MI Engineers’ Post

Is High Speed Rail Finally Happening? The California High-Speed Rail project has been a topic of discussion and planning for decades. The first concept dates back to the late 1970s, with formal proposals starting in 1979 under Governor Jerry Brown. In 1982, a bill was signed to authorize $1.25 billion in bonds for a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Diego, though it failed due to economic and environmental concerns. The project gained renewed momentum in 1996 with the establishment of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and in 2008, voters approved $9.95 billion in bond funding to kickstart the project. And then we waited... Recent optimism around the the project has been bolstered by several key developments. In 2023, the California High-Speed Rail Authority released updated business plans and project update reports that included revised budgets, schedules, and a focus on completing an initial operational segment (IOS) between Merced and Bakersfield. These updates have been coupled with new funding applications and contract awards for station design and construction. Foster + Partners and Arup have now publicized renderings for the stations along the IOS which signals progress in design and planning, possibly driven by the Authority's emphasis on creating a viable operational segment that can demonstrate the project's potential benefits. Additionally, federal support and the prioritization of certain construction phases have contributed to renewed optimism. We'd love to see it. It seems crazy to drive or fly between San Francisco and LA if there is a viable high speed rail alternative. The question is - are we there yet? https://loom.ly/L5EtgUg #transportation #rail #architecture #design

REGISTER NOW for the upcoming 🚃 Gateway Development Commission (GDC) & Dock Bridge Event! 🌉 This special spotlight is cast on the Dock Bridge Rehabilitation project, where participants will have the unique opportunity to receive a firsthand overview of urgent infrastructure development! This interactive session will deepen participants' knowledge of the Gateway Program and its specific projects within our region's infrastructure development. The full Gateway Program is a pivotal infrastructure initiative aimed at doubling train service between New Jersey and New York, significantly improving and modernizing transportation on the Northeast Corridor. Hosted by AIA Central New Jersey on April 25th at 4pm for an educational seminar to learn about the efforts by Amtrak and its partners to improve rail connections in #newjersey and into #newyork at the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) office. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dKyFbN5M Event and Course Description (1 LU) Through a series of strategic projects designed to improve rail and transit capabilities, the Gateway Program will reduce highway congestion and enhance overall transportation efficiency in the region. These initiatives not only seek to meet current demands but also to future-proof the region's transportation network, ensuring sustained growth and resilience. This initiative plays a vital role in shaping the infrastructure landscape of the Northeast, fostering economic development and connectivity. The Gateway Program also represents unprecedented collaboration among transportation agencies, including Amtrak, GDC, NJ TRANSIT, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, along with government partners at the State of New Jersey, State of New York, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. This course offers participants a comprehensive understanding of the Gateway Program. This session begins with a concise exploration of the program's history, providing context for its evolution. Participants will then delve into an overview of the various projects within the Gateway Program, gaining insights into their significance and impact. REGISTER Below: ➡ Additional information and registration: https://lnkd.in/eyAGygJe? AIA New Jersey - The New Jersey Society of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) State of New Jersey AIA New York | Center for Architecture AIA Newark & Suburban Architects #infrastructuredevelopment #infrastructureprojects Gateway Development Commission (GDC) Amtrak

https://lnkd.in/e7xN8SgP Laudable, but we need north-south rail capacity and east-west rail more too. That means rebuilding/new builds to inform more orbital links for West Midlands and East Midlands and connections thereof. E.g. #Oxford-#Leicester could be direct if the missing piece of railway between #Northampton and Market Harborough (MH) is rebuilt and an east-north direct running curve put in for #Birmingham-#Rugby/DIRFT-Leicester (more options/capacity) and vice versa. Likewise a study to look at a new rail link between the Rugby area with the Leicester/Leicester-Nuneaton lines could serve developments like Magna Park, never existed in Great Central days and also bring the #Lutterworth area back onto the rail network. Otherwise we have some freight by rail, but lion's share on the roads and with more development, congestion and gridlock alongside loss of land for other uses beit housing, leisure, conservation and food-farming, is lost and we're poorer too. Who will blink first, have power to call in such sprawls and ensure the rail network can deliver 90% freight by rail unfolding, not a mere 10% if lucky! #Knighton-#Burton rail link could serve for diversionary north-south feright to create more capacity through Leicester. #networkrail #dft #rail #railways #transport #environment #links #newlines #people #modalshift #modalchoice

🚄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

**Progress on Texas Infrastructure: Webber Excels on I-10 Widening Project** Webber, a Ferrovial company, is making significant headway on the 47-mile Interstate 10 widening project between Houston and Beaumont, remaining ahead of schedule on this vital initiative. Designed to improve safety and efficiency, this upgrade addresses one of Texas's busiest transportation corridors. As a key segment of the national freight network, this stretch of I-10 serves daily commuters and supports a substantial portion of commercial freight traffic across the southern U.S. The project’s transformative benefits include: ◾ Expanding the highway from four lanes to six in select areas to ease congestion. ◾ Upgrading bridges, drainage systems, and access points for improved safety and resilience. ◾ Enhancing mobility for commercial and local vehicles, bolstering economic growth and connectivity for millions of users annually. Webber’s progress highlights its commitment to delivering large-scale infrastructure projects through innovation, teamwork, and efficient problem-solving, even under challenging conditions. This effort is part of TxDOT’s larger mission to modernize infrastructure and support the rapid growth of the Lone Star State. #Infrastructure #HighwayConstruction #TexasDOT #TransportationProjects #CivilEngineering #RoadWidening #ConstructionUpdates #Webber #InnovationInConstruction #EconomicGrowth #I10Widening #TexasInfrastructure #EfficientPlanning

A great article highlighting some of Kiewit's significant contributions to the Sound Transit expansion — the soon-to-be largest and most unique transit program in the U.S.   Learn more about how Kiewit teams on three of these major projects have adapted and excelled to deliver these incredibly complex projects under challenging conditions. #KiewitEmployee

A great article highlighting some of Kiewit's significant contributions to the Sound Transit expansion — the soon-to-be largest and most unique transit program in the U.S.   Learn more about how Kiewit teams on three of these major projects have adapted and excelled to deliver these incredibly complex projects under challenging conditions. #KiewitEmployee

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

Some wise words from Colin Calder Building a high speed rail network in Australia will definitely rely on agreement and collaboration across all levels of government and through the life of successive administrations. While running high speed trains on existing infrastructure can possibly deliver capital savings it will also, inevitably, lead to compromise in speed and efficiency meaning that 3.5 hour journey time time between Sydney and Melbourne becomes a pipe dream. Nowhere was this compromise illustrated more clearly than in the disastrous West Coast Route Modernization program, between London and Glasgow in the UK. The original design speed of 140mph was lowered to 125mph which is little more than the 110mph already achieved in many sections of the West Coast Main line at the time. Meanwhile cost ballooned from around £2.5 billion to £14.5 billion by some accounts. Carrying out major upgrades in an operational rail environment is not for the faint hearted. I say build new or be damned. #infrastructure #projectmanagement Engineers Australia RP Infrastructure Patries Twaalfhoven

What is wrong with UK CONSTRUCTION! And shows how we can get something so wrong and cost go out of control. Just look at #hs2 Do know of any other project that's gone this much over #budget and timescale Small railway footbridge takes longer to build than #EmpireStateBuilding Network Rail's The 102-storey Empire State Building in #NewYork is one of the world’s most #iconic buildings, attracting millions of #visitors a year. A rather less spectacular feat of #engineering, a footbridge at a #railway #station near #Reading, has taken longer to build and cost about the same to construct in cash terms. The pedestrian walkway at Theale station in west #Berkshire was already ten years overdue when National Rail finally began construction in January 2023. Even so, it is not expected to be completed until spring this year, and the #budget has spiralled to £9.5 million from a projected £1.25 million in 2011. #networkrail #railwayindustry #gwr #hs2 #constructionindustry #construction #usa #europe #australia #loveconstruction constructionbuddies.co.uk