The I-210 Gold Line Bridge, which will one day serve as the “Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley,” moved closer to completion with the approval of its final design by Caltrans and the The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority. The bridge is the first component of the 11.5-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension light-rail project from Pasadena to Azusa, Calif., to advance from the design phase to the construction phase.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution ratifying a Memorandum of Agreement that will ensure the continuation of the Dulles Rail extension to Loudoun County. The Memorandum of Agreement is a multi-party agreement that outlines the fiscal responsibilities of federal, state and local entities in the estimated $2.8 billion phase 2 of the rail project.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hired HDR to rehabilitate the Greenville Yard in Greenville, N.J., to improve ongoing rail-to-barge-to-rail freight movements across New York Harbor. The work includes rehabilitating a barge and transfer bridge used to move freight rail cars from the yard to the barges, designing a new barge and two new bridges, demolishing two bridges, rehabilitating the rail yard and waterfront structures and environmental permitting.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says the overwhelming demand for TIGER grants has once again far surpassed the available funding.
The Chicago Transit Board approved a $1.24 billion budget for 2012 that holds the line on fares and maintains current service levels, relying on deep management cuts and work rule changes from labor unions. The proposed budget is $66.2 million, or 5.1 percent, less than the 2011 budget.
The feasibility study for a high-speed rail service in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, was conducted on behalf of Transport Canada, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec by EcoTrain, a group of international consulting firms led by Dessau and comprising Deutsche Bahn International, KPMG, MMM Group, and Wilbur Smith Associates.
The joint study included an assessment of high-speed train technologies; potential routings; traffic forecasts; financial and economic (cost-benefit) analyses. The study also evaluated socioeconomic, environmental and transportation system impacts of developing high speed rail.
The study evaluated two technologies based on speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph) using diesel traction and 300 km/h (186 mph) using electric traction. It further identified potential routes to accommodate each of the 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph) technologies including stations at Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London and Windsor.
The financial analysis considered a government financing case (wholly public) and a partly private sector-funded case (private sector). The total development costs in 2009 dollars for the full Quebec City – Windsor Corridor are estimated to be between $18.9 billion (US$18.5 billion) for the 200 km/h (124 mph) technology and $21.3 billion (S$20.86 billion) for the 300 km/h (186 mph) technology. Developing the section between Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto could cost between $9.1 (US$8.9 billion) for 200 km/h (124 mph) and $11 billion (US$10.77 billion) for 300 km/h (186 mph). The main findings from the financial analysis for both the public case and the private sector case for the full Quebec City – Windsor Corridor indicate that while the project could cover all operating costs, governments would need to contribute significantly to the project development cost and receive no financial return on investment.
The economic analysis assessed the viability of the project and its contribution to the economy as a whole by taking into account non-financial costs and benefits, such as changes in atmospheric emissions, public safety improvements and impact of HSR on transportation operators within the corridor. From the point of view of the Canadian economy as a whole, the economic analysis showed that HSR between Quebec City and Windsor would not generate a positive net economic benefit. However, a project between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto only could generate a positive net economic benefit at both 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph).
Amtrak is restoring daily Empire Builder service at Minot, N.D., effective November 15, following repairs made to historic station and the establishment of a waiting area and ticket counter in an area of the building ordinarily used for baggage. As a result, checked baggage service remains suspended until more repairs are made to the building damaged earlier this year by flooding.
Amtrak and local contractors were able to complete this work to reopen ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period, although further repairs to the building and the boarding platform are expected next year.
"We appreciate the patience of our customers and are pleased to announce the restoration of service in Minot," said Daryl Pesce, the Chicago-based Amtrak general superintendent.
GE Transportation, maker of rail and transportation-related products plans to acquire transportation software provider RMI from global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group. Pending regulatory approval anticipated early next year, this acquisition expands GE Transportation’s Software and Optimization Solutions business to serve railroad customers worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Transaction is expected to close in early 2012.
