Quiet zone coming to SoCal hub
One of Southern California’s busiest railroad towns will be a whole lot quieter a year from now.
Light Rail
You get one chance to get it right
On June 8, the Associated Press reported that Virginia authorities had indicted a garbage truck driver on charges of involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence, after he allegedly drove into the path of an Amtrak charter train carrying Republican members of Congress, near Charlottesville.
WTS International honors VHB
Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International has named planning, design and engineering firm VHB, Watertown, Mass., 2018 Employer of the Year.
SKF, Siemens keep ’em rolling
SKF and Siemens Mobility have entered into a partnership that will integrate SKF’s Insight Rail condition-based maintenance technology Siemens’ Railigent Application Suite, which is linked with MindSphere, an IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) operating system.
HDR’s Walsh chairs WTS board
HDR Vice President Maggie Walsh was recently appointed Chair of the WTS (Women’s Transportation Seminar) International Board of Directors. WTS, of which Walsh has been a member for 20 years, focuses on promoting equity and access for women in transportation careers. Her two-year term started in May.
Facebook putting a face on rail transit
This may be a first: The San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors recently approved entering into an agreement with a development team composed of Facebook, Inc. and Plenary Group, an infrastructure developer specializing in public-private partnerships (P3s), to explore the feasibility of advancing the Dumbarton Transportation Corridor. This could mean reopening the Dumbarton Rail Bridge for passenger service.
D’Orazio to WSP transit and rail
Julie D’Orazio has been named national market leader for transit and rail at engineering and professional services consultancy WSP USA.
Minneapolis LRT proceeds on county funding vote
A project to extend light rail to the Minneapolis suburbs is moving ahead, in spite of a rapidly rising price tag.
Silverman to expand Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell rail practice
Suzanne Silverman has joined the New York City office of Denver-based Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP as a partner. She will be part of the firm’s Rail, Transit, Highways, and Infrastructure practice group, working with Adam Giuliano, an attorney involved in leading the KK&R’s public-private partnership (P3) and alternative project delivery practice group.
FTA allocates $227.5M in hurricane transit relief
The Federal Transit Administration allocated $277.5 million in Emergency Relief funds for public transportation systems damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.