Amtrak safety video receives two awards

An Amtrak video depicting the importance of railroad safety has been recognized by two independent awards programs for creative excellence. The film, Cheating Death, received two Silver Communicator Awards from The International Academy of Visual Arts and two Bronze Telly Awards in the categories of Public Safety and Video Editing.

The film, designed to warn teen drivers of the dangers and consequences of failing to obey highway-rail grade-crossing signals was developed in response to several grade-crossing deaths of teenagers in Lakeland, Fla. It is produced in a style that captures the attention of a younger audience by incorporating fast paced editing techniques, music, re-enactments, actual news footage and natural sound to deliver the key messaging. The film includes interviews with police, medical professionals and family members of teenagers who died as a result of not obeying crossing signals. At 12 minutes in length, the film is a grim reminder of the importance of railroad safety.

Cheating Death will be used as a training tool both internally for Amtrak personnel and externally for state driver’s education associations, school groups, civic organizations and transit agencies. In addition, more than 1,100 copies of the film have been distributed to Operation Lifesaver, a national organization dedicated to preventing railroad-related deaths and injuries.

The Telly Awards are judged by a panel of more than 500 industry leaders and this year’s winners were selected from a pool of nearly 11,000 entries.

The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work for print, video, interactive audio.

Cheating Death was produced by the Amtrak Police Department, Donnabrant Productions and DogHouse Media.

Ottawa City Council endorses LRT project

Ottawa City Council unanimously voted on July 14, to advance the Ottawa Light Rail Transit project. The approved report contains an updated cost estimate, within the budget of $2.1 billion, a new design plan and a clear and affordable path for OLRT implementation.

"The vote today signals this Council’s strong support for our improved plan to build an efficient, functional and affordable light rail system for our riders," said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson." The LRT will ease congestion on our downtown streets, reinvigorate our city core, create opportunities for smart development and lay the foundation for future expansion of our transit network."

The revised Queen Street alignment outlined in the report improves ridership experience, brings the tunnel closer to the surface, reduces risk and improves cost certainty for construction. The report also recommends a Design-Build-Finance-Maintain procurement approach that will secure a fixed price contract to construct and maintain the LRT system from Tunney’s Pasture in the west to Blair Road in the east. This 12.5km, 13 station LRT system includes a tunnel through the downtown core to address the transit bottleneck that slows service and challenges the reliability of the system today.

"This report is the result of extensive work done over the last few months to deliver on the accelerated timeline and cost challenge from the Mayor and Council," said City Manager, Kent Kirkpatrick. "Staff was directed to initiate a more detailed review of the capital and operating budgets for providing public transit in Ottawa. As a result, the engineering and project teams have worked very hard rethinking assumptions and defining a better light rail system that can be built within the approved budget."

The City of Ottawa commenced its request for qualifications process to identify firms with a proven track record in delivering successful LRT solutions to cities around the globe.

CSX Increases 2011 Capital Investment to $2.2 billion

The CSX Board of Directors authorized an increase in 2011 capital investment for certain asset purchases, primarily railcars, to meet the growing near and long-term demand for export coal. As a result, the company now expects to make 2011 capital investments of $2.2 billion, up from the previously decided $2 billion.

The increase is consistent with CSX’s previously announced intention to reinvest an average of 18 percent of its revenues back into its business through 2015. It also supports the company’s near- and long-term financial guidance.

The Board of Directors also approved a $0.12 per share quarterly dividend on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on Sept. 15, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 31, 2011.

 

Rail’s role in recovery includes record investments, job hires

Business and labor leaders, government officials and rail industry employees around the country are meeting on Capitol Hill for Railroad Day on the Hill in support of policies that enable the freight rail industry to create jobs, continue record infrastructure investments, keep U.S. businesses globally competitive and aid America’s economy recovery.

"Americans whose livelihoods depend on a healthy rail industry want Congress to know that freight rail is working for our country and carrying the load so taxpayers don’t have to," said Association of American Railroads’ President and CEO Edward Hamberger

Rail advocates support investment incentives such as the Section 45G tax credit, which aids small local shortline railroads and the Section 130 program, which provides dedicated funds to states for grade crossing safety projects. Participants oppose proposals to increase the size and weight of trucks on our nation’s highways, which would cause significant damage to our nation’s highway infrastructure and divert traffic away from environmentally friendly-freight railroads.

