Railroad News

Operation Lifesaver Canada has named Metrolinx transit safety officer Peter Mohyla as the recipient of its 2016 Roger Cyr Award for Public Safety.

Mohyla has served 30 years as a Metrolinx transit safety officer. Operation Lifesaver Canada says that during those three decades, he has used his field experience and passion to promote safety along Metrolinx's railway corridors in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), coordinating school presentations and community events, working with police and other public safety agencies and finding innovative ways to educate the public — including through his social media posts and a recent video series which he produced with TVOKids entitled Anytime is Train Time.

Operation Lifesaver Canada has named Metrolinx transit safety officer Peter Mohyla as the recipient of its 2016 Roger Cyr Award for Public Safety.

Mohyla has served 30 years as a Metrolinx transit safety officer. Operation Lifesaver Canada says that during those three decades, he has used his field experience and passion to promote safety along Metrolinx's railway corridors in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), coordinating school presentations and community events, working with police and other public safety agencies and finding innovative ways to educate the public — including through his social media posts and a recent video series which he produced with TVOKids entitled Anytime is Train Time.

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to spend CA$1.53 billion (US$1.187 billion) in provincial carbon tax money to fund one-third of Calgary Transit's Green Line light-rail transit expansion project.

As reported in the July 6 edition of The Globe & Mail, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the carbon tax is a key factor in the LRT expansion. "Every cent of it in terms of the provincial government's contribution is coming from the Climate Leadership Fund, which is funded by the carbon levy, and it absolutely would not have been possible without it." Notley said. Calgary City Council approved the final alignment and 28 station locations for the 46km (28.58-mile) Green Line project in June.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

Union Leasing Inc. has appointed Todd Heemsoth president. Before joining the company, he was partner-in-charge for the strategic technologies division at Sikich LLP, a public accounting and technology consulting firm. Heemsoth also served as president of Hale Solutions Inc., an information technology consulting firm he founded in 2004 and sold to Sikich in December 2016. Heemsoth's successful track record in information and business systems, software implementation and strategic technologies makes him "uniquely suited for his new role," said Jeff Walsh, chief executive officer of Sasser Family Holdings, the parent company of Union Leasing, in a press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has awarded Kapsch TrafficCom a contract to design, develop, implement, support and maintain a turnkey regional mobile ticketing system. The new system will enable MARTA riders to purchase and electronically validate tickets using their mobile smart devices, as well as directly through the mobile ticketing site. The project is valued at just under $11 million. Kapsch and its partners Bytemark Inc. and TransTrack Systems Inc. will deliver a mobile ticketing app and website, a customer service tool for account management, electronic validators, and account-based back-office solutions for MARTA to manage the new system.

Great Western Railway Ltd. (GWR) has announced it won a bid to purchase 150 grain hoppers from the Saskatchewan government. The largest short line in the province, GWR operates 450 miles of track and serves shippers in the agriculture, energy, aggregates and potash industries.

"This is the first purchase of its kind since our inception, when the line was first purchased from Canadian Pacific in 2000," GWR officials said in an announcement.

On Wednesday, Cummins Inc. executives, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, and other state and local leaders announced plans for a $30 million railroad overpass on State Road 46 in downtown Columbus, Indiana.

The overpass is necessary as CSX continues to advance about $100 million worth of upgrades to a line shared with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad between Louisville and Indianapolis, Cummins officials said in a press release. When the work is completed in mid- to late 2018, CSX expects to begin increasing the number, weight and length of trains on the line.

Amtrak next week will begin running Empire Service trains to and from Grand Central Terminal in New York City as the railroad gears up for emergency repairs to Penn Station.

In coordination with the New York State Department of Transportation, Amtrak will provide six trains between Albany-Rensselaer and Grand Central during the renewal work period, which runs from July 10 through Sept. 1.

On Wednesday, Cummins Inc. executives, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, and other state and local leaders announced plans for a $30 million railroad overpass on State Road 46 in downtown Columbus, Indiana.

The overpass is necessary as CSX continues to advance about $100 million worth of upgrades to a line shared with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad between Louisville and Indianapolis, Cummins officials said in a press release. When the work is completed in mid- to late 2018, CSX expects to begin increasing the number, weight and length of trains on the line.

Caltrain has awarded a $82.9 million contract for the 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project to Oakland-based Shimmick/Disney Joint Venture.

Caltrain, in cooperation with the city of San Mateo, will raise the tracks between State Route 92 and Hillsdale Boulevard and slightly lower the road at 25th Avenue in San Mateo. Caltrain says the grade separation will improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians and reduce local traffic congestion in San Mateo. In addition, the project will provide an opportunity to complete east-west street connections at 28th and 31st Avenues.

Caltrain has awarded a $82.9 million contract for the 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project to Oakland-based Shimmick/Disney Joint Venture.

Caltrain, in cooperation with the city of San Mateo, will raise the tracks between State Route 92 and Hillsdale Boulevard and slightly lower the road at 25th Avenue in San Mateo. Caltrain says the grade separation will improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians and reduce local traffic congestion in San Mateo. In addition, the project will provide an opportunity to complete east-west street connections at 28th and 31st Avenues.

Caltrain has awarded a $82.9 million contract for the 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project to Oakland-based Shimmick/Disney Joint Venture.

Caltrain, in cooperation with the city of San Mateo, will raise the tracks between State Route 92 and Hillsdale Boulevard and slightly lower the road at 25th Avenue in San Mateo. Caltrain says the grade separation will improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians and reduce local traffic congestion in San Mateo. In addition, the project will provide an opportunity to complete east-west street connections at 28th and 31st Avenues.

California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated nearly $593 million to 124 transportation projects that it says will alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges and encourage bicycling and walking.

"These projects will help us maintain and modernize California's transportation system," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Each of these projects is an opportunity to improve safety, goods movement and access and mobility for all travelers in California."

California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated nearly $593 million to 124 transportation projects that it says will alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges and encourage bicycling and walking.

"These projects will help us maintain and modernize California's transportation system," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Each of these projects is an opportunity to improve safety, goods movement and access and mobility for all travelers in California."

California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated nearly $593 million to 124 transportation projects that it says will alleviate traffic delays, repair aging roads and bridges and encourage bicycling and walking.

"These projects will help us maintain and modernize California's transportation system," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Each of these projects is an opportunity to improve safety, goods movement and access and mobility for all travelers in California."

AECOM is set to acquire Shimmick Construction. While the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, the companies expect to close in AECOM's fiscal fourth quarter.

AECOM says that Shimmick, "an established leader in the California and Western U.S. heavy civil construction market," has approximately 1,000 employees and a total backlog of approximately $1.35 billion that includes a wide portfolio of iconic infrastructure projects. Annually, AECOM says that Shimmick generates approximately $300 million of revenue and is responsible for put in place construction value1 of approximately $400 million. The enterprise value of the acquisition is $175 million and the transaction is expected to be accretive to AECOM's adjusted EPS upon closing.

AECOM is set to acquire Shimmick Construction. While the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, the companies expect to close in AECOM's fiscal fourth quarter.

AECOM says that Shimmick, "an established leader in the California and Western U.S. heavy civil construction market," has approximately 1,000 employees and a total backlog of approximately $1.35 billion that includes a wide portfolio of iconic infrastructure projects. Annually, AECOM says that Shimmick generates approximately $300 million of revenue and is responsible for put in place construction value1 of approximately $400 million. The enterprise value of the acquisition is $175 million and the transaction is expected to be accretive to AECOM's adjusted EPS upon closing.