CTA, Chicago Public Schools Announce RLE Scholarship Program
Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Public Schools and Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the CTA Elevating Futures Red Line Extension Scholarship Fund. The $250,000 program will award three $3,000 scholarships each year from 2026 to 2030 to high‑school seniors in the Red Line Extension’s service area. Eligible students must be first‑generation and intend to study construction management, engineering, architecture or related fields. Applications are accepted through Chicago Scholars until May 31, 2026.
MBTA Completes Work on Green Line B, C, D Branches
The MBTA finished a series of upgrades on the Green Line B, C and D branches during April’s service suspension. Crews installed the Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) on the B branch, added new power and messenger cables, and...
MTA Harlem-148 Station Receives Accessibility Upgrades
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority completed accessibility upgrades at Harlem‑148 St, installing a six‑foot‑wide ADA‑compliant ramp with guardrails and an eight‑foot staircase, plus upgraded lighting, CCTV, fire‑alarm systems, and a Michael A. Cummings art installation. The ramp‑only solution saved roughly $30 million compared with an...
Merrimac Bridge Project Is Complete
The Federal Railroad Administration announced the Merrimac Bridge Project in Sauk County, Wisconsin is complete. The bridge now supports 286,000‑pound railcars at 25 mph after replacing 13 spans, installing 1,400 ft of deck, and reinforcing five piers. Phase 3 was funded by a...
Transportation Safety Board of Canada Continues Quest for PTC-Like System After 2023 Collision of BNSF Trains
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released its investigation of the November 19, 2023 BNSF train collision in Delta, British Columbia, where a northbound freight train missed a stop signal and struck a southbound train, derailing multiple cars and spilling roughly 8,000 litres...
PATH Will See Service and Operational Improvements in May
Port Authority completed its $430 million PATH Forward program, upgrading tracks, switches, and stations across the system. Starting May 4, the agency will raise fares and implement weekend service changes as it restores seven‑day service on all four lines for the first...
Metrolinx Selects Aecon Alliance for Hamilton LRT Civil and Utilities Works Project
Metrolinx has appointed Aecon Group’s civil and utilities alliance to deliver the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) civil works. Aecon will serve as the construction partner, while a joint venture of Hatch, Egis and Systra handles design. The alliance will...
RTD Announces Online Training Platform
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has unveiled an online training platform on the Colorado Business Learning Platform, aimed at helping small, minority‑owned, women‑owned and disadvantaged businesses navigate RTD’s procurement processes. Developed by RTD’s Small Business Opportunity Office in partnership with...
How Sound Transit Handles Weather on Floating Bridge
Sound Transit’s 5,811‑foot Homer M. Hadley floating bridge, the world’s fifth‑longest, now supports Link 2 light‑rail trains after the first powered crossing last September. The bridge’s pontoon design accommodates six directional movements, allowing simultaneous bi‑directional train operation while sharing space with I‑90 traffic....
GDC Awards Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 1C
The Gateway Development Commission awarded the $1.29 billion Hudson Tunnel Project Package 1C to the Traylor/Walsh/Skanska joint venture. Package 1C covers the under‑river segment, boring two 7,250‑foot tunnels, installing liners, nine cross passages, and reinforcing nearby infrastructure. With this award, six of the...
POLB Names Cesar Larios as Construction Management Director
The Port of Long Beach has promoted Cesar Larios to Director of Construction Management for its Harbor Department. Larios, a veteran engineer who joined POLB in 2006, previously served as Deputy Chief Harbor Engineer and Manager of Engineering. He oversaw...
MTA, PANYNJ Begin Public Outreach on Jamaica Station Redesign
The MTA and Port Authority announced an in‑person outreach at Jamaica LIRR station to gather rider input for a major redesign. A table staffed by agency officials will complement an online survey running through May 8. Governor Kathy Hochul has earmarked...
FRA Releases Ballast and Subgrade Interactions Technical Report
The Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Research, Development and Technology has published a technical report detailing findings on ballast and subgrade interactions. The report stems from a two‑year study (April 2021‑April 2023) conducted by Pennsylvania State University on Norfolk Southern tracks in...
CTA Kicks Off 2026 Construction Season
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen launched the 2026 construction season, expanding the Refresh & Renew program. The initiative will spend $6.5 million on upgrades at 28 rail stations, adding child‑sized benches, new landscaping, and seasonal power‑washing crews. Crews...
MDOT MTA Purple Line Newsletter Released for April 2026
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) issued its April 2026 Purple Line newsletter, highlighting recent construction milestones and sustainability achievements. The Glenridge Operations and Maintenance Facility earned LEED Silver certification for meeting high standards in energy efficiency, water conservation, and...
NTSB Releases Final Report on R.J. Corman Railway Group Conductor Injury
The National Transportation Safety Board issued its final report on a June 26, 2025 injury to an R.J. Corman Railway Group conductor at Guthrie Yard, Kentucky. The conductor slipped while manually realigning a mis‑aligned coupler and was crushed between moving and stationary...
