Woodward Light Rail receives $2 million grant

U.S. Department of Transportation selected 11 Michigan transportation projects to receive funding, including the Woodward Light Rail project, which will receive $2 million.

"Many families depend upon public transportation to shop and to get to class or to work," said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. "In these tough economic times and with gas prices taking more of a bite out of family budgets, these projects will go a long way in making transportation more affordable."

The Central Woodward Corridor Alternatives Analysis
in Detroit
 was selected on a competitive basis through the FY 2011 Alternatives Analysis Program. The study will include a possible 7.5-mile extension of the first phase of the planned Woodward Light Rail Transit, which will end just south of Eight Mile Road. The 7.5-mile Central Woodward corridor extends north from Eight Mile Road in Wayne County to Maple Road (Fifteen Mile Road) in downtown Birmingham, which is in southern Oakland County.

This project will significantly enhance regional mobility and help to attract and retain businesses and the valued workforce. It will also significantly improve mobility between major medical facilities and universities in the region. The 7.5 mile study area is a major commercial and retail corridor that is also extensively utilized by commuters. Downtown Birmingham is a regional destination that contains offices, condominiums, upscale dining and retail and entertainment destinations.

WMATA Board approves Blue & Yellow line service changes, names future Dulles Line

The Washing Metropolitan Area Transportation Authoirity Board of Directors’ Customer Service and Operations Committee approved a plan to realign its Blue Line service in mid-2012, resulting in improved service for more than 108,000 customers on the Green, Yellow, Blue and Orange lines. The realignment will provide additional capacity where it is needed most, provide more transfer-free rides and make room for trains that will operate on the new Silver Line.

During peak periods, more than 46,000 Orange Line customers will benefit from six additional trains per hour, three in each direction, resulting in 18 percent more capacity on the line, or approximately 2,600 seats per hour. The new trains will operate between West Falls Church and Largo Town Center.



The Orange Line is WMATA’s second busiest, carrying approximately 180,000 passenger trips on a typical weekday. In a phenomenon known as "Orange Crush," peak trains on the Orange Line between Courthouse and Rosslyn carry more passengers per car than anywhere else on the system.

During peak periods, the tunnel between Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom is at capacity, with 26 trains per hour in each direction. The additional "slots" in the schedule will be made possible by routing three Blue Line trains in each direction over the Yellow Line bridge each peak hour. Trains following this service pattern will travel between Franconia-Springfield and Greenbelt and will be considered Yellow Line trains.



For 33,500 Blue and Yellow Line customers in Virginia, the realignment will mean more trains providing faster access to downtown via the Yellow Line bridge. A smaller number (about 16,000) weekday peak-period customers who travel on Blue Line trains via Arlington Cemetery will experience a maximum of six-minutes additional waiting time for a train.



In addition, stations on the northern segments of the Green/Yellow lines will see additional trains during weekday peak periods. Stations from Shaw-Howard to Greenbelt will benefit from six additional Yellow Line trains each peak hour, three in each direction, between Greenbelt and Franconia-Springfield. For the first time, a customer can travel from Greenbelt to Franconia-Springfield without transferring. More than 28,000 customers will benefit from the change.



WMATA Board members were presented with a new transitional Metrorail map that will be used to show the new service patterns during peak periods. The map was designed by Lance Wyman, one of the original designers of the Metrorail map, with several rounds of customer input through focus groups and online surveys. The new service pattern between Franconia-Springfield and Greenbelt is depicted by extending the Yellow Line, with dashed lines to indicate "rush-hour only," to both new endpoints. Regular Yellow Line service between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/Fort Totten is reflected with a solid Yellow Line. 
Similarly, a dashed extension Orange Line has been added to the map between Stadium-Armory and Largo Town Center to reflect the six trains per peak hour (three in each direction) that will operate between West Falls Church and Largo Town Center.



Responding to customer feedback, the future Dulles extension will be known as the Silver Line. During construction, the extension will be depicted on the map as a spur. Upon completion, the Silver Line will be shown on the map between Wiehle Avenue and Stadium-Armory.

FY2011 brings ridership records for Amtrak

Amtrak carried nearly 30.2 million passengers in Fiscal Year 2011 ending September 30, marking the highest ridership total since the National Railroad Passenger Corporation started operations in 1971 and the eighth ridership record during the past nine years. Ridership versus the prior year is up by more than five percent and ticket revenue is up by more than eight percent, despite significant weather related disruptions in the Northeast, Central and Western U.S.

