SEPTA to begin Sunday Delaware service

Beginning Sunday, March 6, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Wilmington and Claymont passengers will be able to hop aboard the Authority’s Regional Rail Line for trips to Philadelphia seven days a week. That day, SEPTA, in partnership with DART First State, will start its Sunday service at the Wilmington and Claymont Stations. Sunday trains will replicate SEPTA’s Saturday service schedule, offering seven daily round trips between Wilmington and Center City Philadelphia.

"We are pleased to offer this extended service," said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. "The Sunday schedule gives our Delaware passengers an environmentally and economically friendly option when visiting Philadelphia." DART Executive Director Stephen Kingsberry added, "The addition of the Sunday service is in response to requests for more trains in Delaware."

Illinois Democrats vow to fight for CREATE funding

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03) and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin vowed to fight to preserve $133 million in federal funding for the Englewood Flyover, a linchpin of the CREATE rail modernization program that will reduce Metra delays, create 1,450 jobs and boost long-term economic growth. The project’s funding would be immediately eliminated in the spending bill for the current fiscal year that the House approved and Congressman Lipinski opposed. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

"As my record reflects, I believe that the national debt is a threat to America’s long-term economic health and that we need to cut unnecessary spending to assure our future prosperity," Lipinski said. "But we can’t cut with our eyes closed; we must continue to make investments that are critical for the future of our nation, especially our middle class. The Englewood Flyover provides a tremendous bang for the buck, and cutting it now would be incredibly shortsighted. It will create 1,450 jobs at a time when there aren’t nearly enough middle class jobs available. It will reduce delays on Metra’s Rock Island District line and is the critical first step toward eliminating delays on the Southwest Service line, benefiting 40,000 riders every weekday. As a linchpin of the CREATE rail modernization program, it will boost economic growth for years to come. It’s vital we continue to move the program forward."

"Yes, we need to cut spending, but we need to do so in a responsible manner," Durbin said. "We shouldn’t abandon our commitments to creating jobs and economic development in the midst of this recession."

The Englewood Flyover will build a bridge to carry Metra’s Rock Island line over the Norfolk Southern/Amtrak tracks at 63rd Street in Chicago, ending delays that occur when trains must wait for other trains to cross at the rail-rail intersection before proceeding. Failure to increase freight rail capacity through CREATE would mean missing out on 17,000 jobs and $2 billion in annual economic production in the Chicago metropolitan area.



L.A. Metro to purchase Los Angeles Union Station

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced that it has successfully negotiated the purchase of Los Angeles Union Station from Catellus Operating Limited Partnership for $75 million.

The direct purchase includes 38 acres of land and 5.9 million square-feet of entitlements that provide Metro the right to build on the property and draw lease revenues from both transit operators and businesses. Currently, the station is home to Amtrak, Metrolink, Metro Red and Purple Lines, Metro Gold Line, L.A. FlyAway and numerous Metro and municipal bus lines serving Los Angeles County and beyond. The station is also home to several new retail businesses.

"As Southern California’s largest public transportation hub, Los Angeles Union Station is absolutely critical to the current and future mobility of our region," said L.A. county supervisor Don Knabe, chairman of the Metro Board of Directors. "Our purchase of this historic station will enable us to make the needed investments to enable this facility to accommodate greater increases in transit ridership resulting from Measure R transit projects and anticipated future arrival of high-speed rail. We now have the ability to retain the historic nature of Union Station and prepare it to serve as a world-class 21st century transportation hub."

Metro’s negotiations with the seller began in November 2010. In the seller’s interest to conduct an expedited sale, Metro will purchase the station independently. The California High-Speed Rail Authority has indicated an interest in partial ownership of the station as it continues efforts to bring high-speed rail service to the region.

"Union Station is a critical transportation hub for the high-speed rail system, providing passenger access and intermodal connectivity," said Roelof van Ark, CHSRA CEO. "The High-Speed Rail Authority has identified a significant amount for their participation in this purchase and we will be working with Metro to, ultimately, determine the details behind this partnership."

The income generated from the deal supports a substantial portion of the station’s purchase price. Metro already owns Union Station’s East Portal, the adjacent Metro Headquarters building and Patsaouras Transit Plaza. Not included in the purchase agreement are Axis Union Station Apartments, the Metropolitan Water District Headquarters building or the office building in front Union Station on Alameda Street.

Following an expected April 2011 closing, Metro will review the station premises and plan for future transportation and development needs. Metro will evaluate, among others, potential efforts to add and improve pedestrian flow through Union Station, parking, and bus capacity issues on Patsarouas Transit Plaza.

 

CPR and CAW union reach agreement

Canadian Pacific Railway has been notified by the Canadian Auto Workers union that the Memorandum of Settlement reached on February 5, 2011 by CP and the CAW has been ratified by the membership.

The renewal collective agreement, which covers Canadian Pacific’s mechanical services employees in Canada, is four years in duration, extending to the end of 2014.

 

Chicago-area Metra activates new pedestrian crossing system

A new pedestrian grade crossing system is being activated at eight stations on the Metra Union Pacific West Line on March 1, 2011. The Another Train Warning System is part of a $132 million project that aims to improve the flow of commuter and freight traffic on the heavily used line, as well as to allow trains to safely operate past a station when a commuter train is stopped there.

Metra and Union Pacific studied station improvement initiatives across the country and the West Line safety infrastructure is incorporating the best practices, creating the most comprehensive safety system of any commuter rail operation in the U.S.