Michael Baker International Launches Titan
Michael Baker International unveiled Titan, an enterprise AI platform that aggregates leading large‑language models through a secure, Azure‑based interface. The system grants more than 6,000 engineers, architects and scientists unified, no‑code access to build custom AI agents and publish them...
Railway Track and Structures Welcomes Dr. Riley Edwards to Editorial Board
Railway Track and Structures announced that Dr. J. Riley Edwards, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, has joined its Editorial Board. Edwards, who also serves as deputy associate director for the U.S....
A Couple of Days on the Road
Union Pacific executives rode a specially‑configured business train on Norfolk Southern’s Pittsburgh Line, inspecting key routes as part of the proposed UP‑NS merger. The two‑day trip, captured in striking photos, included a crossing of the 124‑year‑old Rockville Bridge near Harrisburg,...
Repairs to Rhinecliff, N.Y. Amtrak Station Halted by Trump Administration
The Trump administration has halted $28.2 million in federal funding for repairs at the Rhinecliff, N.Y., Amtrak station, a key component of a broader $233 million Biden rail‑modernization initiative. The pause was ordered for “further evaluation” by the U.S. Department of Transportation...
CSX Shares Day in the Life of a Track Supervisor
CSX released a video showcasing a typical day for track supervisor Kyler Denison in its Florida Division. The footage highlights the use of hi‑rail vehicles, which can travel on both road and rail, to inspect right‑of‑way, track conditions, crossings, and...
Amtrak OIG: Agency Needs Better Data Governance to Achieve State of Good Repair –– News and Commentary
The Amtrak Office of Inspector General released a report highlighting serious data‑governance gaps that impede the railroad’s State of Good Repair (SOGR) program. Amtrak estimates a $47 billion backlog of infrastructure assets that fall short of safety and performance standards, with...
California High-Speed Rail Authority Completes Underpass Project
California’s High‑Speed Rail Authority announced the completion of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass near the future Fresno station. The two‑lane grade‑separation routes traffic beneath the Union Pacific line and the planned high‑speed rail guideway, restoring a key east‑west corridor. Officials...
Rail Break Identified Before Fatal Spanish Accident
Preliminary findings by Spain’s Civil Guard reveal that the rail fracture that caused the Iryo train 6289 derailment on Jan 18 was logged 22 hours earlier, but the voltage drop of 0.5 V remained above the 0.78 V alarm threshold, so no alert was issued....
Watch: SEPTA Cuts Ribbon at New Ardmore Station
SEPTA officially opened the rebuilt Ardmore Station on April 10, 2026, after service began March 23. The $60.6 million project, part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, adds ADA‑compliant platforms, elevators, ramps, and a new inbound building along with upgraded lighting, signage and storm‑water...
Metrolinx GO Expansion Continues With Next Major Phase
Metrolinx has launched signaling work on its Lakeshore lines while kicking off a major construction phase on the Lakeshore East line. The project includes track replacement, new bridges, station upgrades, and three grade‑separation projects, with weekend closures planned to keep work...
$26.3MM in Rail Freight Assistance Program Grants Awarded to 11 Projects in New Jersey
New Jersey’s Department of Transportation awarded $26.3 million in FY‑26 Rail Freight Assistance Program grants to 11 projects spanning ten counties. The funding, which will be supplemented by $3.4 million from rail operators, brings total investment for these projects to $29.7 million. Over...
MnDOT Awards $4.5M to Five Rail Projects
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has awarded $4.5 million to five rail projects across the state, sourced from the Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program. The grants range from $750,000 to $1 million and fund track upgrades, new sidings, and freight‑loading facilities...
Metra Announces 2026 Construction Program
Metra unveiled its 2026 construction program, earmarking $37.7 million for track maintenance, $22.3 million for bridges, $5.2 million for grade‑crossing replacements, and $59.1 million for signal, electrical and communications upgrades. The plan includes improvements at 20 stations, design work on 47 additional stations, replacement...
National Transportation Safety Board Issues Preliminary Report on Union Pacific Railroad Derailment and Hazardous Materials Release
The NTSB released a preliminary report on the March 18, 2026 derailment of Union Pacific’s MEWEG‑18 train near Richmond, Texas. The incident involved 24 derailed cars, including 18 tank cars carrying hazardous materials, and seven of the 16 ethanol tank cars breached,...
Lou Thompson: California HSR ‘Has Reached a Dead End’ –– Commentary
Lou Thompson, former chair of California’s High‑Speed Rail Peer Review Group, warned that the state’s flagship HSR project has hit a dead end. He highlighted that the original $33.8 billion Phase I estimate has ballooned to $231 billion, while the Authority’s “optimized” $126 billion...
Progress Rail Partners With Triton Group to Supply Composite Ties
Progress Rail has signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Triton Group to distribute its composite railroad ties. The ties incorporate 160 lb of recycled plastic and engineered glass fiber, offering a durable, creosote‑free alternative to traditional wood ties. Progress...
Urban Engineers Taps William Brooks for SVP, Director of Strategic Operations
Urban Engineers announced the appointment of William Brooks, PE, as Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Operations. Brooks brings nearly forty years of executive leadership in transportation infrastructure, most recently as SVP of Capital Delivery at NJ Transit. He...
