NJ Transit

NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein has announced plans to unveil at the March 9 Board of Directors meeting a new initiative that will provide the public with a measurement of how the corporation is performing.

The upcoming "Scorecard" initiative will use metrics to set corporate-wide standards of accountability and create transparency for the public, helping NJ TRANSIT make strategic decisions to maximize its resources as well as illustrating how the agency is managing its bottom line. In addition, the Scorecard will show the agency’s strengths and weaknesses, providing clear insight into where NJ TRANSIT needs to improve in order to provide a greater return to the taxpayer.

"For the first time, the taxpayers of New Jersey and our customers alike will have a clear window into how we are performing," said Weinstein. "By committing to this effort, we will hold up the Scorecard as the standard by which we get measured by the people who use our system every day."

NJ TRANSIT will launch the Scorecard in July to coincide with the corporation’s new Fiscal Year 2012. Scorecard results will be reported and updated quarterly on njtransit.com.

A system of metrics is currently in development to provide a baseline for measuring NJ TRANSIT’s performance in five areas: customer satisfaction, safety and security, financial health, service accountability and workforce engagement. The baseline will also incorporate information gathered from quarterly customer surveys, the first of which will be posted on njtransit.com in April and distributed to customers throughout the system.

"I am confident that this initiative will give us the ability to make meaningful management decisions on a daily basis and focus on what is most important, giving us a tie-in to the customer experience," said Weinstein. "As a public transportation agency, effective management comes from measuring ourselves in critical areas so that we can best serve our customers, who in turn provide the ultimate measure of our performance."

VIA Rail: Transforming Canadian intercity transportation

Paul G. Smith recently appointed as VIA Rail Canada’s chairman, spoke to members of Quebec MBA Association in Montreal and said "VIA Rail is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in the corporation’s history." When it is completed, he concluded VIA Rail "will be a market leader, offering Canada’s best travel experience."

Smith explained that VIA is expanding track capacity, remanufacturing locomotives and rail cars and modernizing passenger stations and information technology systems, all as part of a major five-year $923M capital improvement program, due to be completed by 2013.

He also described how VIA will make passenger rail a primary transportation "backbone" between major urban centers by offering faster, more frequent and more convenient service. Smith recognized the foresight of the Government of Canada which has provided close to one billion dollars for capital investments to VIA Rail, since 2007, in part through its Economic Action Plan. This infusion of capital represents the biggest capital investment in VIA’s history. He underlined that passenger train investments are on the rise worldwide.

Smith stressed the pressing need for sustainable solutions that address the real environmental and congestion-related challenges facing inter-city transportation in Canada today and in the future. He said that "through improved efficiency and integration with different modes of passenger transportation, the train is ideally positioned to help Canada meet these challenges."

Axion to provide ties for Denver transit

Axion International, producer of industrial building products and railroad ties made from 100 percent recycled plastic, through the existing relationship with its sales representative, Innovative Green Solutions, LLC, received an initial purchase order to supply its Recycled Structural Composite crossties to the Regional Transportation District in Colorado.

As part of the initial purchase order, Axion has delivered approximately $20,000 worth of its RSC crossties to replace select concrete ties. Axion’s RSC is a product made from 100 percent recycled plastic. The ties will be utilized to replace concrete ties in the track immediately before and after bridges on the Regional Transportation District’s West Corridor light rail line. The Regional Transportation District operates the public transit services throughout the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas of Colorado.

"Axion’s RSC technology has been an ideal replacement for concrete ties in track immediately before and after bridge abutments," commented Mike Spalding, track superintendent for Denver Transit Construction Group, general contractor to the Regional Transportation District. "This order was requested so we could replace the cracking concrete ties that have surfaced due to the high levels of uneven pressure exerted on the crossties where the bridge and roadbed meet."

Axion’s RSC will be placed in-line, contiguous to pre-existing concrete track that has been installed as part of the FasTracks construction project’s new West Corridor light rail line. The West Corridor will consist of 12.1 miles of light rail track that follows a former Associated Railroad right-of-way. It is expected to be completed in 2013.

CSXT opens Northwest Ohio terminal, part of the National Gateway

Operations have begun at the new Northwest Ohio Terminal, the cornerstone of a new double-stack freight rail corridor between East Coast sea ports such as the Port of Baltimore and the Midwest. Located near North Baltimore, Ohio, the new facility employs more than 200 full-time employees, and will serve as the transfer point for hundreds of thousands of freight containers annually.

