Sophie Parkes’ Post

Have you missed our latest update? We've got another major development in the Northeast Corridor. We're moving closer to breaking ground on the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge by awarding three major contracts to a Flatiron/Herzog Joint Venture, Fay Construction and an AECOM-led team.   This will revitalize the 117-year-old bridge, ushering in: 🕥Faster travel times. 📈Higher reliability. 🚄Safer travel.   Another bonus is that these new contracts aren't just about improving rail travel but also creating more job opportunities for residents, boosting the local economy.    As the longest moveable bridge on the NEC, the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge is a critical link for Amtrak, MARC rail, and Norfolk Southern, supporting over 110 passenger and freight trains daily. Currently, its limitations require trains to slow down, affecting efficiency.   Want to know more about this development? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/et9TDYJz

TDOT Unveils a 10-Year Construction Plan Aiming to Revolutionize Commuter Experience and Ensure High Priority Projects are Finished First   TDOT excitedly announced its new 10-Year Construction Plan on December 18th. The plan features a re-envisioned prioritization process to allow TDOT to select projects based on performance-based goals and criteria, and considers three dimensions of project delivery: performance, delivery time and cost. One of the first recommended projects is introducing paid express lanes on I-24 between downtown Nashville and Murfreesboro, which TDOT emphasizes will significantly ease traffic congestion in the area. Dubbed 'choice lanes' by TDOT, these lanes aim to offer a faster travel option while maintaining the existing number of lanes. Other notable projects being considered in the area (Region 3) include widening I-24 in Montgomery County, northwest of Nashville, installing choice lanes or toll lanes on I-65 between Nashville and Spring Hill, building a bypass on State Route 109 around Portland, and replacing eight bridges. TDOT's 10-year plan is fueled by $3.3 billion from the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA) as well as TDOT’s $1.2 billion annual spend. The start and end dates for the projects are still undecided but TDOT has committed to spending 92% of the funds from TMA by the end of 2027. With a commitment to starting and finishing priority projects, TDOT's focus on efficient execution is a promising shift for commuters and infrastructure development in the State. More details on the 10-year plan here:  https://lnkd.in/ewA683ys & https://lnkd.in/eBnE3n-4 #TDOT #Nashville #CRE #I24 #I65 

Big year ahead for Suburban Rail Loop

Note the claim in the last paragraph: “Under Commissioner McMurry’s stewardship, GDOT has emerged as a #P3 leader, notably with the successful implementation of transformative efforts like the I-75 Northwest Corridor Express Lanes and the I-285/SR 400 Interchange reconstruction. Those projects, delivered through innovative Design-Build-Finance models, are significantly enhancing traffic flow in the metro Atlanta area and improving commuter experiences while setting new benchmarks for efficiency and public benefit.” Do highway expansion projects ever provide enduring enhancements to traffic flow? This #transportation agency in the US state of #Georgia clearly thinks so, but where is their proof? Current research indicates the opposite: expanded roads are known induce demand, which results in more congestion. Is this award an attempt by the highway #planning establishment to justify the vast expenditures on these projects that inevitably fail their primary mission? https://lnkd.in/ePxjJxwt

Regional officials have successfully secured a $6.8 billion federal funding agreement to advance the long-delayed Hudson Tunnel project, a critical $16.1-billion infrastructure overhaul linking New York and New Jersey. This project aims to rehabilitate a deteriorating, century-old rail tunnel and construct a new one, crucial for the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak's busiest route with over 2,200 daily trains. The federal funding agreement, marking a significant milestone, ensures the project proceeds regardless of potential changes in the Oval Office following the upcoming presidential election. The Gateway Development Commission, responsible for the project, will commence major construction this month, targeting completion by 2035. At a news conference, Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, heralded the agreement as the "point of no return" for the project. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the project's reality, likening the effort to a marathon. The Hudson Tunnel project is vital not only for regional connectivity but also for the broader U.S. economy. The existing tunnel, compromised by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, will be replaced, and a new underwater tunnel will be constructed. The project's cost has escalated to $16.1 billion, 14% higher than previous estimates from 2021. With 70% of the project's funding covered by federal grants, contributions also come from New York, New Jersey, Amtrak, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Hudson Tunnel project is a crucial infrastructure initiative essential for the resilience and efficiency of the Northeast Corridor, a critical artery for passenger and freight rail traffic in the United States. The successful funding agreement underscores the importance of federal and regional collaboration in addressing infrastructure challenges and securing economic stability and growth. The project's advancement signifies a major step forward in modernizing America's transportation infrastructure. #HudsonTunnel #Infrastructure #Amtrak #NortheastCorridor #FederalFunding #GatewayProject #NYNJ #Transportation #EconomicGrowth #SuperstormSandy #RailInfrastructure https://lnkd.in/ehkMA2_y

