BNSF takes proactive measures to keep routes open during flooding

BNSF has faced many weather challenges since late last year. From record snowfall in the northern part of its network last winter to record runoff from the Missouri and Souris rivers causing extraordinary flooding, BNSF has experienced natural disasters that have affected its facilities, track, equipment and people. In the most significant incident, one of its busiest corridors along the Missouri River, the St. Joseph Subdivision, was completely severed by the widespread flooding.

Current service issues follow:

• The St. Joseph subdivision is out of service east of Rulo, Neb.

• The Napier subdivision is out of service between Napier, Mo., and Pacific Jct., Iowa.

• The Omaha subdivision is out of service from milepost 13 in Omaha south to milepost 7 as a result of flood levees erected over the track to protect the City of Omaha. The subdivision is still open from Lincoln to Omaha via Ashland, Nebraska.

• The Atchison Branch is out of service south of St. Joseph, Mo.

Proactive Measures:

St. Joseph subdivision – BNSF is raising the track east of Rulo, Neb., and is restoring and strengthening several bridges in an effort to re-open the route between Lincoln and Kansas City.

Devils Lake subdivision – BNSF has rebuilt and repaired the track east of Minot near Towner, N.D. to restore service on this route.

Glasgow subdivision – BNSF raised the track a total of 5 feet in order to remain in service. Over 300 cars of ballast and rip rap were used to raise and fortify the track.

Creston subdivision – BNSF raised two mainline tracks up to 8 feet in order to remain in service. Levees have been built to six feet above top of rail along both sides of the track and portions of the roadbed have been armored with rip rap. BNSF has filled 160,000 sandbags to be used on the levees if needed.

NJ Transit marks completion of Somerville Station

Transportation Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chairman James Simpson joined NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein and Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher on August 24, to mark the completion of major improvements to Somerville Station, including high-level platforms that provide accessibility to customers with disabilities and amenities that make the station more convenient for all customers.

"Rebuilding Somerville Station demonstrates Governor Chris Christie’s commitment to improving access to public transportation for all New Jersey residents and creates an asset that the Borough can use to promote long-term economic development," said Commissioner Simpson. "With Somerville designated as our 22nd Transit Village last year, the newly rebuilt station is a fitting complement to the Borough’s transit-oriented development efforts."

In March 2009, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors authorized a $15.3 million contract with Terminal Construction Co. of Wood-Ridge, N.J., to rebuild the train station, including construction of two new 710-foot-long high-level platforms with canopies and heated shelters, a climate-controlled inbound waiting room with a ticket agent office and restrooms, two new elevator cabs, ramps, stairs and a head house for the pedestrian tunnel entrance.

In addition, the existing elevator shafts, pedestrian tunnel, tunnel stairs and exterior stairs to South Bridge Street were rebuilt. Closed-circuit television cameras, new ticket vending machines and electronic customer information signs were also installed.

"The new Somerville Station ensures accessibility for customers with disabilities and enhances comfort and convenience for everyone who uses it," said Executive Director Weinstein. "The completion of this work also brings NJ TRANSIT one step closer to completing our initiative to make ADA upgrades at 35 key commuter rail stations."

Located on the Raritan Valley Line, Somerville Station provides about 1,300 customer trips on a typical weekday.

Eco-Energy to develop ethanol unit train and storage facility in North Carolina

Eco-Energy Holdings, Inc., is developing an ethanol unit train and storage facility in conjunction with its partner J.T. Russell & Sons, Inc., at its current ethanol distribution facility located in Denton, N.C.

Eco-Energy has been distributing ethanol through Denton, N.C. since blending commenced in 2008 and has partnered with J.T. Russell and Sons, Inc., for the development, construction and day-to-day operations of the unit train facility. The facility will be equipped to receive up to 96 rail car unit trains via both the CSXT and NS railroads and will have over 95,000 barrels of ethanol tank storage.

Unit train operations at the site are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2012. Once operational, the ethanol unit train terminal will be capable of distributing over 380,000 barrels per month through the use of its automated loading system and will offer 24/7 product access to its terminal customers. Eco-Energy will be responsible for marketing and thru-put arrangements for the site.

"We believe the location of this state-of-the-art ethanol unit train terminal and storage facility, coupled with the fact that it is accessible by both the CSX Railroad and NS Railroads, will be a great asset to all counterparties desiring the low-cost solution to both the Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C. markets," said Chadwick Conn, Eco-Energy’s vice president of operations.

