CHSRA: Board Greenlights Two Design Contracts

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has awarded $85.9 million in contracts to advance design of the Central Valley’s Merced-to-Madera and Fresno-to-Bakersfield project segments, covering a total of 52.4 miles.

Starting July 29, Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express will extend north to serve Middlebury, Vergennes and Burlington, Vt. (Amtrak/Steve Ostrowski)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Stantec/HART, Metrolink, New York MTA, San Diego MTS/NCTD

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has reported that Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express will begin service to Burlington, Vt., next month. Also, Stantec has landed a contract extension for work on Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) light rail project; Southern California’s Metrolink is rolling out the next phase of its Earthquake Early Warning System; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched an online trip planner for riders considering new Grand Central Madison commutes; and a new San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) program will offer free transit passes for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

Denver RTD’s N Line Celebrates First Anniversary

Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) on Sept. 21 marked the first anniversary of the 13-mile Phase 1 section of its 18.5-mile North Metro Rail (N Line) commuter railroad in Colorado.

WMATA: Silver Line Phase 2 Advances, Slated for Operational Testing

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority targets a late-summer handoff of the Silver Line Metrorail’s second phase to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Supply Side: Hensel Phelps/Stantec, WSP USA

WMATA has selected a design-build team for its Rail Heavy Repair and Overhaul facility. WSP USA has appointed a National Transit and Rail Leader.

Supply Side: WMATA, Stantec

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has awarded an escalator replacement contract; global engineering and design firm Stantec has signed an agreement to acquire an Australia-based transportation planning and engineering firm.

Stantec, Jacobs JV Selected for Toronto Projects

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have awarded the 360 Transit Alliance Joint Venture, comprising Stantec and Jacobs, a program control services contract for four TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) projects, valued at C$28.5 billion (US$22.07 billion).

One Vanderbilt Avenue: TOD For GCT

The $3.3 billion One Vanderbilt Avenue skyscraper, at 1,401 feet New York City’s second-tallest office tower after One World Trade Center, is home to a $220 million TOD (transit-oriented development) project benefiting adjacent Grand Central Terminal and the forthcoming MTA Long Island Rail Road East Side Access project. Designed by Stantec, the TOD project is a P3 (public-private partnership) of the New York MTA and developer SL Green Realty designed to improve rail transit access and use for some 750,000 (pre-pandemic) daily Metro-North commuter rail and NYC Transit subway riders, as well as future LIRR riders.

Edmonton Advances C$2.6B Valley Line West LRT Extension

The city of Edmonton (Alberta) announced that Marigold Infrastructure Partners (MIP) is the preferred proponent to design, build and partially finance its C$2.6-billion (US$1.98-billion), 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) Valley Line West light rail extension.

RTD N Line Phase 1 Bridges Denver With Thornton

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) inaugurated the 13-mile Phase 1 section of its 18.5-mile North Metro Rail (N Line) commuter railway on Sept. 21. The line connects Denver Union Station via Commerce City and Northglenn to 124th Avenue in Thornton, and offers an end-to-end trip time of 29 minutes. The north-south line also features five stations and 2,480 dedicated park-and-ride spaces along the route, as well as the two-mile Skyway Bridge, the longest bridge in Colorado.

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