🚄Exciting developments in Texas' transportation landscape! The North Central Texas Council of Governments is exploring a comprehensive high-speed rail network with Amtrak that could reshape travel in the region. Here are the highlights: 🌐𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲: The proposed system aims to offer a "one-seat ride" across major Texas cities—from Dallas to Houston, and Fort Worth to Austin and San Antonio, streamlining the commute and reducing the need for multiple transfers. 🚗𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: High-speed rail could significantly decongest road traffic, with an expected reduction of 12,500 cars from I-45 daily. By following existing transport corridors and integrating elevated and subterranean sections, the project minimizes community disruption. 💡𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This initiative would link seamlessly with existing DART and Trinity Metro services, enhancing accessibility and creating a unified transport network. The project also includes considerations for next-gen transport solutions like automated vehicles. 🌱𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Emphasizing public-private partnerships, the plan looks forward to sustainable development and funding, ensuring that these vital infrastructure improvements are robust and long-lasting. At Technical Hires, we're super excited about these developments! They're not just massive achievements in engineering, but also open up tons of opportunities for growth in civil engineering and construction. We're keeping an eye on how this unfolds and looking forward to what it brings to Texas. Stay connected with us for more updates and check out the comments for the article! #Engineering #Infrastructure #HighSpeedRail #CivilEngineering #TexasTransport #Amtrak

Starting in May, the first of multiple phases will focus on five segments of at-grade rail and street intersections in the Downtown Loop at $152 million. https://ow.ly/QjZ450QJq50

Starting in May, the first of multiple phases will focus on five segments of at-grade rail and street intersections in the Downtown Loop at $152 million. https://lnkd.in/eQjmnyVG

$176B plan unveiled to rebuild Northeast rail corridor: The Northeast Corridor Commission was announced on November 16th, outlining a 15-year plan to rebuild the Boston-New York City- Washington, D.C., rail line. This plan is a revised version of the original from 2021, which detailed the repairs needed, service goals and the necessary infrastructure. The estimated inflation-adjusted cost is now $176 billion year-of-expenditure dollars. The NEC carries the commuter trains of transit agencies that serves Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. This means that the NEC will handle 60% more commuter trains and 50% more Amtrak trains between Boston and New York City. Improvements will accommodate 51 million more travellers each year, shifting 38 million car trips and 600,000 short-haul plane trips to rail. Read more about the project funding: #rail #northeastcorridor #federalrailroad #civilengineering

𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐲 𝟑𝟏% The Port of Virginia’s newly expanded central rail yard is now fully operational, significantly enhancing the port’s rail capacity to handle 2 million TEUs annually. The $83 million Central Rail Yard project is a key component of the larger $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program aimed at fortifying the port’s infrastructure and capabilities. The expansion includes the addition of new rail tracks and electric cranes, increasing the port’s on-dock rail capacity by 455,000 TEUs annually—an impressive 31% boost. The development enhances the Port of Virginia’s status as a key East Coast trade hub, complementing ongoing improvements like deeper channels and terminal expansions. By 2025, Norfolk Harbor will have the deepest and widest channels on the U.S. East Coast, supporting two-way traffic for the largest vessels, including fully laden Ultra-Large Container Vesssels (ULCVs). Enhancements at Ports America’s Norfolk International Terminal’s (NIT) North Berth, including new cranes and semi-automated systems, will expand capacity to 1.4 million TEUs annually. “Modernizing and expanding the capability at NIT’s central rail yard gives us additional rail capacity ahead of the completion of the first phase of expansion at NIT’s North Berth [in 2025],” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Cargo volumes coming to the US East Coast are steadily increasing and moving the cargo to market by rail, over The Port of Virginia, is smart business.” Construction of the expanded rail yard began in 2022 and was completed on-time and on-budget. The project received substantial financial support, including a $20 million federal grant and another $20 million from the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The funds facilitated the construction of two new rail track bundles and the acquisition of three all-electric cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes. “We are proud to be a steward of this port modernization project contributing a $20 million investment which not only expands the Norfolk International Terminals’ central rail yard, but serves to elevate the entire Port of Virginia as a critical hub for trade on the East Coast,” said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg.