Rail supplier news from Granite, Alstom, RSI, TRANSCAER and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (Oct. 10)

Granite Construction Inc. has obtained a $39 million subcontract from Absher Construction Co. to build Sound Transit's Northgate Station in Seattle. The contract will cover construction of a half-mile of elevated rail structure and associated work. The new station will provide access to a transit center, adjacent park-and-ride facilities, North Seattle Community College, local shopping and nearby homes and businesses. Construction is expected to start this month and wrap up by December 2018.

An Alstom-led consortium known as Expolink has signed a contract with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to design and build the city's Red metro line and upgrade the existing line's system. Also called route 2020, the project's total value is $2.9 billion. It involves construction of a 9.3-mile rail line with seven stations. The extended line is expected to begin commercial service in 2020 for the World Expo.

Three new members have been elected to the Railway Supply Institute's board. They are Tracy DeLeon, president of International Decal Management Corp.; Neil Gambow, director and chief technology officer at Kelso Technologies Inc.; and Marise Stewart, director of government and industry relations at Progress Rail/EMD. They will serve three-year terms starting Jan. 1, 2017. Meanwhile, the Greenbrier Cos. Inc.'s Dan O'Neal was elected as secretary-treasurer.

During the 27th Annual Continuing Challenge HazMat Workshop, David Buccolo received the Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER) 2016 Distinguished Service Award for his "tireless commitment" toward advancing transportation safety. Buccolo, who serves as general manager of the Central California Traction Co., is TRANSCAER's Region IV Coordinator, which involves providing support for emergency response efforts on the West Coast. An instructor in railroad hazardous materials shipping and emergency response and a first responder himself, Buccolo has provided his hazmat and rail expertise and leadership to TRANSCAER for nearly 30 years.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association honored WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff's Paula Hammond with the Ethel S. Birchland Award. Named after ARTBA's executive director from 1924 to 1928, the award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and long-term service in the transportation design and construction industry. Particular focus is given to the individual's dedication to "the advancement of innovation and other women leaders," WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff officials said in a press release. Based in the firm's Seattle office, Hammond serves as a senior vice president and national transportation market leader. The job involves working with transportation agencies across the United States to advance transportation policy and programs. She's served on numerous committees of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, including the high-speed and intercity passenger-rail leadership group.