Railroad News

Don Sepulveda has been promoted to vice president and deputy national market lead in the Railroad and Transit Practice for Michael Baker International's West region.

Based in the firm's Los Angeles office, Sepulveda will serve as the main relationship manager for potential Class 1 railroads, transit authority clients and state Department of Transportation (DOT) Multimodal Divisions.

Union Pacific plans to invest $36 million into its Colorado infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $33 million in track maintenance and $1 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include a $6 million investment in the rail line between Denver and Rollinsville to replace 34,148 crossties and install 24,338 tons of ballast. The line between Bond and Phippsburg will see $4.5 million in work to replace 31,662 crossties and install 24,165 tons of ballast.

Union Pacific plans to invest $36 million into its Colorado infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $33 million in track maintenance and $1 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include a $6 million investment in the rail line between Denver and Rollinsville to replace 34,148 crossties and install 24,338 tons of ballast. The line between Bond and Phippsburg will see $4.5 million in work to replace 31,662 crossties and install 24,165 tons of ballast.

Union Pacific plans to invest $36 million into its Colorado infrastructure in 2017. The investment is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion capital plan for the year.

UP says the investment will fund $33 million in track maintenance and $1 million in bridge projects. Additional projects to see significant work include a $6 million investment in the rail line between Denver and Rollinsville to replace 34,148 crossties and install 24,338 tons of ballast. The line between Bond and Phippsburg will see $4.5 million in work to replace 31,662 crossties and install 24,165 tons of ballast.

Four months after its launch in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project tunnel boring machine (TBM) broke through the underground wall of the Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station.

The TBM, named Angeli, was lowered into the ground near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station at 1st and Central last winter and began digging the twin tunnels in early February. In late April, the TBM completed digging through the Historic Broadway Station at 2nd and Broadway on its way to 2nd Place and Hope.

Four months after its launch in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project tunnel boring machine (TBM) broke through the underground wall of the Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station.

The TBM, named Angeli, was lowered into the ground near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station at 1st and Central last winter and began digging the twin tunnels in early February. In late April, the TBM completed digging through the Historic Broadway Station at 2nd and Broadway on its way to 2nd Place and Hope.

Four months after its launch in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Regional Connector Transit Project tunnel boring machine (TBM) broke through the underground wall of the Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station.

The TBM, named Angeli, was lowered into the ground near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station at 1st and Central last winter and began digging the twin tunnels in early February. In late April, the TBM completed digging through the Historic Broadway Station at 2nd and Broadway on its way to 2nd Place and Hope.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) board in late May authorized the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at four bus and rail shops across Philadelphia.

The project marks SEPTA's biggest solar initiative and will be one of the largest installations in the city, agency officials said in a press release.

CSX Corp. late last week released its seventh annual corporate social responsibility report documenting the Class I's performance in environmental, social and governance areas.

Titled "Moving Forward," the report highlights the company's 2016 business practices aimed at creating customer value, increasing shareholder returns, improving the environment and enhancing the communities that the railroad serves, CSX officials said in a press release.

CSX Corp. late last week released its seventh annual corporate social responsibility report documenting the Class I's performance in environmental, social and governance areas.

Titled "Moving Forward," the report highlights the company's 2016 business practices aimed at creating customer value, increasing shareholder returns, improving the environment and enhancing the communities that the railroad serves, CSX officials said in a press release.

Oklahoma City transit agency Embark late last week awarded a $17.3 million contract to Herzog Transit Services Inc. for the startup, operation and maintenance of the seven-vehicle Oklahoma City Streetcar system, which is slated to open in late 2018.

The six-year agreement will provide turnkey operations, vehicle and facility maintenance for the future streetcar system, Embark officials said in a press release.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

The grants are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. FRA and FTA said 27 eligible applications were received requesting $455 million, more than double the congressional authorization amount. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.

The grants are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. FRA and FTA said 27 eligible applications were received requesting $455 million, more than double the congressional authorization amount. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.