Vermont pushes for federal money to fund Western Corridor high-speed rail project

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) was joined by Governor Peter Shumlin and business and community leaders recently as they welcomed Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration Karen Rae to push for federal funding of Vermont’s Western Corridor high-speed rail project.

With the rejection of high-speed rail funds by several states in recent months, Vermont’s congressional delegation has been pushing for those funds to be reallocated to Vermont’s Western Corridor project, which runs from Rutland to Burlington.

Welch invited businesspeople, community members and state and local officials to explain to Rae the importance of rail to Vermont’s economy and the potential benefits that will come with improving the passenger and freight rail line along the state’s western corridor. As Deputy Administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration, Rae is tasked with developing and implementing the Obama Administration’s freight and passenger rail policy.

"High-speed rail is a real priority for Vermont businesses and local communities," Welch said. "A strong rail network will not only tie entrepreneurs, small businesses and towns to regional hubs like New York, Albany, Boston and Montreal, it will bring people from those places to Vermont. Vermonters are ready and willing to put this money to good use creating good jobs, improving our transportation infrastructure and expanding travel and tourism businesses."

"Vermont is working closely with other states in the northeast and Quebec to make sure that reliable and efficient service is available to travelers and rail shippers," Shumlin said. "The extension of the Ethan Allen Express up to Burlington is a direct and tangible next step that will be followed by links to Manchester and Bennington. This project and the planned extension of the AMTRAK Vermonter into Montreal are major steps in the transformation of our passenger rail system."

Missouri wants $1 billion for HSR between Kansas City and St. Louis

Missouri will apply for $1 billion in reallocated federal funds to construct high-speed rail service from St. Louis to Kansas City. The application will include a two-phase proposal: immediate upgrades to improve speeds along existing rail lines; and longer-term planning, engineering and preparation for construction of a separate, dedicated high-speed line between the two cities.


The Missouri application is seeking funding for a variety of immediate projects that will include new sidings, mainlines, bridges, removal of grade crossings, train cars, and other equipment and infrastructure to enable Amtrak trains traveling between St. Louis and Kansas City to travel at greater speeds than they currently do, with greater schedule reliability. Train service also would be enhanced by improvements to the station at Jefferson City. The longer-term planning money would fund preliminary design, engineering and preparation for the building of a true high-speed rail line between the two cities.

If granted, about $373 million of the federal funds would be used in the immediate future for significant improvements and upgrades to rail equipment and infrastructure and would complement the high-speed rail project already underway in the St. Louis to Chicago corridor. Another $600 million would be used over the longer term to complete necessary planning and design for building the separate, dedicated high-speed line across Missouri and for purchasing necessary properties.

For the past two years, Gov. Nixon has been working cooperatively with the state of Illinois on pursuing funds for development of the St. Louis to Chicago high-speed rail corridor; in addition, Missouri also has already received $32 million in federal funding for improvements to the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor.
million of the federal funds would be used in the immediate future for significant improvements and upgrades to rail equipment and infrastructure and would complement the high-speed rail project already underway in the St. Louis to Chicago corridor. Another $600 million would be used over the longer term to complete necessary planning and design for building the separate, dedicated high-speed line across Missouri and for purchasing necessary properties.

For the past two years, Gov. Nixon has been working cooperatively with the state of Illinois on pursuing funds for development of the St. Louis to Chicago high-speed rail corridor; in addition, Missouri also has already received $32 million in federal funding for improvements to the St. Louis to Kansas City corridor.

New England Railroad Club awards Vincent Terrill Lifetime Achievement Award

The first New England Railroad Club Vincent R. Terrill Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Vincent R. Terrill on March 22, 2011. The award will carry Terrill’s name in honor of the region’s "distinguished railroad chief engineer and dedicated railroad advocate" and will be presented to railroad industry employees of note every year.

WATCO names assistant GM to shortline

WATCO Transportation has named Thad Davis assistant gen¬eral manager for the Stillwater Central Railroad. Davis will be assisting in overseeing the day-to-day operations on the SLWC. He will help coordinate efforts between all railroad departments to achieve performance goals with optimum safety, economy, efficiency and effectiveness along with overseeing Customer relationships.

NJ TRANSIT to host open house on study to improve transit in Gloucester and Camden Counties

NJ TRANSIT will host a public open house to discuss potential transit improvements along the congested highway corridor that connects suburban Gloucester and Camden counties with the City of Camden and Philadelphia.

The open house is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Blackwood Campus of Camden County College in Gloucester Township, NJ. The meeting will be held at the Atrium, Forum 101 in the Connector Building-Civic Hall.

