Railroad News

The Federal Railroad Administration on May 15 issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $250 million in Positive Train Control (PTC) Systems Grants.

Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), has announced his upcoming retirement from the organization in early 2019.

The government of Canada will cover nearly half the costs of a street and safety project in Edmonton, Alberta, which will grade separate the top priority crossing in the city.

Canada will fund CA$39.8 million (US$31.1 million) for the 50th Street Widening Project, which will ease traffic congestion and improve safety along the corridor between 76th and 90th Avenue. The city says 50 Street provides access to adjacent developing industrial areas and functions as a major north-south commuter and goods movement corridor.

The government of Canada has committed CA$1.53 billion (US$1.19 billion) in funding to Calgary's Green Line Light-Rail Project, the largest ever infrastructure investment made by the federal government to the province of Alberta.

In June 2017, the Calgary City Council approved the final alignment of the project, which will be 28.58 miles long and include 28 stations at full build out. Stage 1 of the light-rail project calls for the construction of 12.4 miles of track, 14 stations, a vehicle maintenance and storage facility, eight bridges, four tunnels, 70 low-floor light-rail vehicles and three park-and-ride facilities.

WASHINGTON – Technology class was in session for Congress Monday, courtesy of Class 1 railroads.

Ahead of an event held on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the rail industry's innovations, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) released a white paper highlighting technology's role in making the U.S. rail network safer, more efficient and more reliable.

"America is home to the greatest freight rail network in the world, and we are putting technology to work to keep it that way," said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. "Next-generation innovations like drones, lasers and automated technologies are revolutionizing how we run a railroad."

Ice jams have caused flooding along parts of Alaska Railroad's line north of Talkeetna resulting in suspended service due to scoured ballast.

The railroad said ice pushed nearly 1,000 feet of track off the track bed by more than 25 feet in some areas, as well as caused scoured track bed ballast. Water was over the rail for approximately two miles between mileposts 247 and 250.

HNTB Corporation has added Vincent Gallagher, PE, to its team as a senior program manager in the firm's national program management and construction management practice for transit and rail, and senior vice president.

Maryland has obtained certification of its State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); bringing the number of states to obtain the certification to 13.

The FTA must certify 30 SSO Programs ahead of the April 15, 2019 deadline. An additional 12 states have their SSO Program under review by the FTA, one has its SSO Programs submitted to FTA, which leaves only five state certifications not submitted. Should any of the 30 states required to obtain certification fail to do so, FTA would be prohibited from distributing any new federal funds to those states until certification is obtained.

Bombardier Transportation has tapped The Weitz Company as the design-build contractor for an extension to the PHX Sky Train® guideway and maintenance facility.

Sound Transit's Hilltop Tacoma Link light-rail extension received $75 million from the Federal Transit Administration through its Small Starts grant program. It's the piece of financing needed for the project.

Sound Transit says the grant was awarded "following tireless advocacy by members of Washington's congressional delegation." The transit agency noted key proponents of the project, including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA-6), who repeatedly urged approval of the funds.

The Port of Québec will receive CA$15.5 million (US$12.1 million) from Canada's National Trade Corridors Fund to upgrade port infrastructure including rail.

Three projects at the port will benefit from the funding that officials say will "help local businesses compete by moving local goods to market and by making improvements to port infrastructure."

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association's (NRC) 15th Annual Railroad Construction and Maintenance Equipment Auction this year sold a total of 367 items and brought in $1.15 million from on-site and online bidders.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) staff will recommend three options to be studied further for the northern alignment of the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor.

The 20-mile light-rail project will connect Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) and Artesia. LACMTA has identified a route for the light-rail project south DTLA, but has run into challenges identifying the northern alignment.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will make structural repairs and station improvements at the 34 St-Penn Station subway complex starting May 20.

As TriMet's Providence Park MAX Improvements project moves into its final phase, the agency has announced that its MAX Blue and Red lines resumed regular service May 12.

The Bakersfield, Calif., City Council voted May 9 to approve the "Making Downtown Bakersfield" Station Area Vision Plan and Environmental Impact Report to continue revitalization efforts in the city.

A 12.8-km (7.9-mile) route will allow trains to bypass the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, were a fiery train derailment left 47 people dead in July 2013.

Canada will fund 60 percent of the estimated CA$133-million (US$104-million) project, which would be US$62.4 million with the province of Quebec agreeing to fund the remaining 40 percent. The federal government has also reached an agreement with the Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ), the project proponent, which will also own and operate the new rail infrastructure.

Local and provincial leaders joined in a ceremonial installation of a golden clip to mark the end of rail installation for the O-Train Confederation Line in Ottawa, Ontario on May 4.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson was joined by Mona Fortier, member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, on behalf of the Honorable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honorable Bob Chiarelli, minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean, to secure the final piece of track on the O-Train Confederation Line.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), Metrolink and Hollywood Burbank Airport officials recently held a ribbon cutting-ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new Metrolink Antelope Valley Line rail station that will connect travelers with the airport.