Railroad News

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) board yesterday elected Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer as the association's president.

At the association's annual meeting this week, the board also elected Utah Department of Transportation Executive Director Carlos Braceras as vice president, and Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Scott Bennett as secretary-treasurer.

Sound Transit's board yesterday agreed to move forward with the proposed West Seattle and Ballard Link light-rail extensions, and established a $285.9 million preliminary engineering budget for the projects.

The extensions will bring light rail to some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the region, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday granted the Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) a five-year waiver that will allow the continued operation of the transit agency's A and B commuter-rail lines.

The lines, which opened last year, have experienced technical issues with crossing arms that lower too early and stay down too late at grade crossings. To address the concerns, RTD stationed flag attendants at the crossings.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expanding a water leak mitigation project on its Red Line after positive early results from the pilot project that began in July.

The pilot project consisted of a test of the use of a "curtain grouting" technique to add a waterproof membrane to the exterior of the tunnel walls using a proprietary polymer-based material.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expanding a water leak mitigation project on its Red Line after positive early results from the pilot project that began in July.

The pilot project consisted of a test of the use of a "curtain grouting" technique to add a waterproof membrane to the exterior of the tunnel walls using a proprietary polymer-based material.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expanding a water leak mitigation project on its Red Line after positive early results from the pilot project that began in July.

The pilot project consisted of a test of the use of a "curtain grouting" technique to add a waterproof membrane to the exterior of the tunnel walls using a proprietary polymer-based material.

The Sound Transit Board approved the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, establishing a $285.9-million budget for the project's preliminary engineering.

Additionally, the Sound Transit Board also approved a $24.4-million consultant contract with HNTB Corporation to begin project development services.

The Sound Transit Board approved the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, establishing a $285.9-million budget for the project's preliminary engineering.

Additionally, the Sound Transit Board also approved a $24.4-million consultant contract with HNTB Corporation to begin project development services.

The Sound Transit Board approved the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, establishing a $285.9-million budget for the project's preliminary engineering.

Additionally, the Sound Transit Board also approved a $24.4-million consultant contract with HNTB Corporation to begin project development services.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is moving forward with a series of public-private partnerships (P3s) in efforts to expedite Measure M transportation projects.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is moving forward with a series of public-private partnerships (P3s) in efforts to expedite Measure M transportation projects.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is moving forward with a series of public-private partnerships (P3s) in efforts to expedite Measure M transportation projects.

Members of Congress representing New York and New Jersey have introduced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to mandate sleep apnea tests for commercial truckers and rail operators.

The legislation would reverse a recent decision by President Donald Trump's administration to reverse the department's proposed rule to require truck drivers and train operators to be tested for sleep apnea and, if diagnosed with the condition, receive treatment for it.

The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension has reached 75 percent completion, but officials say the 32-mile embankment is closed to travel due to increased rates of vandalism.

Officials with the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough said the last segment of the project was cleared in spring 2017 and surveyors continue to install monuments along the entire route. Funding is the chief hurdle to reaching completion of the project, which is 10 years in the making. Mat-Su Borough notes that the project has been funded with voter-approved state general obligation bonds and state appropriation.

The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension has reached 75 percent completion, but officials say the 32-mile embankment is closed to travel due to increased rates of vandalism.

Officials with the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough said the last segment of the project was cleared in spring 2017 and surveyors continue to install monuments along the entire route. Funding is the chief hurdle to reaching completion of the project, which is 10 years in the making. Mat-Su Borough notes that the project has been funded with voter-approved state general obligation bonds and state appropriation.

The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension has reached 75 percent completion, but officials say the 32-mile embankment is closed to travel due to increased rates of vandalism.

Officials with the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough said the last segment of the project was cleared in spring 2017 and surveyors continue to install monuments along the entire route. Funding is the chief hurdle to reaching completion of the project, which is 10 years in the making. Mat-Su Borough notes that the project has been funded with voter-approved state general obligation bonds and state appropriation.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) is launching a pilot program to test a Bluetooth pedestrian alert system (BPAS) at four locations.

The BPAS test is part of a partnership with Texas A&M Transportation Institute and has been installed at two intersections with two more installs planned. The system plays a recording that warns pedestrians of an approaching train. The speakers work with the help of Bluetooth beacon technology that is installed on the trains.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) is launching a pilot program to test a Bluetooth pedestrian alert system (BPAS) at four locations.

The BPAS test is part of a partnership with Texas A&M Transportation Institute and has been installed at two intersections with two more installs planned. The system plays a recording that warns pedestrians of an approaching train. The speakers work with the help of Bluetooth beacon technology that is installed on the trains.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) is launching a pilot program to test a Bluetooth pedestrian alert system (BPAS) at four locations.

The BPAS test is part of a partnership with Texas A&M Transportation Institute and has been installed at two intersections with two more installs planned. The system plays a recording that warns pedestrians of an approaching train. The speakers work with the help of Bluetooth beacon technology that is installed on the trains.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors approved the first contract for the project's Glendora to Montclair phase at its Sept. 27 meeting.

The $2.6-million utility relocation design-bid-build contract was awarded to W.A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc. The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority will begin work on the 12.3-mile, six station segment in October and spend three years relocating utilities, conducting pre-construction activities, finalizing engineering plans and hiring the design-build contract team.