LA official praise state action on Positive Train Control funding
Written by jrood
(The following statement s issued by Los Angeles Metro CEO Art Leahy, with quotes from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and MTA Board Chair Ara Najarian.) Today's action by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approving funding for Positive Train Control is a major victory for our region. PTC is a major safety enhancement for passenger rail service throughout the region.
Funding for PTC will
enable the region to install an advance computer-satellite tracking system that
will monitor trains as they travel across the region preventing accidents.
In approving the funding
for PTC, the CTC has paved the way for the state to begin allocating money for
PTC with the state, eventually, set to provide $46.5 million.
This is truly a win-win
for everyone and a great victory for the region.
Metro worked long and
hard with a number of different agencies as part of the Southern California
Consensus Group to ensure that funding was made available for PTC as part of
our discussions regarding the Los Angeles/Inland Corridor Colton Crossing
project.
I would like to
acknowledge the leadership of Ara Najarian, Chairman of the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa as well as CTC Chair James Earp, Vice Chair Larry Zarian and
Commissioner Dario Frommer, whose leadership and hard work made this funding
possible, moving both projects forward. The CTC action today ensures that
safety is priority one for our rail passengers.
"This is the news that
thousands of Metrolink customers have been waiting to hear," said Najarian who
also serves as a Metrolink director. "Positive Train Control technology will
help prevent serious accidents like the Chatsworth tragedy. At the same time,
Metrolink’s investment in a fleet of new rail cars designed to protect
passengers in crashes, further ensures the safety of our riders. And that has
to be our top priority.
"The entire region came
together in an effort to ensure that Metrolink becomes the gold standard for
safety and passenger rail travel throughout the county with state-of-the-art
technology," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Today’s action by
the CTC to fund Positive Train Control is a giant step forward."
