Posts Tagged ‘railroad’



Midwest factories among high-speed rail winners: report

Posted Thursday February 21 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

Who says living in the so-called Rust Belt is all bad?

A new report says that Chicago and Midwest manufacturers are disproportionately benefiting from the billions being spent for high-speed (or at least higher-speed) passenger railroad traffic. Up to 460 companies located within a few hours of Chicago are potentially in position to snag some business.

The report — “Midwest High-Speed Rail Supply Chain” — comes from Chicago’s Environmental Law and Policy Center, and while that group is as green as they come, it usually nails its facts.

http://elpc.org/2013/02/14/greg-hinz-of-crains-reports-on-elpc-high-speed-rail-supply-chain-report

Amtrak gets go-ahead to operate 110-mph trains in Michigan

Posted Wednesday February 8 2012 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has given Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation approval to operate passenger trains at speeds up to 110 mph in western Michigan and northern Indiana.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/high_speed_rail/news/Amtrak-gets-goahead-to-operate-110mph-trains-in-Michigan–29852

Why trains are important (even for car guys)

Posted Friday December 16 2011 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

Because companies locate to communities with good quality of life, and trains — a way out of the gridlock — are a big part of that.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/why-trains-are-important-even-for-car-guys

Amtrak upgrades are still on track in Milwaukee

Posted Monday December 5 2011 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

State transportation officials are proceeding with two building projects to upgrade Amtrak service in Milwaukee.

The state Department of Transportation is seeking lawmakers’ approval to spend $5 million designing a maintenance base to service new trains now under construction for the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line.

At the same time, transportation officials have redrawn plans for rebuilding the passenger train concourse at downtown Milwaukee’s Amtrak-Greyhound station.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/amtrak-upgrades-are-still-on-track-in-milwaukee-q239sq4-135004088.html

Proposal made to close Division St. crossing

Posted Tuesday November 8 2011 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

The Pontiac city council got first-hand knowledge of another potential railroad crossing closing in Pontiac.

Bureau chief for high-speed rail and passenger rail Michael Garcia proposed to the council at its meeting Monday that the North Division street crossing be closed.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/features/x363489709/Proposal-made-to-close-Division-St-crossing

Amtrak 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train in Chicago This Weekend

Chuggington Depot, ticket drawings and more on Saturday & Sunday
Posted Wednesday September 28 2011 by in Press Releases
CHICAGO – The Amtrak Exhibit Train, a unique traveling display showcasing memorabilia from the 40-years of Amtrak railroad history is touring the country and is stopping at Amtrak Union Station in Chicago this weekend.
The Exhibit Train event is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday, October 1, and Sunday, October 2.
The Exhibit Train showcases Amtrak history over the decades, displaying memorabilia such as vintage advertising, past menus and dinnerware, and period uniforms. The Exhibit Train will also include a train-themed kids’ activity area, Chuggington Depot, based on the popular television series on Disney Junior and designed for kids ages 2-7 and their families. In addition, commemorative 40th anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase onboard the train.
Besides the Exhibit Train and drawings for free Amtrak tickets, the event also showcases the City of Chicago Office of Tourism & Culture (promoting the Soul Train 40th Anniversary), model trains from Kato and Lionel, National Association of Railroad Passengers and Operation Lifesaver, an industry-sponsored rail safety group.
Additional information about the Exhibit Train and Amtrak’s 40th Anniversary can be found on the official website at Amtrak40th.com.
WHAT: Amtrak 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, October 1 & 2, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Amtrak Chicago Union Station, 225 South Canal Street, 60606
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Amtrak rolls toward record ridership

Posted Thursday September 15 2011 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

MSNBC

Trains — they’re not just for retirees and railroad buffs anymore.

Thanks to changes in technology and demographics — not to mention the hassles of air travel — the nation’s railroads are drawing a whole new crowd.

That’s certainly true for Amtrak, which is on track to report its highest ridership in history. On Tuesday, the company announced that it carried almost 27.8 million passengers during the first 11 months of its fiscal year ending in September, up 5.2 percent from the year before.

(more)

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/09/7688398-amtrak-rolls-toward-record-ridership

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $16.9 Million in Grants for Illinois Highway Projects

Funds will help create jobs by expanding highway repairs, improving safety at rail crossings and studying possible new I-66 alignment
Posted Thursday August 18 2011 by in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $16.9 million in grants for Illinois to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from interstate repairs and improved rail-grade crossing safety to researching a new alignment of I-66 spanning southern Illinois.

“Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Illinois residents as well as strengthen the state’s economy,” said Secretary LaHood. “The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment.”

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited states to apply in June for federal funding from 14 grant programs. Requests poured in from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. – more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times the funds available.

“At a time when states are facing serious budgetary constraints, these grants will help fill a critical need,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “Investments like these are immediate and long-lasting and will help create jobs.”

Congress created the discretionary grant programs to give FHWA the latitude to support projects that maintain the nation’s roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable. In previous years, Congress designated some of this grant money for specific projects and FHWA awarded the remainder through a competitive process. Because the FY11 budget passed by Congress last April directed that all such funds be discretionary, FHWA awarded these funds through a competitive process.

Illinois received funding for the following projects:

PROJECT AWARD
Supplement funding for reconstruction of I-57, the state’s second-highest highway priority $3,750,000
I-66 Phase 1 Study to evaluate most feasible alignment of I-66 between Paducah, KY and I-55 in Missouri $3,600,000
Installation of pedestrian safety devices at 78 locations along the Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail Corridor $2,700,000
Replacement of two at-grade pedestrian crossings with one pedestrian underpass at Lake Cook Metra Station in Deerfield $1,700,000
Redevelopment of Oak Forest Metra commuter station $1,304,400
Close six-track crossing at East Alton Avenue/Evans Avenue $750,000
Phase 2 Engineering of Veterans Memorial Trail in Will and Cook Counties $652,200
Research into the application of differential pricing on existing toll roads and integrate transit options into toll lanes. $528,840
Efforts to improve ability of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to compete for federal highway contracts $407,400
On-the-job training for careers in highway construction $300,000
Resurface State Street from Burnham Avenue to State Line Road in Calumet City $260,880
Construction of a one-mile trail from Stone Arch Bridge turnout on IL 96 near the Nauvoo Flats Wildlife Sanctuary in Nauvoo $185,336
Construction of visitor plaza and rest area at Lewis and Clark Tower Site near Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway in Hartford $180,800
Reconstruction of North Main Street from Market Street to Clay Street in Troy $163,050
Preservation of Red Covered Bridge in Princeton $145,248
Ferry landing improvements, including resurfacing of the parking and access areas in Grafton $119,000
Installation of educational panels along Historic Route 66 $110,625
Revision of Illinois River Road Corridor Management Plan $78,520
Rehabilitation of Sugar Creek Covered Bridge $52,000
Rehabilitation of Thompson Mill Covered Bridge in Cowden $4,000
TOTAL $16,992,299

A complete state-by-state list of this year’s grant recipients is available online athttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.

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New option added to local railroad consolidation possibilities

Posted Wednesday August 10 2011 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

SJ-R

Rail planning officials Tuesday threw a new option into the mix of Springfield rail consolidation plans during a meeting at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, surprising some people who attended the event.

The crowd, which included members of rail advisory committees and about 50 onlookers, was divided already. Some said keeping trains on Third Street and adding more would divide the city and prove an economic train wreck. Others, however, said consolidating trains on 10th Street, as elected leaders have urged, would amount to dumping more problems on an economically disadvantaged part of town.

Mark Yachmetz, associate administrator of railroad policy and development for the Federal Railroad Administration, said his agency will defer to the wishes of locals “to the maximum extent possible.”

(more)

Post Link: http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x782945723/New-option-added-to-local-rail-possibilities

Overhead walkway likely at transportation center

Posted Monday June 20 2011 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

Pantagraph

An overhead walkway likely will be built to get Amtrak passengers from the transportation center to the south set of tracks. But it remains a question how Constitution Trail users and other pedestrians will get across the future high-speed rail tracks in uptown Normal.

Town leaders recently met with representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Commerce Commission and Union Pacific to discuss those issues and will update the City Council during a work session at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

At the regular council meeting at 7 p.m., members will be asked to approve a $148,750 contract with RATIO Architects of Champaign to create a schematic design for the overpass that would serve Amtrak passengers.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_6e1305fe-991d-11e0-8970-001cc4c002e0.html

 
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