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• The Houston Rapid Transit Joint Venture (HRT) team has received a full “notice to proceed” (NTP) for a $1.2 billion contract from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) regarding light-rail expansion, said Granite Construction Inc. officials in a prepared statement. HRT was awarded the design/build contract in 2009. Led by Parsons Transportation Group, HRT includes Granite Construction, Kiewit Texas Construction L.P., and Stacy and Witbeck Inc. Construction began with issuance of the original NTP in July 2010. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

• Keolis America Inc. has acquired Tectrans Inc., which provides paratransit transportation and other transit services, and will rename the firm Keolis Transit America Inc., according to a press release. “This acquisition is an important step for Keolis, as it allows us to enter the public transit market and provides us with an outstanding platform for future growth in the United States,” said Arnaud Van Troeyen, Keolis executive vice president of international development.

• ETA Transit Systems has been awarded a contract by Amtrak to install a new Passenger Information and Display System (PIDS) to replace its current PIDS on the Capitol Corridor in California.  The new PIDS, which includes ETA’s Spatial Positioning on Transit (SPOT™) text-to-speech capability, is designed to provide ADA-compliant messaging, including digital signage and synchronized audio messaging.

• The Brandt Group of Cos. announced it surpassed the financial milestone of $1 billion in annual revenue. To show its appreciation to customers, employees, and local communities for helping to reach the milestone, Brandt will donate more than $3 million before 2012’s end, company officials said in a prepared statement. Brandt will launch a “Thanks a Billion” program that will feature special gifts and promotions all year long. The company recently donated $100,000 to the United Way and $50,000 to the Children's Wish Foundation.   

• Atlantic Track and Turnout Co. has added additional capacity for the supply of bridge, siding and expansion joints for fixed and movable railroad bridges by purchasing certain inventory, patterns and patent rights. The acquisitions will expand Atlantic Track’s range of bridge products to include an all-rail design expansion joint for continuous-welded rail installation; Conley-design two- and three-piece manganese joints for movable bridges; and easer rail arrangements for both vertical lift and swing-type bridges, company officials said in a prepared statement. The purchase also expands Atlantic’s range of products for use in track scales, they said.

• Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) Canada was recognized for “innovation in rail and transit” at the 2011 Be Inspired Awards recently held by Bentley Systems Inc. HMM was honored for its work on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension – Twin Tunnels project. The alignment comprises a 5.2-mile extension of the existing Spadina Line from its current terminus at Downsview Station. The project includes six subway stations that will be interconnected with twin bored tunnels, constructed using earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines.