MBTA board OK

According to the Boston Globe, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Board approved a $27 million construction contract Oct. 6, to rebuild one of the last outdated stations on the Blue Line, part of a two-decade, $700 million campaign. The total budget for that East Boston project, including design, engineering, inspection and other costs, is $51 million.

At the same time, the MBTA board also approved a $29 million contract to build a new Orange Line station at Assembly Square, between the existing Wellington and Sullivan Square stops, the first new station added to the subway map in a quarter-century.

Both stations are scheduled to be finished in 2014, creating about 600 construction jobs.

Bids for each came in more than $1 million cheaper than expected. Barletta Heavy Division Inc. was the winning bidder among four for Orient Heights and S&R Construction Enterprises prevailed among nine bidders for Assembly Square.

The Federal Transit Authority is slated to reimburse the MBTA for 80 percent of the cost of the Orient Heights project. With Assembly Square, all of the funding will be covered by sources other than the MBTA; $15 million from the private developer, Federal Realty Investment Trust; $16 million from three federal transportation sources and $22 million from the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, plus an extra $3.5 million if needed.

In other MBTA news, according to boston.com, cell phone service is expected to be available in underground areas of the MBTA’s Blue Line and nearly all of the Green Line by the end of the year and will extend to all underground areas of the subway system by the end of 2012.

The MBTA says the work includes installation of 98 remote amplifiers, 422 antennas and 71,455 feet of radiating cable.

 

Four unions at CN ratify new agreement

Four unions at Canadian National’s Algoma Central Railway subsidiary ratified a new collective agreement. The unions are the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Maintenance of Way Division, Canadian Auto Workers, International Association of Machinists and United Steelworkers.

Approximately 70 mechanical, engineering and clerical employees are covered by the four-year deal, which is retroactive to Feb. 1, 2010. The agreement provides union members general wage and benefit increases consistent with other agreements reached this year.

CN acquired the ACR, which runs north from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 300 miles to Hearst, Ont., as part of its purchase of Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp. in 2001.

CN president declares supply-chain focus

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of Canadian National, said the company’s drive to become "a true supply chain enabler" will deliver a more efficient transportation system helping its customers compete better in their end markets.

"The CN team is taking its Precision Railroading model to the next level, delivering on an agenda of operational and service excellence anchored on supply chain collaboration to improve end-to-end service for our customers," Mongeau told the Southeast Freight Conference.

Mongeau said this supply-chain focus is the next chapter in CN’s "remarkable transformation journey."

The modern CN story began with privatization in 1995, followed by $8 billion worth of acquisitions that gave the railroad a true North American footprint touching three coasts. Next came Precision Railroading, CN’s business model that ensures disciplined operational execution and intense asset utilization and now, a new customer-centric focus and commitment to supply chain innovation.

Mongeau said Memphis, a major freight distribution hub, is a pivotal location on CN’s 20,500 route-mile network that spans 16 U.S. states and eight provinces. The city is the gateway to CN’s operations in the Gulf of Mexico region and the largest U.S. location outside Chicago where CN interchanges traffic with four of the major U.S. Class 1 railroads.

The importance of Memphis in CN’s system is underscored by the company’s sizable capital investments in the city. CN has invested $100-million to rebuild and upgrade its main freight-car classification yard in Memphis, now known as Harrison Yard. It is also a partner in the $35-million CN-CSX Transportation Gateway Intermodal Terminal that opened in 2005 at Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in Memphis.

Mongeau said, "With a clear strategic agenda driven by our commitment to innovation, productivity and supply chain collaboration, we can create value for our customers, shareholders and the North American economy."

Military Times EDGE names UP Best for Vets Employer

Military Times EDGE selected Union Pacific as a Best for Vets 2011 Employer. UP is among three companies ranking in the platinum category.

"Union Pacific is honored to be named a Best for Vets Employer and takes pride in employing veterans and military reserve personnel," said Barb Schaefer, UP senior vice president human resources. "Military veterans have the knowledge and training to be successful in our company and are great assets to Union Pacific."

Best for Vets Employers are chosen based on three key areas:

* Veteran Recruiting
* Corporate Culture
* Reserve Policies

Union Pacific also was selected for its training and education programs, military recruiting policies and hiring track record; one out of every four UP hires is a veteran. Union Pacific recruiters actively seek military personnel by attending military job fairs, supporting transitional assistance programs and regularly visiting major military installations.

