FRA proposes grade crossing hotline

The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a rule that would make it easier for the public to report unsafe conditions at highway-rail grade crossings. The proposal would require railroads to establish toll-free telephone numbers to allow the public to report malfunctioning highway-rail grade crossing warning signals, disabled vehicles blocking crossings, or any other unsafe conditions at crossings.

Under the proposed rule, once the railroad receives a call from the public about a malfunctioning crossing signal or a vehicle stalled on the crossing, train operators in that area would be immediately notified of the unsafe condition in an effort to avoid an accident.

"Giving the public the power to report unsafe conditions at a highway-rail grade crossing can save lives," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The proposal to establish Emergency Notification Systems would require railroads to post a toll-free telephone number and the Department’s National Crossing Inventory identification number at every highway-rail crossing and explicitly authorized pathway grade crossing. Currently, all of the larger, Class 1 freight railroads and larger passenger railroads have some type of system in place by which they receive notification of unsafe conditions at grade crossings. However, not all smaller railroads have such a system in place. Based on National Crossing Inventory data from the end of December 2009, the proposed rule would affect 211,401 highway-rail and pathway grade crossings and 594 railroads.

"With a uniform emergency notification system all railroads must follow, we could cut the number of highway-rail crossing incidents," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "Standardization would simplify the process for both the public and railroads, saving precious time and lives."

Fortune names UP most admired

Fortune named Union Pacific the most admired company among trucking, transportation and logistics companies. Fortune expanded the category this year to include railroads. The magazine publishes its annual World’s Most Admired list in the March 21 edition.

Union Pacific ranked No. 1 in seven of nine reputation attributes identified by Fortune:

• People management
• Use of corporate assets
• Social responsibility
• Quality of management
• Financial soundness
• Long-term investment
• Quality of products/services

The company ranked second in innovation and fourth in global competitiveness. Fortune’s research partner, Hay Group, surveyed 4,100 executives, directors and securities analysts to select companies they admired most from a list that began with approximately 1,400 companies.
"We are proud of this recognition by Fortune because it demonstrates that our employees’ commitment to quality, safety, service and productivity is valued by customers, communities and investors," said Jim Young, UP chairman and chief executive officer. "It also indicates that companies across many industries recognize the value Union Pacific delivers as a complete transportation and logistics provider."

 

KCS hires one, promotes another

Kansas City Southern has appointed Larry Haskell as assistant vice president IT operations and transportation systems and promoted Michelle Kelly from director to assistant vice president compensation and benefits.

"We are pleased that Larry has joined KCS’ IT organization," said Carl Harrison, KCS vice president information technology. "He is a versatile IT leader with expertise in quality assurance and operations management programs."

Haskell joins KCS from ActioNet Inc., where he served as the national program quality manager for an enterprise IT program within the FAA since 2009. He also spent three years with Ultra Electronics Airport Systems, Inc. as vice president of operations for the Americas and six years with American Century Investments in various IT leadership roles.

"In her short time with the company, Michelle has already made marked improvements in our employee compensation and benefits processes and programs and provides critical expertise and leadership to our team of human resources professionals," said John E. Derry, senior vice president human resources.

Kelly has 25 years of human resources experience in the railroad, healthcare, manufacturing, utility and retail industries. She joined KCS in 2008 from John Knox Village, where she spent four years.

AECOM joint venture wins contract to design LA “Regional Connector” Transit Corridor

AECOM, provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, as part of a joint venture, has been awarded a $21.5-million contract from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The joint venture will provide planning and engineering services for the Regional Connector Transit Corridor, a two-mile transit link between the Metro Gold line, Metro Blue line and Expo light rail transit systems throughout downtown Los Angeles. When completed, the three-station, 1.6-mile tunnel alignment will create a 50-mile north-south LRT line from Pasadena to Long Beach and a 16-mile east-west LRT line from East Los Angeles to Culver City.

