Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a specialty trackwork manufacturer and distributor of new and relay rail, has received a $6.7 million award from the state of South Dakota. The contract involves furnishing 25 track miles of rail and other track components for the reconstruction of the Mitchell to Rapid City Railroad, which is owned by the state of South Dakota and operated by the Dakota Southern railroad.
Norfolk Southern, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Amtrak have reached a development agreement that will bring the Federal Railroad Administration one step closer to obligating $133 million in funding for the Englewood Flyover. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said this agreement will move the project forward and help prevent any future attempts by House Republicans to rescind this funding that was appropriated through the Recovery Act.
"Earlier this year, I joined with my colleagues to stop an attempt by the House Republicans to rescind nearly $400 million in Illinois transportation funding, $133 million for the Englewood Flyover project," said Durbin. "We were successful then, but the House threat remains. Just last week, House Republicans passed an appropriations bill out of committee that included a provision to rescind unobligated high-speed rail funds. The sooner we can obligate the funds, the sooner we can begin putting people to work and moving these important projects forward while creating the good paying jobs we desperately need in Illinois."
The Englewood Flyover project will create an estimated 1,450 jobs in Chicago and is the linchpin for the CREATE rail modernization program. CREATE will ensure that the Chicago region is prepared to handle future increases in rail traffic. It will reduce congestion with track, switch and signal upgrades and by constructing overpasses and underpasses to end conflicts at both rail-rail and highway-rail crossings. It will also limit locomotive engine idling and improve air quality.
Earlier this year, Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, urging him to obligate as soon as possible nearly $400 million in Illinois transportation funding. This funding would have kept eight Illinois projects safe from rescission under the House Republican’s 2011 Budget plan.
At a hearing before the Surface Transportation Board on June 22, Union Pacific CEO Jim Young testified that increased regulation would harm UP’s commitment to investment and job creation.
UP has invested more than $30 billion of capital in the past 11 years and expects to invest $3.3 billion this year.
Young pointed to the 15,000 in new hires UP has planned for 2011 and added that additional regulation would curtail investment and stunt job growth.
"The reality is that if the current balance of regulation is altered, freight rail will be unable to keep its commitment to invest in the future of our country’s economy and jobs. At a time when our country faces a crisis in transportation infrastructure, the industry and regulators should be working together on preserving and encouraging further private investment, not debating changes that would have the opposite effect," said Young.
Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3), Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, Bridgeview, Illinois Mayor Steven Landek and CREATE partners joined together at a groundbreaking ceremony for a $27 million underpass to take 71st St. under the Indiana Harbor Belt/CSXT railroad tracks adjacent to Toyota Park. This project will create 290 jobs, eliminate long delays for drivers, enhance safety and improve air quality.
"Not only will this project create hundreds of jobs at a time when jobs are desperately needed, it will permanently eliminate delays and improve safety for the thousands of people that pass through this crossing on a daily basis," Congressman Lipinski said. "I’m very pleased to have helped secure funding for the 71st St. underpass."
The 71st St. underpass is part of the CREATE rail modernization program. Congressman Lipinski is a leading advocate for CREATE, having obtained the first $100 million in federal funding for the project in 2005. He led the Illinois Congressional delegation in supporting Illinois’ TIGER grant application, which yielded $80 million for other CREATE projects throughout the Chicago region.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Board of Directors voted to approve its Fiscal Year 2012 operating and capital budgets, which include a base fare increase from $2 to $2.50, some bus service improvements, system-wide security enhancements and safety and state-of-good-repair initiatives. The board adopted an operating budget of $413.76 million, a capital budget totaling $185.5 million and $143.7 million in debt service.
"Unfortunately, the economic downturn has taken its toll on MARTA’s finances and with the cost of doing business continuing to go up, a fare increase is required in order to maintain current bus and rail service levels for our customers," said MARTA Board Chairman Jim Durrett.
