Watco names Dan Smith EVP/COO

Watco Companies named Dan Smith Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP, COO). In this position, Dan will be responsible for overseeing the operational performance, organizational development and process improvements of Watco’s Operating Divisions.

TriMet names Brookshire as agency’s new CFO

TriMet hired Dee Brookshire as executive director of finance and administration. Brookshire, who will start August 18, comes to TriMet from the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) where she has served as chief financial officer for the past seven years.

She will be responsible for directing the agency’s financial services; providing oversight and directing procurement and contracts, financial analysis and grants. Brookshire will continue the work of the agency’s five-year plan to ensure financial stability.

Brookshire has more than 20 years experience in public agency and private sector finance. Her background includes substantial debt restructuring and multiple bond issuances for public agencies. She has aided in successful labor negotiations for agencies with multiple bargaining units.

Brookshire lead efforts at RT in economic recovery, bringing back more efficient and cost-effective transportation services following the economic down turn. In addition to her financial experience in transit, she has worked for water and public utility districts, city government and as a public agency consultant.

Among her many community involvements, Brookshire has served on the finance committee for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Sacramento Business Services Center.

Dave Auxier, TriMet’s current interim CFO will stay on full time through the end of August.

 

Administration’s Build America Transportation Investment Center to offer financing options for transportation projects

President Obama spoke at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware on July 17 to announce a new executive action to create the Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide initiative to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth by engaging with state and local governments and private sector investors to encourage collaboration, expand the market for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and put federal credit programs to greater use.

SEPTA plans maintenance blitz of trolley tunnel

Due to overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, August 1, through 4 a.m. on Monday, August 18.

During the closure, SEPTA’s in-house Engineering, Maintenance & Construction Division crews will work around-the-clock on key maintenance and construction tasks to improve safety and service reliability.

Members of SEPTA’s Track Department will work inside the tunnel, as well as outside at the 40th Street Portal. Crews will weld together long rail strings and install more than 14,000 feet of new rail on the eastbound track of the tunnel from the Portal to 22nd Street Station. At the Portal, crews will also replace two concrete-embedded track switches. This work will include demolishing existing concrete surface track and steel, constructing new track switches and pouring the new concrete surface.

SEPTA’s Power Department will replace nearly 24,000 feet of worn overhead contact wire throughout the tunnel and almost 5,000 feet of wire support assemblies and protection board on the westbound side of the tunnel between 19th and 30th Street Stations.

“This blitz concept is used in the transportation industry because it allows organizations to maximize productivity during improvements projects while minimizing the period of inconvenience to passengers and communities we serve. This is especially true when there is a single track operation, like our trolley tunnel,” said SEPTA Deputy General Manager Jeff Knueppel. “Because the Center City tunnel is used 24 hours a day and is a five-mile, single track operation, it is difficult for our crews to get productive work windows. Without this blitz and 17-day closure, we’d have months of nighttime and weekend shutdowns to complete all of the projects.”

Other work that will be completed during the trolley closure includes replacing worn track components and cleaning the track drains and stormwater system throughout the tunnel; completing maintenance work on the tunnel’s signal system and on key components near 34th and Ludlow, where the Route 10 separates from Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36; testing back-up and emergency lighting cables and making numerous station repairs and improvements such as on stairs, lighting and platforms.