Sound Transit's tunnel-boring machine reaches daylight
The 21-foot, 6-inch diameter drill reached daylight around 4:30 p.m., after launching from the Maple Leaf Portal near Northgate in July. The breakthrough was supposed to happen before 9 a.m., but the machine slowed down while chewing through soil laced with concrete grout, to add stability near the station vault.
Sound Transit
Sound Transit
SEATTLE – Sound Transit’s tunnel-boring machine “Brenda” punched through the north wall of the future Roosevelt Station on Tuesday — keeping the agency on track to open its Northgate light-rail extension by 2021, The Seattle Times reported.
The 21-foot, 6-inch diameter drill reached daylight around 4:30 p.m., after launching from the Maple Leaf Portal near Northgate in July. A joint venture of Jay Dee, Coluccio, and Michels is building the twin, 3.4-mile train tubes from Maple Leaf to Husky Stadium, plus the Roosevelt and University District stations, under a $462 million contract.
The breakthrough was supposed to happen before 9 a.m., but the machine slowed down while chewing through soil laced with concrete grout, to add stability near the station vault. Shortly after 11 a.m., Brenda took a break to cool off, before proceeding at no more than 5 millimeters per minute. For the full story, click here.
More Rail
FTA Ends Direct Oversight of MBTA Safety Actions
The federal agency closed its remaining special directive to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities following a safety review that began in 2022.
Read More →
Amtrak, CN Reach Agreements to Strengthen Passenger Rail Service, Safety
The agreement resolves a more than decade-long proceeding before the Surface Transportation Board concerning the terms and conditions for Amtrak services, such as the City of New Orleans, Illini/Saluki, and Wolverine.
Read More →
New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →