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Yesterday, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) officials honored a project of the past and discussed conferences of the future at the organization's annual convention and exhibition held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in conjunction with the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association's (REMSA) World Rail Expo.

AREMA Treasurer Michael Franke presented the William W. Hay Award for Excellence to Union Pacific Railroad for the $60 million Grant Tower Realignment Project completed in Salt Lake City in 2007. Named after former AREMA Committee 16 member and long-time University of Illinois professor of railway engineering William Hay, the award recognizes a project the meets three criteria: innovation, safety and service performance reliability, said Franke, who chairs the award committee.

UP entered into a public-private partnership with the city and Utah Transit Authority to carry out the project, which limited the flow of train traffic through Salt Lake City and eliminated a constricted area of track downtown. The project also led to the formation of a quiet zone in the downtown area, Franke said.

Also at the event, AREMA President Larry Etherton said the "papers have been signed" and four organizations will co-locate the "largest consolidated trade show ever held in the USA for railway products and services" in Minneapolis in 2011. AREMA, REMSA, Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. and the Railway Supply Institute, in conjunction with the Coordinated Mechanicals Association, will hold Railway Interchange 2011 Sept. 18-21, 2011, which will include outdoor exhibits at a nearby UP yard.

The consolidated show will be the "new direction for all associations" for years to come, said Etherton. The associations plan to hold a joint event every other year after 2011.

In the meantime, AREMA will hold its 2009 conference and exhibition Sept. 20-23 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, and the 2010 conference and exhibition Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Orlando, Fla.

— Jeff Stagl