LACMTA to hold public hearing to evaluate maintenance facility sites for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Co

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 31, to update the community and to receive verbal comments on the evaluation process of the proposed maintenance facility sites for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Light Rail Project.

Metro staff is analyzing four sites for the development of a new maintenance facility, which will be used to store, maintain, repair, and clean light rail vehicles. The four sites are located in the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne and Redondo Beach. Metro staff will also update the community on an analysis of parklands and historic resources. The hearing will take place Thursday, March 31, 2011
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
at the Inglewood City Hall 
Community Room A, First Floor,
One West Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90301

The Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report is now available for review and public input and is posted under Reports and Info at www.metro.net/crenshaw.

The deadline for comments is April 11, 2011 by 5 pm. Comments can be made at the hearing, mailed to Roderick Diaz, Project Manager, Metro, One Gateway Plaza, 99-22-3, Los Angeles CA 90012, or e-mailed to diazroderick@metro.net.

The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor is an 8.5 mile light rail line that will extend from the intersection of Exposition and Crenshaw Boulevards to the Metro Green Line’s Aviation/LAX station. The project will serve the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne, and El Segundo and portions of the unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Gov. Christie’s proposed FY 12 budget includes $3.5 billion in NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has proposed a FY 12 capital program that provides for robust investment in the state’s transportation network and promotes long-term economic growth.

The $3.5 billion program represents the first year of a five-year Transportation Capital Plan that Governor Chris Christie announced in January. That plan puts New Jersey on the path toward fiscal health by prioritizing projects, decreasing borrowing and increasing pay-as-you-go cash funding.

The proposal, which outlines spending priorities totaling $2.3 billion for NJDOT and nearly $1.2 billion for NJ TRANSIT, reflects the Governor’s commitment to improve the safety and functionality of a multi-modal transportation network that provides mobility for millions of New Jersey residents and visitors every day.

"Renewing New Jersey isn’t just a slogan, it’s the product of cohesive policies that attract businesses, create new jobs and control taxes," Governor Christie said.

The FY 12 program relies primarily on federal and state sources for funding.

Under the proposed program, state support from the Transportation Trust Fund and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey would amount to $1.6 billion, of which $978 million would be directed to NJDOT and $622 million to NJ TRANSIT.

Federal support amounts to $1.66 billion, of which $1.17 billion would go to NJDOT and $497 million to NJ TRANSIT.

NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT rail-related highlights


• NJDOT multimodal programs, covering maritime, freight, rail and bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, would receive $162 million. 

• NJ Transit’s $1.164 billion capital program addresses New Jersey’s mass transit needs by funding state-of-good-repair projects, preventive maintenance, local programs and debt service.
• Funds track replacement projects.
• Supports railroad signal system upgrades.

• Invests in overhead power line and electrical substation upgrades.

• Provides for security improvements.
• Funds rail station and bus terminal improvements.

The FY 12 Transportation Capital Program has been submitted to the members of the Legislature for their review and is being shared with the state’s three Metropolitan Planning Organizations, whose input will help shape the final program that will be voted on by the Legislature as part of New Jersey’s budget for FY 12.

CPR to invest $100M in North Dakota capacity, service

Canadian Pacific Railway will make an investment of $100 million in North Dakota between 2010 to 2012. The investment plan will expand network capacity and enhance rail service in order to meet increased traffic demands.

"North Dakota is a source of growth for CP and the Midwest’s economy with its increased grain production, vast oil deposits in the Bakken Formation and the continued strength of ethanol," said Jane O’Hagan, executive vice-president, marketing & sales and CEO. "CP has been a key part of North Dakota’s economy for the past century. We look forward to providing service to our customers far into the future and know these improvements will help alleviate current concerns, and meet our customers’ future demands for consistent, reliable rail transportation alternatives."

"This is another step forward in our continuing efforts to expand our market access for farmers, for oil production and for other industry," said North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple.

CPR’s 2011 North Dakota investment plan includes:

• Hiring over 70 new employees to expand CPR’s train crew base in 2011, growing CPR’s workforce in North Dakota by 18 percent.
• A new Superintendent of Operations territory focused on traffic between Enderlin and Portal.
• Capacity expansion over the next two years on the Newtown, Portal and Carrington subdivisions including yard track extensions in Max and Flaxton, and installation of a new runaround track in Newtown.
• Increased budget for maintenance work on the Newtown subdivision. Notably, the installation of over 17 miles of rail replacement between Drake and Max including upgrades to 41 crossings.
• Strategic installation of snow fence and grading projects to reduce winter snow drifting between Drake and Max.