"Thirty million passengers is not just a statistic. That number is made up of real people who live real lives and use Amtrak for personal, business and recreational travel," said Emmett Fremaux, the head of the Amtrak Marketing and Product Development Department.

"We thank all our passengers for choosing Amtrak and our state partners for working with us to develop the kind of service that attracts ever increasing numbers of riders," said Amtrak President & CEO Joseph Boardman. "Amtrak is fulfilling its national mission and is part of the solution to meet America’s growing transportation and energy needs."

Factors contributing to the continuing success of Amtrak include high gasoline prices, continued growth in business travel on the high-speed Acela Express trains with free Wi-Fi service, with more AmtrakConnectsm deployments coming soon on other services across the country, the increased appeal and popularity of rail travel and effective marketing campaigns.

These gains came despite service disruptions due to hurricanes, tropical storms and record snows in the busy Northeast Corridor, record flooding in the Central U.S. and heavy construction that temporarily reduced train frequencies on the Chicago-St. Louis route.
The previous Amtrak record for ridership and ticket revenue was set last fiscal year (FY 2010).

CSX names Anne Chettle Reinke VP-federal legislation

CSX Corporation appointed Anne Chettle Reinke to vice president federal legislation, effective upon the retirement of Michael Ruehling after many years of distinguished service.

Reinke, who joined CSX in 2003 as director federal affairs, will report to Ellen Fitzsimmons, senior vice president law and public affairs. From the company’s Washington, D.C., offices, Reinke will direct all federal government affairs activities and continue to play a key role in shaping initiatives that support the quality and efficiency of rail transportation.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Anne’s caliber step into the role that Mike has managed with great insight, integrity and success for many years," Fitzsimmons said. "Mike, Anne and the entire Washington office have made significant contributions to a more complete understanding of the critical role of rail transportation in solving some of our nation’s most pressing logistics challenges."

Ruehling, who joined CSX in 1989 after serving on the staff of former U.S. Senator Wendell Ford (D-Ky.), was appointed vice president state relations in 1995. He was named vice president-federal legislation in 2004 and will retire at the end of 2011.

Coos Bay Rail Link begins operations

The 133-mile Coos Bay Rail Link in Coos Bay, Ore., ran its first revenue freight train Oct. 12, from CBR’s connection with Union Pacific at Eugene to Cordes on Oregon’s south coast. Operations will be extended 17 additional miles to Coos Bay and Coquille in early 2012, as track and bridges are renovated.

"Initially, we are providing service to customers as needed," said General Manager Tom Foster. "Forest products will be a major source of traffic."

Coos Bay Rail Link is undergoing $25 million in repairs to upgrade the entire line from 10 mph to between 25 and 40 mph. When completed, the line will be able to handle 286,000-lb. gross weight cars.

"It’s exciting to restore freight rail service to the region," said Foster. "We’re looking at a number of business development opportunities to generate more shipments in the months and years ahead."

 

Three Metra lines to use federal investment for reduced emissions

A $5,288,000 investment from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program will help Chicago’s Metra reduce emissions and improve air quality in and around their trains.

"Reducing the cloud of smoke from Metra locomotives will save fuel and help limit exposure to harmful air pollution," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). "This $5.2 million investment will help pay for this important clean-up."

In February, Durbin met with newly appointed Metra CEO Alex Clifford to discuss Metra’s ongoing review of diesel locomotive emissions. Metra, which is currently using funding from the Department of Transportation’s TIGER II program to retrofit locomotives operating in their train yards, estimates that by shutting down instead of idling the locomotives, the automatic systems could save an estimated 800,000 gallons of diesel fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 80,000 tons per year. In November of last year, Durbin asked several federal agencies to work with Metra looking into the results of a Chicago Tribune report that discovered the high level of diesel soot and air pollution in commuter rail cars.

The funding was approved by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and awarded to three projects along the following Metra routes:

• Milwaukee District Service (North and West lines): $4,000,000 in funding to repower two locomotives used to provide commuter rail service to the Chicago area. The repowering will consist of a new diesel engine and control package. Estimates indicate that a repowered locomotive equipped for commuter application would generate approximately 18 to 20 percent in fuel consumption savings and a reduction of approximately 33,250 gallons of diesel fuel and 600 metric tons of greenhouse gases per locomotive annually.

• Union Pacific Service (North, Northwest and West lines): $368,000 in funding to incorporate automatic engine shut-down/start-up technology on 24 locomotives to save fuel and reduce emissions by reducing idling time for these locomotives. By shutting down locomotives instead of idling, an estimated 609,190 gallons of fuel can be saved per year and CO2 can be reduced by 81,598.7 tons per year.

• BNSF Service: $920,000 in funding to replace the main engine driven generator-inverter combinations, which provide various amenities to people on board trains, ranging from electric lights to heating, on five passenger locomotives to save fuel and reduce emissions.

 

CTA receives $6 million grant for Red Line station work

Several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $51,657,400 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT grants include funding to upgrade the Chicago Transit Authority’s Wilson Red Line Station. The CTA received $6,000,000 in funding to make accessibility improvements at the station.

The project includes a new elevator control room and rail maintenance room, a new elevator inside the main station house at street level, as well as street modifications and exterior rehabilitation. This project was selected on a competitive basis through the 2011 Bus Livability Program.

Gannett Fleming names four transportation vice presidents

Gannett Fleming named 13 new vice presidents, four of which will handle its various transportation services.

A partner and senior project manager in the firm’s Construction Management Division, Brett A. Brenize, P.E., DBIA, is based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa. With nearly 20 years of experience in construction project management, Brenize manages the Division’s transportation section and federal and transit infrastructure improvements. He also serves as the division’s liaison on Gannett Fleming’s Marcellus Shale Market Leadership Team.

Based in the firm’s Newton, Mass., office, Thomas P. Daley, P.E., is a senior project manager who is responsible for managing the New England Transportation Practice and for the administration and management of Gannett Fleming’s Newton office. He supervises a staff of engineers and drafters in the preparation of contract proposals and documents for a vast range of highway, bridge, civil and transportation-related projects. He also is responsible for the administration and management of Gannett Fleming’s Newton office.

William M. Gough, P.E., who is based in the Harrisburg office, serves as a project manager in the firm’s Transportation Division. With more than 34 years of experience, Gough is responsible for the design, inspection and rehabilitation of highway and railway bridges and viaducts involving multiple structures, staged construction and tight construction schedules.

Mary C. Ross, P.E., serves as a senior transportation manager who based in the firm’s Tampa, Fla., office. With more than 25 years of experience, she is responsible for managing and assisting the transportation staff with project management and development. She focuses on corridor studies, alternative analyses, travel demand forecasting, transportation impact analyses, long-range transportation plans and environmental concerns.

 

Significant progress made on CSX’s National Gateway

CSX Transportation has work completed or construction underway at one-third of the clearance projects included in phase one of the National Gateway, keeping the major American infrastructure initiative on track for completion by 2015.

The National Gateway is a public-private partnership that will create a double-stack freight rail corridor between Mid Atlantic sea ports and the Midwest. The improvement projects are designed to increase the vertical clearances at 61 locations on CSX rail lines in the region to accommodate intermodal trains carrying double-stack intermodal containers. To date, work is complete at five of the locations and crews are working at 15 other locations. The progress to date means almost one third of the clearance projects are completed or underway for the National Gateway’s phase one, which spans an existing rail corridor between North Baltimore, Ohio and Chambersburg, Pa.

The projects already completed include bridges in Hyndman and Chartiers Creek, Pa., which were modified for double-stack usage. In Coraopolis, Pa., CSX worked closely with local officials to ensure the safe and efficient removal of an antiquated pedestrian bridge. At the request of local officials, the aging structure was not replaced. Similarly, CSX worked closely with city officials in Akron, Ohio, to remove the previously closed Park Street overpass. In Niles, Ohio, CSX removed a damaged and antiquated overhead highway bridge and is constructing a new, modern replacement structure.

CSX has begun work on other projects in its phase one of construction, with five tunnel improvement projects underway in Confluence, Pa.; Hansrote, W.Va. and Magnolia, Md. where tunnel linings are being modified to provide the necessary clearance for passage of modern, double-stacked freight rail containers.

In Ohio, CSX is also raising four highway bridges and lowering the tracks at three others to improve clearances.

Other bridges in Kent and Ravenna, Ohio, and Paw Paw, W.Va., are being replaced with modern, new structures.

CSX recently announced that it will invest an additional $160 million to complete the National Gateway. The investment brings CSX’s planned private investment in the critical infrastructure project to about $575 million over several years.

"We are pleased to invest in these projects that will improve America’s transportation infrastructure, helping create jobs and cleaner, more efficient freight transportation," said Louis Renjel, vice president of strategic infrastructure initiatives, CSX Transportation. "Over the next few years, the National Gateway will move forward aggressively to invest in strategic freight rail infrastructure that will prepare our nation for continued growth and competition in the global economy."

FRA issues safety advisory aimed at reducing yard incidents

Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo issued a safety advisory to the railroad industry to help prevent injuries and fatalities from employees working between rail cars during switching operations and other dangerous or unsafe workplace behaviors.

Stella-Jones signs Letter of Intent to acquire Thompson Industries

Stella-Jones Inc. has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Thompson Industries, Inc., a provider of treated wood crossties.

The letter of intent contemplates a total purchase price of approximately $41.0 million. The transaction, if finalized, is expected to close in December 2011 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including entry into a definitive purchase agreement and satisfactory due diligence. Stella-Jones plans to finance the acquisition through existing credit facilities.

"The acquisition of Thompson Industries would further enhance Stella-Jones’ product and service offering to the North American railroad industry," said Brian McManus, president and chief executive officer of Stella-Jones. "Thompson enjoys solid business relationships and is well recognized for its high-quality operations."

Caltrain to install new bridge Oct. 15

Shortly after midnight, Saturday, Oct. 15, San Francisco’s Caltrain will remove the railroad bridge that spans Jerrold Avenue in San Francisco and replace it with a modern single-span steel bridge. The "big move" will be accomplished in one night, before train service begins Saturday morning.

The only impact to passengers will be at the Bayshore station, where all trains will operate on a single track and north and southbound passengers will board from a single platform all weekend.

In addition to the new bridge, the project also includes new steel structures and columns to support the bridge, new tracks through the area, new pavement on the street under the bridge and new sidewalks.

This week, crossing gates and lights on the adjacent freight train tracks will be temporarily removed, support frames will be constructed and the cranes that will be used to move the bridge will be mobilized.

Jerrold Avenue has been temporarily closed to through traffic between Rankin and Quint Streets. This temporary closure will last until Nov. 5. The closed street is being used to assemble the new bridge and dismantle the old one.

The project is necessary because the existing bridge is more than 100 years old and has reached the end of its useful life.

CN signs agreement to drive service and efficiency in Quebec supply chain

Canadian National and Agri-Marché, Inc., have signed an agreement to promote greater efficiencies in the Quebec, Canada, grain supply chain and to deliver better customer service.

The parties will measure performance against specific targets and identify ways to mutually improve the grain distribution supply chain. CN delivers grain to Agri-Marché at Saint-Isidore, located southeast of Quebec City.

Doug MacDonald, CN vice-president, corporate marketing, said, "Our agreement with Agri-Marché provides the both of us with the tools to do a better job of serving the end-customers."

Jean-Pierre Brochu, operations manager of Agri-Marché, said, "We have seen a solid improvement in CN’s performance as a result of its increased customer collaboration and efforts to improve supply chain efficiencies. We welcome this change, which improves our relationship with our grain suppliers and positions our company to grow its market share with CN."

 

Upgrades underway to improve communications on SkyTrain’s Expo Line

Construction is underway to replace cables that have been in place since the SkyTrain’s Expo Line in Vancouver, BC, Canada, started operating 25 years ago. The new fiber optic cables will support a more efficient communications network across the entire SkyTrain system, keeping it safe and reliable for passengers.

The first phase of this project includes replacing existing cables from Waterfront Station to New Westminster Station. This phase also includes an engineering study, design and quality control and has a budget of up to $4.7 million (US$4.6 million). The Government of Canada is contributing up to $1.9 million (US$1.87 million) of the eligible costs through the Building Canada Fund and the Province of British Columbia is contributing up to $1.9 million (US$1.87 million) through the Provincial Transit Plan. TransLink is funding the remainder.

The majority of the upgrades will take place at night to avoid customer and service disruptions. The project, which will be complete by March 2012, is employing 10 highly-skilled workers.