"We are pleased to be associated with Eco-Energy in the development of a facility that will significantly improve the logistical challenges associated with ethanol blending in North Carolina. We are confident that this endeavor will greatly benefit the ethanol industry as a whole and we are excited to be working with Eco-Energy," said Nathan Russell of J.T. Russell & Sons, Inc.

 

CREATE grade-separation project begins on Chicago’s South Side

Construction will begin on the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program grade-separation project, on Chicago’s South Side. The total $146 million project located at 130th Street, Torrence Avenue and the Norfolk Southern, is a cornerstone of the CREATE program. The construction phase is estimated to create more than 1,200 jobs and will improve safety at a critical crossing.

CREATE is intended to improve the efficiency of freight rail moving through Chicago, keeping the city competitive as a commercial center and generating and retaining thousands of jobs.

"This major project will create thousands of jobs by improving the flow of goods and services through one of Chicago’s major manufacturing areas," Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said. "My administration is committed to investing in infrastructure and jobs in every region of our state."

The project involves lowering 130th Street and Torrence Avenue to fit under two new bridges carrying NS tracks. The two streets and the tracks currently intersect, resulting in more than 200 hours in delay for the 32,000 vehicles that drive through the crossing daily. Trucks leaving the Ford Motor Company assembly plant nearby can wait as long as 20 minutes because of passing trains.

Other components of the project include lowering Brainard Avenue to connect directly to 130th Street and Torrence Avenue, realigning the South Shore commuter line over Torrence Avenue and the NS tracks and adding pedestrian bridges and paths. Construction will be complete in 2015.

Funding for the project includes $64.8 million from Governor Quinn’s "Illinois Jobs Now!" capital program. The remaining project funds come from the federal government, the city, NS, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and the Ford Motor Company.

 

Chicago RTA files suit against municipalities claiming lost tax revenue

Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority filed a suit Aug. 23 in the Circuit Court of Cook County to recoup more than $100 million of revenue lost to tax avoidance scams operating in the municipalities of Kankakee and Channahon. The lawsuit arises from the utilization of tax sharing agreements, which have induced companies operating within the six-county RTA region and across the State to claim that their sales are sourced through sham offices set up in Kankakee and Channahon.

Under these agreements, the two municipalities kick back almost the entire amount of their local share of the statewide sales tax to participating companies. According to RTA, These companies do not create jobs, promote economic development or have any operations in Kankakee or Channahon. The suit further alleges that the municipalities have disregarded the Freedom of Information Act by denying the RTA’s request for the release of the agreements. Kankakee and Channahon also refuse to disclose the names of the participating companies to whom they paid more than $30 million of public funds in 2010.

"The RTA system relies on sales tax revenue for almost 50 percent of our funding," said RTA Executive Director Joe Costello. "It is this funding that keeps our trains and buses running and in good repair. We know that these illegal tax avoidance scams are costing our riders tens of millions in lost revenues every year."

At the heart of the suit is the issue of where a sale is "sourced." Unlike most states, Illinois imposes its sales tax at the location where the seller operates its business, not the location where the buyer is. The distinction doesn’t matter when a sale is made over-the-counter, because the sale is simply sourced at the store. If the buyer and seller are at different locations when a sale happens, however, the sourcing rules matter a lot. They determine not just the rate of sales tax that applies but also which local government gets a portion of the tax collected.

"This case is about fairness. Businesses that utilize our transit system because their company and their employees are located in our service area should pay their proper share of taxes and not try to shift that burden on to others," stated Costello. "These tax consultants and businesses that are misdirecting tax dollars in secret deals should be ashamed and we are intent on stopping this practice."

Legislation gives the RTA and other local governments the right to sue to force repayment of the lost revenues, plus interest, fees and penalties. The FOIA portion of the suit would make the secret agreements public and require Kankakee and Channahon to identify the companies involved in the scheme and the amount of money being diverted from taxpayers to private business.

"This suit is not an attempt to bankrupt Kankakee and Channahon," said RTA Chairman John Gates. "It is an attempt by the RTA Board to fulfill its fiduciary responsibility to our riders by collecting every penny that is owed to the transit system. We would prefer not to go to court, but these municipalities, and others engaged in this practice, have made it clear that they will not stop unless we make them."

The RTA will also be working diligently this year to pass legislation that clarifies the tax code and permanently ends these tax schemes in a manner that preserves the right of municipalities to engage in legitimate economic development activities.

 

Broward County gives FEC approval for Port Everglades Intermodal Container Transfer Facility

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners in Florida unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida East Coast Railway to construct and operate an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on 42.5 acres of land at Port Everglades.

The ICTF in the Southport area of Port Everglades will facilitate the transfer of containerized cargo through the Port onto the FEC rail line via a connecting rail spur. The proposed ICTF is unique compared to similar facilities in other ports in that both domestic and international cargo would be handled on the site. These cargos are currently being handled on a 14-acre site on Andrews Avenue owned by the FEC. Positive environmental benefits are envisioned by the reduction of truck traffic on local roadways. By relocating from the smaller facility on Andrews Avenue, Route 84 highway congestion will also be reduced.

In addition, the project is anticipated to create 760 construction jobs and the cargo activity passing through the ICTF is expected to support 2,100 local/regional jobs in the long term.

The MOU calls for a 30-year agreement between the FEC and Broward County with two 10-year renewal options. Broward County will contribute the land for the project and participate in joint marketing efforts. The total cost of the project including land value is $72.8 million, of which $18 million would be funded by the Florida Department of Transportation grants. Now that the MOU has been approved, FEC will move forward to secure an additional $30 million State of Florida Infrastructure Bank loan. The balance of the funding is from FEC equity.

 

Mansourian to be permanent SMART GM

San Francisco’s North Bay Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit Board of Directors unanimously agreed to make interim Executive Director Farhad Mansourian the new SMART general manager.

"After an extensive search of the most qualified applicants in the country, the SMART Board of Directors believes the best candidate for the job is already on the jobm" said SMART Chairwoman, Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown. "We believe that SMART’s next steps, especially in the near term, require not only deep transportation and public project experience, which Farhad has, but that the taxpayers will be best served and project success will be maximized with someone at the helm who is already familiar with our local, regional and state agency and regulatory environments. The board was also deeply impressed by the work that the staff has delivered under Farhad’s leadership, which has given us viable options for moving forward to deliver the most in the least amount of time."

Mansourian said, "I am honored and humbled by the confidence and trust the Board has extended to me. While I am emotional in leaving my Marin County position, I am excited that in this new capacity I can serve the residents of both Marin and Sonoma Counties by bringing SMART to our region."

TriMet sees ridership increase in July

There were 8.5 million trips taken on Portland, Oregon’s TriMet buses, MAX light-rail and WES Commuter Rail in July, with overall weekly ridership up two percent compared to July 2010. Weekday trips on the MAX Green Line increased 15.5 percent and increased 16.5 percent on WES. Rush hour trips were up 2.5 percent on all modes. All figures below are compared with July 2010.

Bus, MAX & WES

* Weekly trips were up two percent to 1,991,300
* Weekday trips were up 2.3 percent to 323,420
* Weekend trips were up 0.6 percent to 374,200
* Rush hour trips were up 2.5 percent to 98,220

MAX

* Weekly trips were up 4.8 percent to 879,700
* Weekday trips were up 5.7 percent to 137,900
* Weekend trips were up 1.4 percent to 190,200
* Rush hour trips were up 5.6 percent to 39,300

MAX Green Line

* Weekday trips were up 15.5 percent to 23,900
* Weekend trips were up 4.2 percent to 27,600

WES

* Weekday/rush hour trips were up 16.5 percent to 1,620
* Weekly trips were up 16.5 percent to 8,100

 

USDOT proposes amendments to PTC regs

U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed changes to the Federal Railroad Administration’s regulations governing the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. The amendments will provide greater flexibility to railroads and FRA in assessing the need for PTC without adversely affecting the safety of America’s rail lines.

"Ensuring the safety of our railroads is a top priority," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Thanks to President Obama’s leadership in reducing regulatory barriers, these proposed amendments will provide regulatory relief while maintaining our commitment to safety."

PTC is currently required on routes carrying poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials and on routes that provide intercity and commuter passenger service. If a railroad opts to reroute the shipment of PIH hazardous materials off such a rail line and chooses to not install PTC there, the company must currently request FRA approval and conduct a complex set of analyses. The amendments proposed would eliminate the need to perform those analyses but do not impact the existing requirements to install PTC on lines used to provide passenger rail service.

"We believe that the proposal provides a balance of safety regulation and cost to the industry," said FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo. "We look forward to working together with the railroads as they concentrate on areas where positive train control is much-needed."

Affected railroads are expected to have an estimated cost savings of $340 million in the first several years, with total savings of up to $1 billion over 20 years, by not installing PTC systems on as much as 14,000 miles of track. The lines impacted by this proposal have significantly less accident exposure because they do not carry passenger trains or PIH hazardous materials.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, August 24. The FRA invites comments on all aspects of the proposal. Interested parties are invited to submit comments by October 24. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent possible without incurring additional expenses or delays.

NEC receives $745 million for upgrades

U.S. Department of Transportation will give nearly $745 million for construction along the Northeast Corridor to upgrade some of the most heavily-used sections. The NEC will receive $449.94 million to upgrade electrical systems and tracks between Trenton, N.J. and New York City, resulting in improved on-time performance and reliability and an initial increase in top operating speeds up to 160 mph and future maximum speeds of 186 mph. Another $294.78 million will alleviate major delays for trains coming in and out of Manhattan with new routes that allow Amtrak trains to bypass the busiest passenger rail junction in the nation.

"These grants are a win for our economy and a win for commuters all along the Northeast Corridor," said U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We are creating new construction jobs, ordering American-made supplies and improving transportation opportunities across a region where 50 million Americans live and work."

The announcement is part of the Obama Administration’s capital investment in the Northeast Corridor and the improvements will allow for the fastest passenger train speeds attained in North America to date. Thanks to these investments, Acela Express trains will soon reach up to 160 mph (up from 135 mph today) along a 24-mile segment of the corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, N.J., with the replacement of electrical catenary, supplemented power supply and modernized signals and tracks. In the future, as Amtrak purchases new, next generation high-speed train sets, passengers will travel at world-class speeds of 186 mph along the improved track.

Improvements to the Harold Interlocking rail junction in Queens will eliminate congestion between intercity and commuter trains and allow for the future growth of high-speed service along the corridor. A new flyover will separate Amtrak trains traveling between New York and Boston from Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North commuter trains, and N.J. Transit trains accessing Sunnyside Maintenance Yard in Queens.

"With gas prices on the rise and congestion clogging our roads, more and more Americans are choosing to travel by train," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "With our population expected to grow by 100 million more people between now and 2050, we are investing in a high-speed rail system that connects to other modes of transportation, reduces congestion and improves the efficiency and reliability of travel in America. Increasing speeds and improving service on the Northeast Corridor, which is the most heavily-traveled passenger rail corridor in the nation, is a crucial part of our effort."

Both projects are expected to generate 12,000 jobs. Pre-construction work between Trenton and New York City will begin in late 2011, with initial construction commencing in 2012. The project is expected to create 400 jobs per year over the period of construction. Through the Obama Administration’s strict implementation of the "Buy America" requirement, the opportunity for U.S. manufacturers and suppliers continues as more than 100 miles of wire, hundreds of catenary poles and a large volume of electrical equipment such as transformers will be used as part of the upgrades.

 

San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad begins Central Arizona Commerce Park service

San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad has begun service to the Central Arizona Commerce Park (CAZCP) in Casa Grande, Ariz., by bringing in a boxcar of newsprint for CAZCP’s first customer, Casa Grande Valley Newspapers.

SPSR has been under contract with developers since 2009 to link the 580-acre industrial park with the Union Pacific main line.

San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad Director Peggy Davis said, "We have been waiting some time now to start this operation and we see this as the beginning of a long, productive partnership."

SPSR will offer switching and ancillary rail services to all Park tenants.

ARG Trans is the parent company of SPSR. ARG Trans President Scott Parkinson said, "The addition of CAZCP to the portfolio of ARG Trans operations is very much in keeping with our strategy of providing customer-focused rail services in the West."

SPSR, based in Benson, Ariz., was founded in 2003 when it was acquired by ARG Trans from RailAmerica. SPSR interchanges with the Union Pacific at Benson, Willcox and Casa Grande, Ariz., and provides transload facilities at all of its operating locations. ARG Trans also operates the Coos Bay Rail Link in southwestern Oregon.

UP invests more than $13 million in upgrades in Utah

Union Pacific will improve the transportation infrastructure in Utah with an investment of more than $13 million to enhance the rail line that runs from Provo to Lynndyl, Utah. The more than 84-mile project includes removing and installing more than 106,000 ties, renewing the surfaces at 88 grade crossings and replacing more than one mile of rail in various curves. Crews will also spread 72,000 tons of ballast to help provide a more stable roadbed.

 

MBTA appoints acting GM

MBTA General Manager Richard Davey announced that Jonathan Davis will become the acting MBTA general manager and MassDOT Rail and Transit administrator when Davey assumes the role of secretary and chief executive officer of MassDOT on September 2.

Serving for more than 10 years as the T’s deputy general manager and CFO, Davis directs the financial management and accounting functions of the Authority, manages the operating and capital budgets and oversees the collection of all revenue. As the MBTA’s senior financial advisor, Davis provides financial counsel to the general manager and the Board of Directors.

"The Board will continue to rely on Jon’s wisdom and counsel as the MBTA confronts both immediate and future challenges," said Chairman John Jenkins.

"Jon’s deep knowledge of the financial and operational facets of the MBTA will serve us well as we continue our focus on safety, service, employees, fiscal responsibility and innovation," said Davey.

 

Parsons Brinckerhoff designing TriMet LRT maintenance facility expansion

Parsons Brinckerhoff has been awarded a contract by TriMet to design the expansion of a light-rail operations and maintenance facility at Ruby Junction in Gresham, Ore. The project is intended to support the 7.3-mile Portland-Milwaukie light rail extension.

The facility will provide additional light-rail vehicle train storage, maintenance bays and operational equipment for the new Portland-Milwaukie line set to open in fall 2015. This line will run between downtown Portland and South Waterfront development, across a new transit-only bridge to southeast Portland and to the city of Milwaukie and North Clackamas County. The Ruby Junction expansion will accommodate up to 18 new LRVs to serve passenger demand between 2015 and 2030.

Parsons Brinckerhoff is responsible for preparing final design contract documents (including plans, specifications and bid schedules) and performing all planning, analysis and report preparation leading to the formulation of these documents. Work includes the final design of the Phase 1 facility expansion, including site preparation, grading and drainage, utility relocation, modification of existing buildings, new building, track and pavement construction, lighting, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, maintenance equipment installation and landscaping. Also included are design services during construction for the construction and testing phase of the project. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2014.

The contract also requires the Parsons Brinckerhoff team to provide preliminary design for the Phase 2 expansion of the shop facility and light rail storage tracks for the future Columbia River Crossing LRVs.

VR Mergers & Acquisitions changing name to RR Mergers & Acquisitions

VR Mergers & Acquisitions of St. Louis has formally changed its name to RR Mergers & Acquisitions to better reflect the company’s focus on the railroad industry.

Commenting on the name change, RR Mergers & Acquisitions President Robert Fowler noted, "Our new company name more closely associates our position as North America’s leading specialist in the sale of rail service and supplier companies."

RR Mergers & Acquisitions has also launched its new website www.rrmergers.com and intends to significantly expand its internet presence with its existing website www.railsectorcompaniesforsale.com.

 

Harsco receives $13 million in orders from Japan and North America

Harsco Corporation has received new orders for railway track maintenance equipment totaling more than $13 million from customers in Japan and North America.

The Japan order calls for Harsco’s 20-stone rail grinder configuration, a self-propelled track maintenance unit that will be used to maintain rail surfaces and rail-to-wheel contours on the high-volume Shinzai and Shinkansen lines operated by the East Japan Railway Company. Delivery of the unit is scheduled for the second half of 2012.

The orders from North America will support railway track maintenance requirements for a range of customers and include a number of machine types, including ballast tampers and a new-design tie anchor unit. Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of this year. All of the units will be built at Harsco Rail’s US production facilities.

"As these orders reconfirm, we continue to see an especially active bidding market virtually across the world for our specialized rail equipment," said Harsco Chairman, President and CEO Salvatore Fazzolari. "The solid geographic base we have built is a key part of our continuing optimism for this business and its prospects for long-term growth."

UP, CBP reach agreement to improve rail security between U.S. and Mexico

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Union Pacific have reached an agreement to improve rail security. UP will spend $50 million on supply chain security to directly enhance the Mexico and United States rail supply chain.

This agreement initiates the "21st Century Bi-National Secure Border Corridor," a program to expand cooperative partnerships among the U.S. and Mexican governments, railroads reaching the border and other stakeholders that have an interest in rail transportation of goods between the U.S. and Mexico.

"The facilitation of trade and security of the international supply chain is vital to both the health of our economy and protecting the country," said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin. "It is in the best interest of all stakeholders that all appropriate steps are taken to secure the U.S. border against the smuggling of contraband and to ensure supply chain security now rather than years from now."

"We are pleased that we have reached a resolution that allows Union Pacific to expand our long-standing relationship with CBP, in which Union Pacific has already invested tens of millions of dollars in technology, infrastructure, training and workforce resources to promote safer and more secure rail transportation across the border," said Jim Young, Union Pacific chairman and chief executive officer. "CBP and Union Pacific teams along the border have worked exceptionally well together for many years and this formal agreement solidifies our commitment to enhance that relationship and involve others who should be part of this critical work."

The Mitigation Decision defines the steps that Union Pacific will take to infuse $50 million to further secure the border, including investing in security enhancements at critical junctures of the Mexico and United States supply chain and partnering with CBP to form a Rail Fusion Center to identify high-risk shipments. The funds will be allocated towards technology, infrastructure and personnel enhancements.

The Mitigation Decision also provides that CBP will mitigate past penalties assessed against Union Pacific if the railroad fulfills its obligations under the Decision. In recent years these penalties have grown to be significant as illegal controlled substances were discovered on trains originating in Mexico and arriving at U.S. – Mexican border crossings.

Investments will include intelligent video scanning and developing technologies such as global positioning systems and radio frequency identification tracking of rail movements.

A working team will form a "Fusion Center" where CBP, Union Pacific and other stakeholders will interact for communication, sharing of intelligence, analysis and coordination. Other initiatives will harden inspection and detection processes at the U.S. border and encourage investments in Mexican rail corridors. Rail shippers will be encouraged to participate as well.

As Union Pacific makes the agreed investments, more than $500 million in civil penalties that CBP has asserted or might assert against Union Pacific for previous drug discoveries will be mitigated and Union Pacific will not pay fines or penalties for those drug discoveries. The parties also agreed on a new process and new standards under which future drug discoveries will be evaluated for the next five years. However, the agreement leaves in place Union Pacific’s lawsuit challenging nearly $38 million in penalties asserted by CBP that is awaiting decision in the U.S. District Court in Nebraska. Union Pacific and CBP agreed that this lawsuit should continue in order to clarify whether the penalties are authorized by federal laws for the long term.

Dearborn, MI gets $28 million for train station

The Michigan Department of Transportation has received $28.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to consolidate Dearborn’s two passenger rail facilities into a pedestrian-friendly, intermodal station in the West Downtown section of the city.

The new station will serve local residents and students at University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford Community College. It will also accommodate tourists via a new pedestrian overpass at the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village, Dearborn’s largest tourist attraction with 1.7 million visitors every year. The intermodal facility will be designed for the planned Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail, as well as future high-speed intercity passenger rail service. It will also accommodate city, regional and intercity bus systems; local and tourist shuttles; bicycle and greenway linkages and, auto, taxi and limousine connections to Detroit International Airport.

The new Dearborn station will continue to serve Amtrak’s Wolverine passenger rail service, which provides three round trips daily between Pontiac, Mich., and Chicago, Ill. In 2010, Dearborn’s current station ranked third in Amtrak ridership in Michigan with more than 82,000 travelers.

Chicago RTA’s free senior ride program to end September 1, 2011

Recent legislation has changed the Regional Transit Authority Senior Ride Free program. Beginning September 1, 2011, only low-income seniors enrolled in the Illinois Circuit Breaker Program will be eligible for free transportation. All other seniors can still travel on Metra, CTA and Pace fixed routes at reduced prices by using the RTA Reduced Fare Permit.

Seniors who are not eligible for free transportation will receive an RTA Reduced Fare Permit. The seniors who qualify for the ride free permit will receive a Circuit Permit that will look similar to the current Circuit Permit Ride Free for people with disabilities.

From now through August 31, seniors can continue using their Seniors Ride Free Permits. The RTA started mailing the new Permits the first week of August. Existing Seniors Ride Free Permits will be deactivated on September 1, 2011.

Virginia

Virginia’s first light-rail system opened to the public at 6 a.m., Aug. 19 and will begin carrying paying customers on Aug. 22, 2011.