1370 Ontario St. - Mezzanine, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 • (216) 241-2630 / Fax: (216) 241-6516

Missouri DOT seeks stimulus dollars for 11 rail projects (The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on August 6, 2009.) The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission recently approved the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) plan to add 11 rail projects totaling $201.3 million to the state’s five-year transportation improvement program. The projects will be included in MoDOT's final application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for competitive High-Speed/Intercity Passenger Rail grants created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Applications for four of the projects are due to the FRA on Aug. 24 and applications for the remaining seven projects are due Oct. 2. The projects include: • new double track and signal upgrades from Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill ($56.6 million) to increase Amtrak train speed from 79 mph to 90 mph; • the purchase two new sets of locomotives and passenger equipment ($50 million) for use on the St. Louis-to-Kansas City Amtrak route; • .a second rail bridge over the Osage River ($33.8 million) to eliminate train delays caused by a single-track bottleneck over the bridge; • a new grade separation ($15 million) to remove a grade crossing in Strasburg; • a new passing siding in Kingsville ($11.5 million) to break up 25-mile segment with no such siding; • a third mainline in Jefferson City Yard ($9.7 million) to increase the yard’s fluidity and maintain bi-directional freight operations with Amtrak trains; • a 9,000-foot passing siding extension in Knob Noster ($8.5 million) to break up a 27-mile segment without a usable passing siding; • a new universal crossover in Hermann ($5.2 million) to close an 18.2-mile gap on a double mainline with no crossovers; • a new universal crossover in Webster ($4.4 million) to sort freight and passenger trains into and out of the St. Louis area; • crossing safety improvements near Sedalia ($3.6 million) primarily by upgrading 13 crossings and closing two; and • real-time passenger information displays ($3 million) at eight intermediate stations. Some of the projects will help MoDOT develop high-speed Amtrak service on an existing Union Pacific Railroad line between St. Louis and K.C. Other projects will complement several ongoing rail improvements, such as construction of double track at the Gasconade River Bridge that’s funded by UP and a new passing siding under construction near California. Friday, August 07, 2009 © 1997-2013 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

Safety Task Force Hotline
800-306-5414

Decertification Helpline
800-393-2716

DAILY HEADLINES

•	Teamster Nation: Get the latest updates in the War on Workers

•	AAR: Railroad report increase in traffic over 2012 for week ending May 11

•	Amtrak route to St. Louis in jeopardy

•	Amtrak unveils new locomotives that will replace aging fleet on busy Northeast Corridor

•	CSX may seek grant to expand NW Ohio terminal

•	BNSF's earnings a big part of Berkshire's profit

•	CSX nears completion of plans for $90 million yard near Baltimore

•	FRA cautions railroads about flat switching operations safety hazards

•	Inspiring stories captivate attendees at Teamsters Unity Conference

•	Justice Department weighs in on BNSF railroad judgment

•	Mexican manufacturing boom could spur one of Canada's railways to buy Kansas City Southern: analyst

•	Police officers sue Conrail, CSX, NS for alleged train wreck negligence in Paulsboro

•	STB adopts final rules to encourage use of mediation and arbitration

•	Disability annuities for employees working under Railroad Retirement

More Headlines

Enter your e-mail address to receive BLET news updates.

Subscribe  Unsubscribe