"AECOM has an important opportunity to plan and design this key element of our regional transportation system," said Jim de la Loza, senior vice president and west region planning manager with AECOM. "The Regional Connector will enable all the region’s transit systems to operate more efficiently and attract higher ridership, thus reducing congestion, improving air quality and bringing the benefits of modern mass transit to more communities."

The project will reduce one-way light rail trips by 10-20 minutes, eliminate crowding at existing stations and provide access to downtown and regional destinations for more than 90,000 passengers daily. Starting at the Seventh/Metro Center station in downtown Los Angeles, the proposed alignment extends north along Flower Street before proceeding east at Second Street with a new underground station providing access to Bunker Hill and Disney Hall. Tracks continue east underneath Second Street, turning northeast to a new Little Tokyo/Arts district underground station and then into a new underground rail junction.

UP Foundation grants $7.4M to The Principals

The Union Pacific Foundation is granting $7.4 million in 2011 to continue funding The Principals’ Partnership and hundreds of projects submitted by nonprofit organizations.

Now in its 10th year, The Principals’ Partnership is the Union Pacific Foundation’s signature giving program. It will continue to serve as a professional resource to 1,000 public high schools in 21 states. Additionally, the foundation is providing grants to 760 charitable organizations in 22 states.

"We remain extremely committed to the efforts of The Principals’ Partnership," said Robert W. Turner, UP senior vice president for corporate relations and Union Pacific Foundation president. "High school principals play a vital role in shaping their students’ futures. Providing principals with professional resources helps them make positive changes in their schools and provides us the opportunity to connect with the communities we serve.

The Principals’ Partnership assists approximately 1,000 principals responsible for more than one million students. The program fulfills principals’ leadership needs through a number of opportunities, including research, networking and workshops. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, The Principals’ Partnership starts with the professional needs of each principal and offers an individually customized program to meet those needs. The program is offered at no cost to the school, the district or the principal.

Union Pacific funds The Principals’ Partnership programs in communities in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

L.B. Foster supplies 1,553 tons of rail for Iowa Interstate RR

L.B. Foster Company is supplying 1,553 tons of new rail to Iowa Interstate Railroad, LTD, for new track installation and spur improvements. A specially-equipped L.B. Foster work train will deliver approximately 80,000 linear feet of 115# standard continuous welded rail in May 2011 to an Iowa Interstate interchange.

The rail is manufactured and welded in lengths up to 1,600 feet by Steel Dynamics, Inc., at their Rail Products facility in Columbia City, Ind. and shipped on L.B. Foster’s company-owned weld train. SDI is a strategic partner of L.B. Foster and a supplier of quality welded cwr strings to the Pittsburgh-based rail products company.

"Maintaining our own weld trains helps to expedite cwr shipments from our supplier plants and provides better coordination of delivery to staging areas nationwide," said Jay Roach, L.B. Foster sales manager.

 

MassDOT land exchange clears way for MBTA station

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has approved a land exchange agreement to facilitate extending the Green Line north of Lechmere Station to Somerville and Medford, Mass., while also advancing the NorthPoint mixed-use development project. The agreement between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Pan Am Railways, approved by the MassDOT Board of Directors, allows for construction of a new Lechmere Station on the east side of O’Brien Highway in East Cambridge across from the current station location. The project will lead to new jobs and economic development for the area.

"This landmark agreement represents an important next step in the Green Line Extension project that will help create jobs in both the short- and long-term," said MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan. "At the same time, we have secured the use of important rights-of-way that are critical to our longer-term rail vision and are important for the Commonwealth’s transportation and economic future."

The MBTA is also obtaining crucial track and property rights necessary for MassDOT and the MBTA to build and operate the Green Line Extension, among other projects. In exchange for granting those rights to the MBTA, Pan Am is acquiring the property on which the existing Lechmere Station is located.

"The new Lechmere Station will benefit Cambridge residents by increasing the public transportation options available to them and enable the city of Cambridge to redevelop an important land parcel that will improve the overall vitality of the neighborhood," said Cambridge Mayor David Maher. "We are encouraged by the MBTA’s investment in East Cambridge by moving forward with Lechmere Station. This is an important step in completing the NorthPoint area so it can meet its full potential as a place to live and to work."

Among the key elements of the newly-approved agreement:
The MBTA and MassDOT will receive:

• All of the trackage and property rights necessary to build and operate the Green Line Extension, which have a combined value of $12.5 million. In addition to this real value, these rights provide a $5.5 million savings for MassDOT and the MBTA, which had expected to pay $18 million for these rights.

• Trackage rights off the Worcester Main Line to allow potential future passenger service from Worcester to Ayer. This will provide a connection between the Worcester and Fitchburg Commuter Rail Lines, and a potential future connection to North Station.

• Trackage rights to provide future passenger service to New Hampshire. This would allow for the extension of MBTA Commuter Rail service from Lowell to Concord, NH through Nashua and Manchester. That project would ultimately be sponsored and funded by the State of New Hampshire, similar to current Commuter Rail service to Rhode Island.

• While not part of the Land Exchange Agreement, Pan Am has agreed to assume costs associated with the required street and sidewalk improvements in the Lechmere area. The Green Line Extension project and the Commonwealth were planning to absorb this $9 million expense, which may now be deducted from the project’s total cost.

CPR

Canadian Pacific Railway and TSI Terminal Systems Inc., a subsidiary of GCT Global Container Terminals Inc., have signed a Service Level Agreement that builds on their productivity and performance agreement announced last June.

The agreement outlines key performance indicators relating to the flow of containers through the Vancouver Gateway. Meeting the performance indicators will improve productivity, enhance reliability and increase efficiency. The agreement period is three years.

"This Service Level Agreement continues to move us along the path of a high performance, efficient and reliable supply chain to ensure that Vancouver is a preferred intermodal gateway." said Michael E. Moore, CEO of Global Container Terminals. "Our partnership with CP and our commitment to collaborate on delivering high-level service to our mutual customers will ensure success."

"Canadian Pacific’s customer focused partnerships, upgraded infrastructure, innovative technology and industry leading safety practices give us the means to grow our franchise over the long term," said Fred Green, CEO of Canadian Pacific. "As import and export volumes grow through the Pacific Gateway, CP and TSI are mutually committed to service improvements in the world-class Vancouver gateway."

ICC to award grants for improvements near CN/EJ&E crossings

The Illinois Commerce Commission will accept proposals for grants to assist with construction projects or programs aimed at improving conditions at or near railroad crossings in communities, counties and townships affected by Canadian National Railway Company’s acquisition of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway.

Applications for grants are due by 1 p.m. April 1, 2011.

Applicants must submit proposals for construction projects or programs to mitigate the impact of increased rail traffic upon area residents, in compliance with 49 CFR 262. Eligible projects could include, but are not limited to, right-of-way fencing, noise abatement walls, noise abatement berms and landscaping.

The ICC’s rail safety staff will serve as project managers and will work with the Federal Railroad Administration and the communities.
Proposals selected for funding will be announced on or after May 1, 2011. The grants will be awarded for projects to be implemented between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012.

CPR

Ed Harris, executive vice president, operations at Canadian Pacific Railway has decided to retire, effective April 1, 2011.

Mike Franczak, currently senior vice president, operations, will succeed Harris and be appointed executive vice president, operations. Franczak will assume responsibility for operations activity across Canadian Pacific Railway’s 14,800 mile North American network.

"Ed’s leadership has paved the way for refinements of yard processes which improve service reliability for the benefit of CP’s customers and supply chain partners," said Green.

Harris joined CPR in 2010 and leveraged more than 30 years of railroading experience to lead CPR’s operations team through various enhancements and to develop a successor.

Harris will act as an advisor to Franczak through 2011.

 

WMATA plans improvements March 4-6

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will conduct safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines to comply with National Transportation Safety Board recommendations during the weekend of March 4 to 6.

During the weekend, Metro will continue repairs on the aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station, make track circuit upgrades near the Deanwood Metrorail station, install 6,000 feet of cellular communication cables to ultimately improve cell phone coverage, replace 2,000 feet of old track, install 380 insulators, 1,400 new rail ties, 400 new track fasteners, make repairs to 19 escalators and 14 elevators and fix the platform at the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station.

On the Orange Line, there will be no train service between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations and the five stations in between – Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations — will be closed. Also, there will be no Blue Line service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations. The Benning Road Metrorail station will remain open. Normal service will resume on Monday, March 7.

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 4 to closing on Sunday, March 6, Red Line trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center as personnel replace fasteners that support the tracks. Red Line trains will also share one track between the Takoma and Forest Glen Metrorail stations as personnel make upgrades to the train control rooms.

Metra emissions update

Metra’s Emissions Task Force, formed by the rail agency to investigate the level of diesel emissions on trains and downtown platforms and to identify ways to improve air quality, met March 2, to discuss recent activity. Metra has already tested the air quality on its cars and at its downtown stations and is now working on a third phase of testing, in its locomotive cabs, cab cars and maintenance shops.

At this most recent meeting, Metra announced plans to conduct another round of tests on its passenger cars to better understand the readings it found in the first round. In addition, it will test cars equipped with a higher-quality filter and new hoods placed over the air intakes. It will also continue to explore other ways to reduce diesel emissions and to secure funding to carry out the necessary changes.

Watco, Kinder Morgan partner on transload facilities

Watco Companies, LLC and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. have entered into an agreement where Kinder Morgan and Watco will construct and operate several rail transload facilities in key markets for loading and unloading crude oil along with many other commodities and products that are tied to the oil and gas industry.

The network will consist of several key markets which include Dore, N.D., Stanley, N.D., Stroud, Okla., Houston, Texas and several strategic loading facilities in the Eagle Ford Shale area in south Texas. Each facility will have the capability of handling large unit train volumes along with manifest commodities such as frac sand, pipe and drilling supplies.

The Dore, N.D., facility will include Pioneer Oil, LLC, headquartered in Billings, Mont., and will have over 10,000 feet of track in Phase 1 of the project along with warehousing for inside storage. The operational start date is September 1, 2011. Stroud will also house the capabilities of handling unit train volumes with a start date of October 1, 2011 and will provide customers direct access to Cushing, Okla. The other locations are still in the design phase and will be operational in the first quarter of 2012.

"As companies like Watco and Kinder Morgan continue to invest in expanding transportation services for the oil and gas industry, they are also helping to boost the economies of these key markets," said Denis Smith, BNSF vice president, industrial products marketing. "We look forward to working with Watco and Kinder Morgan to serve this growing market."

Kevin Goins, SVP and COO Watco Transload and Intermodal, said, "Our new network of transloads, in partnership with Kinder Morgan, will add significant new services to the changing market dynamics and we believe will provide tremendous value for customers by improving the way they move energy related commodities. We believe it will give our customers multiple options to ship by rail and provides them with a seamless solution from key production areas to key destinations."

Bombardier Transportation acquires stake in Russian Railways subsidiary

Following the signing of a share purchase agreement in Moscow on December 13, 2010, Bombardier has confirmed that BT Signaling B.V. purchased a stake in the signaling equipment manufacturer United Electrical Engineering Plants, known as Elteza. BT Signaling B.V. purchased a 25 percent stake in Elteza, a subsidiary of Russian Railways (RZD). Subject to further approval, BT Signaling B.V. could increase its stake to up to 50 percent. RZD will remain the majority shareholder.

Elteza is Russia’s largest signaling equipment producer with more than 3,000 employees across seven manufacturing sites. The company focuses on the design, development and production of rail signaling equipment and automatic and remote train control systems which have been delivered in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Baltic states. The new partnership will be one of the first successful examples of the privatization of a Russian Railways’ subsidiary and part of the modernization strategy of RZD.

Canada partners with AMT on train maintenance center

The Government of Canada will contribute up to $25 million through the P3 Canada Fund towards eligible costs of a new Maintenance Centre in Montréal, Quebec, for the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT).

Through this project, the Governments of Canada and Quebec and the AMT will partner with the private sector to design, build and finance a facility required to maintain the current and future fleet of the AMT’s commuter trains. By facilitating minor and major maintenance operations using modern equipment, the new Lachine Maintenance Centre will enhance service reliability to the benefit of all transit users. Partnering with the private sector to deliver this project as a public-private partnership will leverage private sector expertise, allow the transfer of design and construction risks to the private sector and generate positive value for money compared to traditional procurement, to the benefit of taxpayers.

Construction will start in 2012 and will last for 18 months, with the centre expected to be operational by 2013. The total estimated cost of the project is $119 million with contributions of $24.725 million from the Government of Canada through PPP Canada, $61.961 million from the Government of Quebec and $32.210 million from the AMT.

"The Government of Canada understands that this is an investment in our future. P3s are an innovative approach to building better public infrastructure and ensuring maximum value for taxpayers’ dollars," said Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty.

"We are proud to support projects like the construction of a maintenance centre for commuter trains at Lachine, which will provide a long-term solution to public transit development in the Greater Montréal Area, improve reliability as well as the safety of the network and its passengers, and create jobs," explained Senator Larry Smith.

"PPP Canada is committed to bringing important public infrastructure initiatives and the expertise of the private sector together in a way that ensures value for Canadian taxpayers. Through its P3 Canada Fund, PPP Canada is encouraging the use of P3s by provinces, territories, municipalities and Aboriginal communities," added Greg Melchin, Chair of the Board of Directors of PPP Canada.

"In the past 12 years, commuter train ridership has more than doubled," said the AMT’s Nancy Fréchette. "Therefore, the AMT must make plans for the maintenance of a fleet of commuter trains that is expected to grow significantly. The AMT currently runs 160 two-story passenger cars on its network in order to increase the capacity of its current lines by 70 percent. In addition, 20 dual-mode locomotives have been ordered and will be used to increase the network’s reliability and implement the new Train de l’Est line. The rolling stock will increase from 217 to more than 300 units by 2015. Given its growth objectives, the AMT must be able to accommodate, and especially to maintain, these major acquisitions. The reliability of commuter trains is largely dependent on having maintenance centers. At the end of the day, all commuter train users will benefit from the new facilities."

 

Xorail signs $165M contract

Xorail Inc., a subsidiary of Wabtec Corporation, has signed a $165 million contract to design and install Communications-Based Train Control for MRS Logistica, which operates the Southeastern Federal Railroad Network in Brazil. Under the contract, Xorail will provide turnkey project management; design and installation of signaling, communications and train dispatch equipment and on-board electronic equipment for 500 locomotives and 50 auxiliary vehicles. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

"This train control project represents Xorail’s entry into the growing rail market in Brazil, and a significant expansion of Wabtec’s presence in the region," said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. "We’re pleased to be leading this important technology deployment, which will enable MRS Logistica to increase capacity, safety and efficiency throughout its network."

Brazil is the sixth-largest freight rail market in the world, and Wabtec has expanded its activities there in recent years. In 2009, Wabtec opened a service center in MRS Logistica’s Belo Horizonte maintenance shop to provide aftermarket products and services. Wabtec recently acquired Adantech, a Brazilian-based manufacturer of friction products.

MRS Logistica operates about 1,000 miles of track that connect the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo. These high-volume, heavy-density lines serve Brazil’s largest industries, including iron ore, steel, cement and other critical commodities, which represent about half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. In 2010, MRS Logistica’s traffic volume increased 12 percent, surpassing 140 million tons, due to strong demand for the country’s commodities around the world.

Eduardo Parente, chief executive officer of MRS, said: "This major investment in our infrastructure will improve the safety of our operations and is an essential part of meeting increased demand. Ours is a highly complex network due to the density of the track and geography of the region, which we believe makes this train control project a first in freight rail operations around the world. After a lengthy bidding process, we are convinced that Xorail is uniquely positioned to deliver a solution."

