Chicago Red Line project clears environmental review
The Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration have published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line Extension project. The milestone advances the project to the next step to begin construction on the extension, which would extend Chicago’s most-traveled rail line from 95th Street to 130th Street. The 5.6-mile extension will include four new stations and a storage and maintenance facility. [progressiverailroading.com]
Cracks in piers delay opening of Edmonton light rail line
TransEd, the agency charged with providing new LRT in Edmonton, Alberta, announced a delay in its Valley LIne Southeast LRT service commencement. Work on this LRT line has been underway since 2016, and service was expected to begin this summer. However, recent inspections revealed cracks in some of the piers supporting the elevated tracks. Engineering investigations are underway now, and preliminary findings point to the need to strengthen some of the piers. No new opening date has not been set. [rtands.com]
Florida’s Brightline gets $25M grant to improve safety
Tracks used by the nation’s deadliest railroad will see added fencing to keep pedestrians away and safety improvements at crossings under a $25 million federal grant. Brightline and government officials announced the grant as the privately owned passenger line continues to be plagued by deaths along its tracks between Miami and West Palm Beach. Brightline trains have killed 68 people since the service began five years ago and has the worst fatality rate among the nation’s more than 800 railroads. [apnews.com]
Eco concerns voiced over proposed Calgary-Banff
Conservation advocates and experts are concerned a proposal for a Calgary-to-Banff passenger train is chugging along without addressing some key environmental issues in and around the national park. While the train is being touted as a hydrogen-powered transportation solution with lower greenhouse gas emissions than driving, environmental organizations and some scientists say the proposal also has environmental risks. [ctvnews.ca]
Operation Lifesaver offers new transit safety ed media
Operation Lifesaver, in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration, has released a suite of new rail-safety education materials for transit riders. The assets are available to transit agencies, OLI state programs and the public, and can be found on the OLI website. The materials include new 30- and 15-second video and audio public service announcements in English and Spanish; a transit safety brochure; social media graphics; and a six-minute transit safety video. [progressiverailroading.com]
