbone of our transportation network and this new station will drive economic activity throughout the city for years to come.”

The new station design features contemporary architecture including glass and steel canopies and a glass-enclosed entrance along Wilson, one of two Wilson entrances. An auxiliary entrance is planned for Sunnyside Avenue, serving a newer commercial development housing Target and Aldi stores.

SNC-Lavalin awarded Canadian Evergreen Line contract

SNC-Lavalin Inc. has been awarded a contract to design, build and finance the Evergreen Line Rapid Transit project in British Columbia, Canada.

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