White House Targets Amtrak Spending in New Budget
The White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal slashes Amtrak funding by 13.5%, reducing the national network budget to $1.44 billion and Northeast Corridor support to $641 million. Defense spending rises to $1.5 trillion, a 42% increase over FY 2026, driving the overall cuts. High‑speed rail...
PennDOT Accepting Unsolicited Proposals for Transportation Projects
Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public‑Private Partnerships is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects through 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2026. The agency runs two solicitation windows each year—in April and October—to invite private‑sector ideas for state‑owned infrastructure across all...
ORDC Approves Grant Assistance for Projects
On April 6, 2026 the Ohio Rail Development Commission approved $3.9 million in grant funding for two local projects and earmarked additional state funds to support three larger rail‑rehabilitation initiatives seeking federal CRISI assistance. The grants include $300,000 for Ross County...
Please Don’t Mess With NS Heritage Locomotives
The opinion piece urges Norfolk Southern to protect its 22 heritage locomotives if a Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger receives Surface Transportation Board approval. The heritage units, first unveiled in 2012 at the North Carolina Transportation Museum, celebrate predecessor railroads such...
Lewistown Station Improvement Project Begins April 7
Amtrak will break ground on the Lewistown Station improvement project on April 7, allocating $3.5 million from the Federal Railroad Administration. The work raises the 250‑foot concrete platform eight inches, upgrades LED lighting, signage, HVAC, and refurbishes the entrance, windows, and ADA‑compliant...
CSX’s Magnetic Particle Testing Helps Identify Issues
CSX is expanding its rail‑car safety program by pairing magnetic particle testing with traditional visual inspections. The technique uses an electromagnet and iron particles to highlight surface cracks that visual checks might miss. CSX’s mechanical teams, led by senior manager...
Heavy Rainfall Leads to Washout on BNSF’s Stampede Subdivision
BNSF suspended service on its Stampede Subdivision after a 600‑foot, 60‑foot‑deep washout disrupted the Cascades route linking Puget Sound to inland markets. The railroad rerouted trains and issued an intermodal network update, warning customers of non‑standard routing. Engineering crews are...
SEPTA To Begin M Line Rehabilitation Project March 29
SEPTA will launch a $55 million rehabilitation of the historic Bridgeport Viaduct on the M Line starting March 29, replacing train service with shuttle buses through May 9. The 3,525‑foot, 1911‑era bridge will undergo structural steel repairs, bearing replacements, deck and abutment work,...
Sound Transit Approves Contract for New Operations and Maintenance Facility
Sound Transit’s board approved a progressive design‑build contract with Hoffman Construction to build a new Operations and Maintenance Facility South in Federal Way. The $350 million agreement covers final design, site work, roadway upgrades and construction staging on a 70‑acre site,...
Illinois Commerce Commission Gives a Green Light to $376 Million For Rail Safety Improvements
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $376 million allocation for the state’s Crossing Safety Improvement Program covering fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The five‑year funding will finance upgrades at high‑risk rail‑highway intersections across Illinois. The initiative targets modernizing warning systems, installing...
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Amtrak Worker Fatality in Pennsylvania
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the February 23, 2026 fatality of an Amtrak roadway‑maintenance foreman in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The worker was struck by an eastbound snow‑patrol train traveling about 87 mph while clearing snow from a switch on...
STV Wins Traffic Engineering Contract in Connecticut
STV has been awarded a statewide traffic engineering contract by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) under a new task‑based agreement. The firm will serve as prime consultant, handling everything from preliminary traffic studies to construction‑phase assistance. Services include traffic...
CTDOT Releases 2027-2030 STIP
The Connecticut Department of Transportation unveiled its draft 2027‑2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, outlining over 380 projects funded by $4.5 billion in federal, $932 million in state, and $45 million in local dollars. About $1.1 billion of the plan is earmarked for transit, including...
Phase 3 of Signal Work at MBTA’s Columbia Junction Starts March 26
The MBTA has finished Phase 1 and 2 of its Red Line signal modernization ahead of schedule and will launch Phase 3 on March 26, with each phase expected to last about two weeks. Phase 4 is projected to start around April 9. The work replaces...
CTA Sues Federal Government Over Red Line Extension Pause, Project Funding
The Chicago Transit Authority filed a federal lawsuit on March 20, 2026 against the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration to restore roughly $2 billion in federal funding for the Red Line Extension and Red & Purple Modernization projects. The...
For CSX, Drones Are An Important Item In The Toolbox
CSX has turned drones from a proof‑of‑concept into an enterprise‑wide asset, now operating over 250 unmanned aircraft across its rail network. More than 350 employees hold FAA Part 107 certifications, enabling eight departments to leverage aerial data for inspections, mapping and...
ENSCO Taps Gregory Grissom To Lead Inspection & Asset Management Services
Gregory T. Grissom, P.E., has been appointed Division Manager of Rail Inspection & Asset Management Services at ENSCO, Inc., bringing more than 25 years of railway engineering and leadership experience. Previously president of Loram Technologies, Grissom oversaw the integration of...