RMI is a provider of transportation management software solutions for railroads, rail shippers, railcar leasing companies and intermodal services in North America with revenues of approximately $45 million. RMI’s software is designed to help its users to improve efficiency and productivity while reducing costs.
Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of GE Transportation, said, "We’re excited about the prospect of RMI joining GE Transportation. The company is well known for its leading software products and the expertise of its team members. RMI’s software offerings complement GE Transportation’s rail portfolio. This is incredibly strategic for us and provides a great platform for expanding our software and services capabilities."
Pete Kleifgen, chairman and CEO of RMI, said, "We are looking forward to becoming part of GE, a world-class company, and to expanding the reach of RMI’s software solutions to railroad and transportation logistics customers around the globe."
CalAmp Corp., provider of wireless products, services and solutions, was awarded a $4.7 million extension of its development contract to help design and supply initial radios for the North American interoperable Positive Train Control system.
"Railway safety is a national imperative, with a federal mandate calling for implementation of PTC on the nation’s rails. This law requires railroads to deploy a new dedicated nationwide wireless communications infrastructure to enable the PTC Safety Overlay system," said Michael Burdiek, CalAmp president and CEO.
The contract add-on increases the quantity of pre-production radios to be delivered by CalAmp for use in field testing and early deployments by several North American Class 1 railroads and brings the total value of the contract to approximately $19 million. CalAmp expects to complete fulfillment of this follow-on order during the first half of calendar 2012.
The Chicago Transit Authority launched a ridership survey on Nov. 15, asking customers questions such as: How often do you use the Chicaog Transit Authority? How comfortable was your trip? Did CTA meet your expectations?
Interviewers will distribute the surveys on buses and trains across the city for the next three to four weeks.Customers can fill out the survey on board; complete it later and mail it back; or fill it out online using a special web address and password printed on each survey.
The survey will also be e-mailed to a select number of Chicago Card Plus customers who indicated their willingness to participate in market research studies. All responses will be kept anonymous.
"This survey enables us to receive honest and helpful feedback from our customers to help us improve all facets of our operation," said CTA President Forrest Claypool. "The information we receive from customers will enable us to determine how well the agency is satisfying the changing expectations of our customers."
The survey asks general questions about how often and for what reasons riders use CTA. It also asks riders to rate their satisfaction with bus and rail service, from information and communications to cleanliness of buses, trains and stations.
CTA has conducted customer satisfaction surveys every two to three years since 1995; the last was completed in 2008.
This year’s survey is part of a larger effort by the Regional Transit Authority to collect survey and customer-use information. RTA is funding the study, which will be carried out by workers of the survey firm.
The Michigan Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern, issued a Request for Proposal for services of a qualified and experienced transportation (planning, environmental and engineering services) consultant or consultant team to complete a Service Development Plan and a Federal Railroad Administration Tier-1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Chicago, Ill. — Detroit/Pontiac, Mich., Rail Corridor.
The FRA issued a Notice of Funding Availability on April 1, 2010, for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program in the Federal Register. In response, MDOT submitted an application, which was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to receive funding to develop a Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan.
The 304-mile corridor between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac is part of the Chicago Hub Network and is a federally designated High-Speed Rail Corridor. The existing corridor is also one of several major branches in the hub-and-spoke passenger rail system centered in Chicago, part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative.
In Chicago, construction started in October on the Englewood Flyover, a $133 million project to eliminate one of the Midwest’s worst rail bottlenecks and reduce delays for passenger service. The project, made possible by $126 million in federal funding and $6.6 million in matching state funds, also will make preparations for additional tracks for expanded 110 mph service from Chicago to Detroit, Cleveland and the East Coast.
The deadline for individual firms or teams to submit responses to the RFP is Dec. 12, 2011.
