Agreed. We still have a ways to go. I'm a firm believer that Measure R was really only the beginning, not the end, of LA's investments in rail infrastructure.

Groundbreaking on Friday for the S 200th St/Angel Lake extension of Link Light Rail. This will be another 1.6 miles of elevated track and will be located south of the SeaTac Airport Station. Opening will be in 2016 - this is when the University extension will open as well.

http://www.soundtransit.org/About-So...ndbreaking-426

Denver's West light rail line opened, so it is coming off the list.

What 'threshold' would posters here consider as meeting the definition as "Under construction"?

There are several early actions that can referenced....
"Utility Relocations" typically not undertaken by eventual contractor
"Staff Recommendation for selected Contractor"
"Board Approval for Contractor"
"Notice to Proceed" for Contractor (rarely announced publicly)

Is this worthy of a poll?

^ I think groundbreaking is an appropriate threshold.

Looking at the under construction list there are a couple of updates for Salt Lake:

Frontrunner south (Commuter Rail) opened in December and the Airport extension (Light Rail) opened earlier this month.

We still have the Draper extension (Light Rail) and the streetcar under construction. The Draper extension is scheduled to open in August and the Streetcar line in December

Charlotte's next light rail line has broken ground

http://www.urbanrail.net/am/char/charlotte-map.gif
Source

Today was the groundbreaking ceremony for Charlotte's next light rail line. It is actually an extension that will double the existing light rail length. The current line runs from center city down south through Southend to the I-485 beltway. The new extension will run northeast through NoDa to University City and end on the campus of UNC Charlotte.

Google map of the extension.

Here's a little Q & A:

How long will construction take?
Groundbreaking is 7/18/13 and utility work begins immediately. Service starts 2017.

Is the line any different than the existing one?
Yes. The original light rail line's stations were designed to handle 1 and 2 car trains. The new line will have stations that can fit 3 car trains. There are plans in place to go back and expand the existing stations.

What's up with the funding?
The light rail line is fully funded. The cost is $1.16b and roughly 50% is federal, 26% state, and 24% local.

How long is the line?
9.3 miles which will double the line to 18.6 miles.

Were plans changed during the process?
Yes. Originally the line would extend all the way northeast to I-485 with a park and ride at the interstate. To fit within the budget two stations were eliminated and the line will terminate on the campus of UNC Charlotte. The line is designed so it can be extended in the future.

How many stations?
11 new stations. 4 will be park and ride stations with a total of 3,100 new parking spaces.

What are ridership projections?
By 2035, 24,500 daily weekday riders on the extension, 26,500 on the existing line, for a total of 51,000. The original line beat initial projections when it opened.

How long will the commute take?
25 minutes from the campus of UNC Charlotte to center city (Transportation Center/Arena Station) and 47 minutes to ride the entire cross county line end to end.

How many new light rail vehicles will the city purchase?
22 for a total of 42.

What other construction is going on along the line?
The railroad yard and truck yard is being moved to the new multi-modal cargo yard at the airport, freeing up a good amount of land. Plus, improvements are being made along the corridor for the eventual high speed rail line. The Amtrak station will be moved to center city, and several crossing such as 36th street and Sugar Creek will be converted to grade separated. The extension will also include new bike lanes, sidewalks, and landscaping.

What kind of TOD can we expect along the extension?
By 2035 the areas around the new stations will have over 10,000 new housing units, over 3.8m sq. ft. of office space, and over 1.3m sq. ft. of retail space.

What about public art along the extension?
Just like with the original line, 1% of the project budget will go to fund art at the stations and along the line.

What will the stations be like?
Like the current stations, all stations will have canopy coverage, covered ticket vending machines, system and area maps, train and bus schedules, public art, bicycle storage, benches, trash receptacles and security features.

Some photos of the existing line I've taken:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3242/2...f888a2dc_b.jpg

TOD!
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3548/3...cb63fc01_o.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3161/3...fa228ed9_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7...e96af04c_c.jpg

Pretty strict.

Full-funding grant agreement, notice to proceed, and broken ground. Somewhat different if it's not federal, but most of them will be.

Atlanta Streetcar - Entire Loop 2.7 Miles - 7/30/2013: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LV9021EUO0

Centennial Olympic Park to Woodruff Park: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8K8Y7fWt1A

Woodruff Park to 75/85 Connector: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_vv1jNv6vQ

75/85 Connector to King Historic District: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWDdc4EL9Q8

King Historic District to 75/85: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPRp2cZAvGk

75/85 Connector to Woodruff Park: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XUpWT6VA94

Woodruff Park to Centennial Olympic Park: • Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjNP1cO14fY

Have you ever wondered how two steel rails are connected? It's done by a process called "Thermite Welding." I caught the tail end of the process:
• Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwW-s_WA56w
• Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKjn7Sxwcuw
• Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFOmXa0u83w
• Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptEZOz_49_c

__________________
Atlanta's Finest Freelance Audio/Visual Production Services
http://www.immovablemedia.net
http://www.youtube.com/user/ImmovableMedia

Has construction started on Phase II of the Silver line in Northern Virginia? The contract was awarded early this year but I don't know if construction has started.

^
They have a notice to proceed, and workers have started doing survey work, but AFAIK they haven't actually broken ground anywhere.

We might have to add the Union Station - Georgetown streetcar route to this list as well before the year is over.

This year??? They have not even finished the alternatives analysis for the Union Station - Georgetown segment yet. See my response in the DC transit thread, but I would guess at least 2 years before construction starts west of Union Station in DC.

As for Phase 2 of the DC Metro Silver Line, I figure start of construction is official when they have a ground breaking ceremony with dozens of politicians there for the photo op.

Afiggatt:
I am just repeating what I recall hearing from a DDOT employee at the Anacostia streetcar open house held in July.

This year seems optimistic, but I would expect it to start in 2014. The AA will be done soon if it isn't done already, and the funding is already lined up. They'll have to do some design work, but I bet they do a design-build anyway (if not a DBOM).

ATL Streetcar Video Update #3
 

Not sure if the OP is being updated, or if this is mentioned elsewhere in the 9 pages of this thread, but Phoenix's Northwest extension Phase I is also under construction (to go along with the Mesa extension). 3 miles for a total of 6 miles U/C. The Northwest Phase I expansion is actually 3.2 miles, but who's counting that closely.

http://www.valleymetro.org/projects_...thwest_phase_i

Oklahoma City will be added to this list beginning in 2014 as their 5-mile downtown streetcar circular has been approved (fully funded).

The North Line in Denver needs to be added: 13 miles of electric commuter rail with a completion in 2018. Construction is underway on the initial phase to the National Western Stock Show station and a contract was recently awarded to construct the line up to 124th Ave.

How many miles of track is being built for second avenue subway and #7 extension?

7 line - 1.5 miles
2nd Avenue - "over 2 miles of new tunnels"

BART's 3.2-mile Oakland Airport connector begins testing this month and should be carrying riders this Autumn. It's entirely grade separated (elevated with one tunnel), and the automated three-car consists will run on parallel tracks between the existing BART station and the airport terminals on rubber tires.

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/25/41/01.../3/628x471.jpg

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/25/41/02.../3/628x471.jpg

source

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/0...he_airport.php

So the LA Crenshaw/LAX Line will officially begin construction on Tuesday. Not sure why it was on the list this early, but it's official now :)

Added:
- Denver North commuter rail
- Oakland airport connector (in a new "other" category)

Still have not added:
- DC Silver Line phase 2, which has a notice to proceed & is doing survey work, but so far no visual groundbreaking.

On the Commuter Rail front, you can add the 24 mile Riverside to Perris Metrolink extension that is now under construction, with scheduled opening late 2015. This will extend the L.A. area's Metrolink system to the Perris Valley.

http://rctc.org/projects/rail-projec...is-valley-line

http://rctc.org/uploads/media_items/....540.720.s.jpg

OK added.

Oh and removed the SLC streetcar, which is done.

Not sure the definition of under construction - and I wouldn't feel safe adding it quite yet, myself - but Detroit's Woodward Avenue Streetcar is undergoing prep work for construction, which has included utility relocation under and along the route. Catch basins, manholes, and water main gate valves are being relocated along the downtown portion of the route.

Excellent news. Although some may see the Crenshaw Corridor as being futile, it's important to remember that it's a necessary precursor to any sort of long overdue rail connection to LAX (Green Line extension will also share tracks). A nothern subway extension to the Miracle Mile and eventually West Hollywood will be very useful, however. But the initial route must be built first.

In Dallas, the Orange Line connection to DFW Airport may be completed early and the last segment of the Blue Line in south Dallas has started construction. The link is http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/...tml?channel=61

I haven't been on this site for awhile, as I get depressed every time I get on here. Las Vegas doesn't even have a light rail or streetcar plan on the drawing boards!:shrug:

Talk, talk, talk about extending the monorail to the Airport, but there's always excuses: Few will use it because it doesn't go down to the Strip, only to the east of the Strip. Tourists aren't going to want to lug their baggage that far!:shrug:

Those that know this city all too well, know the real reasons: our powerful mob-like taxi unions!

What an embarrassment to the rest of the country this city is!

I don't think it's only the taxi companies that want the business, the rental car companies are in on it as well.

Here in Las Vegas, even with the Airport so close to the Strip, many a tourist here rents a car to avoid the sky-high taxi rates. Just a trip from the Airport to the Wynn, can equal the cost of a rental car for the day.

Finally. OAK>SFO for myself.
I'd Love to see the cheaper extensions like this around the system. Kinda like ebart except to run to a couple specific places. Well, if that's not too tacky!

Charlotte has received approval to enter project development for phase 2 of CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar. In addition to the streetcar line, the city's second light rail line (Blue line extension) is also currently under construction.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BhZ-_6kIIAAOJRP.jpg
Source

Blue line extension utility work underway:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...39736194_o.jpg

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...17280405_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...93314288_o.jpg

Park and ride:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...17889225_o.jpg

Source

Project development isn't construction, but I'll add the Blue Line the next time I update the front page.

Phase one of the street car line is under way, and tracks are being laid in the roads, but phase 2 has now entered development phase. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Denver's North Metro line broke ground today:

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/bl...rth-metro.html

Added to the front page:

• Charlotte light rail Blue line extension
• Charlotte streetcar phase 1
• Denver commuter rail North line
• Washington metrorail Silver Line phase 2

I expect quite a few more additions and subtractions as the 2014 construction season chugs along.

Orlando SunRail Phase I is now operational as of Thursday.

Orlando SunRail Phase II - 30 miles (5 stations) - pre-construction (construction expected to begin in late Q4 2014)

Moved Orlando's Sunrail commuter rail off the list, since it officially opened for service.

I'll add phase 2 when it actually begins construction.

Moved Houston North LRT to the completed section.

Thanks for making and maintaining this list, Cirrus.

You can remove everything from SLC as frontrunner south opened in 2012 and the airport and draper lines opened last year

OK thanks. Moved all the SLC stuff into the completed section.

Also added the Kansas City streetcar to the construction list, as it broke ground in May.

Will have to do another update soon. There will be a bunch of openings this summer. Next one is probably the Minneapolis / Saint Paul central light rail, which should be this month. DC Silver Line and Tucson streetcar probably in late July.

I hate to make this correction, but the initial segment of SMART opening in 2016 is (only) 38 miles. The rest of the system lacks funding and is not yet under construction.

SMART + eBART (10 miles) = 48 miles.

Again, thank you for maintaining this list. :cheers:

The Minneapolis - St Paul central corridor Green Line is running as of today.

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/263103591.html

^Awesome, hope to see photos soon!

Minneapolis moved to complete, and 32 miles reduced from the SMART/eBART line.

LA Purple line
 

Should LA's Purple line extension be included?

"This another step forward for the 3.9-mile Purple Line Extension project and puts the subway addition closer to construction. Utility relocations and some other prep work have are already underway..."

http://thesource.metro.net/2014/07/0...s-first-phase/

I don't think so but the Regional Connector probably could:

http://thesource.metro.net/2014/07/0...ector-project/

Yup, Regional Connector is officially under construction. So Los Angeles' under construction projects are currently:

Expo Line Phase 2: 6.6 miles
Gold Line Foothill Extension (Phase 2A): 11 miles
Crenshaw Line/LAX Connector: 8.5 miles
Downtown Regional Connector: 1.9 miles

for a total of 28 miles of (light) rail currently under construction.

For the Purple Line/Westside Subway they've only dug the exploratory shaft so far so I don't think we can call it officially under construction yet. It will be pretty cool when they finally do start though. From what I understand, there's never been a time in Los Angeles' history when 5 rail projects were under construction simultaneously before.

If "Providence Wickford extension" is referring to the new Wickford Junction station on the MBTA Providence Line, it opened 2 years ago and can be removed from the list.