Chairman Durrett went on to say that the MARTA Board has worked to reduce internal costs, cutting $100 million from its budget over the past three years and raised additional revenues through innovative vending and advertising programs.
After hearing from more than 260 community members during the public hearing and comment process, the MARTA board adopted a budget focused on stabilizing its financial condition and maintaining current service levels. Along with the base fare change, the cost of weekly and monthly passes will increase. MARTA will also continue to stagger increases for Mobility base fare.
Caltrain will raise its fares for the sixth time since 2005, adding 25 cents to the base fare charged to ride the Peninsula commuter rail service. The increase will be effective July 1.
The Caltrain Board of Directors approved the 25-cent increase after extensive public input on resolving the rail system’s current and ongoing fiscal problems.
Fares paid by Caltrain customers cover approximately 44 percent of the cost of providing its service. Members of the public, including customers, frequently commented that they would be willing to pay more to ride Caltrain if the increased fares helped to resolve the immediate budget crisis.
A chart showing the new fares can be found on the Caltrain website.
The Association of American Railroads told the Surface Transportation Board that the current rail economic regulatory framework allows freight railroads to sustain billions of dollars in private capital investments in the nation’s rail network each year and support more than 1.2 million jobs around the country.
Testifying at a hearing on freight rail competition regulations, AAR President and CEO Edward Hamberger told the STB that today’s rail regulations have engendered a competitive freight marketplace that encourages private investment in railroads, rather than relying on the federal government to fund the nation’s rail infrastructure.
"Freight railroads today spend more than $20 billion in private funds each year to keep our nation’s rail network the envy of the world and American businesses competitive in the global marketplace," said Hamberger. "These are private investments made by railroads so that taxpayers don’t have to."
Hamberger told the STB that they should maintain and preserve today’s balanced regulatory framework because it has benefited rail customers and the public alike. "Rail rates are down by 51 percent since 1981, which means the average shipper can move twice as much freight for the same price as 30 years ago," he pointed out.
At the STB hearing, Hamberger also explained that changing the current regulations on rail competition and forcing the railroads to provide other carriers with access to their networks and property would make the rail network less efficient and affect service to customers.
"Railroads know best how to operate their networks efficiently to best serve their customers," he told the Board.
"Proposed changes to how this country’s interconnected rail network operates threaten to disrupt a system that serves customers in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible," Hamberger said. "Today’s balanced regulations enable freight railroads to serve all their customers while continuing to invest in the country’s 140,000 mile rail network."
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration has indicated that the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority can begin work on the University Circle Rapid Transit Station, which was awarded $10.5 million from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery II Program in October 2010.
The project will involve reconstructing the station, clearing the way for work to begin on one of the busiest transfer points in the transit system. A key element of reconstruction is consolidating the bus and transfer area and the rail station, which are currently separated by the busy Cedar Glen Parkway.
"This project makes riding transit more convenient, safe and accessible to persons with disabilities," said U.S. Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We want to help bring Cleveland’s transit system into a state of good repair and this was one need that could not be delayed any longer."
When the station is rebuilt, it will be enhanced by a new plaza, widened bikeways and walkways and a new 2,500-square-foot indoor waiting area.
GCRTA plans to break ground on the project later this year and construction is expected to last two years, during which time the station and bus terminal will remain open. The University Circle Rapid Transit Station Project was among 75 projects in 40 states that shared $600 million from the Department’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery II Program.
The Federal Railroad Administration will soon publish final rules instituting conductor certification and imposing new hours-of-service limitations on intercity passenger train and commuter employees in safety sensitive positions.
FRA Associate Administrator for Safety Jo Strang made the announcement at the United Transportation Union’s regional meeting June 21 in San Antonio, Texas.
Conductor certification, which becomes effective January 1, 2012, "recognizes the level of professionalism required by our conductors today," Strang said.
A notice of proposed rulemaking on conductor certification was published in November and is the product of a collaborative effort through the FRA’s Rail Safety Advisory Committee, which includes carriers, rail labor and the FRA.
Strang said the passenger hours-of-service regulation will apply sleep science and fatigue management to railroad hours-of-service, "which is the first time in our industry’s history that this has been done. It recognizes the inherent differences between freight and passenger service."
For example, intercity passenger and commuter railroads operate on fixed schedules. Commuter railroads operate primarily during daylight hours and most commuter employees return to their home terminals every night.
The passenger hours-of-service regulation will "balance the need to manage fatigue with the need to maximize income," Strang said. "The rule also recognizes the significant safety contribution that a defined start time has for the employees involved. When the employee knows when they must report for service, they can manage the necessary lifestyle adjustments. The outstanding safety record of our passenger and commuter rail operations is an excellent example of just what it means to have a regular start time."
Canadian National’s Fuel Management Excellence (FMX) program is said to drive both fuel efficiency and environmental benefits.
Keith Creel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at CN said, "CN is making significant strides in improving the fuel efficiency of its freight train operations, obtaining important sustainability gains and delivering a cost-effective transportation service through a series of initiatives, including the acquisition of modern locomotives, new technology applications to existing locomotives, enhanced analytic abilities and employee training.
"We are particularly excited about our leading-edge work to set fuel efficiency targets for specific trains by route and to monitor train performance against these goals. The targets are based on established benchmarks for key fuel consumption variables such as train make-up, locomotives, train handling, route gradients and curvature and weather. This strategy to produce real-time information by train and by locomotive is truly the next frontier in precision fuel management."
CN’s FMX program includes:
• The acquisition of new fuel-efficient locomotives. In 2010, CN purchased 102 new high-horsepower locomotives, as well as 102 second-hand high-horsepower locomotives that are being upgraded. These locomotives are approximately 15 percent more fuel-efficient than the ones they replace and comply fully with applicable regulatory requirements for reduced locomotive exhaust emissions.
• Installation of Wi-Tronix telemetry systems on high-horsepower locomotives. Wi-Tronix provides real-time information about locomotive and train performance through remote measurement and reporting of data, including precise fuel consumption, to an off-board CN computer system at regular intervals or at request. The technology allows CN to optimize the match of locomotive horsepower to the trailing tonnage of the train by isolating or shutting down locomotives and reducing throttle settings. It continuously scans train operations for the proper application of train handling rules to optimize fuel use, determines when and where fueling is required and ensures temporarily inactive locomotives are shut down. CN expects to equip up to 1,200 high-horsepower locomotives with locomotive telemetry technology by 2013.
• Trip Optimizer technology from GE Transportation. Trip Optimizer is a train "cruise control" system that follows a pre-determined speed trajectory over a GPS track map to optimize fuel consumption. It minimizes braking by planning miles in advance for speed zone and terrain changes. CN’s Vancouver-Montreal corridor is fully mapped for this technology and CN is now moving intermodal trains equipped with the technology over key sections of this corridor. By September 2011, CN plans to have intermodal and merchandise trains in the corridor running with Trip Optimizer technology. CN has 125 locomotives with Trip Optimizer and plans to install this type of technology on up to 400 locomotives by the end of 2013.
• Installation of Auto Engine Start Stop (AESS) technology, which automatically shuts down an idle diesel engine, while keeping the locomotive in the proper operating state to start on demand. CN has more than 600 locomotives with this technology and plans to apply AESS-type technology on up to 800 units by 2013.
• Training of train crews and rail traffic controllers. These employees are continually being schooled on best practices, including fuel-efficient train handling techniques, matching power to train tonnage and limiting throttle use and taking advantage of train pacing opportunities at train meets.
TriMet is partnering with Portland and Western Railroad to kick off a summer safety campaign along its WES Commuter Rail line. The service runs during weekday rush hour between Beaverton and Wilsonville, Ore., on heavy rail tracks, which is an illegal and dangerous place for people to walk, ride bikes or play.