Current year infrastructure investment will begin in the spring with a majority of work expected to be completed in Fall 2011.

 

UP launches new transloading service for agricultural products customers

Union Pacific’s new Plant-to-Port transportation and transload program provides customer product transfer from covered hopper unit trains directly to marine containers at the railroad’s Yermo, Calif., facility. The program includes double-stack intermodal train service on dock to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. UP Distribution Services adds door-to-door supply chain logistics to the service, meaning customers can manage their entire freight movement through UP with a single point of contact.
Plant-to-Port initially will serve distillers dried grains customers but is designed to handle bulk grain and processed grain products.

"This new unit train service provides a first-of-its-kind, plant-to-port transportation solution for our DDG customers," said Paul Hammes, Union Pacific vice president and general manager – Agricultural Products. "The Renewable Fuels Standard mandates increased ethanol production through 2015 and customers will need export solutions to supply new co-products markets. Demand from Asia is driving DDG, grain and grain products export growth to the west coast and we are offering those markets a source of empty marine containers, freight delivery and throughput capacity."

Empty 40-foot marine containers moved from UP’s Intermodal Container Transfer Facility in Long Beach are staged at the railroad’s Yermo facility prior to customer product arrival, expediting the transloading process.

UPDS provides marine container supply management, real-time product tracking, direct ocean carrier contact and transload management, all with a staff dedicated to this service.

LACMTA yard recognized for its EMS

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail yard for the Red and Purple Line subway is the first major rail maintenance facility in the nation to earn international recognition for its environmental management system.

DART ups Red, Orange line trains in response to increased ridership

Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail customers on the Red Line North/Orange Line will have more frequent trains during the morning and afternoon rush hours starting April 11 when more trains depart every 7.5 minutes instead of every 15 minutes. 



The adjustment to Red and Orange Line trains operating north of downtown Dallas is in response to rising ridership. It increases rush hour capacity 28 percent during morning and afternoon rush hours. The capacity will be increased by adding more frequent service over longer periods of time; creating more 7.5-minute departures instead of the current 15-minute departures. Four trips will be added during morning rush and six during the afternoon rush.

The increased Red Line North frequency was originally planned for implementation with the opening of the Orange Line to Irving in 2012.

There are no plans to increase capacity on Red Line South, Blue Line or Green Line trains based on current and projected ridership.

These rail service changes will require adjustments to some weekday rush hour Red, Blue and Green Line trips. Midday, evening and weekend rail schedules, along with all bus schedules, will remain the same.

REMSA scholarships totaling 20,000

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association has announced the availability of seven undergraduate scholarships for tuition assistance. This year REMSA is offering a total of $20,000 in scholarships. Two $5,000 President’s Scholarships and five individual scholarships at $2,000 will be awarded.

Scholarship funds, awarded annually, are sent to the financial aid office at each recipient’s institution to be applied to the student’s account at the beginning of the fall term of study. Students must be in attendance for a full year following receipt of the award.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must

• be a full- or part-time employee of a REMSA member company; or the spouse, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter of a current full-time employee of a REMSA member company. An employee who is the scholarship applicant does not have to be a full-time employee;

• be enrolled and in attendance at the time of application as a full-time college student at an accredited two-year college offering an associate’s degree or an accredited college or university offering a bachelor’s degree; and

• demonstrate successful completion of the previous year of study and a willingness to continue.

To apply for REMSA’s 2011 Scholarship Program, visit www.remsa.org.

KCS names Songer new AVP planning and administration in engineering department

Kansas City Southern promoted Jeff Songer from general director to assistant vice president planning and administration for the engineering department. Songer reports to KCS senior vice president and chief engineer John Jacobsen.

"Jeff has demonstrated superior leadership," said Jacobsen. "He is one of the best capital planning professionals I’ve worked with in my 40 years in the railroad industry."

Songer joined The Kansas City Southern Railway Company in 2005. Prior to joining the company, he spent 12 years in the construction and finance industries.

Maryland DOT and CSXT to conduct public workshops on proposed intermodal facility

As part of the initial planning toward the development of a new rail intermodal facility in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Transportation, with CSX Transportation, Inc., and its affiliates, will conduct public workshops in central Maryland beginning next month. The workshops will provide the public with an opportunity to be briefed on the vision for a proposed Baltimore-Washington Rail Intermodal Facility that will allow the transfer of freight trailers and containers between trains and trucks at one location. Construction of a modern, environmentally-sensitive transfer facility is critical to the future of the State’s economy, its ability to compete in the global marketplace and the need to create and support good-paying jobs.

"The low-clearance of the Howard Street tunnel in Baltimore City does not provide freight railroads with the ‘double stack’ capability that is so critical to compete in today’s business environment," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley. "By creating a new transfer facility at an appropriate industrial site south of Baltimore along the I-95 corridor, new doors of commerce will open for Maryland that will benefit the Port of Baltimore, the state’s economy and the thousands of jobs in our state that rely on a vibrant freight industry."

Earlier this month, representatives from both MDOT and CSXT met with the Federal Railroad Administration to determine the appropriate criteria to be used to identify candidate sites for such a facility in this region. Based on these discussions, four candidate sites were identified for further consideration under the National Environmental Policy Act. They include:

• a portion of the property on the Jessup Correctional Institution, east of the Camden Line between Brock Bridge Road and south of MD 175 in Anne Arundel County;
• property north of Hanover Road between the Camden Line and Race Road in Howard County;
• property west of the Camden Line and north of Montevideo Road in Howard County;
• property east of the Camden Line and west of MD 201 between Sunnyside Avenue and Powder Mill Road in Prince George’s County.

The April workshops are the first step in an open and transparent public process that will be governed by NEPA. Information on the candidate sites and the evaluation process can also be found on a new website at www.intermodal.maryland.gov. The workshops will be held at three locations to discuss with the public the operational and safety criteria required for a rail intermodal facility, the NEPA process and other relevant information about the project.

The workshops will be held:

• Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 7 – 9 p.m., Beltsville Academy, 4300 Wicomico Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705;
• Thursday, April 21, 2011, 7 – 9 PM, Hebron-Harmon Elementary School, 7660 Ridge Chapel Road, Hanover, MD 21076;
• Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 7 – 9 PM, Elkridge Landing Middle School, 7085 Montgomery Road, Elkridge, MD 21075

 

WMATA Board approves development team for New Carrollton transit oriented Development

The Washington Metropolitain Area Transit Authority’s Board of Directors approved the selection of a development team led by Forest City Enterprises and Urban Atlantic Development to create a signature transit oriented development project around the New Carrollton Metrorail station in Prince George’s County.

The Board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the development team, the first step in a joint approval process with the Maryland Department of Transportation, which is expected to sign off on the MOU and developer selection in early April.

"Transit oriented development around the Metro system generates millions of dollars for the region," said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles. "We are pleased to be working with Maryland on this public private partnership that allows Metrorail to serve as an economic engine."

Metro and MDOT combined properties to offer 39 acres for redevelopment around New Carrolton in a joint Request for Qualifications that was issued in September 2010. Following a rigorous evaluation of five groups that responded to the solicitation, the selection team unanimously chose the Forest City/Urban Atlantic Development team to lead the project.

The agreement also includes a new approach to funding predevelopment planning, with MDOT making available $350,000 and Metro agreeing to reimburse the development team for up to $650,000 of consultant costs to support station development planning. Together, MDOT and developer-provided funds will pay for the design of the public and private elements of New Carrollton development and for the inclusion of Metro, MDOT and community stakeholders as active participants in the process.

FRA’s rail cellphone ban kicks in March 28

The Federal Railroad Administration’s ban on the use of cellphones and other electronic devices — personal and carrier-issued — becomes permanent Monday, March 28.
The ban applies to all on-duty train crew members.

Here are highlights of the permanent ban:

* The ban prohibits the use of an electronic device — whether personal or railroad supplied — if it interferes with that employee’s or another employee’s performance of safety-related duties. This means while the train is moving, a member of the crew is on the ground or riding rolling equipment during switching, or any railroad employee is assisting in the preparation of the train for movement.
* While railroad-supplied electronic devices may not be used by the engineer while the train is moving, they may be used by the conductor for authorized business purposes in the cab if use does not interfere with performance of safety-related duties, a safety briefing is conducted that includes all crew members, and all crew members agree that it is safe to use the railroad-supplied electronic device.
* There is no exception for personal or medical emergencies, such as to check on an ill or injured family member.
* The ban includes use of personal global positioning service (GPS) devices.
* The use of calculators is permitted for determining formulas such as train stopping calculations or tons per operative brake.
* Stand-alone cameras (not part of a cellphone or other electronic device) are permitted to document a safety hazard or a violation of a rail safety law, regulation order or standard. The camera must be turned off immediately after use. Stand-alone cameras may not be used by the engineer for the above purposes when the train is in motion.
* Crew members may use railroad-supplied multi-functional devices that include a camera for authorized business purposes as specified by the railroad in writing and only after being approved by the FRA. An engineer is banned from using such a device when the train is in motion. The railroad-supplied device must be turned off immediately after use.
* Deadheading crews may use personal electronic devices when not in the cab of the controlling locomotive and such use does not compromise the safety of any operating employee or the safety duties of another operating employee. But when in the cab of the controlling locomotive, deadheading employees are prohibited from using any electronic devices and they must be turned off and the earpiece must be removed.
* Personal medical devices such as hearing aids and blood sugar monitors may be used, but must be consistent with the railroad’s standards for medical fitness for duty.
* A passenger train conductor or assistant conductor may use a railroad-supplied electronic or electrical device for an approved business purpose while on duty within the body of a passenger train or railroad business car. Use of the device shall not interfere with the responsibility to call or acknowledge any signal, inspect any passing train or perform any other safety-sensitive duty assigned under the railroad’s operating rules and special instructions.
* A passenger-train conductor or assistant conductor located inside the cab may use a GPS application or a railroad-supplied camera if the crew has held a safety briefing and all crewmembers have unanimously agreed that it is safe to use the device.
* A passenger-train crewmember outside the cab of a locomotive may use a railroad-supplied camera to photograph a safety hazard if it is for an authorized business purpose and does not interfere with safety-related duties.
* Railroads have the right to implement their own more stringent rules on the use of electronic devices; but railroads may not liberalize any provisions of the FRA permanent ban.
* The ban does not subject engineers or conductors (when conductor certification is implemented) to revocation of their certification for a violation of the ban.
* The FRA has authority under the law to subpoena cellphone records from a cellphone provider.

Canadian government unveils Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy

Canadian government officials reviewed plans for the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy, a modern, competitive and integrated air, rail, marine and road transportation network that provides a quick, reliable and secure transportation network between North American markets and markets in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia via the Suez Canal.

"The Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy ensures our region has the infrastructure and regulations necessary to build the robust, competitive economy Atlantic Canada needs to prosper in the 21st century," said Minister of State for the Atlantic Gateway Keith Ashfield. "Our government is proud to work with our provincial partners and members of the Gateway Council to move this strategy forward and make these prudent investments in Atlantic Canada."

"The Government of Canada is proud to launch the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy," said Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Chuck Strahl. "Working together with the private sector, we’ll make Atlantic Canada a preferred choice for international commerce coming to or leaving the East Coast of North America."
Following recent transportation funding announcements in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada is releasing an additional $2.5 million specifically for marketing the Atlantic Gateway, a key priority for increasing international trade through the region. With the new investment, more than $200 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund has been committed to support the region’s strategic trade-related transportation system.

The Atlantic Gateway connects to and seamlessly integrates with Canada’s other gateways, and with transportation systems that reach across North America.

CSXT highlights strong results in 2010 Annual Report

In 2010, CSX Transportation achieved its best year ever in safety, operating income, operating ratio and earnings per share while helping customers regain their competitive position after a tough recessionary period. At the same time, the company has stood by its customers with an $8.3 billion infrastructure investment from 2006 to 2010 and an additional $2 billion investment is planned for 2011.

"CSX employees are performing extremely well as the economy continues to recover, just as they did during the worst of the recession," Michael Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer said in his annual report letter to shareholders. "Together we are embarking on something truly special – creating a new chapter in a storied industry while generating substantial economic benefits for customers, the nation and you, our shareholders."

CSXT’s 2011 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, 2501 Worldgateway Place, Detroit, Mich.

 

UP wins GM Best Supplier award

General Motors honored Union Pacific with a 2010 Supplier of the Year award at its annual awards presentation.

Each year, General Motors compiles a list of its most exceptional global suppliers. Union Pacific, the only railroad to receive the award, exemplified all four of the key criteria:

• Innovative technology
• Superior quality
• Outstanding launch support
• Competitive total enterprise cost solutions

"Union Pacific is honored to be recognized for our contributions to General Motors’ parts and vehicle transportation," said Julie Krehbiel, Union Pacific vice president and general manager Automotive. "A dedicated team effort, focused on delivering value through responsiveness and exceptional service, made earning this award possible. Our goal is to continue to provide value to General Motors by providing safe and reliable service while developing innovative freight transportation solutions."

Cole appointed to RRF Board

The Railroad Research Foundation selected Sharon Stewart Cole, Ph.D., to serve as the senior program director and assistant secretary of the Board.

"Dr. Cole brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her position. I look forward to working with her to further the research agenda of America’s freight railroads," said RRF Board President Edward Hamberger.

 

LOAD MORE