Board approves FY2013 budget proposal for Caltrain

Faced with a fiscal crisis at the beginning of the year that forced Southern California’s Caltrain to consider drastic service cuts, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board approved a budget proposal that would avert another crisis, even as the Peninsula commuter rail system is experiencing record growth in ridership and revenue.

The Board, which owns and operates Caltrain, approved a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013 and a framework for future operating budgets.

Caltrain’s three partner agencies have agreed to contribute $33.5 million to the Fiscal Year 2013 operation budget:

SamTrans – $14 million
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency – $5.8 million
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority – $13.7.

In the current fiscal year, the partnership contribution is $25.4 million.

Caltrain’s latest ridership and revenue numbers also are good news for the agency. In spite of the continuing flat economy, total ridership for August is 1,252,825, 13 percent higher than August 2010. This is an all-time high, surpassing the previous record of 1,245,443 set in July 2008; ridership has increased when compared to the previous year for 13 consecutive months. Fare box revenue also is up 15 percent.

In addition to persistent high fuel prices, Caltrain officials attribute the increase in ridership its efforts to attract new riders:

In January, Caltrain introduced weekend Baby Bullet service. Ridership on weekend Baby Bullet trains, as well as the local trains scheduled before and after them, have seen a 30 percent boost in ridership since the beginning of the year.

Caltrain has raised fares more than 57 percent since 2005. In spite of fare increases, ridership continues to increase. Beginning Jan. 1, Caltrain fares increased 25 cents for each zone, with multi-ride tickets and passes adjusted accordingly. The increase was approved to close a $2.3 million gap in the Fiscal Year 2010 operating budget. Caltrain raised fares again on July 1, adding 25 cents to the base fare.

In addition, the August expense report shows a 5.6 percent decrease in expenses, primarily attributable to reductions in operating and administrative expenses.

 

 

WMATA plans aggressive rebuilding schedule

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority is planning an aggressive schedule of rebuilding work during the coming weeks in an effort to avoid customer inconvenience around the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holiday periods.

There will be no major track work on the Metrorail system over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, or the period between December 19 and January 3.

WMATA’s rebuilding efforts are focused on addressing National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations and bringing the system into a state of good repair, including projects to renew rail and ties, replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way, rehabilitate power systems and modernize stations.

Below is a summary of upcoming track work:

Red Line

• Beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing on Saturday, October 15, Red Line trains will single track between Twinbrook and Shady Grove to allow for platform rehabilitation work. There is no scheduled track work on Sunday, October 16.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, October 23, buses will replace Red Line trains between New York Avenue and Fort Totten to allow for major track rehabilitation, station work and cable installation. Two stations, Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland, will be closed.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, October 30, Red Line trains will single track between Dupont Circle and New York Avenue due to heavy construction activity at Farragut North Station to stabilize municipal utility pipes. The work will continue over the weekends of November 18-20 and December 16-18.

Orange and Blue lines

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, October 7, and continuing through system closing Monday, October 10, buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church due to construction associated with the Dulles rail extension. In addition, Orange Line trains will single track between Vienna and West Falls Church to allow for tie replacement.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing Saturday, October 15, Orange and Blue line trains will single track between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory due to tunnel repairs and trackbed improvements; Orange Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for tie replacement and renewal and Blue Line trains will single track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road to allow for track improvements.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 23, Orange and Blue line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road due to tunnel repairs and trackbed improvements. Similar work will take place over the weekend of November 18-20.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 30, Orange Line trains will single track between Cheverly and New Carrollton to allow for track improvements.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, November 4, and continuing through system closing on Sunday, November 6, Blue and Orange line trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and McPherson Sq. to allow for rail renewal in the tunnel.

Green and Yellow Lines

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, and continuing through system closing Monday, October 10, buses will replace Green and Yellow line trains between Mt. Vernon Sq. and Georgia Avenue to allow for NTSB-recommended switch replacement outside U Street Station. Three stations, Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights, will be closed.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 14, and continuing through system closing Saturday, October 15, Yellow Line trains will single track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road to allow for track improvements.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 21, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 23, Green Line trains will single track between Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza to allow for track improvements.

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, October 28, and continuing through system closing Sunday, October 30, buses will replace Green Line trains between Southern Avenue and L’Enfant Plaza as Metro installs new track switches to address NTSB safety recommendations. During this time, Green Line trains will operate via the Yellow Line between Huntington and Greenbelt. A shuttle train will operate between Southern Avenue and Branch Avenue stations. Similar work will take place over the weekend of November 10-13.

 

New signal system installation begins on MTA

York City Transit ‘s Metropolitan Transportation Authority continues maintenance efforts in the Steinway tunnel. MTA will begin installation of a new signal system this weekend known as CBTC (Communications Based Train Control).

