News and Opinion

Houston Metro sets FFGA signing date

On Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas (METRO), will be joined by federal officials, along with members of Houston’s congressional delegation and other elected leaders for the signing of the long-awaited Full Funding Grant Agreements for the North and Southeast rail lines.

METRO’s President & CEO George Greanias shared the news during his "State of METRO" address at the Greater Houston Partnership’s luncheon.

This is the first time rail projects in the Bayou City have received FFGA’s. The federal matching funds help the agency leverage local dollars to complete construction of the North Red Line extension and Purple lines.
Details of the historic FFGA ceremony, to be held in Houston, will be announced closer to the signing date.

Colton Crossing grade separation project breaks ground

California state and local officials kicked off construction on the Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation Project, which will improve safety and freight movement through one of the nation’s busiest rail crossings.

The $208 million grade separation project will move two east-west tracks used by Union Pacific over two north-south tracks used by BNSF. The two lines have intersected each other for more than a century, which causes freight slowdowns for more than 135 trains daily and significant local noise and air quality issues for area residents. The new separation will improve public safety by preventing risk of train derailments to nearby homes and interstates.

The project received a $33.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program. When completed in 2014, the new crossing will help trains avoid slowing down or stopping for others to pass, shortening the time needed to move goods to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

FEC receives 2011 International Business of the Year Award

Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C., was awarded the Doral Business Council’s 2011 International Business of the Year Award. FEC received this award for its role in strengthening South Florida’s stature as a global hub for international trade. Florida Governor Rick Scott also was honored with the International Achievement Award for his role in funding the deep dredge project at the Port of Miami.

"For the past two years, FEC has been working with community, business and public policy leaders to build on-dock rail facilities at the South Florida ports. These infrastructure projects will ensure that South Florida solidifies its position as a hub for international trade. This is a tremendous honor for the employees of the FEC," said James Hertwig, FEC’s president and chief executive officer.

Iowa Transportation Commission approves $5.5 million in funds for rail infrastructure

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $5.5 million in funding for nine rail infrastructure improvement projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant Program. The rail projects are expected to support the creation of 140 jobs within three years of completion and spur development of a number of industrial areas across the state. The proposed developments will leverage millions in new capital investments across the state.

Following is the list of RRLG Program projects approved by the commission.

• Butler [Logistics Park] cross dock (north of Shell Rock in Butler County) $423,621 loan, $282,000 grant.

• Global Foods [Processing Inc.] rail spur (Sioux City) zero dollars in loan, $72,00 grant.

• Waverly GMT [Corporation] rail spur (Waverly) $185,676 loan, $204,000 grant.

• Burlington Junction Railway spur rehabilitation (Burlington) $157,948 loan, zero in grant.

• Cherokee Industrial Corporation rail spur (Cherokee) $617,454 loan, zero in grant.

• CRANDIC Iowa River crossing improvement Project (Iowa County) $2,000,000 loan, zero in grant.

• Iowa River Railroad Inc. (Marshalltown to Ackley) $1,000,000 loan, zero in grant.

• North Central Iowa Rail Corridor, LLC (Forest City to Belmond) $400,000 loan, zero in grant.

• Valley Distribution Corporation rail spur (West Burlington) $218,652 loan, zero in grant.

Totals are: $5,003,351 in loans, $558,000 in grants.

The RRLG Program provides assistance to rail facilities that create jobs and spur economic development and provides assistance to railroads for the preservation and improvement of the rail transportation system.

Four Ontario mayors push for high-speed rail

Mayors from Chatham, London, Sarnia and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, met for the first of what they say will be a series of meetings to discuss common issues. First on the agenda was the potential for high-speed rail for southwestern Ontario and establishing a collective response regarding the impact and benefit to the region. A federal report released earlier this year recommended an option to end the proposed link in Toronto instead of continuing on to Windsor, citing financial viability. This suggestion prompted response from each Mayor individually and set the stage for the talks between them.

Following the meeting Mayor Randy Hope, Chatham-Kent, said "Our municipalities have much in common and what affects one affects all. It only makes good sense for us to talk and combine our voices so they might be heard more clearly in Toronto and Ottawa. We want to include more of the municipalities from the region and we are planning to extend an invitation to their leaders in the new year."

London’s Mayor Joe Fontana joined the meeting by telephone and said he was pleased with the results. He said, "Today we put highway and rail transportation links on the table for discussion and this is a great start. We need to work cooperatively and identify mutual goals."

The mayors said they also plan to approach mayors in Quebec to find common cause and understanding within the coming weeks.

UTU partners with Amtrak for training

The United Transportation Union, as a subcontractor to Amtrak, is in the final stages of developing a training manual titled "Emerging Incidents Procedures" for some 8,000 front-line Amtrak employees.

"The manual will be used as part of Amtrak’s 2012 Block Training cycle to assist frontline employees aboard trains, in stations and on platforms in developing skills related to situational awareness, observation, communication and response," said UTU Training and Education Coordinator Bruce Feltmeyer.

These Amtrak employees include conductors, assistant conductors, engineers, lead service attendants and on-board service employees.

In preparation for developing the training manual, UTU performed an assessment of the Amtrak workplace culture by working with Amtrak police and utilizing electronic surveys and feedback from UTU regional meeting workshops.

"The assessment revealed the most prevalent problem was employees dealing with unruly passengers, which occurs not only at Amtrak, but at all ground service public transportation facilities in the United States," Feltmeyer said.

The training course will introduce scenario exercises and an array of techniques in understanding and dealing with them.

In November, the course materials will be delivered to Amtrak during UTU-team administered "Train-the-Trainer" session for 38 Amtrak facilitators.

Canada adds funds to GCIP

The government of Canada is providing almost $14 million (US$13.8 million) in new funding for the Grade Crossing Improvement Program this year. The GCIP supports projects to upgrade railway crossings and improve safety.

"Our government is increasing its commitment to rail safety," said Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Denis Lebel. "While Canada has one of the safest rail systems in the world, improvements can still be made. This additional investment will enhance safety for pedestrians and motorists at 810 locations across the country and help to save lives."

Transport Canada works closely with railway companies and communities to identify grade crossings that require safety improvements. Through the GCIP, eligible railway crossings are upgraded, relocated or closed, based on factors such as traffic volume and accident history. Improvements may include installing flashing lights and gates, linking crossing signals to nearby traffic lights or adding new circuits or timing devices. Transport Canada finances up to 80 percent of the total cost of grade-crossing improvements, with the balance provided by the railways and road authorities.

GCRTA receives grant from the Cleveland Foundation

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority received a grant for $175,000 for three RTA projects from the Cleveland Foundation.

This money will be divided into three different projects for GCRTA. The largest portion, $100,000, will help improve Transit Oriented Development along the Red Line, specifically near West 25th Rapid Transit Station in the Ohio City neighborhood. GCRTA is working closely with Ohio City Development Corporation to create a plan for this growing area to maximize work and housing access to buses and rail for commuters, as well as create development opportunities.

The second project, utilizing $35,000, will fund a sustainable commuting program for Clevelanders, starting a pilot program with a large local employer. The goal is to find unique ways to encourage this company’s employees to use GCRTA instead of their cars for their work commutes.

The third project will use $40,000 for art and visual development around the future Mayfield Rapid Station. This will help improve the visual appeal of the bridge area.

The full $175,000 grant comes from the Cleveland Foundation’s Greater University Circle Initiative and is part of the livable communities initiative.

Some projects may see development as soon as next spring.

MBTA’s Science Park/West End Station modernization complete

Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard Davey joined state and local officials on Nov. 5, to celebrate the ahead of schedule completion of the $22 million modernization of Science Park/West End Station, located on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line. Science Park/West End Station is now fully accessible and in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.

"With the support of the Patrick-Murray Administration we remain focused on making smart investments in our transportation infrastructure," said Secretary Davey. "Ensuring our transportation network is accessible to all in a convenient, user-friendly way is our priority." 


The Science Park/West End Station project includes 80 percent federal funding with a 20 percent MBTA Revenue Bond fund match. The project installed two new elevators to provide access from a new street level lobby to the train platforms at the top of the viaduct. The project also enhanced customer service and safety with a new lobby and mezzanine along with enhanced lighting and additional surveillance cameras.



The Science Park/West End Station project began in May 2010 with a 24-month completion schedule but reopened seven months ahead of that schedule. Closing the Station from April 30 to November 1 allowed for the accelerated work schedule.



The Science Park/West End Station project also includes replacement of the platform canopy roof, new elevated platforms, reconstruction of interior and exterior stairs and upgrades to signage, electrical communications, fire protection and alarm systems.


Science Park/West End Station originally opened in 1954 and serves approximately 2,100 customers daily.

Rail installation begins at GT OmniPort

GT Logistics, LLC, has begun installation of rail lines at its Port Arthur, Texas-located OmniPort. The OmniPort is expected to open for business in January 2012, serving as a multi-modal terminal for crude oil and other products transported via rail, ship, barge and truck.

The $95 million, 1,100 acre facility neighbors refineries with more than one million barrels per day of capacity, multiple chemical and processing plants and is located less than one mile from more than four million barrels of petroleum product storage capacity and pipelines currently serving the region.

"As the developer and operator of the entire scope of infrastructure, GT Logistics will be uniquely positioned to provide customers with increased transportation options", said Steven Birdwell, chairman of GTL. "Customer service will be a key component of our success; instead of product sitting for days at remote locations, we’ll be able to transport to the industry in the region in a matter of hours. It’s unprecedented one-stop logistics."

The rail terminal, served by Union Pacific, will be able to receive unit train traffic, with 300 acres of rail car storage on site capable, upon completion, of storing, switching and transloading more than 1,000 rail cars. The rail terminal site also features a multi-barge receiving dock on Taylor’s Bayou; convenient access to Highway 73 and Interstate 10 and connectivity to the extensive network of pipelines serving the region.

GTL also owns and operates a 20-acre deepwater dock and receiving facility on the Sabine Neches Navigation District Channel with more than 900 feet of steel bulkhead improvements and 1,700 feet of waterfront access to the 42-foot-deep Channel. The deepwater dock is 2.2 miles from the new industrial rail park and terminal and is connected by a key UP rail line and highway. Pipeline connectivity between the sites is being designed. Together, the two sites will be known as the GT Omniport and will be the first multi-user facility of its kind in the Golden Triangle region.

Construction of the initial phase of the rail, drainage and road improvements began earlier in the year and will be completed by the end of 2011. Once complete, the industrial rail park and related tenant improvements are expected to create 1,000 jobs and $100 million in new capital investment over the next 10 years.

Major improvements on VIA Rail’s Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto line completed

Major track improvements are now complete on VIA Rail Canada’s line between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, Canada, that will lead to improved and faster passenger service. The project included $55 million (US$54 million) in infrastructure upgrades between Ottawa and Montreal (Coteau) and track and safety improvements on VIA Rail Canada’s Ottawa and Brockville route, completing a major part of a more than $300 million (US$295 million) expansion of VIA Rail’s key Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor.

"I am pleased to see the great progress already made to improve a line that is important to so many travelers between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto" said Minister of state (transport) Steven Fletcher. "The completed upgrades move us forward, as our government has committed, to providing Canadians with safer, reliable and faster passenger rail service, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth."

The track upgrades are part of the government of Canada’s $923 million (US$907 million) investment to improve passenger rail services, including $407 million (US$400 million) in stimulus funding. Funding from the Economic Action Plan alone represents some 5,000 jobs (direct and indirect person-years) over the period 2009-2013.

