Algeria: Railway agency Anesrif has awarded Nortel a contract to supply GSM -R equipment on the Tabia – Mecheria and Bordj Bou – Arreridj M’Sila routes currently under construction (RG 4.07 p205). Argentina: TBA has taken delivery of an 08-16 split-head levelling and lining tamper as well as a PBR 400 ballast regulator from Plasser & Theurer, acquired at a total cost of 9·86m pesos. The first deployment will be on track renewals on the Sarmiento route. China: A consortium of Ansaldo STS and Beijing HollySys has won a €62m contract to supply ETCS Level 2 equipment ...

More Interstate 90 lane closures on Mercer Island are scheduled at ... Seattle Times, United States - 14 hours ago ... the state Department of Transportation and Sound Transit continue work on construction of car-pool lanes and ramps between Mercer Island and Bellevue. ...

On Crosscut, David Brewster questioned whether Sound Transit's first phase, which won voter approval in 1996, is one of the "word's biggest boondoggles?" He compares the agency's initial promises to voters with the fact they are now billions of dollars over budget and many years late. While Sound Transit's troubles are well documented, the philosophy that led to the agency's woes is even more outrageous. Brewster says:

Are you shocked? If so, consider that most of these projects are in fact wildly popular, even if the public had to be gulled to go along with building them. It's ...

In the search for a solar solution to power our cities, one of our biggest obstacles is the massive acreage required by conventional arrays. Photovoltaic panels are flat and expansive, and urban centers are at a serious loss for free space. Now Australian renewable energy retailer Going Solar has conceived of a clever strategy that infuses urban transit systems with energy producing potential - install solar panels in highways as sound barriers!

USA: On August 26 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill adding financial protections to the High-Speed Train Bond Act which will Californians will vote on in the November 4 ballot.

Replacing Proposition 1 on the ballot, Proposition 1A requires a peer-reviewed financial plan before the $9·95bn of bond money is spent. PPP financing will be possible, and a limit will be imposed on the amount of bond money which can be used for items other than construction.

'Californians deserve the opportunity to vote on a high speed rail proposition that includes taxpayer protections and financial ...

The Port of Seattle Commission approved more than $19 million to settle six disgruntled contractors' complaints that the port's relentless issuance of change orders created delays and extra costs during Sea-Tac Airport projects.

King Co. Metro bus fares could go up 50 cents by 2010 Seattle Post Intelligencer - Aug 26, 2008 It is separate from Sound Transit, which is building a light rail link from downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac Airport and also operates commuter trains and buses ...

Greg Nickels is putting on a series of car-less Sundays in Seattle. The first one on Capitol Hill was rained out, and many cars were ticketed and towed. Infuriating? Yes, but you know what you can do ...

Greg Nickels is putting on a series of car-less Sundays in Seattle. The first one on Capitol Hill was rained out, and many cars were ticketed and towed. Infuriating? Yes, but you know what you can do ...