"The fibre optic cables are the backbone of SkyTrain operations," said Fred Cummings, president of British Columbia Rapid Transit Company, which operates the SkyTrain Expo and Millennium lines. "They run the communications among staff, operate ticketing and security systems and perhaps most important, are the vital lifeline between our trains and the control center, helping maintain the trains’ on-time reliability of greater than 95 percent. Thanks to our partnership with senior governments, we are able to make the investments needed to keep the system in good repair and operational for years to come."

Detailed design work for phase 2 is also underway. During this phase, cables from New Westminster to King George Station on the Expo Line and from Columbia Station to Lougheed Town Centre on the Millennium Line will be replaced. The new cables will eventually connect with the planned Evergreen Line, ensuring the communications network across the entire SkyTrain system is integrated, efficient, reliable and safe. The upgrades will also support future faregate and Compass card operations and communications needs.

At the same time as phase 1, work will start to replace the running rails on another segment of the SkyTrain. Over the weekends of October 15-16 and 22-23, rails in the vicinity of Edmonds Station will be replaced. This will require trains to run on a single track, alternating directions, throughout the day and night and will mean delays throughout the system.

The project is part of the OnTrack program that includes a number of maintenance projects, upgrades and investments taking place along the system during SkyTrain’s 25th anniversary. Along with the fiber optic upgrade and running rail replacement, faregates are being installed to enable the Compass card system when it goes into operation in 2013 and accessibility to the system is being improved.

 

Crenshaw/LAX, Maryland’s Red Line among 14 projects put on fast track

The Obama Administration selected 14 infrastructure projects around the country that will be expedited through permitting and environmental review processes, including the Crenshaw/LAX and the Baltimore Red Line projects.

This announcement comes as a result of a Presidential Memorandum, which President Obama issued in late August at the recommendation of his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Through the Presidential Memorandum, the President directed agencies to expedite environmental reviews and permit decisions for a selection of high priority infrastructure projects that will create a significant number of jobs, have already identified necessary funding and where the significant steps remaining before construction are within the control and jurisdiction of the federal government and can be completed within 18 months.

Crenshaw/LAX, California
The Crenshaw/LAX project will extend the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s existing Green Line light rail nearer to the Los Angeles International Airport and connect it to the Expo Line light rail. The Federal Transit Administration is providing additional targeted technical assistance to shorten the approval time for this project by several months. In addition, FTA and LACMTA will pilot FTA’s new streamlined risk assessment approach for major transit projects to ensure risks and associated mitigation measures are identified and addressed promptly.

Baltimore Red Line, Maryland
The Baltimore Red Line is a 14-mile rail transit line connecting the suburban areas west of Baltimore to downtown, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point areas and the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Campus. This project has many outstanding permitting issues that will require substantial cooperation between a number of resource and other federal agencies. By engaging in early negotiations with all necessary federal agencies and optimizing coordination amongst the agencies this project will begin construction earlier than currently planned, potentially reducing the project timeline by two years.

CREATE’s $133 million Englewood Flyover project breaks ground

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood helped break ground on the Englewood Flyover project, a critical component to the Chicago hub of the Midwest high-speed rail network. The construction project will build a bridge to separate traffic along two railroads, allowing 130 trains per day to move more quickly through one of the worst bottlenecks in North America. The investment will improve on-time performance of passenger trains, reduce freight congestion and create nearly 1,500 jobs. Secretary LaHood was joined by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Congressmen Bobby Rush and Dan Lipinski, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other state and local elected officials, as well as business, labor and civic leaders.

"Projects like this one are exactly why President Obama has made transportation such a big part of the American Jobs Act," said Secretary LaHood. "We have workers on site today, American factories producing new supplies and when the project is completed, people and goods will move more quickly and easily through the Midwest, making the region a better place to start a business or hire new workers."

The $133 million construction project is funded through a $126 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s high-speed intercity passenger rail program, with a $6.6 million contribution from Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! construction program. This marks the start of the second major construction project in the Midwest, as work is also under way on the Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail Corridor. Workers will build a bridge to carry 78 daily North-South Metra Rock Island commuter trains and approximately 60 East-West intercity passenger and freight trains that operate on the Norfolk Southern corridor. The new bridge will allow all trains to pass through without conflict and is designed to allow for additional tracks to be added to both corridors to accommodate future growth.

"The Englewood Flyover will make life easier for tens of thousands of commuters every day and put people to work immediately," Governor Pat Quinn said. "This vital project will eliminate a problem spot and set the stage for future passenger rail growth while boosting Illinois’ position at the economic engine of the Midwest."

"As a result of this federal funding, the hard hit construction industry in the Chicago metro area will see 1,500 jobs, good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. If we are going to continue growing our economy, we need more projects like this one, not fewer, which is why the American Jobs Act is so important," Senator Dick Durbin said.

"Every day, nearly 1,300 trains pass through Chicago-making it one of the busiest rail hubs in the United States," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "CREATE will invest in critically needed improvements to increase the efficiency of passenger and freight rail infrastructure, enhance the quality of life for residents and ensure Chicago remains a competitive destination for travel and trade."

"There aren’t many projects that deliver this kind of bang for the buck," Congressman Dan Lipinski said. Having obtained the initial $100 million for CREATE back in 2005, I’m very glad we’re finally breaking ground."

 

Maryland’s Purple Line gets approval for next step

The Federal Transit Administration gave its approval for Maryland’s Purple Line to move forward and enter the Preliminary Engineering phase. The Purple Line is a proposed 16-mile east-west light-rail project that will operate between Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County with connection to four branches of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority system. FTA approval means that work on the project now moves to preparation of more detailed plans, schedules and cost estimates, as well as completion of environmental studies.

"In order to create jobs, a modern economy requires modern investments. The Federal Transit Administration’s approval today will help us continue to create jobs and expand rapid and reliable transportation in the Washington suburban region," said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. "The Purple Line will connect citizens to jobs and economic opportunities throughout the region. Today’s approval affirms that federal and state investments create jobs and promote economic growth. Together, with our federal partners, we can secure the future of transit in Maryland and continue to move the Purple Line forward."

The FTA review of the Purple Line proposal focused on the project’s high daily ridership and many significant benefits as well as the state’s financial commitment and technical capacity to build and operate the project. By granting permission to begin preliminary engineering, the Purple Line becomes one of a small of number of projects nationwide that are eligible for federal funding.

As proposed, the Purple Line will connect major employment and activity centers in Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton with residential and commercial areas located in between, including the Takoma-Langley Park community and Riverdale Park residents whose many transit dependent riders today are only served by buses. It will link both branches of WMTAT’s Red Line at Bethesda and Silver Spring, the Green Line at College Park and the Orange Line at New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect all three MARC commuter rail lines, Amtrak and local bus services.

The 16-mile Purple Line will play a critical role in the economic vitality of the corridor, with a projected increase of over 27,000 jobs per year and nearly $10 billion in additional federal, state and local revenues through the life of the rail line. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is establishing a workforce development task force to assist with the creation of a state wide policy towards providing training programs for employment opportunities along the rail line.

The Purple Line will be a pedestrian-friendly system with 21 stations that are projected to handle 60,000 riders a day by 2030. On the western end, it will operate along the former Georgetown Branch railroad right of way, currently an interim hiker-biker trail. The project will be built simultaneously with the construction of a permanent trail separated from the rail line with a landscaped buffer. Different than WMATA, light rail is powered by an overhead wire, can operate at-grade and is compatible with pedestrians and automobile traffic.

The Purple Line will largely run on the surface with one short tunnel section, one aerial section and several underpasses and overpasses of busy roadways. It will operate mainly in dedicated or exclusive lanes, allowing for fast, reliable transit operations. Purple Line riders will generally access the line on foot or by existing bus and rail services since it directly serves local communities.

CTA eliminates 200 positions as it preps for 2012 budget

The Chicago Transit Authority eliminated more than 200 positions as part of its continuing efforts to drive efficiencies as it prepares to release its 2012 budget. The agency also revised its sick and vacation policies, moves that will save the financially troubled agency tens of millions of dollars.

The personnel cuts will save the CTA approximately $22 million annually at a time when the agency is facing a $277 million deficit, while the sick and vacation leave policy changes will save the agency an estimated $15 million over the next six years.

"Following Mayor Emanuel’s leadership, we have continued to make the CTA more efficient by eliminating unnecessary and duplicative positions, while creating sound and reasonable sick and vacation leave policies," CTA President Forrest Claypool said. "As the CTA prepares to close one of its worst budget deficits in recent memory, it is incumbent upon us to find ways to do more with less."

