LOS ANGELES — AECOM Technology Corporation was awarded a $17 million extension contract from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to complete the second phase of its light rail expansion program. Under the contract extension, AECOM will provide a variety of project control, system integration, and staff support services as DART completes the 20-mile expansion of its Orange and Blue light rail lines.

  NEW ORLEANS, LA. — The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) released an updated report making the case for investment in the public transportation industry by detailing the enormous growth in ridership, service provided, and funding levels. The report, “The Case for Business Investment in Public Transportation,” reinforces that there has been a steady growth trend over the past three decades and it is now a $55 billion industry. The data in this report point to an even more prominent future standing.

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nationally, 5.2 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the first six months of 2011, an increase of 85.7 million trips (1.7 percent) according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at its 2011 annual meeting and EXPO in New Orleans. All major modes of public transportation saw increases, despite the fact that the economic downturn continues.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Public transportation’s value as a solution to relieving congestion was validated once again by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) 2011 Urban Mobility Report. The report looks at road congestion in 439 U.S. urban areas and notes that relieving congestion will be critical to keep up with job growth as the economy rebounds. As in past years, the data overwhelmingly shows the importance of public transportation in relieving congestion. 

  NORFOLK, VA. — Michael Baker Jr. Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corporation, was awarded a contract by the city of Norfolk, Va., to design a multi-modal transportation center complex adjacent to the Elizabeth River and the Harbor Park baseball stadium, near Hampton Roads Harbor. Specifically, Baker will be providing architectural and engineering design, landscape architecture, and interior design services for a new Amtrak railroad passenger terminal, platform canopies and associated sitework and landscaping for Phase I of the multi-phase/multi-year project.