Union Pacific will continue to improve Nebraska’s transportation infrastructure with a more than $6 million in investment to enhance the rail line that runs through Grand Island. The five-mile project includes removing and installing nearly 13,500 concrete ties, five-miles of rail and renewing the surfaces at seven crossings. Four switches were replaced in May.
Crews replaced the seven crossing surfaces in September and the new ties and rail will be replaced starting Nov. 16 and is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 19.
UP is using a modern track renewal train, the TRT 909, which installs rail and concrete ties in one pass. The TRT can install up to 6,000 ties in a twelve-hour day. The track renewal train consists of approximately 30 rail cars, with each car capable of carrying 210 concrete ties. Three sets of gantry cranes move the concrete ties forward for the TRT to drop into place and the machine then threads the new rail onto the ties. The old ties are picked up and discarded rail is threaded out as the machine works its way down the track. A conveyor positions the removed ties for the gantry cranes to load them onto railcars for movement to a facility for sorting.
According to the United Transportation Union, the Federal Railroad Administration’s chief legal counsel has been named deputy administrator, the agency’s number two position.
Karen Hedlund will succeed Karen Rae, who departed to take a post in the administration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Seeking a new way to minimize rider inconvenience, maintain worker safety and reduce the overall time it takes to complete major track and signal repair work, Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit has developed a limited line and track closure initiative aimed at lessening the impacts of major construction projects.
Finding adequate time to perform track and signal work remains a daunting challenge while running a system that operates 24/7. Inspecting, repairing and replacing tracks, signals, power supply and infrastructure is necessary work vital to the safety of customers and employees, often requiring a series of service suspensions or slowdowns in order to be performed.
"We are one of the few transit systems that operate around the clock, so it’s always a challenge to find time to do work on the tracks, especially with ridership up on weekends and overnight," said MTA New York City Transit President Tom Prendergast. "Closing segments of lines so that we can get in and get the work done quickly benefits everyone; it’s safer for workers, less disruptive for riders and gets projects done more quickly for everyone."
Transit’s Line Segment Closure Program would shut portions of subway lines overnight for consecutive nights so that workers could go in and perform tasks without having to periodically stop while trains pass through the work site. Working this way will improve efficiency because employees will not have to cease their tasks every few minutes and move out of the way as a train passes before returning to their positions and continuing their jobs. Not running trains will also allow MTA to shut off power to the third rail, increasing employee safety.
Performing work in this manner is expected to shorten the overall duration of projects, minimizing customer inconvenience and maximizing worker safety. Carefully planned, such closures would only be employed where alternate service is available.
Four lines running through the central business district have been identified for the line closures, which will take place over four consecutive weeknights between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The lines are the Eighth Ave (A,C,E), Seventh Ave (1,2,3), Sixth Ave (B,D,F,M) and Lexington Ave (4,5,6).
The initial pilot is planned for the week of January 9th, 2012 and involves the Lexington Ave. Line. During that period, service will be suspended between Grand Central/42nd Street and Atlantic Ave, while crews work on the tracks and signals and perform a thorough cleaning of the roadbed.
In addition to the line closures, similar closures for capital track work will also be piloted. This would mean closing a track segment on a continuous basis, rather than performing work in a piecemeal fashion over a longer period of time.
Closures for track capital track work typically takes place on nights and weekends, with trains traveling at slow speeds over the affected areas during daytime hours. Performing this type of work in this manner has caused multiple weeks of slow speed orders and nights and weekend work.
Comparing a conventional project with a capital shutdown would mean nine continuous days of shutdown compared with eight weekend and 20 weeknight shutdowns for a total of 36 days of work. Aside from lessening customer inconvenience, working this way is projected to generate a cost savings of $1.3 million.
Closing track segments for up to 24 hours a day for about 16 days will allow the completion of work and restoration of full service weeks sooner than part-time closures. Performing capital track work this way has the double benefit of shortening project duration while restoring full service for customers
The freight railroad industry has been recognized for the seventh consecutive year by G.I. Jobs magazine, a career guide for military job-seekers, for their commitment to hiring military veterans. The magazine named five Class 1 railroads to their annual "Top 100 Military Friendly-Employers" list.
"America’s freight railroads proudly support America’s service men and women and their families," said Edward Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads. "Not only have railroads historically been a critical link in the supply chain during war time, but freight rail has been an industry in which many members of the armed services have found good-paying, private sector jobs. Today, almost 25 percent of the employees working for the nation’s freight railroads are current or former military service men and women."
The G.I Jobs list surveyed U.S. companies with earnings of more than $500 million in annual revenues and based the rankings on areas such as active recruitment efforts and results in hiring America’s former service members. The survey also looked at which companies have the best company policies for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Of the 5000 companies eligible, only two percent were recognized by G.I. Jobs.
"There is an attitude and skill set indicative of railroad employees that mirrors greatly with those of military service men and women," said Hamberger. "Those characteristics that make for a successful military career also make for a successful railroad career. The freight rail industry plans to hire 15,000 people next year and we want veterans to consider a career in railroading."
BNSF’s military staffing program began in 2005 and has been managed for the past three years by U.S. Army First Sgt. (Ret.) John H. Wesley III. BNSF offers enhanced and extended benefits for employees and their family members when called to active duty, including make-whole pay and continued health care. In addition, the company offers 15 days of make-whole pay, without requiring the use of any vacation for annual training and drill duty. BNSF has hired more than 4,000 veterans since 2005 and currently employs approximately 7,000 veterans. In 2011, BNSF was named the No. 1 "Best Employer for Veterans" in the United States by Military Times EDGE magazine.
Canadian National offers excellent career opportunities for former members of the military. In the U.S., CN plans to add over 700 new employees this year. Military veterans comprise 20 percent of new hires at the company. CN has been recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Top Military Friendly Employer for three consecutive years.
Canadian Pacific supports military veterans with many Canadian and American employees currently listed as Reservists. In Canada, CP moves Canadian Forces’ equipment and is one of Canada’s most supportive employers of primary Reserve Force personnel. In the United States, CP is a proud partner of the U.S. Army PaYS program, which recruits soldiers interested in obtaining a quality civilian job following service to their country.
CSX has made a strong commitment to employing and supporting veterans; one in five new CSX employees is a veteran of the Armed Forces. For employees continuing to serve in the National Guard and Reserve, CSX provides extremely competitive military benefits, including differential pay based only on military base pay and the continuation of benefits for up to 15 days a year for annual training and for up to five years for state emergency duty and federal deployments. In addition, CSX supports the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services for injured service members to aid their transition from active duty to civilian lives. The company has been recognized since 2006 as a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs magazine and was recently awarded the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Kansas City Southern supports employees in the uniformed services and is committed to hiring transitioning service personnel and others with military experience. The company’s efforts include job fairs, placing hiring stories in the media and advertisements in magazines such as G.I. Jobs. In 2008, KCS was recognized by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve as a patriotic employer for its contribution to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.
Norfolk Southern actively recruits veterans for careers in railroad operations and management. The company employs a full-time military recruiter who attends transition assistance events throughout the Eastern U.S. and participates in the Army’s PaYS recruiting program. Fifteen percent of NS hires previously served in the Armed Forces. The company is considered a Consistent Performer by GI Jobs magazine, an honor reserved for those companies that have been included on the Military Friendly Employer list for three or more years.
Union Pacific developed a military-specific recruiting plan that includes involvement at military transition offices, military education offices, Reserve units, military panels, National Guard units, career fairs, information sessions, employer panels, resume review assistance and serving on local military committees and boards. UP encourages military personnel to apply within three months of their separation date and dedicates a section of its web site to military hiring. For the past six years, UP has been recognized as one of the most Military Friendly Employers in America by G.I. Jobs magazine, ranking No. 1 on the magazine’s 2005, 2006 and 2010 lists. In addition, UP was named the No. 3 "Best Employer for Veterans" by Military Time’s EDGE magazine in 2011 and was presented the Military Officers Association of America Distinguished Service Award in 2009. The company is a member of the Army Reserve’s Employee Partnership Initiative, a supporter of the Army Partnership for Youth Success program and a past recipient of the Freedom Award, the U.S. government’s highest employer recognition.
Thanks to an extraordinary rebuilding effort by New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North employees, full train service will resume on the Port Jervis Line on Monday November 28, one full month earlier and at a substantially lower cost than originally expected.
"Metro-North appreciates the patience of its 2,300 Port Jervis Line customers during the past few months," said Metro-North President Howard Permut. "We want them to come back to the railroad so customers who buy a December monthly Port Jervis Line ticket can ride for free for the last three days of November.
"It’s a small way to say welcome back."
Metro-North trains will return to a full schedule of 26 daily trains and 14 trains each weekend day.
While through train service will resume, not all track repairs will be completed by November 28. However, given the tremendous progress made by employees and contractors, the original estimate for completion of all Port Jervis Line repairs has been moved forward from fall 2012 to June 2012.
"I’m also happy to report that the cost of repairs, substitute bus service and lost revenue is roughly half of the $60 million that we originally expected," Permut noted. The current estimate is between $30 million and $40 million.
Compared to the pre-storm schedule, running times for Port Jervis line trains will slightly longer to accommodate continuing trackwork. Travel time for inbound trains to Hoboken/New York-Penn Station is three minutes longer; while travel time for outbound trains to Port Jervis is up to seven minutes longer.
The additional running time is due to speed restrictions in place for three and a half miles of track between Suffern and Harriman and because only one of the two tracks between Suffern and Sloatsburg is being returned to service on November 28th and all trains in both directions have to use one track in that section.
These changes as well as speed restrictions will be removed in January, when the remaining trackwork that impacts train schedules should be completed. Metro-North will return to its pre-storm schedule on January 15.
Chicago’s Metra Board of Directors approved the agency’s 2012 budget, which includes fare increases across all ticket types and a variety of other changes to Metra’s fare policies.
Starting on Feb. 1, 2012, one-way tickets will increase an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones, while 10-ride tickets will go up an average of 30 percent and monthly passes will increase an average of 29.4 percent. Reduced fare one-way tickets will increase an average of 10.3 percent, reduced fare 10-ride tickets will increase an average of 18.9 percent and reduced fare monthly passes will go up an average of 10.8 percent. Taken together, the overall average increase is 25.1 percent.
Several fare polices also will change starting Feb.1. Those include:
• One-way tickets will only be valid for 14 days, instead of a year and they will no longer be refundable.
• The 10-ride ticket discount will be reduced so that riders will get 10 rides for the price of nine, rather than 10 for the price of eight.
• Ten-ride tickets will remain valid for a year, but will only be refundable within three months of the date of purchase. For refunds on a partially used ticket, the cost of a one-way ticket from the specific zone-pair combination will be deducted for each ride taken. After the 9th ride is used, the ticket will no longer be refundable. Refunds are subject to a $5 handling fee per transaction.
• Monthly passes will be valid through the end of the month (instead of noon on the first day of the following month) and refunds will be subject to a $5 fee per transaction.
• The Metra subsidy for the Link-Up and PlusBus tickets will be eliminated and riders will have to pay the full costs of those passes. The new price of the tickets is being worked out with the CTA and Pace.
• Young adult fares on weekends and holidays will be eliminated.
In addition, Metra is immediately changing the expiration dates of one-way and 10-ride tickets in an effort to deter the stockpiling of those tickets before the fare increase begins next year. One-way and 10-ride tickets purchased from Nov. 12, 2011, though January 31, 2012, will be valid only through Feb. 29, 2012. There is no price increase for those tickets during this temporary period. Unused tickets will be reimbursed at the refund policy in effect at the time of purchase.