The 200 positions include the positions that were eliminated in July 2011 and include a mix of layoffs and vacancy eliminations. About two-thirds of the new cuts will come from filled positions. As part of these cuts, a number of senior-level positions have been eliminated, including vice-presidents, general managers and directors.

The CTA now has a lean management structure, with an average of 21 front-line staffers for every manager. In addition, the CTA now has the smallest number of employees in its history, with 25 percent fewer employees than a decade ago.

About 70 percent of the CTA’s budget goes to labor costs and 91 percent of the labor force is unionized. The CTA’s union contracts expire at the end of the year and are up for renegotiation.

"Amid a deep and continuing recession, these changes will make the CTA more efficient and still provide fair and reasonable policies for our employees," Claypool said. "I also look forward to working with our labor leaders to find common sense, rational and fair solutions that reduce our labor costs while providing stable employment for their members. It is time for everyone to step up so we can put CTA on solid financial ground."

NJ Transit, GCRTA open new stations

NJ Transit customers who travel to and from the City of Garfield on the Bergen County Line will now benefit from the recently opened, new and improved Plauderville Station, which is fully accessible to customers with disabilities and provides more convenient access to the station from the parking area.

"Construction of a new station and high-level platforms ensures full accessibility for customers with disabilities, while enhancing overall convenience for everyone who uses it," said NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein. "A major benefit of the new station is that the relocated platforms provide customers with immediate access from the parking area to the station."

In August 2009, the NJ Transit Board of Directors authorized a $7.9 million contract with Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., of Maplewood, N.J., for the construction of two 450-foot high-level platforms, as well as a new heated waiting area on the inbound platform, canopies, lighting, electronic signage, closed-circuit television cameras, ramps and sidewalks.

The new platforms were built adjacent to the parking area located between Midland Avenue and Outwater Lane, south of the existing low-level platforms, providing customers with more convenient access to the station. With the opening of the new station the old station, located adjacent to Midland Avenue, closed.

Plauderville Station is the first NJ Transit facility to incorporate platforms constructed with an innovative material called Armor Deck, which is a structural polymer composite system used in place of concrete. The use of this material will result in a substantial cost savings to NJ Transit in terms of repairs and replacement over the years, as it resists corrosion and is maintenance free.

Located on the Bergen County Line, Plauderville Station serves about 400 customers on a typical weekday.

After more than a year of construction and seven years of planning, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority East 55th Street Rapid Station will officially be dedicated Tuesday, October 11, at noon. Reek havoc

The $9.4 million, ADA-accessible station is not only an icon in the Slavic Village neighborhood, but will also be as versatile as it is aesthetically pleasing. Construction called for a move to the southeast corner I-490 and East 55th St., making for a more visible landmark and providing easier access to pedestrians and vehicles.

East 55th is unique because it is one of the few stations that services the Red Line, as well the Blue and Green Lines, connecting east side and west side transit, along with linking bus-to-rail service.

The new parking lot and entrance allows buses and automobiles to drop passengers off right at the door of the station. Also new to the station is a center platform that allows convenient transfer between the Red, Blue and Green line transit without having to cross the tracks. At more than 800 feet in length, the platform was a major piece of engineering.

The modern design was selected to embrace the future of its surrounding neighborhood. The stone façade was selected to represent the many churches in the East 55th vicinity.

Public art surrounds the facility, with the structure’s purple and cement façade serving as an art form in itself. Art featured includes a mural titled "Space, Speed and Time," along with red figures that appear to move as your train arrives and departs the station.

 

TriMet project receives FTA outstanding achievement recognition

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Portland, Ore., area’s TriMet the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Environmental Document Presentation for the Environmental Impact Statemen produced for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project.

The EIS details the benefits, impacts and costs of the project in a clear, concise publication meant to be easily understood by the public and project stakeholders. When presenting the award this week, the FTA noted that the project EIS "distinguishes itself in a number of ways," highlighting the document’s "plain language and clear writing," easy to understand graphics and inclusion of climate change information, along with the project’s overall "comprehensive public involvement approach" and detailed website.

"This award underscores the great effort Metro, TriMet and our partners have put into ensuring the public has access to vital facts about the project," said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane. "We’re gratified that these efforts have been recognized by the FTA."

The project EIS was prepared by Metro and TriMet with key consultant assistance from Parametrix.

 

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