This automated train control system ensures the safe operation of trains using wireless data communication that will allow for more frequent service and the use of countdown clocks in the future. Fiber optic and computer equipment will be installed on the tracks along the entire line.

This work requires service changes in October and November and will continue for several years.

In addition, October 7-10, MTA will also be doing track panel installation south of 33rd Street-Rawson Street.

Whitmore

The Whitmore Group, creator of component protection technology, recruited industry veteran David Schaer for the new role of director of marketing. Schaer will direct marketing communications initiatives for its four operating divisions. His responsibilities will include marketing strategies, branding, advertising, product marketing management and overall marketing objectives.

Schaer brings more than 25 years of corporate and ad agency marketing experience. His diverse category background includes transportation services, building materials, automotive, retail, telecom and technology.

Detroit-Chicago corridor receives $196.5 million

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $196.5 million grant to the Michigan Department of Transportation for track and signal improvements between Detroit and Kalamazoo, Mich. These improvements will allow for speeds up to 110 mph on 77 percent of Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services between Detroit and Chicago, resulting in a 30 minute reduction in travel time between those destinations.

"This is an important investment that will reduce travel time, improve reliability and on-time performance and attract more passengers," said Secretary LaHood. "We are creating jobs in Michigan, building our rails with American-made materials and growing the regional economy."

Dollars for this 135 mile segment between Detroit and Kalamazoo will support preliminary engineering, final design and construction. The project includes new, continuously welded rail and ties, fiber optic lines and infrastructure to support a positive train control system, rebuilding 180 highway-rail grade crossings and gates and flashers at 65 private highway-rail grade crossings. The project will create approximately 800 new jobs during the construction phase, which is expected to begin late spring 2012 and will facilitate service to current and future freight rail customers, including major shippers like Ford Motor Company.

In addition, MDOT is designated to receive a $150 million DOT grant later this year to purchase this 135 mile segment of track, when grant conditions are met. This will allow for the implementation of 110 mph service along the corridor that will bring improved passenger service, ensure capacity for freight operations through double tracking on the busiest freight segment and deliver long-term economic benefits to the State of Michigan.

KCS partners with law enforcement for Operation Lifesaver

Kansas City Southern is partnering with the Pearl Police Department, Brandon Police Department and Rankin County Sheriff Department to conduct an Operation Lifesaver "Officer on a Train" event at KCS crossings in Pearl and Brandon, Miss., starting at 6:30 a.m. on October 6, in an effort to promote public safety at railroad grade crossings.

"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.

Officer on a Train is a safety program that brings local, county and state law enforcement officers into the locomotive cab to observe problems at highway-rail grade crossings and to assist enforcement of motor vehicle laws at railroad crossings.

 

LIRR to renew Atlantic Avenue grade crossing on Long Beach branch

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road is performing grade crossing renewal work on the Atlantic Avenue railroad grade crossing, on the LIRR’s Long Beach Branch in Oceanside.

The work will take place over two weekends, October 8 and 9 and October 15 and 16, and will require the closure of the road and a detour route. On the first weekend the north track will be completed. The second (or south track) will be done on the following weekend.

The crossing renewal work includes replacing the rubber crossing pads with longer lasting and smoother concrete crossing materials as well as rebuilding the track bed and replacing the wood track ties with longer lasting concrete track ties in the crossing area.

 

NS names yard office in honor of late coal executive

At a dedication ceremony Oct. 4, Norfolk Southern named its new yard office building in Williamson, W. Va., after the late John William Fox, Jr., who retired from NS as senior vice president coal services in 2003 after a 35-year career with the company.

BART to solicit passenger input on late-night service proposal

Earlier this year, the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors delayed action on a slightly different demonstration program, which would have extended train service by one hour on Friday nights and started service one hour later on Saturday mornings. On June 23, 2011, the Board deferred taking action on the results of public input, from on-board surveys conducted on two Saturdays in May, 2011. Survey results indicated that the proposed change would have an adverse effect on early Saturday morning.

Because of the May 2011 survey results:

• BART is proposing to modify the proposed demonstration program by extending Friday night service by 30 minutes and delaying Saturday morning service by 20 minutes.

• BART will also survey early Saturday morning passengers to solicit input on whether proposed new bus service would adequately address any adverse effects experienced by early Saturday morning riders.

• On October 15, 2011 BART will conduct an on-board passenger survey to collect input on the proposal. The survey will take place on the trains whose service will be reduced or delayed, the first trains departing on Saturday morning.