The campaign includes enforcement and awareness missions where TriMet Transit Police Division officers will be patrolling the areas around the alignment during WES commute hours the weeks of June 20 and June 27.
Transit Police officers are targeting locations in Tualatin where youth have been gathering in wooded areas near the tracks and in Beaverton where riders have illegally crossed the tracks instead of using a nearby crosswalk.
Since trespassing on railroad tracks is illegal, officers will be looking for trespassers and will issue citations for violations of this and common traffic-related offenses. Since last year’s safety effort, TriMet has installed fencing and gate arms at pedestrian crossings to curb traffic-related violations. This year’s focus will be on youth and adults on foot.
The safety campaign also includes TriMet safety ads running in local theaters all summer to reach people along the WES alignment and fliers with safety information included in back to school mailings.
Last year in the United States, 445 people were killed in railroad trespassing incidents and 390 more were injured.
California Northern Railroad Company has been honored by Breathe California, an organization dedicated to fighting lung disease and advocating for clean air, with the 2011 Clean Air Champion Business Award. CFNR was recognized for being an industry model by reducing emission and noise along their shortline railroad routes.
"CFNR is blazing the trail to ‘get smart‘ and operate energy-efficient locomotives," said Kori Titus, CEO of Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails. "This railroad‘s technological breakthroughs have significantly improved the air of our surrounding communities."
CFNR’s entire fleet has been converted to be more environmentally-friendly with the addition of six GenSet locomotives. These ultra low-emitting, low-noise locomotives have helped to reduce emissions by 80 percent and are expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. This equals a reduction of up to 860 tons of emissions for each locomotive for 20 years. The railroad has also earned a Tier 3 non-road emission standard by the EPA.
Motiva Enterprises LLC and Vecenergy have reached an agreement to construct a fuel grade ethanol rail offloading facility at the Motiva Port Everglades, Fla., terminal. The expanded operations will allow for the delivery of ethanol unit trains directly into existing Motiva storage tanks. The new facilities will increase cost-efficiency and improve delivery logistics by minimizing the number of transports required before arriving into the South Florida market.
Union Pacific named D. Lynn Kelley, Ph.D., vice president of continuous improvement effective July 1. She succeeds Richard McClish, who is retiring and will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Young.
"Lynn brings process improvement expertise that should create new ways for Union Pacific to deliver safety, service and efficiency to our operations, which will translate into providing even greater value to our customers," Young said. "Her breadth of experience gained working in diversified business groups will bring new perspectives to the railroad."
Kelley will be responsible for Union Pacific’s continuous improvement, industrial engineering and quality processes. She joins the railroad from Textron Inc., where she served as vice president of operational excellence, overseeing the company’s engineering, operations, procurement, quality and continuous improvement councils.
Diana Sorfleet has joined CSX Corporation as vice president and chief human resources officer, reporting to Lisa Mancini, senior vice president and chief administrative officer.
"We’re very pleased to welcome Diana to the CSX team. Her experience in a safety-focused industry and her commitment to industry-leading human resources practices make her a perfect fit for CSX," Mancini said.
Sorfleet comes to CSX following a long career with Exelon Corporation, where she worked for two decades in the human resources department, most recently as vice president for diversity and development.
Sen. Mark Kirk (D-IL) revealed legislation to mobilize $100 billion in private investment to build new roads, railroads and airports.
"Our roads, rail, transit and airports are facing unprecedented funding shortfalls," Senator Kirk said. "We should not further burden working families with higher gas taxes. Instead, we should look to our own economic history to find a solution."
Kirk referenced a National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study commission that said, current highway, bridge, public transit, freight and passenger rail funding needs are approximately $225 billion per year through 2055, while current spending is less than $90 billion per year.
The bill would increase annual funding from $122 million to $750 million for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, a loan program that helps finance major transportation projects, including those with private-public partnerships. It would enable more than $7 billion in loans for projects totaling more than $21 billion yearly.
The plan would add eligibility to high-speed rail projects and development costs under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program and allow projects such as high-speed rail to use future dedicated revenues or user fees in place of collateral to lower credit risk premiums.
Sen., Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on the Federal Railroad Administration to direct $2.2 billion in unused railroad funds forfeited by New Jersey’s for the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project to cover the remaining costs of the East Side Access tunnel project.
New Jersey was slated to receive funding of $2.2 billion of the $35 billion Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing program to move forward with the ARC tunnel. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie pulled the plug on the project, possibly making the East Side Access tunnel project the largest single infrastructure project in the country.
"This project is one of the single-largest transportation initiatives in the country, it is a game changer for New York City and Long Island that will save untold amounts of travel time for millions of commuters and boost the city as the economic engine of the region," said Sen. Schumer.
The East Side Access Project, a joint federal-state effort, is a rail link from the Long Island Rail Road, via the 63rd Street Tunnel, to Grand Central Terminal. The project is on trajectory to run out of funding at the end of 2011. Schumer urged U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood in a letter to break precedent for this project.
"Bringing the East Side Access tunnel project to completion will not only enhance our transportation infrastructure enabling more efficient travel for Long Islanders into both Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, but serve as an economic development juggernaut for the entire New York metropolitan region," said Sen. Schumer.
Visit Senator Schumer’s website to read the letter.
Union Pacific will continue improving Idaho’s transportation infrastructure with a $23.1 million investment in the rail line that runs from Weiser to Mountain Home in the west and from Pocatello to Idaho Falls in the east.
The 180-mile project includes removing and installing new rail and more than 206,000 railroad ties along this critical railroad corridor through Idaho. Crews will spread 106,000 tons of ballast to ensure a stable roadbed.
Passengers can board The Tide, Virginia’s Hampton Roads Transit light-rail line, an estimated $338 million dollar project, Aug. 19 for a free three-day preview before regular paid service begins Aug. 22.
The Tide had three previously missed opening dates. The latest delay in opening the system was because of issues with getting the safety signal and communications systems ordered, installed and tested.
Between now and August, HRT must still complete light-rail operator certifications; monitor and adjust signaling and timing systems that balance rail operations and traffic flow on city streets and finish construction of the three park-and-ride lots at Ballentine Boulevard, Military Highway and Newtown Road.
According to a report in The Viginia-Pilot, The tide is $106 million over budget but HRT President and CEO Philip Shucet said he still does not plan on spending all of the budgeted $338 million to complete the project. He said he doesn’t anticipate dipping into the $10 million contingency fund and believes he could possibly save more.
The project funds are comprised of $196 million from federal sources, $71 million from the state and $71 million from the city.
Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool plans to double the number of security cameras across the rail system, while also working with police to enhance security for passengers. Under the plan, Chicago police will deploy teams, called Wolfpacks, as well as plainclothes officers to patrol the system.
Cameras will be deployed along platforms and in other non-public secure areas in just six months.
"Using this innovative approach, we will saturate our system with cameras, so that potential criminal activity is recorded no matter where it occurs," said Claypool.
Images captured from CTA security camera footage have been used by police to solve both CTA-related crimes and crimes that occur in the vicinity of CTA buses and rail stations.
After reviewing existing security measures, CTA and CPD also developed a plan to redeploy resources to adjust and upgrade coverage. Transit officers will be assigned to Wolfpack patrols that will be deployed across the system based on daily analysis of crime patterns and trends.
"By quickly expanding our security camera network to include multiple cameras at all stations, we’ll be better equipped to capture images of offenders and assist the police," added Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson. "And by adjusting policing strategies, the public transit unit will provide an even greater deterrent to theft and hooliganism."
Currently, there are nearly 1,500 security cameras installed and operating on rail stations and platforms. Each camera provides a live feed to the CTA control center and the city’s Office of Emergency Management Communications.
In addition to completing installation at stations, security cameras will also be added to CTA rail cars, although this initiative is still in the early stages.