Improvements being made as part of the first phase of upgrades include sections of new track, passing sidings to reduce conflicts with freight rail operations and increased traffic control and signaling.

"Better track and increased capacity will mean that we can safely operate more trains, and maintain higher speeds more consistently, allowing us to deliver faster trip times and more frequent departure options to travelers," said VIA Rail Chairman Paul Smith. "We are working to meet the growing demand for robust, reliable passenger rail services, while also ensuring train travel meets the highest safety standards as well as being an environmentally green choice for travelers."

KCS U.S. operations ends October injury free

Kansas City Southern’s U.S. transportation, mechanical and engineering departments completed the month of October without a single reportable injury.

When asked to what this safety success could be attributed, the departments provided a lengthy and varied list of activities customized to each area. Among those activities were common themes. Each activity spoke to employees taking ownership of safety, regular communication about the importance of safety and discussion about the mechanics of safe practices.

Skanska awarded railway contract in Czech Republic

Skanska was awarded a contract by Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration to modernize the railway junction in Plzen’s third transit corridor in the Czech Republic. The contract amounts to CZK 942 million, about SEK 350 million (US$52 million), which will be included in order bookings for the fourth quarter.

Funds will be provided by the State Fund for Transportation Infrastructure and will be co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund. The project will be completed by Skanska over the next two and a half years.

CN marks opening of Matteson Connection

Canadian National welcomed local dignitaries, as well as current and former employees to celebrate the grand opening of the Matteson Connection, a key piece of its Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway integration.

CTA receives grant toward $1 billion Red Line makeover

The Chicago Transit Authority received a $646 million state capital investment grant to repair and rebuild the Red Line and improve the Purple Line. The Illinois Jobs Now! capital program investment will be combined with $255.5 million in federal funding and $44.1 million from the city for an overall commitment of $1 billion to rebuild sections of deteriorated tracks to eliminate slow zones, replace or repair aging stations, install new power systems to improve performance and upgrade a significant portion of the Purple Line. Construction starts in 2012 and will last three years.

St. Louis MetroLink to improve UMSL South Station

Metro Transit – St. Louis will officially begin a new light-rail improvement project on Monday, November 7, at the UMSL South MetroLink Station. The general contractor for the first phase of the project is R.V. Wagner, Inc. The cost of this part of the project is $1.2 million and is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Zurich names Dowdy head of North America Railroad insurance practice

Zurich, a property and casualty insurance provider globally and in North America, named Jim Dowdy to lead its railroad practice in addition to overseeing Zurich’s Specialty Lines Property business. The company also appointed Ron Mathewson and Gary Linde as casualty underwriters supporting the railroad business.

North Dakota rail projects seek federal funds

Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) met with BNSF CEO and president Matt Rose on Nov. 2, to discuss plans to rebuild a 20-mile span of track and two bridges near Churchs Ferry that serves Amtrak’s Empire Builder line across northern North Dakota. The line serves both passenger and freight service through Devils Lake, Rugby, Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, Stanley and Williston. The track was closed several times this spring due to flooding and high water.

Rose earlier this year committed BNSF to funding one-third of the $100 million project and will also work with Amtrak to help finance another one-third. The state of North Dakota would need to provide the remaining third. Hoeven and the congressional delegation are working with state officials to help with the state’s share through a Department of Transportation infrastructure grant program.

Hoeven also spoke with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in support of the state’s application for $33 million in funding for the project through the federal competitive TIGER Grant Program. Hoeven told LaHood that the rail project more than meets the primary and secondary selection criteria for the program.

"The Devils Lake rail project shares costs, demonstrating real collaboration among partners and serves both passenger service for Amtrak and freight service for BNSF," Hoeven said. "It clearly enhances economic competitiveness for the entire region and has both statewide and national benefits."

Hoeven also spoke with LaHood in support of the state’s application for funding to advance the Williston Bypass Project, which will route traffic around the city to relieve traffic congestion due to heightened oil industry activity in the region.