The results of the survey data will be compiled and analyzed to determine if the proposal adequately addresses concerns of impacted riders. The public survey results will be presented to the Board on November 17, 2011. If approved, the demonstration program will be implemented in February 2012.

HRT launches e-Tide

Hampton Roads Transit in Norfolk, Va., launched an online ticket sales program that allows customers to buy round-trip tickets on The Tide from the comfort of home or on a smart phone.

The e-Tide Day Pass is the first time HRT has offered a program that allows valid tickets to be sent directly to an individual’s e-mail account. It promises to ease congestion at ticket vending machines at train platforms, especially during large public events when lines can delay travel.

"It is the 21st century and we want to make sensible use of 21st century technology," said Philip Shucet, president and CEO of HRT. "Not everyone wants to carry around cash just to buy a cardboard ticket. If our e-Tide Day Pass is successful, we’ll push online ticket sales out to the full suite of our transit services."

The service is now only available for use on The Tide. It does not apply to other HRT services.

By visiting gohrt.com and clicking on the e-Tide link, customers will be directed to TicketLeap.com, a website that hosts electronic ticket sales. Customers need only select the date of travel, the number of tickets needed and an e-mail address that will receive the tickets. Purchase is made by credit card. An email confirmation will be sent to a customer’s home computer or smart phone.

The electronic ticket contains confirmation codes, an individual’s name and date of travel. Customers who buy tickets this way may be asked by fare enforcement offers to provide identification that matches the name on the e-ticket. Customers can use a smart phone or a paper printout from a home computer as proof of purchase.

Axion wins SPE-GPEC environmental award

Axion International was selected as a winner of this year’s Environmental Stewardship Award from the Plastics Environmental Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers. This year’s awards will be presented at the SPE’s Global Plastics Environmental Conference in Atlanta, Ga.

There are a total of six winners of the national Environmental Stewardship Awards, which recognizes companies and institutions that have demonstrated environmental leadership and excellence. Axion was selected for developing high-performance composites from recovered polyolefins and applying them as structural parts that have been used in bridges, railroad ties and other structures that meet various commercial and military specifications.

"Axion is thrilled to be named as a winner of the Environmental Stewardship Awards," stated Axion Chief Technology Officer, Jim Kerstein. "We consider it an honor to represent the recycling industry as the SPE seeks to recognize us for the breakthrough work that we have achieved in the rail and bridge industries, as we have employed cutting-edge technology and engineering to pioneer a long-term and environmentally-friendly solution to existing infrastructure issues. We believe the strides Axion has made in the recycled composites industry are an example of what can be achieved when private industry works with governmental and academic sources to develop innovative solutions."

Presentations for the Environmental Stewardship Awards will take place during SPE’s GPEC 2011 in Atlanta, Ga. on October 18th, 2011.

Savage begins rail service at El Dorado Railport

Savage Companies started operations of its new multi-user El Dorado Railport located in El Dorado, Kan. The terminal is served by BNSF and was developed as part of the BNSF Assess, Improve and Maximize (AIM) initiative, which optimizes local operations to maximize supply chain throughput. The Railport currently provides daily rail service and car storage to HollyFrontier’s El Dorado refinery.

"This facility will help streamline service and increase capacity in the area," said Dave Garin, BNSF Industrial Products Group vice president. "We are proud to have worked with Savage to develop the El Dorado Railport and look forward to continuing to work with Savage and to serving this facility."

The Transload Facility is located along the south side of the HollyFrontier Refinery and is currently transloading crude oil. However, as a multi-commodity transload, the facility is available to all customers in Butler and other surrounding counties that are interested in taking advantage of rail transport economics.

The Grand Opening of the new Savage El Dorado Railport is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 3050 SW Haverhill Road in El Dorado, Kan.

"The Savage El Dorado Railport is the result of true collaboration with BSNF and HollyFrontier Corporation," said Allen Alexander, CEO of Savage. "We’re looking forward to creating that same type of synergy with other members of the business community in South Central Kansas."

CTA faces $277 million deficit in 2012

The Chicago Transit Authority faces a $277 million budget deficit for 2012, the result of skyrocketing labor costs and an end to years of borrowing. The CTA’s current operating budget is $1.35 billion.

Citing archaic and expensive work rules, dramatically escalating pension and health care mandates and the highest cost-adjusted rail and bus operator salaries in the nation, Claypool said current CTA labor costs are unsustainable.