"In addition to 175,000 rail industry jobs, our nation’s freight railroads directly support over 150,000 manufacturing jobs in the railway supply industry," said Tom Simpson, president of the Railway Supply Institute.

Participants in the annual event include the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc., Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Railway Supply Institute, Railway Systems Suppliers Inc., Railway Tie Association, Transportation Communications International Union, Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, United Transportation Union and other rail industry groups.

 

NJ Transit adopts FY 2012 budgets, advances transit center

NJ Transit Board of Directors approved the Fiscal Year 2012 $1.895 billion operating budget, as well as a $1.16 billion capital program which began July 1.

More than half of the revenue in the FY12 operating budget comes from $881 million in fares with the balance from a combination of $104.3 million in commercial revenues, $309.4 million in state operating assistance and $600.2 million in state and federal reimbursements.

The operating budget reflects an increase in state operating assistance of $33.2 million, which will enable NJ Transit to hold fares stable this fiscal year.

NJ Transit also faced a budget gap of approximately $170 million for FY12, caused primarily by increased operating costs for fuel, maintenance and contractual obligations.

To address this gap the company maintained its policy of proposed fiscal austerity and operating efficiency and was able to reduce the original growth estimate to $85 million, an increase in expenses of less than 0.5 percent compared to FY11 when adjusted for mandatory cost drivers.

The FY12 capital program includes $64 million for investment in systemwide improvements. Rail state-of-good-repair projects will be supported by $217 million in the capital program, including $37 million to replace track and ties and inspect and replace bridges. A total of $41 million will advance electric traction and signal improvements, and $5 million will fund ongoing locomotive reliability programs.

In other news, a project that will create a direct link between NJ Transit’s River Line light rail and Atlantic City Rail Line service advanced as the NJ Transit Board of Directors approved construction of the second and final phase of the $32 million Pennsauken Transit Center.

The board authorized a $13.8 million contract with Terminal Construction Corporation of Wood-Ridge, NJ, for construction of Phase 2 including platforms, a parking lot, drainage improvements and customer amenities.

As part of Phase two, two 300-foot-long, high-level platforms will be built on either side of the elevated ACRL tracks, with a 100-foot canopy on each platform.

Construction of the overall project is expected to be completed in late 2012 and open for service in early 2013.

WMATA releases major trackwork calendar

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority released a major trackwork calendar that details its construction plans through this fiscal year. The calendar establishes the accelerated work plan to address National Transportation Safety Board recommendations and to get projects done quickly and safely.

The calendar shows the date, affected stations, busing plan and a description of the work to be performed.

WMATA’s new approach to major trackwork calls for replacing trains with buses to contain the weekend inconvenience associated with out-of-service tracks.

By isolating work zones, WMATA can operate near-normal weekend service levels elsewhere on a line where major trackwork is taking place.

Using the new approach to trackwork will enable WMATA to complete NTSB-recommended track circuit replacement on the Red Line about 18 months sooner as opposed to late 2013 if the work only took place during non-revenue hours.

WMATA will still use single tracking to perform trackwork for smaller projects on weekends and during midday and late night hours on weekdays. However, single tracking will not be planned on lines where buses are replacing trains.

To view full calendar, visit wmata.com/trackwork.

 

FTA makes $47.6 million available for Atlanta streetcar

Work can begin on the Atlanta Streetcar project, which was awarded $47.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery 2 program in October 2010.

The electric streetcar will run 2.6 miles through the heart of Atlanta’s business, tourism and convention corridor. Its planned 12 stops will provide access to residential, cultural, educational and historic centers.

"Atlantans will be able to get to work, students will be able to get to the university and patients will be able to get medical care without having to spend a dime on gas," said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff.

The streetcar will connect with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system at Peachtree Center and with numerous area bus routes. It will also reconnect the eastern and western sections of downtown. Service is scheduled to begin in 2013.

 

PennDOT awards Baker CM/CI contract on seven separate projects

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 8-0 awarded Michael Baker Jr., Inc., an engineering unit of Michael Baker Corporation, a $2.2 million construction management support and construction inspection contract for seven separate construction projects with a combined value of $22 million in Lancaster County, Pa.

The project is expected to last for three years starting in June 2011 and will include bridge replacements, pavement overlays and roadway realignments. Some challenges of this project will be the closing of two railroad crossings in the Amtrak Keystone Corridor.

"We are very thankful to PennDOT District 8-0 for their selection of our team," said Pat Gardiner, P.E., Harrisburg construction services manager. "Baker is fortunate to be able to provide the experienced staff that gives the District confidence in our services."

 

Woodbury elected HRT chair

Newport News, Va., Councilwoman Dr. Patricia Woodbury has been elected chair of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads and Vice President of the Virginia Transit Association. On June 23 she was elected to serve a one-year term, effective July 1st, as chair of HRT’s board. She is currently vice-chair. At the June 10th Virginia Transit Association meeting, Dr. Woodbury was elected vice president for a two-year term, also beginning July 1.

"I am very honored to have been elected chair of the Hampton Roads Transit board and vice president of the Virginia Transit Association," said Dr. Woodbury. "I look forward to supporting the vision and goals of these crucial organizations. After discovering the many ways our citizens and communities are impacted by improved transit, I will work diligently to advance the programs of both HRT and VTA."

 

DRPT to present new SEHSR alignments

In 2010, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation held a series of Public Hearings on a Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement for the Richmond, Va. to Raleigh, N.C. portion of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor. The SEHSR project proposes to implement approximately 162 miles of high-speed rail as part of an overall plan to extend high-speed passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.) southward through Virginia to Charlotte, N.C.

More than 1,800 individuals, local governments and agencies provided comments on the DEIS. In response to comments, new rail alignments have been developed in two of the project’s sections in Virginia. The two areas affected are in Brunswick County, north of Alberta between the Nottoway River and Flat Rock Road and south of Alberta, between Millville Road and the Meherrin River.

The new rail alignments will be presented to the public at a Project Update Meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the Southside Va. Community College.

Section D: Alternative VA4 was developed after consultation with the resource agencies responsible for reviewing the SEHSR project. During discussions with these agencies, it was determined that none of the existing alternatives would satisfy their conflicting concerns (endangered species and historic resources on Alternatives VA1/VA3 and wetland impacts on Alternative VA2).

See new alignment section D maps:
http://www.sehsr.org/pdf/SectionDMap1.pdf
http://www.sehsr.org/pdf/SectionDMap2.pdf

Section G: Alternative VA4 was developed based on discussions with local citizens at the public hearing held in Alberta, Va., on July 15, 2011 and input from the resource agencies. It seeks to address public concerns about the property impacts associated with Alternative VA2 and to minimize impacts to the Tourist Guest House historic property.

See new alignment section G maps:
http://www.sehsr.org/pdf/SectionGMap1.pdf
http://www.sehsr.org/pdf/SectionGMap2.pdf

A Project Update Meeting will be held in Raleigh, N.C. later this summer to present a newly developed rail alignment in downtown Raleigh. A series of smaller update meetings will be scheduled in Virginia and North Carolina later in the fall to obtain comments on newly developed roadwork in areas where the rail alternatives are on common alignment.

A Recommendation Report is expected to be published this fall. The report will identify DRPT’s and NCDOT’s recommended preferred rail alternatives in each of the 26 project sections. Based on federal concurrence, the preferred alternatives will be presented in the Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement. The FEIS is projected to be published late 2012, followed by a Record of Decision from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2013.

DesertXpress gets engineering green light

The Department of Transportation has issued its Record of Decision for the DesertXpress Project in Nevada. With the completion of this comprehensive review of environmental impacts, DesertXpress will be able to continue to work on their proposal. 


"Today’s announcement is about one thing: creating good paying jobs right here in Nevada," said Nevada Senator Harry Reid. "This major step forward for the privately-sponsored DesertXpress Project will create more than 32,000 jobs in southern Nevada and boost our economy by providing another way for tourists to visit and enjoy this great state."



The DesertXpress Project would produce an estimated 17,469 primary jobs and 16,432 secondary jobs in Clark County over three years by 2013 and will connect Las Vegas to Victorville in Southern California and, later the California high-speed rail system.

Port of Miami/FEC reconnection project to break ground

Friday, July 15, construction will begin on an approximately $50 million project to reconnect the Port of Miami to the national rail network via the Florida East Coast Railway. More than 800 workers will be employed bringing $33.38 million in wages to South Florida.

Reconstruction of the rail line, rehabilitation of the bridge and construction of the Intermodal Rail Yard on Dodge Island will enable Miami to accommodate super cargo ships scheduled to arrive in 2014 with the expansion of the Panama Canal. July 15, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will join Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and other local officials at a groundbreaking on the rail tracks.

A $22.8 million TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation together with funds from the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida East Coast Railway and Miami-Dade County are paying for the massive construction program. The federal funds will be used to fix the bascule bridge and construct the on-port rail facility. The Florida Department of Transportation, Florida East Coast Railway and Miami-Dade County have contributed additional funds to the project.

• U.S. Department of Transportation $22.767 million
• Florida Department of Transportation $10.9 million
• Florida East Coast Railway $10.9 million
• Port of Miami $4.8 million

Metro-North plans to rehab 117-year old bridge

New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority Metro-North Railroad, working with the City of Mt. Vernon, will close the Sixth Avenue Bridge beginning Monday July 18, 2011 through the week of August 24 so that the railroad can make repairs to the 117-year-old bridge.

The almost 62-foot-long bridge was built in 1894 and has a load limit of three tons. It carries Sixth Avenue/Wilson Place over the New Haven Line railroad tracks. Metro-North ironworkers will repair the steel floor beam that supports the bridge’s wooden stringers and deck. While the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, pedestrian access on sidewalks will remain open.

"We have developed an aggressive schedule to make these important repairs to the bridge and to reopen it as soon as possible," said Metro-North President Howard Permut. "Metro-North will continue to work with the City to develop an overall approach to address access needs over the railroad. At the same time, we seek the support of our State and Federal partners to meet the funding needs of our Capital Program."

Notification of the bridge closure will be done through signage on the bridge, the City’s website and email alert system.

Springfield rail study to be rolled into larger study of Chicago-St. Louis corridor

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) brought together federal, state and local stakeholders in an effort to expedite the process that he hopes will identify the Springfield rail consolidation alternative that best promotes public safety, enhances the quality of life of residents and boosts the local economy.

Durbin declared that the consolidation would be rolled into the larger St. Louis-Chicago corridor study that is expected to be complete next year.

"We have made some progress in moving what I think is an excellent study to the point where it can be part of the active conversation about what options lie ahead," said Sen. Durbin.

In the meeting, Durbin wanted to clear up confusion about cost estimates in Hanson Engineering’s Springfield Rail Corridor study and discuss next steps; to move the environmental review process forward; to give the public better access to local studies and reviews when complete; to outline the financial challenges facing any rail consolidation project in Springfield and to increase public participation to help the community choose the best rail consolidation alternative available.

The meeting included representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Illinois U.S. Reps. Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17) and John Shimkus (R-IL-19), as well as officials from the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, the FRA, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Hanson Engineering, Amtrak, Illinois & Midland Railroad, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.

On July 7, U.S. House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica released details of a transportation bill that would cut transportation spending by 30 percent and completely eliminate the Rail Relocation program at the FRA, which is the only competitive grant program the FRA has to help communities with freight consolidation projects. In order for any of the Springfield rail consolidation alternatives to be eligible for federal funding, specific guidelines set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act must be followed.

The FRA indicated that they would consider and review the completed study conducted by Hanson Engineering. The environmental impact statement will examine all reasonable alternatives for the rail consolidation project, including alternatives in addition to those considered by the Hansen study.

 

FTA Administrator Rogoff tours greater-Philadelphia region transit system

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, Sen. Robert Casey Jr., (D-PA), Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-PA-2) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA-6), Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s General Manager Joe Casey reviewed several SEPTA facilities that are in significant need of infrastructure improvements.

The City Hall Station in Philadelphia, a power substation at Jenkintown and a bridge on the Norristown High Speed Line were all toured.

"SEPTA’s aging infrastructure is one example of a larger national challenge that exists at our older, larger transit systems like Boston, Cleveland, New York, Chicago and San Francisco," Rogoff said. "When commuters get on a bus or train to get to work, they expect that the trains are reliable, the overpasses are sound and the buses are maintained, which is why we must continue to tackle this backlog."

In April, the Department of Transportation announced a $3.98 million grant to SEPTA for the renovation of its Wayne Junction Intermodal Facility.

TransLink to “Move Forward” with improvements

British Columbia’s transit authority, TransLink, has an updated plan to be approved by the Mayors’ Council, which would expand Metro Vancouver’s transit system and sustain funding for major road network and cycling network improvements.

The "Moving Forward" plan received strong public and stakeholder endorsement, but lacked an approved funding formula needed to support it. The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation and the provincial government have agreed on a way to provide $70 million in additional annual revenue though.

If ultimately approved by the Mayors’ Council, the plan will provide Metro Vancouver’s $400 million share of funding for the Evergreen Line SkyTrain extension from the Lougheed Town Center to Coquitlam Town Center and construction would begin.

The Mayors’ Council and the province have agreed on a funding formula for the plan that includes a US$.02 per liter increase in motor fuel taxes in April 2012 plus, by 2013, either a property tax increase averaging about US$23.87 per year for the average Metro Vancouver residential property or a new, long-term source of funding.

The Evergreen Line, part of the proposed expansion, would include five stations and 28 new SkyTrain vehicles. There would also be improvements to key transit hubs including Main Street, Metrotown, Surrey Central and New Westminster SkyTrain Stations.

 

Baker awarded New Orleans Rail Gateway contract by Louisiana DOTD

Michael Baker Jr., Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corporation has been awarded a three-year, $4.8 million rail/roadway engineering and environmental services contract by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the New Orleans Rail Gateway.

Baker and its team members will provide travel forecasting, rail and roadway engineering and a complete range of NEPA/environmental and public outreach services required to prepare an environmental impact statement and record of decision to modernize the entire 35-mile freight-rail system through the New Orleans metropolitan area.

"This project helps to position Louisiana for future growth by providing increased efficiency in moving goods across our state and nation, and also improves safety for our citizens in this corridor by limiting rail interaction with densely populated areas," said DOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas.

The project is a public-private partnership (P3) between the Federal Railroad Administration, DOTD, the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, six Class 1 railroads (NS, KCS, CSX, UP, BNSF and CN) and the Association of American Railroads. Amtrak, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and the Port of New Orleans are also stakeholders in the project. A comprehensive public involvement plan will facilitate information exchange between the public and P3 participants.

 

NAV awarded security contract for Denver light rail

North American Video has been awarded a long-term contract to service all camera, access control, alarm and e-phone systems for Colorado’s Regional Transportation District Light Rail system.

As part of the contract, NAV will station its personnel on site to handle all service items that arise on any of RTD’s light rail locations. The contract calls for an increase in staff in 2012 to handle the new West Corridor.

 

 

Amtrak Downeaster expansion project to repair eight crossings

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority said that a number of railroad grade crossings in Cumberland County will be reconstructed as part of the Downeaster expansion project. The track work will ensure that grade crossings remain in a state of good repair for the safe crossing of train and vehicular traffic. Reconstruction of seven Portland crossings has already been completed.

The crossings included in the work are Walton, Riverside, Congress, Read and Woodford streets and Forest and Allen avenues.

The two-day process involves removing the pavement and track, installing a pre-built track section, tamping and aligning track, installing rubber flangeway railseals and final pavement placement.

 

Downtown San Diego quiet zone project progresses

Safety tests began in San Diego on July 10 to ensure that newly installed equipment for its quiet zone would function properly. This test, the first of seven that certify equipment function at 12 public crossings, is required before new vehicular and pedestrian gates can be installed, which are expected to arrive in August 2011.

In addition, a test train made a total of eight roundtrips from Old Town Station through downtown to check the accuracy and responsiveness of upgraded railroad signal devices that activate gates at public crossings.

Plans call for all safety enhancements, including gates, medians, traffic signals and warning lights to be operational by spring 2012. Shortly thereafter, the tracks between Laurel Street and Fifth Ave., will qualify as a quiet zone.