WASHINGTON, D.C. — TRB standing committees have issued calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, Jan. 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential authors identify topics for their papers.  

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The T (the Fort Worth Transportation Authority) announced that its TEX Rail commuter rail project was approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to advance to preliminary engineering (PE). The approval to enter PE will allow The T to proceed with the engineering needed for construction.  

PHOENIX, ARIZ. — Valley Transit Constructors (VTC), a Kiewit/Mass. Joint Venture, was selected as the team that will continue designing and building the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail extension. Parsons Transportation Group, also part of the team, will serve as lead designer. This decision comes following a nine-month procurement process that sought support from high quality contractor/design teams from across the country. The contract was unanimously approved by the METRO Board of Directors.  

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) released a request for statements of interest (RFSOI) for qualified firms interested in submitting a co-development proposal to assist CDOT in providing a long-term solution to the congestion and mobility issues on the I-70 Mountain Corridor through a program of highway, transit, and other improvements. This would also include helping CDOT to secure a public-private partnership for financing, designing, building, and operating the I-70 improvements through a long-term concession agreement.  

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is launching a new awards program to promote and recognize innovations that make the U.S. transportation infrastructure network the best it can be in serving those who pay for it, use it and rely on it.