Noting that the CTA has borrowed $554 million in the past four years to cover operating deficits, despite a 2009 fare hike and 2010 service cuts, Claypool said it was time to deal with these challenges and make decisions that will fix the CTA’s broken fiscal system.

"We can’t defer the hard decisions any longer. The CTA’s cost structure is too high given the revenues and tax receipts we have to operate it," Claypool said. "Changes are needed now to shore up the CTA’s fiscal situation. A robust, modern transit system is not just important to transit riders. It is important to the livability of the region and its ability to attract jobs and businesses. An investment in transit is an investment in the future of this region."

The financial crisis affecting the CTA has taken years to develop, Claypool said, and has its roots in funding formulas that shortchange the agency, a neglected infrastructure and a growing list of expensive state and federal mandates.

But the biggest contributing factor has been unrestrained wage and benefit growth in labor agreements, even during the Great Recession and a plethora of arcane work rules that cost the agency tens of millions annually, Claypool said.

Despite the shortfalls and in the absence of funding that would allow it to implement more sweeping changes, CTA is making improvements to its infrastructure and safety to ensure that the customer experience remains a good one.

Two weeks ago, CTA announced a program called "Station Renewal" that involves the cleaning and repair of 100 rail stations over the next 12 months and last week, the agency unveiled the new LED signs that will bring Bus Tracker to 400 bus shelters across the city.

Claypool also announced in July that 50 new, full-time police officers will be patrolling the CTA in 2012 and that CTA is doubling the number of security cameras along the system from 1,500 to 3,000 by year’s end.

"As we work through the many challenges that exist today and that lay ahead, we know that mass transit can help create more jobs, stronger neighborhoods, improve property values and provide a better quality of life. It is imperative that we address the challenges before us so that the CTA remains a strong and vital part of our city and region," Claypool said.

Nova Scotia extends rail funding agreement

Nova Scotia, Canada, extended the current rail funding agreement with the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway.

Funding to maintain the line will continue for an additional three years, ensuring CBNS Railway will offer service through Sept. 30, 2014.

"This rail line is vital for keeping shipping costs low and helping Cape Breton businesses remain competitive in the global marketplace," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "Our investment will preserve a key piece of transportation infrastructure for the future of the region."

Under the agreement, RailAmerica-operated CBNS can continue to access up to $2 million annually for working capital and maintenance costs.

"We value our customers and the long-standing partnership we’ve had with the province," said John Giles, RailAmerica president and chief executive officer. "RailAmerica shares the province’s interest in growing freight-rail opportunities."

Senior provincial representatives will continue to work with RailAmerica to explore sustainable economic opportunities for the rail line.

CSX hosts inaugural Bioenergy Summit

Industry leaders from around the world attended CSX Corporation’s 2011 Bioenergy Summit, engaging in three days of talks designed to better understand the opportunities and challenges of this emerging market and its role in providing renewable energy.

"Our goal for the Bioenergy Summit was to stimulate a conversation among the leaders in the green energy sphere and prepare for the future," said Kyle Hancock Jr., vice president, sales and marketing, CSX. "At CSX, we are committed to providing efficient, environmentally friendly transportation and part of that dedication involves engaging our customers in dialogue about these key issues and working together to facilitate growth in the bioenergy market."

CSX is actively involved in the transportation of biomass used for energy production. Biomass is any plant or animal substance that is sustainable and renewable. Examples are wide-ranging and include recovered wood and paper, food crop residues, plant and animal waste and any woody, herbaceous or agricultural byproduct, including substances like distillers dried grains, a byproduct of ethanol production.

One example of a renewable energy product that CSX currently ships is pelletized wood from yellow pine trees. The company is part of the supply chain that efficiently transports these pellets to East Coast ports for export to a number of European markets where renewable fuels are used.

Held in Amelia Island, Fla., the Bioenergy Summit focused on supply chain challenges, energy portfolio transformation and regulatory updates.

UTU reaches tentative agreement with Texas shortline

The United Transportation Union reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with Texas shortline Western Rail Road on behalf of train, engine and mechanical workers who now will vote on ratification.

The negotiations were led by UTU General Chairperson Doyle Turner, who heads the UTU’s shortline outreach program.

Western Rail Road employees selected the UTU as their collective bargaining agent in February after meeting with UTU organizers Rich Ross and Mike Lewis.

This tentative agreement, as with others negotiated with shortlines, is intended "to bring parity in wages, benefits and work rules to the thousands of employees in the shortline railroad industry, along with the many other protections offered by union membership," Turner said. "The seniority, scope and discipline rules these members now enjoy are what makes union membership valuable."

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