"This is a major milestone for the National Gateway and great news for customers across CSX’s rail network," said Bill Clement, vice president of intermodal, CSX Transportation. "As we bring the Northwest Ohio Terminal Facility up to full operational capacity, customers will enjoy faster and more reliable intermodal service than ever before."

CSXT will gradually transition customer shipments through the new terminal over the next few months. Once all of the transitions are complete, the Northwest Ohio facility is expected to handle a throughput capacity, including block swaps and lifts, of nearly 2 million containers per year.
The new facility has been hailed for its use of cutting-edge technologies and green design, including ultra-efficient electric cranes that lower emissions, optical scanners that reduce truck idle times and automated car tracking technologies and remote switches that increase operational efficiency.

The hub is part of the National Gateway, a public-private partnership which supports the movement of double-stacked intermodal containers on rail cars by raising bridges, increasing tunnel clearances and building new terminals along existing rail routes. When complete, the National Gateway will benefit CSXT customers by improving service reliability and transit times, reduce highway congestion, and enhance the environment by converting more than 14 billion highway miles to rail and decreasing fuel consumption by nearly 2 billion gallons.

South Florida RTA begins new Tri-Rail shuttle service

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority began new Tri-Rail shuttle service in Opa-locka on February 22, 2011. Two routes, the Opa-locka Express North Link and South Link, will serve locations including downtown Opa-locka, the Central Business District, Miami-Dade College, the City Library, the Bunche Park Shopping Center, the Jackson Health Center, the Top Value Plaza and Ingram Park, as well as many of the surrounding neighborhoods.

The new shuttle service will operate weekdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The shuttle service is a collaborative project between the City of Opa-locka and the SFRTA and is partially funded by a Job Access Reverse Commute Federal Grant.

Indra’s DaVinci System receives IBM Beacon Award

Indra, an IT company in Spain and IT multinational in Europe and the Americas, received the IBM Beacon Award for the Best Industry Solution in the Travel and Transportation category, at a ceremony organized by IBM.

The award recognizes the effort of the company in creating a highly innovative solution, the DaVinci platform, and reaffirms the solution as an international benchmark in the railway transportation sector.

The DaVinci system permits the complete integration of all the operation and control elements of a railway network, the integrated management of several railway lines in addition to facilitating the automation of the network. In its core IBM’s technology is utilized, among others.

 

KCS, authorities in East Baton Rouge Parish partner for Operation Lifesaver event

Kansas City Southern has partnered with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department to conduct an Operation Lifesaver "Officer on a Train" event at the KCS crossings in the Parish, in an effort to promote public safety at railroad grade crossings. The event was held at 9:00 a.m. on February 23 at KCS’ Foss Street Yard in Baton Rouge.

"KCS takes its position as a positive corporate citizen very seriously and we are committed to improving public safety in the communities where we operate," said Allen Pepper, KCS director public safety. "We are pleased to join forces with local law enforcement to raise awareness about the importance of safety at highway rail grade crossings and the dangers of trespassing on railroad rights of way."

During the Officer on a Train event, law enforcement officers will be stationed on a moving KCS train and at nearby crossings, watching for grade crossing violations. Motorists who do not heed the law may be issued a citation.

"Louisiana is sixth nationally in highway-rail collisions and fatalities and fifth in highway-rail injuries. This Officer on a Train activity will help us to raise awareness to drivers in the Baton Rouge area to be alert near railroad crossings," said Pat Edwards, Operation Lifesaver state coordinator.

BLET, MBCR reach tentative agreement

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has reached a tentative agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad that would provide members with general wage increases worth 13.7 percent over the four-year contract.

The agreement would run through June 30, 2013, with retroactive pay back to 2009. Ballots were mailed on February 17 and must be received back by the BLET National Division no later than March 17 in order to be counted.

In addition to the general wage increases, the agreement provides passenger engineers with increased certification allowances and instructor allowances. Members would also receive a $1,000 signing bonus.



BLET members rejected an earlier tentative agreement with MBCR in 2010.

In a letter to members introducing the new 2011 tentative agreement, Amtrak General Chairman Mark Kenny said, "There were some significant personnel changes made relative to MBCR top management and at the bargaining table" following rejection of the 2010 tentative agreement.


He also said there was a "dramatic shift in the Carrier’s posture at the table in terms of a genuine willingness to reach an agreement that would be accepted within a ratification process."



In terms of work rule changes, General Chairman Kenny wrote that pay for layover time will be increased from half-time to five-eighths time.



"It is truly significant as it breaks the long standing ceiling of half-time and sets in place a more advantageous threshold going forward in the next bargaining round."



Additionally, the health and welfare plan changes in the tentative agreement have been reduced from the 2010 tentative agreement and are substantially more consistent with the BLET National health and welfare plan.

NYC Amtrak passengers get better Wi-Fi service

OCLMedia, an AV/IT Systems Integrator that delivers wireless, voice, video and data services, has completed a project to eliminate Wi-Fi blind spots and add bandwidth for Amtrak passengers traveling to and from New York City.

Contracted by Amtrak, OCLMedia was able to complete construction of a dedicated wireless network that significantly improves connectivity and delivers a true high-speed signal to trains while traveling through the New York tunnels and when stopped at the New York Penn Station platforms. The technology used- wireless infrastructure mesh from Firetide -supplements the area’s Wi-Fi coverage. Previously, when an Acela Express train arrived in the tunnels under the East River and Hudson River, Wi-Fi coverage was interrupted due to a lack of cellular broadband signal.

"We are now able to ensure Wi-Fi coverage in the 12 miles of tunnels and on the platforms around Penn Station in New York City," says Neeshard Ahamad, CEO of OCLMedia. "This is the first time this wireless technology has been installed in a tunnel system. Our mission was to link the advanced digital communications systems needed to provide the public with optimal service."

OCLMedia installed Firetide mesh nodes in the tunnels and on the trains. Firetide’s infrastructure mobility architecture allows for uninterrupted connection between the fixed and mobile nodes, delivering seamless Wi-Fi for the passengers. The fixed mesh nodes also provided an alternative to installing fiber in the tunnels, which would have taken two to three years to deploy and the costs would have been five times as much as the wireless mesh solution. OCLMedia’s timeframe was two to three months for this project.

The installation is part of the network that supports AmtrakConnect®, the free Wi-Fi service now installed on Amtrak Acela Express trains and coming later this year to Northeast Regional and other Amtrak trains.

"In this digital age, it is more vital than ever that our customers have Internet connectivity while traveling," said Emmett Fremaux Jr., Amtrak vice president of marketing & product development. "We are dedicated to the continued improvement of AmtrakConnect® to meet this need."

 

U.S. transportation system plans $7B in second-quarter construction starts

Throughout the recent recession, the transportation systems sector was one of the lone areas of growth in the Industrial Manufacturing Industry. Consisting of the commuter, light and freight-rail segments of the industry, as well as the deepwater and inland ports segment, the transportation systems sector has managed to get projects developed and into construction, even as other sectors struggled to keep operations open and workers employed.

Billions of dollars were invested in the past two years in this sector, and now that the overall economy is recovering, even more project activity is being planned.

During the upcoming second quarter of 2011, more than $7 billion in transportation systems sector projects are currently scheduled to begin construction in the United States.

Hawaii holds ceremonial groundbreaking for transit project

The City and County of Honolulu held a ceremonial groundbreaking and blessing for the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project on February 22, 2011.

"This is a time to celebrate," said Mayor Peter Carlisle at the ceremony. "Many people have waited so long and worked hard to finally get to this point. This project will provide thousands of jobs for our local work force, relieve traffic congestion and pave the way for an exciting and better future for Oahu residents."

The $5.5 billion transit project is a 20-mile elevated rail system connecting East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center. It includes 21 stations in communities including Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu and Kakaako. There will also be stations at activity centers such as UH-West Oahu, Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Community College.

 

CPR reaches agreement with Vancouver port

Canadian Pacific Railway and Port Metro Vancouver have reached an agreement to improve productivity and performance through Canada’s Pacific Gateway. The Port and CPR believe that greater collaboration and accountability among supply chain partners is the key to more efficient and reliable trade through the Gateway.

This collaboration agreement sets the framework for the Port, CPR and port stakeholders to develop mechanisms to define, measure, monitor and evaluate the performance of each participant at the port against established benchmarks. It also establishes processes to proactively communicate on service-related matters and resolve disputes between CPR, the Port and port supply chain participants on a commercial basis.

"I am pleased that we were able to work collaboratively with CP on this important agreement," said Robin Silvester, Port Metro Vancouver’s CEO. "With an emphasis on reciprocal accountability, our agreement will further improve competitiveness and optimize the performance of the Vancouver Gateway."

"This collaboration agreement strengthens our partnership with Port Metro Vancouver in our biggest Gateway, setting the stage for a cross-supply chain collaboration that improves performance and service of the Pacific Gateway," said CPR Executive Vice-President Jane O’Hagan. "CP strongly believes in the growth opportunities that underpin the Vancouver Gateway."

KCS selects RMI

Kansas City Southern has selected RMI’s OASIS Terminal Operating System to provide operations control and management tools across its intermodal terminal network in the United States and Mexico.

RMI’s OASIS Terminal Operating System is a comprehensive decision support solution that provides intelligent automation of intermodal terminal operations using sophisticated algorithms for solving logistical problems that arise in intermodal rail yards. OASIS is installed at more than 90 intermodal terminals across North America and processes more than 67 percent of all intermodal loadings, 18 million container lifts and 30 million gate moves per year.

RMI has already deployed OASIS for KCS at intermodal facilities in Kansas City, Mo. and Dallas, Texas, and rapid adoption is now underway across the entire KCS intermodal network. In addition to the OASIS Terminal Operating System, KCS will use RMI’s OASIS Vantage Business Intelligence interface for management reporting and real-time visibility of intermodal operations.

"OASIS has established its position over the past 15 years as the premier Intermodal Terminal Operating System," said KCS’s Morris Godwin, vice president of premium operations. "Our strategic objective for developing our intermodal business requires better management control, improved terminal efficiency and greater customer visibility. We look for OASIS to provide critical support in all of these areas," added Godwin.

RMI Vice President of Intermodal Scott Holland said, "We are extremely pleased to have been selected by KCS as their terminal operating system provider. Their confidence in our products has been very gratifying. We are looking forward to aligning this OASIS deployment to help KCS achieve key strategic goals."

BART to open $106M West Dublin/Pleasanton station

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit will open the West Dublin/Pleasanton Station to fare paying passengers Saturday, February 26.

The grand opening of BART’s 44th station will add to the system 1,200 new parking spots, more racks for bicyclists and eventually a transit village where people who prefer not to own a vehicle will be able to live, work, commute, shop and play all within walking distance of BART.

"This new station represents smart growth in two ways," BART Board President Bob Franklin said. "It represents smart growth by adding BART’s first infill station instead of expanding outwards and by increasing mixed-use development around the station to give people additional reasons to take public transportation."

Franklin was among the hundreds on hand February 22 for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the station, which BART expects to serve an average of 4,300 riders each weekday this year and to see ridership grow over time. With amenities such as Reserved Parking permits available for the two garages and connections to Livermore Amador Valley Transportation Authority buses, the station provides a new and convenient option for choosing public transportation. The result is expected to be reduced traffic congestion and better access to downtown Dublin and to Pleasanton’s Stoneridge area.

"I see this station as a key new hub in Northern California’s transportation network," BART Board Vice President John McPartland said. "It took years of hard work and perseverance to bring us to where we are today."

The station gives Bay Area residents an opportunity to save energy and protect the environment. With one round trip on BART preventing 22.6 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, the station’s 4,300 average daily riders will combine to prevent 97,180 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each day.

The $106 million project was made possible by public-private partnerships between BART and firms such as Jones Lang LaSalle. For example, Windstar Communities and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors funded more than $21 million.

Alameda County Surplus, the Cities of Dublin and Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley Transportation Commission also rallied together to contribute $8 million toward this station.

 

MTA NYCT

MTA New York City Transit will soon begin the final phase of a major $89 million construction project to renovate five stations on the Pelham 6 line: Whitlock Avenue, Elder Avenue, Morrison Avenue-Soundview, St., Lawrence Avenue and Parkchester.

The final two stations to close for rehab are Elder Avenue and St. Lawrence Avenue. In order to accomplish this work within a safe environment, both stations will be closed for eight months beginning Monday, February 28. The 6 train will skip these stations in both directions. Local bus routes which operate along Westchester Avenue, will provide alternate service and connections to nearby stations.

WMATA successfully completes holiday weekend trackwork

The scheduled track overhaul on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Blue and Orange Line that interrupted service between the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations and closed the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail station during the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend was completed successfully and all stations reopened on time February 22. 



Metro replaced four track switches, which comprised the entire rail interlocking at the Smithsonian Metrorail station, which was a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to improve rail system safety. Metro also repaired tunnel leaks, made repairs to escalators and elevators and made safety improvements on the Red Line.

During the weekend of March 4 to 6, there will be no service on the Orange Line between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations or the Blue Line between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations as Metro repairs the rail bridge outside the Cheverly Metrorail station, makes track circuit upgrades and track repairs and improves cell phone coverage.

Viterra signs MOU with CN and CPR

Viterra Inc., has signed a Memoranda of Understanding with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway, aimed at improving logistical efficiencies in Western Canada’s grain handling system. The MOUs focus on supplychain optimization and performance, and establishing further accountability.

"This is an important step towards definitive operating agreements that will benefit all stakeholders in Canada’s grain industry, from farmers to destination customers. Viterra is dedicated to driving excellence in Canada’s transportation supply chain and has made a series of infrastructure investments over the last several years to promote the efficient movement of grains and oilseeds. We are pleased that CN and CP share our commitment, and through joint collaboration, are taking measures to improve rail service delivery," said Bob Miller, Viterra’s senior vice president, North American Grain.

The respective parties seek to establish specific metrics to measure performance in areas such as order placement and handling, country execution, transit and port performance. Viterra loads more than 160,000 railcars and 300 ships in Canada annually.

P&L to spend $9M replacing 130-year old bridge

Paducah and Louisville Railway will spend $9 million to replace a 130-year-old bridge near Muldraugh, Ky. The project was denied federal funds from a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, but will proceed because the bridge is near the end of its lifespan, according to Tom Garrett, president of the railroad.

The new bridge will replace the original, built in the 1880s and will stand 83 feet tall and span 570 feet.

Possible Amtrak service to O

Move over CTA Blue Line, you may have some competition getting passengers from Chicago to O’Hare. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn requested that Amtrak study the logistic and financial ramifications of nonstop passenger rail service between Chicago Union Station and O’Hare.

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Gov. Quinn sees an opportunity to attract new employers and riders in connecting downtown Chicago and O’Hare, which represent the two largest centers in Illinois.

The Amtrak study is should be completed this summer and will address how quickly service can be introduced, location of trains within Union Station, as well as a drop off point in O’Hare and how to provide a seamless rail-air ticketing and baggage experience for passengers.

Florida HSR: Mica to the rescue

With the deadline imposed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to secure a sub-grantee to assume the proposed rail line between Orlando and Tampa, U.S. House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) said he has completed his assessment of potential options to continue the project.

Based on the requirement to secure a sub-grantee and ensure that the project is on the soundest financial footing possible, he is exploring what he terms a "partial project rescue plan."

Mica said, "The first 21-mile section of the proposed corridor from the Orlando Airport to the Convention Center and Disney World holds the potential for not only being a viable project, but one that could turn a profit with a qualified private operator."

To accomplish this new proposal, the project would be recast as follows:

• The initial operating segment would consist of 21 miles.
• The sub-grantees would consist of Orange, Osceola and the City of Orlando.
• The inter-local agreement would be crafted with these three initial participants, with the potential for additional future partners.
• The federal government would provide financial support for construction of the first segment, up to an agreed upon funding amount.
• The inter-local parties would solicit private sector proposals to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the project.
• All parties would agree to proceed only if the project is financially viable and they had unanimous consent regarding the terms of ownership, development and operation of the project.

Mica said he has discussed the proposal with several of the potential partners and has solicited their response.

"The ridership numbers for this 21-mile corridor would be some of the best in the United States and the world, and I believe could also return revenue to each of the participating partners."

This proposed phased development has the potential to address the Governor’s concerns by transferring the project from the state to another entity and limiting the scope of the project to the financially viable route to ensure maximum ridership, and provides for future expansion.

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