BART Board to consider changes to committee system

Changes to the Bay Area Rapid Transit committee system will be considered by the BART Board of Directors on June 9, 2011. If the proposed changes are implemented the public would get improved information about meetings of BART special committees.

Currently there are 22 special committees, on topics ranging from sustainability to automatic fare collection to high-speed rail. There are also three Standing Committees under Board rules: Administration; Engineering and Operations; and Planning, Public Affairs, Access and Legislation.

At its last meeting on May 26, 2011, the board requested that BART staff come up with a plan for consolidating the special committees and making the committees’ work more open to the public. Under the recommendation to be considered there would be just seven special committees:

* BART Police Department Review
* District Security, Safety and Emergency Management
* Redistricting
* Personnel
* Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business and Bonding
* Strategic Funding Initiatives
* Sustainability/Green

The recommendation would change how the special committees tell the public about their work. Meetings of the special committees would be noticed consistent with the Brown Act, the 1953 state open meetings law.

Koppers names Gross regional sales manager

Koppers Inc., producer of railroad products and services, has appointed Travis Gross as the northeast sales manager for the northeast territory of North America.

Gross will be responsible for the sales of Koppers pressure-treated wood and concrete crossties and switch ties, along with a full line of rail joints. The territory will include all non class 1 railroads in 12 northeastern U.S. states as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

TranSystems names Morsches chief strategy and marketing officer

TranSystems has promoted Richard Morsches, P.E., to chief strategy and marketing officer.

"Rick has been instrumental in helping transform TranSystems from a $20 million firm located in six Midwest cities to a $240 million multimodal firm located in 40 cities through the United States," said Brian Larson, TranSystems’ CEO.

Morsches has been involved in starting up six new TranSystems offices and coordinating nine businesses mergers. He has worked as part of the senior management team for more than 20 years.

David Francis wins NWMRC Supplier of the Year Award

David Francis, western operations/sales manager for Atlantic Track in Wheaton, Ill., has been named Supplier of the Year by the Northwest Maintenance Railway Club.

Dave has been a member of the NWMRC for more than 21 years.

"The club appreciates Dave’s support and dedication to our organization," the NWMRC said in a statement. "Dave exemplifies the dedication and perseverance it takes to survive and be successful in the railroad industry."

This is the 4th annual award given by the NWMRC.

Construction begins on Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility

Norfolk Southern’s CEO Wick Moorman and Alabama Governor Robert Bentley joined state and local officials and business leaders on June 6 to officially break ground on the new Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility in McCally Ala. The $97.5 million facility is part of the railroad’s estimated $2.5 billion multi-state Crescent Corridor initiative, a program of independent projects and improvements geared toward creating a high-capacity, 2,500-mile intermodal route spanning from New Jersey to Louisiana that touches 26 percent of the nation’s population and 30 percent of the nation’s manufacturing output. The Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility occupies a 316-acre site adjacent to the Jefferson Metropolitan Park in McCalla and is expected to open in late 2012.

The Intermodal Facility is expected to create or enhance 8,600 jobs in central Alabama over the next 10 years and its capacity will grow to handle 165,000 containers and trailers annually. The terminal will utilize the latest in gate and terminal automation technology, improving truck driver productivity and air quality. Additionally, state-of-the-art low emission cranes and hostler tractors will operate within the terminal.

"The Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility will bring significant economic growth to McCalla and thousands of jobs to Alabamians. As our economy is regaining strength, companies like Norfolk Southern recognize Alabama is a great place to do business," said Governor Bentley at the ceremony. "This new terminal will enable goods to move more quickly throughout the country."

 

Ground breaks on CSX Worcester rail facility

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray joined state and local officials and CSX’ Transportation to celebrate the start of construction of the $100 million expansion of CSX’s rail facility in Worcester. The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in the comprehensive multi-year rail transportation agreement between the Commonwealth and CSX, designed to expand commuter rail service, strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure and improve the Commonwealth’s competitive position in the global economy.

"Expanding commuter rail service to Worcester is a critical component of our Administration’s economic development agenda," said Governor Patrick.

The groundbreaking is said to create more than 400 jobs and lead to the development of a state-of-the-art ‘green’ terminal that will provide more shipping options for Massachusetts and New England businesses. Additionally, this new terminal will create more options for commuters and increased trains along the Worcester/Framingham line to Boston’s south station.

 

RailComm wins contract for Denver RTD

RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller train control system has been selected to be used by Denver Regional Transportation District’s west corridor.

RailComm’s DOC® is a next generation computer-aided dispatching system that will be used to centrally control the CTC signal system and the Overhead Catenary System electrification sub-stations.

The DOC® software-based control system is an advanced command, control, communications and information (C3i) server-based platform that supports a wide variety of integrated solutions for indication, control, access and distribution of critical operational data across the corporate enterprise.

 

CSX cuts greenhouse gas emissions ahead of schedule

CSX Corporation has reached its voluntary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by eight percent per revenue ton mile ahead of schedule. The achievement, expected by the end of 2011 but accomplished in late 2010, involved reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 million metric tons.

"Transporting freight by rail is already the most environmentally-friendly way to move goods around the country, and we are proud to be an industry leader, developing sustainable solutions that have a positive impact on the environment," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and CEO, CSX.

CSX’ emissions reduction goal, part of its participation in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, was the first ever emissions reduction commitment by a major transportation provider. In addition to employing ultra-low emission GenSet locomotives, CSX has dedicated significant resources to its National Gateway initiative, modernizing transportation infrastructure to allow for more efficient double-stacked intermodal trains. New facilities include innovations such as electric cranes and optical cargo scanners to improve efficiency, lower emissions and decrease truck idling times.

BART FY12 improvements to include cleaner seats, noise abatement

Cleaner seats, quieter trains and more reliable escalators are some of the benefits in store for Bay Area Rapid Transit riders in the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget, which the Board of Directors will consider Thursday, June 9. The Board will vote on the 2012 budget resolution, a step in the legal process toward making the budget official.

The total proposed FY12 budget (operating and capital) is $1.36 billion. The new budget gives BART "an opportunity to fund core system capital infrastructure needs and key service attributes that were negatively impacted during the recession," a staff memo on the budget explained.

A large portion of the budget, $24.2 million, is being put on hold until BART knows the outcome of State Transit Assistance funding. The amount of STA funding won’t be known until the state budget is final.

Regardless of STA funding, $10.9 million of the highest-priority initiatives have been identified to proceed: those include, elevator rehabilitation, seat replacement, Title VI compliance, an attendance management program, elevator/escalator maintenance, rail noise abatement and Business Advancement Program transition support.

"The economic outlook for FY12 remains somewhat cautious, with moderate growth of approximately two percent over FY11 estimates for both ridership and sales tax," the staff budget memo stated.

Caltrain works on five projects this week

Caltrain will work on the San Bruno Grade Separation Project this week until Friday, June 10. The $147 million project will elevate the Caltrain tracks above three existing at-grade street crossings at San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues. A new, elevated Caltrain station will be constructed between San Bruno and San Mateo Avenues, replacing the existing station at Sylvan Avenue.

Day work includes upgrades to the signal systems, excavation, construction of retaining walls for the future temporary station, drainage improvements at the temporary station, temporary sidewalk closures and modifications on Scott Street and sanitary sewer and utility relocations.

Night work includes demolishing track south of Scott Street, constructing track at the temporary station, upgrading the signal system between the South San Francisco and Millbrae stations, utility encasement, construction of retaining walls for the future temporary station and relocating and installing vehicle and pedestrian gates at East Angus, San Bruno and San Mateo Avenues

Work on the Santa Clara station will take place Monday, June 6 until Friday, June 10. The work will include continued construction on the pedestrian underpass connecting the north and southbound platforms, which will allow two trains to pass through the station at the same time and will improve safety for pedestrians in the station. The work is part of an 18-month station improvement project that will add a new wider, longer center-boarding platform and extend the southern platform 150 feet.

This week, crews will continue building retaining walls and backfilling areas along the tracks by Jerrold Avenue and Rankin Street in San Francisco.

Crews will also continue installing bollards at the Millbrae and San Jose Diridon stations as part of a project to enhance security at three Caltrain stations: San Francisco at 4th and King Streets, Millbrae and San Jose Diridon.

Caltrain will continue retrofitting four rail bridges in San Mateo this week. The project involves seismic improvements to the bridges that cross Poplar, Santa Inez, Monte Diablo and Tilton Avenues.

As part of an 18-month long San Jose Diridon and Santa Clara Stations Improvements Project, Caltrain will conduct work at the San Jose Diridon station until Friday, June 10. Crews will install ballast and replace tactile tile strips on boarding platforms.

Caltrain will perform routine maintenance at several locations next week.

Crews will replace cross ties and resurface tracks between the San Francisco and Hayward Park stations.

Crews will weld tracks and replace rails from the California Avenue station to just south of the San Jose Diridon station.

 

UP named 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles

Union Pacific Railroad was named one of the 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award winners from the National Business Group on Health (NBGH). Union Pacific earned platinum status each year since the award’s inception in 2005 and is one of only six U.S. employers to earn platinum status each of the last five years. The company is the only railroad or transportation provider among the companies honored by the NBGH, which recognized employers that responded to the need to improve their workers’ health, productivity and quality of life.

Union Pacific Wellness, the railroad’s health promotion initiative, encourages employees to lead a healthy life. The program assesses and provides intervention support for 11 health risk factors: asthma, blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, diabetes, fatigue, inactivity, nutrition, smoking, stress and weight. Risk identification and reduction programs consist of wellness assessments and biometric screenings, lifestyle management, tobacco cessation, system health facilities, education programs, research grants and injury prevention.

"Our employees work hard to provide great service to our customers. We want them to enjoy good health so they can reap the benefits of their hard work by spending quality time with families and friends, and we know that helping employees achieve their wellness goals contributes to a safer work environment," said Barb Schaefer, Union Pacific senior vice president of human resources.

 

Cheney named to DART Board

Michael Cheney is the newest member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit board of directors.

Cheney, a board member of the Garland Housing and Finance Corp. since 2010, is a retired financial executive. Prior to that, he was a consultant with Price Waterhouse Coopers, CPAs and Lineage Holdings and the Chief Financial Officer for Hackney Ladish Holding Corp., Prima US and The Continuum Company.

 

Illinois partnership to study HSR between Chicago and Champaign-Urbana

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced a partnership between the University of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation and a special advisory group to study the feasibility of 220-mph passenger rail service between Chicago, Urbana-Champaign and beyond. The study will complement the ongoing construction of a regional 110-mph network that will connect Chicago to 40 cities in the Midwest, while supporting Governor Quinn‘s vision to create jobs, enhance regional mobility and improve the environment by expanding passenger rail in Illinois.

"Illinois is leading the nation with our work to expand high-speed and passenger rail," said Governor Quinn. "This study will provide greater insight into how we can make 220-mph rail service a reality. An expanded and improved rail network will boost our position in the global economy and create thousands of jobs."

The study will explore the potential costs and benefits of establishing 220-mph service between O’Hare International Airport, downtown Chicago, McCormick Place and Champaign-Urbana. It will also look at extending the corridor in the region to cities south of Champaign-Urbana, including St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Leading the study will be University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor Christopher P.L. Barkan, director of the school’s railroad engineering program. Contributing will be University of Illinois at Chicago Urban Transportation Center director Stephen Schlickman. Their findings, made possible through a $1.25 million contribution from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, is expected to be complete and presented to Governor Quinn in late 2012.

In addition to offering corridor location recommendations, the study will offer estimated ridership projections, economic impacts, construction costs and financing options. Assisting in the effort will be an advisory group composed of transportation experts, rail advocates, labor leaders and regional planners who will provide input during the course of the study.

 

UTU, NCCC reach tentative agreement with record pay boost

A 17 percent pay increase, retention of the $200 monthly cap on health care cost sharing, FRA certification pay, a faster process for new hires to reach full pay rates and no rollback of the January 2011 cost-of-living adjustment highlight the new five-year national rail agreement negotiated between the United Transportation Union and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee.

Railroads represented by the NCCC include BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific and many smaller railroads. Some 38,000 UTU members, including yardmasters, are covered by the tentative new agreement.
UTU District 1 general chairpersons voted unanimously June 2 to submit the tentative agreement to the membership for ratification under the craft autonomy provisions of the UTU Constitution. The general chairpersons also voted unanimously to recommend ratification.
General chairpersons now have until June 20 to submit questions regarding details of the tentative agreement. The questions will be submitted to the NCCC for answers. The agreed-upon questions and answers will become part of the tentative contract submitted to the membership for ratification.
"In the 41-year history of the UTU, this wage increase is the highest in excess of the current and projected Consumer Price Index," said UTU International President Mike Futhey.
The tentative agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010, and extends through Dec. 31, 2014.
Yardmasters have essentially the same agreement, but with additional pay increases unique to their craft.

UP tops list, CN shows improvement in STC Rail Report Card

Union Pacific was selected as the top-performing railroad by leading U.S. agricultural shippers in the second annual Soy Transportation Coalition Rail Customer Satisfaction Index. Survey respondents provided Canadian National a 38 percent increase in its score from the previous year, giving the company a third place ranking among the seven Class 1 railroads. In 2010, Canadian National finished in last place.

The survey was completed anonymously by agricultural shippers of various sizes and scale of operations and was comprised of the same eleven questions from 2010 categorized under: 1.) On Time Performance; 2.) Customer Service; and 3.) Costs. For most questions, participants were asked to rate each of the seven Class 1 railroads on a scale from 1-10 with ten being the highest and one being the lowest.

UP finished first in eight out of eleven questions. BNSF, the top rated railroad in 2010, slipped to second place.

Soy Transportation Coalition Rail Customer Satisfaction Index – Overall Ratings:

1.) Union Pacific
2.) Burlington Northern Santa Fe
3.) Canadian National
4.) Norfolk Southern
5.) CSX Transportation

6.) Kansas City Southern
7.) Canadian Pacific Railway

Of particular note was the dramatic improvement of Canadian National over the previous year. Steenhoek said, "According to the feedback received from a number of agricultural shippers, Canadian National has increasingly reached out to its customers, solicited their input and has instituted a number of performance measures to become a more service-oriented railroad."

The seven Class 1 railroads annually transport more than 24 million tons of soybeans, 17 million tons of soybean meal and six million tons of soybean oil.

Sound Transit to start next phase of track and signal project

On June 8, construction crews will begin the next phase of the Sound Transit D to M Streets Sounder track and signal project in Tacoma, Wash.

When the final 1.4-mile segment of the project is complete, Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood will be delivered in late 2012.

During the temporary closure, crews will bring streets to new grades, construct a rail bridge over Pacific Avenue, install new crossing gates and other safety equipment and provide landscaping to the area.

When Pacific Avenue reopens next spring, crews will begin the final phase of the project. A Street will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic, lowered and rebuilt as a pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing. Crews will also bring South C Street to a new street grade to support an at-grade rail crossing. Tacoma Rail tracks also will be rebuilt.

Knight to replace O’Bannon as AAR SVP Government Affairs

The Association of American Railroads has named Laurie Knight senior vice president of government affairs, effective July 25, 2011. Knight will succeed Hubert "Obie" O’Bannon who will retire after 23 years with the association.

"Laurie has a tremendous understanding of how to effectively represent a complex industry before key decision makers in Washington," said AAR President and CEO Edward Hamberger.

 

BNSF promotes three in operations department

BNSF has promoted three in its operations department.

Rollin Bredenberg has been named vice president, Capacity Planning and Operations Research. In this role he will have responsibility for line capacity planning, terminal capacity planning and operations research.

Bob Lease has been named vice president, Service Design and Performance, succeeding Rollin Bredenberg. Lease will be responsible for service design functions for the Coal, Agricultural, Industrial and Consumer Products business units.

Rob Reilly has been promoted to regional vice president, South Region, succeeding Bob Lease.

 

CSX recognized by Department of Defense, kicks off community service effort

CSX Corporation has been awarded the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award, given by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) agency, is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition for companies that provide exceptional support for employees serving the Guard and Reserves. In addition to being the only Class 1 railroad to receive the award this year, CSX is the only company to ever win the award twice, having first received it in 1998.

As one of 15 award recipients, CSX stood out from the more than 4,000 nominees as an employer that actively supports employees who serve both the Guard and Reserves.

"We are proud to be a major employer of America’s servicemen and women, whose superior training, experience in logistics and ability to work safely in demanding, team-based environments makes them uniquely qualified for railroading. We thank the members of our Guard and Reserves for volunteering to protect our country and its citizens, and as their employer, we remain committed to supporting them," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer, CSX.

In other news, CSX is kicking off an eight-month-long community service project, entitled Beyond Our Rails: Project Sanctuary (www.beyondourrails.org) that infuses five days of management training between now and Feb. 2012 with the company’s core value of giving back to the communities where its employees live and work. Through painting, mending fences, replacing windows and building new gardens and a compost bin, CSX has committed to revitalizing The Sanctuary on Eighth Street in Jacksonville, Fla., a learning haven for children in one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods, all while instilling a greater sense of community connectedness in its next generation of leaders from around the country.

Beginning June 4, groups of newly hired or promoted CSX managers will team with CSX’s existing management ranks at The Sanctuary on Eighth Street to renovate the early 1900’s era building and surrounding grounds. There will be 500 CSX employees working an estimated 1,200 service hours during the project and, for every hour volunteered, the CSX Foundation will direct $10 to a charitable organization of each employee’s choice through its Dollars for Doers program.

 

 

Teamsters Canada members ratify four-year contract with VIA Rail Canada

Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) have ratified a four-year contract with VIA Rail Canada (VIA). The TCRC represents some 350 employees working as locomotive engineers and yardmasters at VIA. The ratification follows an agreement in principle, which was reached last April 8.

The contract was given a strong vote of support by union members, who voted close to 89 percent to accept it. The four-year agreement, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011, includes wage increases of two percent, 2.5 percent, three percent and three percent, improvements to benefits and the introduction of a health care spending account to help offset benefit costs for retirees.

"We feel that this contract is fair and that it balances the best interests of the company and our employees," said Marc Laliberté, VIA’s president and chief executive officer. "Having this four-year agreement in place provides stability from a business and customer service perspective, and positions us well to tackle future challenges as a team."