The ATWS uses audible and visual alerts to warn pedestrians at crossings near the stations that a second train – in addition to the one that is stopped at the station – is approaching or present. The system is being activated at the Maywood, Melrose Park, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, College Avenue, Winfield and Geneva stations. It remains active until only one train or no train is present. The system enhances other grade crossing protections, including new paths that safely guide pedestrians to a gated crossing, more pedestrian gates and more fencing to discourage pedestrians from crossing at unsafe and unauthorized locations.

Other project changes include an upgraded rail signal system that will improve train flow, new crossovers that will make it easier to route a train around problems and the completion of a third set of tracks in two areas that are now bottlenecks.

IMT introduces new product manager of material handling

Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, has named John Field as the company’s new product manager of material handling. Field brings to the position more than 25 years of experience in product application support and material handling systems.

"We are excited to have someone with John’s experience and tenure with the company move into this role," said Steve Fairbanks, president of IMT. "His dedication to IMT and depth of product knowledge will only serve to strengthen IMT’s commitment to the material handling market and our customers."

Field will be responsible for leading the company’s line of material-handling equipment and helping drive business strategy for the segment. In addition, he will work to strengthen the IMT material handling product lineup, so the company’s product offerings continue to meet and exceed the needs of its customers.

"I am happy to move into this new role with IMT and look forward to the opportunity to continue working closely with our distributors and customers," Field said. "I have been proud to help IMT develop innovative products that meet the needs of our customers for more than 25 years. I look forward to the opportunities presented by my new role."

WMATA trackwork on Red, Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green lines

The weekend of Feb. 25-27 the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will continue its efforts to rebuild the Metrorail system by upgrading its track and infrastructure systems. As a result of this critical work, trains on the Red, Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green lines will single-track from 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25 to closing on Sunday, Feb 27. When the work is complete, it will mean riders will have a safer, smoother ride.

Red Line Service

Trains will be single-tracking between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations in order to allow Metro to work on rebuilding the platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair.

Repairs will be made to the aerial structure outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station that will help improve reliable service through that area on Feb. 26 to 27. Trains will depart about every 15 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations.

From 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line and will operate approximately every 7 to 8 minutes between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail.

Blue and Orange Line Service

Metrorail customers traveling between the Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory

Service will be affected between the Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory stations while Metrto installs communications cables in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail system.

Blue and Yellow Line Service

Service will be slowed between the Artlington Cemerery and Pentagon City Metrorail stations while Metro makes upgrades to the electrified third rail in this area.

Green and Yellow Line Service

Service will be affected between the Georgia Ave-Petworth and Fort Totten Metrorail stations while Metro welds new rail to provide a smoother ride.

On Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, all Green Line trains will operate approximately every 18 minutes and all Blue, Orange and Yellow Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes. Also, throughout the weekend, all Yellow Line trains will operate between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station.

 

AAR to STB: Our system works

The Association of American Railroads recently told the Surface Transportation Board that the current rail economic regulatory framework is a success for both railroads and their customers. Testifying at a hearing to review regulatory exemptions for certain types of rail traffic, AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger noted that today’s rail regulatory policies are the very reason freight railroads are such a critical part of the U.S. economy and vital to our nation’s financial recovery.

Since 1980, when the government partially deregulated the rail industry, freight railroads have invested $480 billion in private capital to build, maintain and grow the national rail network that serves both freight and passenger rail customers.

The hearing examined exemptions from regulation given by the STB and its predecessor the Interstate Commerce Commission to certain types of rail traffic where railroads face aggressive competition for customer business. These exemptions were directed by Congress in an effort to remove government regulation, stimulate industry growth and allow competition to work in the marketplace.

"These exemptions work for both railroads and the customers they serve," Hamberger added. "They allow railroads to be flexible to meet customer needs, and to compete with other modes of transportation in the marketplace – particularly trucks."

Prior to 1980, government regulations prohibited pricing flexibility, leaving the railroads unable to compete with other forms of freight transportation. Federal controls proved to be detrimental to rail industry financial stability and ultimately hampered their ability to adapt to new circumstances. As a result of this heavy-handed economic regulation, carriers went bankrupt, investments stagnated and countless jobs were lost.

"Today’s balanced, commonsense regulation works. Now is not the time to reverse this progress as the nation works toward economic recovery," said Hamberger.

 

BNSF

President Obama named BNSF CEO Matt Rose, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka and United Food and Commercial Workers’ Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Hansen to the White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

The three join a long list of mostly business executives and bankers on the council.

Its task is to recommend ways to promote growth and bolster U.S. competitiveness in fulfilling Obama’s State of the Union pledge to "out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build" other nations.

Additional positions that Rose has held include president and chief operating officer, senior vice president and chief operations officer and senior vice president of the company’s Merchandise Business Unit. He is a member of the Board of Directors of AMR Corporation; a member of the Board of Directors of Centex Corporation; a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of American Railroads; a member of the Board of Directors of American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity; a member of the Texas Governor’s Business Council; a member of Business Roundtable; a member of The Business Council; a member of the Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University; and a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. Mr. Rose received a B.S. from the University of Missouri.

Ohio crossing improvements approved

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved an agreement between PUCO, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company and the City of Twinsburg authorizing W&LE to install flashing lights and gates at two grade crossings in Summit County.

W&LE will install the upgrades at the Cannon Road and Glenwood Drive grade crossings, located in Twinsburg, Summit County.

W&LE must submit site plans and cost estimates for the projects to the PUCO by May 24, 2011. Funding for the upgrades will be shared among the PUCO, the City of Twinsburg and W&LE. The railroad will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by Feb. 23, 2012.

To increase public safety during the construction of the projects, the PUCO will assist the local government with the cost of improvements such as rumble strips, illumination, improved signage or other safety enhancements at the project locations. Funding for the improvement will come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund, and will not exceed $5,000.

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.

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