Rail supplier news from Hexagon, Michael Baker, LTK and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (Aug. 17)

Hexagon Composites subsidiary Hexagon Lincoln has entered into a joint venture agreement with Allegheny Creative Energy Solutions LLC (ACES) and Resonance Mode Inc. to develop and manufacture compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel solutions for the rail industry. ACES and Resonance Mode have experience with American railroads and have designed prototype CNG tenders, fuel storage and trackside refueling systems with Hexagon Composites' bulk-capacity TITAN® cylinders. The companies are confident that CNG will become "the railroad fuel of the future," said ACES Chairman Ross Rowland in a press release.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has awarded Michael Baker International a three-year, $8 million contract to support the agency's "Rebuilding the System" initiative to improve the region's infrastructure. Michael Baker will support SEPTA in managing the construction projects with the goal of ensuring quality, enhancing customer service, and avoiding delays. The firm also will supplement the in-house SEPTA project management staff and respond to emerging conditions, Michael Baker officials said in a press release. The company previously worked on other SEPTA projects, including the Market Street elevated reconstruction  and the replacement of the Crum Creek Viaduct.

LTK Engineering Services has started work on the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA)  "visioning study" aimed at improving the agency's FrontRunner commuter-rail service. Supported by Fehr & Peers and Jacobs Engineering, LTK will provide UTA with long-range strategic planning, focused on improved service reliability and greater ridership demand. In addition, LTK will analyze future growth scenarios including implications for ridership, fleet requirements, capital improvements and operating costs. The company will use its TrainOps® rail network simulation software to model existing operations, near-term planned operations and long-range options for an improved FrontRunner network.

WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff's Tanya Adams has been named 2016 corporate executive of the year by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). Adams is the firm's vice president of community relations and diversity manager for the Central U.S. transportation and infrastructure sector. The award recognizes an executive whose corporation, through his or her leadership, has consistently provided exemplary support to COMTO and contributed to its mission and goals both nationally and locally, according to WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff.