Watco names Simpson GM of PCC

Watco Transportation Services has named Brian Simpson general manager for the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad. Simpson is currently serving as the general manager of the Great Northwest Railroad and is looking forward to the additional responsibility of both railroads.

Simpson joined Watco on May 26, 2010, as the general manager of the GRNW. During this time the railroad has had an outstanding safety record of zero injuries and zero derailments. He has 12 years experience in railroading and came to the GRNW/PCC from the Union Pacific, where he was a manager of terminal opera¬tions.

 

UP invests more than $7 million in Kansas track improvements

Union Pacific will invest more than $7 million to improve Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by enhancing the rail line that runs from Russell to Hays and more than 11 miles in a segment between Russell and Ellsworth.

The more than 36-mile project includes removing and installing rail, renewing the surfaces at 63 road crossings and replacing nearly a thousand feet of rail in various curves.

 

New York’s MTA releases preliminary 2012 budget, plan to fund capital program investments

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority released its 2012 preliminary budget and July financial plan for 2012 to 2015.

The plan is expected to achieve a balanced budget while avoiding service cuts and fare and toll increases in 2012. It also addresses the need for a financing strategy for the final three years of the MTA’s 2010 to 2014 capital program. The July plan is preliminary; the MTA Board will vote on a final budget in December.

The plan has four components: a focus on cost cutting; a three-year zero wage increase initiative; continued implementation of biennial 7.5 percent fare/toll increases in 2013 and 2015; and continued receipt of taxes and subsidies.

The plan builds on $525 million in recurring savings achieved in 2010.

The capital program is focused on achieving two main objectives: protecting the safety and reliability of the transportation system by maintaining and improving key infrastructure.

The MTA’s strategy for addressing the capital program’s funding gap starts with making choices to stretch available investment dollars. These savings will be achieved by reducing capital administrative staff by 15 percent, reducing the cost of train and bus purchases and partnering with contractors and labor to reduce bid costs.

The MTA has identified an innovative and pragmatic financing strategy to fund the final three years of the program: a $2.2 billion federal loan, $4.7 billion in MTA revenue bonds and a manageable debt level with existing capital funds to repay the federal and MTA debt as well as local partnerships ($1.7 billion) and asset sales ($.89 billion).

Full details of the Financial Plan are available online at http://www.mta.info/mta/budget/july2012.html.

 

 

$486 million contract awarded for Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension

Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors awarded a $485.9 million contract to Foothill Transit Constructors – A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture, to design and construct the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa, Calif.

The project includes final design and construction of 11.5 miles of track, six stations, dozens of crossings, utilities and systems among others. The project will take approximately four years to complete.

 

CTA’s Loyola Station gets $11 million from feds for improvements

The Chicago Transit Authority will receive $11 million in federal funding to begin immediate repairs to the dilapidated Loyola CTA Station and to conduct an environmental study on the extension and modernization of the Red and Purple Lines. The design work for the Loyola CTA station project is already underway and construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2012.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $10 million in federal funding for the project in the fiscal year 2010 Transportation and Housing Appropriations bill, and $1 million in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU).

"It’s part of our larger plans to renovate the Red Line from Howard to 95th Street and extend it south to provide service to areas not presently served," said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson.

At the Loyola CTA Station, the federal and local investment will help stabilize existing infrastructure, make upgrades to the existing station and redirect passenger flow for pedestrian safety. The project will include upgrades to the viaduct and improve lighting and visibility.

The Red and Purple modernization is proposed to bring those lines to a state of good repair from north of Belmont in Chicago to the Linden Station in Wilmette.

APTA Board of Directors selects Melaniphy to take helm

The American Public Transportation Association Board of Directors named Michael Melaniphy as its new president and chief executive officer effective Nov. 1, 2011. Melaniphy will replace William Millar, who is retiring after 15 years as APTA president.

Melaniphy’s entire career has been in public transportation with 23 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Melaniphy, who is currently vice president of the public sector for bus manufacturer Motor Coach Industries, Inc., has led public transit systems in North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio and Texas.

 

Tri-Met Board delays approval LIFT fare increase until January

The Tri-Met Board of Directors delayed voting on a LIFT fare increase after hearing concerns from the community. The majority of the board stated that a fare increase is necessary, but wanted more time to discuss options. The board will reconsider the increase in January 2012.

The current cash LIFT fare is $1.85 per trip, but the cost to Tri-Met is about $29. Tri-Met had proposed the fare increase because the cost and growth of the service is unsustainable.

CTA to spend $10 million for police patrols

Chicago Transit Authority will invest $10 million to hire 50 full-time police officers to patrol rail and bus stations across the city.

"This investment in full-time officers to patrol CTA’s rail and bus stations will help ensure the safety and security of all who rely on the CTA," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The 50 full-time police officers will come from the Chicago Police Academy. They are scheduled to begin the Academy in the fall of this year. They will go through six-months of training, with officers expected to be detailed to the Public Transportation Section by spring 2012.

 

Chicago RTA proposes RFI for real-time transit tracking

The Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago area proposed a Request for Information on the integration of real-time transit tracking. The RTA is exploring options for providing up-to-the minute regional travel information. This live information would aid customers riding on the CTA, Chicago Metra and Pace buses and trains.

The RTA is seeking innovative approaches on possible systems to provide the public with a one-stop shop for estimated bus and train arrivals, departures and connections.

The requirement for real-time information is also tied to the transit technology legislation drafted by the RTA and signed into law earlier this month by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

 

UP invests more than $11 million for track improvements to Minnesota line

Union Pacific will improve Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure with more than $11 million in investment to enhance the rail line that runs from Minneapolis to Ottawa, Minn. The more than 66-mile project includes removing and installing nearly 82,000 ties, renewing the surfaces at 64 road crossings and replacing more than one mile of rail in various curves. Crews will also spread 42,600 tons of ballast to ensure a stable roadbed.

Improvement projects such as this are examples of Union Pacific continuing efforts to support its customers’ business through strategic investments.

Bradway elected to NS board

Robert Bradway has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Bradway has been president and chief operating officer of the biotechnology company Amgen since May 2010. He is responsible for the company’s global commercial operations, manufacturing operations, information technology, global government affairs and worldwide compliance and business ethics organizations.

 

Houston METRO and city mayor seek common ground on East End Line

The city of Houston has concluded there is "strong sentiment" within the East End community for an underpass at Harrisburg/Hughes St. and has requested METRO’s Board of Directors vote in support of a plan to create a grade separated betterment for light rail and vehicular traffic.

This "all-under option," according to Houston Mayor Annise Parker, is intended to "promote pedestrian and vehicular safety in the area and encourage community development and enhance overall mobility in the East End."

The city has committed $20.6 million in financial support for the project.

Although the underpass route is influenced by numerous considerations, the decision of whether or not to support the request will ultimately rest with the METRO Board of Directors. METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia hopes to bring the complex matter up for vote by the directors July 28.

"We appreciate Mayor Parker’s efforts to build consensus in this lingering community debate. I congratulate the Mayor, Council members Ed Gonzalez, James Rodriguez and Melissa Noriega, as well as community representatives, the Mayor’s staff and METRO’s staff for working together on this issue." said Garcia.
METRO President and CEO George Greanias said the "all-under option" will take longer to build, possibly two years longer and the extra cost of $20-23 million does not cover a pedestrian tunnel.

Of the $20.6 million in financial assistance being offered by the city:
• $10.0 million – CIP funds previously committed to this issue
• $4.9 million – Postponement of the Fulton Paving and Drainage Project
• $3.2 million – Postponement of the Telephone Road Reconstruction
• $2.5 million – Harrisburg TIRZ funds

METRO’s original design for the crossing accommodated light-rail only. The city of Houston, after extensive dialog with the community, commissioned a study on the feasibility of constructing an underpass. The betterment will require collaboration with Houston Belt and Terminal (HBT) Railroad and creation of a new and temporary terminus at Altic. Offsetting the higher cost, however, is an added value to railroad operations. The new design, according to the city, will ease flooding impairments.

FTA environmentally clears Dallas Streetcar Project

The Dallas-to-Oak Cliff Streetcar project in Texas may proceed toward construction after the project received environmental clearance this week with the Federal Transit Administration issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on July 21. The decision means local, state and federal agencies concluded the project will not adversely affect the environment.

The 1.6-mile streetcar project is a collaborative endeavor involving the North Central Texas Council of Governments, City of Dallas and Dallas Area Rapid Transit, as well as the FTA. The FTA awarded the agencies $23 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant funding for the transit project that will provide streetcar service from near Union Station in downtown Dallas to the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Beckley Avenue in Oak Cliff, Texas. The $35 million project also includes $12 million in Regional Toll Revenue funds. 



"In addition to creating much-needed jobs for workers in Dallas, this proposed streetcar line will advance economic growth in downtown neighborhoods by linking them with major employment centers throughout the region," said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

The FTA announcement means the project moves toward final design and construction. DART will soon seek a design/build contractor and begin purchasing streetcar vehicles. 



 

CTA to host open house on proposed Red Line extension

The Chicago Transit Authority will hold an open house on Tuesday, August 2, to update the community on the proposed Red Line Extension project. The Red Line Extension proposal includes expanding service from the 95th St. station to 130th Street. The CTA has completed the first step of the federally-mandated Federal Transit Administration process.

The next step is the Environmental Impact Study, which will evaluate the various Red Line Extension proposals along with potential impacts on environment, construction and operation. Earlier this week it was announced that funding for the EIS process had been secured. The funding provided will allow CTA to conduct the Environmental Impact Statement step in the federally-mandated five step process that must be completed in order to apply for funding.

