Maintenance of Way

All tied up

All indicators are pointing to a vibrant crosstie market across all segments: wood, concrete, steel, and composite. The freight railroads’ estimated $29 billion in 2015 capital expenditures is one driving factor, but healthy expansion plans among transit agencies are also fueling the good news.

Testing under way on LA’s Expo Line

Clearance testing for the second phase of the Expo Line light rail project in Los Angeles began April 6 with a train operating under its own power west from Culver City. This is the first time an LRV has crossed the new bridge over Venice Boulevard.
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Lowenthal proposes infrastructure trust fund

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) has introduced legislation he says “will provide a dedicated revenue source to invest in rebuilding crumbling freight infrastructure.”

Senators seek to speed infrastructure permitting

Bi-partisan legislation has been introduced in the Senate to remedy what are termed “significant challenges in the federal environmental permitting process” that delay and discourage railroads from constructing additional capacity.
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Firm earns ACEC award for work on Tanana River Bridge

Hanson Professional Services, Inc., earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 49th annual Engineering Excellence Awards for the Tanana River Bridge in Salcha, Alaska.

DOT grants NJT more SuperStorm Sandy funds

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded New Jersey Transit about $147 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program for repair, recovery, and resiliency projects associated with Superstorm Sandy, NJ Transit announced Monday, March, 2, 2015.

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Harsco acquires Protran Technology

Harsco Corp. announced Monday, March 2, 2015 that it has acquired Newton, N.J.-based Protran Technology, providing design and production of safety systems for transportation and industrial applications. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.