Metra’s 2012 budget includes $686.8 million for operations and a $244.1 million capital program. The fare increase will help cover a budget deficit next year due to a spike in diesel fuel prices, the demands of meeting new federal regulations, higher insurance premiums and a variety of other rising costs. Proceeds from the regional transportation sales tax also have fallen short of expectations due to the faltering economy. And Metra has decided to stop diverting funds from its capital budget, meant for infrastructure improvements, to plug holes in its operating budget. That practice simply is not sustainable given the critical capital needs.
Metra did reduce the deficit by $17.5 million through a variety of steps, including locking in the price of 75 percent of its fuel needs, making administrative cuts and finding other operational efficiencies. Those actions reduced the size of the needed fare increase by seven percentage points. However, there still is a projected budget gap of $53.6 million that will be covered by the fare increase.
The budget will now be forwarded to the Regional Transportation Authority, which will vote on the region’s transportation budget in December.
Bill Sneed, a longtime employee with The Rails Co., died Nov. 3, 2011 at his home in Naperville, Ill., at age 85.
"His constant smile and many jokes, not to mention his product knowledge, made him many friends in the railroad industry," said his nephew, Bob Sneed.
Though diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease last spring, "As you would
expect his outlook on life remained positive throughout this period," the younger Sneed said. His work in the rail industry "was a big part of his
life and I am sure that any of you that had the pleasure of knowing my uncle
are better off for the experience."
Bill Sneed is survived by his wife Jane, and by three nephews, four great nephews, and one great niece. His ashes were scattered at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority hired Joseph J. Lhota as executive director. Lhota, who is New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s nominee to serve as the MTA’s chairman and chief executive officer, will immediately take over the day-to-day operations of the MTA. Acting Chairman Andrew Saul will fulfill the duties of the chairman pending Senate confirmation of Lhota’s nomination.
"The MTA is the engine that drives our economy and makes our way of life possible here in New York and we have a responsibility to operate our service as efficiently and effectively as possible," said Lhota. "The MTA is facing a number of difficult fiscal and operating challenges, including funding our vital capital program and continuing to improve service in tough economic times. My focus in the next couple of months is understanding this organization from top-to-bottom and listening to our employees, customers and community leaders as we work together to shape an agenda and improve this vital service for all New Yorkers."
Lhota served as the New York City deputy mayor for operations under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, where he oversaw day-to-day management of the city and supervised city agencies. He also served as budget director, where he managed the city’s $36 billion operating budget and $45 billion capital budget, cut costs, led agency reorganizations and consolidations and implemented performance-based strategic planning.
The MTA also announced management changes as Lhota assembles his leadership team. Nuria Fernandez will be chief operating officer, joining the MTA with experience at the top levels of transportation agencies across the country, including Chicago aviation commissioner and deputy administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Catherine Rinaldi, a former MTA general counsel, will serve as chief of staff, moving over from her most recent role as LIRR general counsel.
Charlie Monheim will remain a part of the MTA leadership team as director of strategic initiatives, focusing on guiding the MTA’s technology projects, reducing operating expenses and overseeing labor relations. As part of this re-organization, the managing director position has been eliminated.
An agreement, pending approval, has been reached to fund Phase 2 of the Dulles Silver Line Rail project, which will extend Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority service from Wiehle Avenue in Reston, Virginia to eastern Loudoun County via Dulles International Airport.
"This is a huge win for the Washington Metropolitan region. This project will create thousands of good paying jobs, bolster the economy, and relieve traffic congestion in Northern Virginia," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
The agreement will reduce the cost of the Phase 2 project by hundreds of millions of dollars and keep tolls more affordable for Dulles Toll Road users. The commonwealth of Virginia has agreed to contribute $150 million to Phase 2 and the project will be eligible for federal assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Department of Transportation, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the commonwealth of Virginia pending approval from the counties, airport and transit authority boards, which is expected before the end of the year.