The open house will be held:

Tuesday, August 2, 2011
St. John Missionary Baptist Church
211 E. 115th St.
Chicago, IL 60628
6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Axion International receives three purchase orders from Australia

Axion International has received three additional purchase orders from Australia in the past 30 days for a combined $130,000. The orders relate to Axion’s Recycled Structural Composite railroad ties, referred to as sleepers in Australia.

"These orders support the use of our innovative recycled plastic technology in locations around the world," stated Jim Kerstein, Axion’s chief technology officer. "By utilizing our patented material, designed from 100 percent recycled plastic, we will be diverting another 150,000 pounds of plastic that would normally end up in landfills for these three orders alone.

Supplementing Axion’s first order to Australia in March, Axion’s three additional purchase orders bring the total number of orders to the country to four. The composite sleepers of various sizes are to be used as a replacement for wooden sleepers in Western Australia.

 

$15 million available for transportation improvements on rural tribal lands

Under the Federal Transit Administration’s Tribal Transit program, there will be $15 million available for rural American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments across the United States to invest in public transit options that provide convenient access to employment centers and promote new economic development on tribal lands.

"These dollars will [improve tribal transportation resources] and more by creating jobs and stimulating development of new tribal-owned businesses," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Tribal Transit program provides grants to Indian tribes for capital transportation projects and operating expenses to meet the growing public transit needs of rural tribal communities.

"Public transportation gives those who live on tribal lands better access to jobs and health care and provides an incentive for much-needed economic development," said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff.

 

BNSF wants to build new bridge over Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa

BNSF is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to construct a new railroad bridge and off-line single-track crossing over the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Neb., and Pacific Junction, Iowa.

This crossing is a vital connection to BNSF’s coal route from Powder Basin in Wyoming to the utilities and power plants that use the coal. The line also carries intermodal traffic, as well as two Amtrak trains daily between the west coast and Chicago.

The crossing will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge with new line south of the existing line. The existing bridge and track will remain operational after the new bridge is completed and its siding length will have a minimum of 10,000 feet clear for chambering trains.

The proposed bridge is 1,676 feet in length and will be ballasted with cast-in-place concrete deck composite with deck plate girders and with truss stringers. The piers will be solid shaft cast-in-place concrete. The layout of the main truss over the navigation channel will meet the requirements of the Coast Guard for horizontal and vertical clear opening.

The Corps of Engineers in soliciting comments from the public, federal, state and local agencies and officials, India Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this project.

 

 

 

 

TriMet ridership tops 100 million mark

TriMet saw more than 100 million rides in Fiscal Year 2011, topping this number for the second time in its history; FY2009 was the first.

MAX trips were up 7.5 percent or 41,200,200 since FY2010 and WES trips were up 21.2 percent or 370,800.

For June 2011, TriMet monthly ridership totaled 8.7 million trips, up 2.2 percent from June 2010.

Since FY2010, MAX weekly trips increased by 6.7 percent, weekday and rush hour trips by 6.6 percent and weekend trips increased by 6.8 percent.

MAX Green Line weekday trips increased by 15.9 percent and its weekend trips increased by 6.8 percent. WES weekday/rush hour and weekly trips increased by 22.77 percent.

 

 

Twin Cities & Western Railroad marks 20th anniversary

The Twin Cities & Western Railroad marks its 20th anniversary on July 26.

TC&W is one of more than 500 smaller railroads operating in the United States. Since beginning operations in 1991, the 229-mile railroad reports employment has more than doubled from 30 to 68 and its freight volume has increased by 26 percent.

"Employees have been the key to our growth," noted TC&W President Mark Wegner.

TC&W operated a series of diesel-powered special trains July 22-24 to thank employees, customers, government leaders and railroad officials who helped make the railroad a success.

In 2008, TC&W was named "Regional Railroad of the Year" by Railway Age magazine.

Wegner noted TC&W has benefited from its strong partnership with Canadian Pacific. "We greatly appreciate their support," he said.

 

LIRR to replace damaged bridge in August

Buses will replace train service on Long Island Rail Road’s Montauk Branch for 48 hours beginning Aug. 2 through Aug. 4 so the company can replace the damaged railroad bridge that spans Hill Station Road in Southampton.

The Hill Station Road bridge suffered serious structural damage when it was struck by a flatbed truck in April.

Service was immediately suspended while the LIRR’s engineering department determined the extent of the damage and how to shore up the structure so that train travel could resume Monday morning.

Since the incident, trains have been moving over the bridge at the restricted speed of 15 miles-per-hour for safety reasons. The temporary support system devised by the LIRR has prevented vehicular traffic from passing under the bridge.

The cost of the new bridge, designed by Structural Bridges USA, is $367,505.

The work will result in the suspension of train service between Speonk and Montauk, including some AM and PM Peak trains and the substitution of bus service.