 

Nottingham to resign March 18

Surface Transportation Board Vice Chairman Charles D. Nottingham will resign March 18, or sooner if his replacement is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Nottingham, the lone Republican on the three-member Board, was appointed Chairman by President George W. Bush and joined the Board in August 2006 following his Senate confirmation. He served as STB Chairman until March 12, 2009.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to have been appointed by President Bush and to have served in his administration," Nottingham said. "It has also been an honor to serve in President Obama’s administration. I owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues on the Board, Chairman Dan Elliott and Commissioner Frank Mulvey, as well as to the Board’s exemplary career staff. Working together in a bipartisan manner, I believe that we achieved outstanding results overseeing the freight railroad industry and the other transportation industry sectors under our jurisdiction."

In October 2010 Nottingham announced that he would not seek a second term on the Board when his current term expired at the end of 2010. In an effort to facilitate an orderly transition and in order to participate in the resolution of several significant pending proceedings, Nottingham has continued his tenure at the Board into 2011 – consistent with the Board’s governing statute which permits a Board member to continue serving for up to one year after the end of his or her term, until a successor is named and confirmed.

KCS promotes three operating officers

Kansas City Southern has promoted three senior level operating officers, effective March 1.

• David R. Ebbrecht was promoted from senior vice president operations to executive vice president operations for KCS and its U.S. subsidiaries and closely coordinating with the leadership of Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

• John S. Jacobsen was promoted from vice president and chief engineer to senior vice president and chief engineer for KCS’ U.S. subsidiaries, also closely coordinating with the leadership of KCSM.

• Oscar A. Del Cueto was promoted from vice president operations to senior vice president operations for KCSM.

Ebbrecht has 23 years of transportation industry experience. He joined KCS in 2001 and has held positions in strategic planning, materials logistics, business development, transportation management and network operations.

Jacobsen has 40 years of railroad industry experience. He re-joined KCS as vice president and chief engineer in 2008. He held the same position from 1993 to 2001. In the interim, he provided consultation to KCS’ subsidiary Superior Tie and Timber and was integral to the rebuilding of the Panama Canal Railway.

Del Cueto has 20 years of railroad experience. He joined the company known today as KCSM in 1997 and has held a number of transportation positions.

$590M secured for Washington state passenger rail

Agreements have been signed that guarantee Washington state will get $590 million in federal stimulus money to improve the Amtrak Cascades rail corridor from Portland to Seattle.

One agreement was signed between the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration that commits FRA to allocate 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to Washington’s passenger rail projects. The $590 million initially was awarded in early 2010, and this new agreement guarantees the money.

Separately, Amtrak, BNSF and WSDOT signed an agreement that outlines how rail investments will be made based on service outcomes and passenger rail performance benchmarks on rail lines shared by freight and passenger rail, such as on-time performance, faster travel times and frequency of service.

As a result of the $590 million in Recovery Act high-speed-rail funding:

• Two additional daily Amtrak Cascades round trips will be added between Seattle and Portland, for a total six, by 2017.
• On-time reliability is expected to increase from 62 to 88 percent.
• More consistent speeds will be possible throughout the corridor, resulting in faster travel times between Seattle and Portland.
• Major construction projects will be completed that will include building bypass tracks to allow for increased train frequency and multiple upgrades to existing track.
• Several safety-related projects will be completed, including grade separations and the latest technology in advanced-warning signal systems. This will reduce passenger/freight congestion, making passenger travel times shorter with more reliable on-time service.

"This is another great development for our state in that this rail work will generate thousands of highly skilled construction and operating jobs and result in important improvements in rail passenger service," Gregoire said.

Gregoire said credit is due to the state’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, who were instrumental in working with federal partners in Washington, D.C., to secure this passenger rail funding.

"Signing this agreement now means work can begin during this year’s construction season," said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, noting that the ARRA funds will create more than 6,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Pacific Northwest. "Ultimately, the goal is to boost the rail-line capacity and relieve mainline congestion, allowing Amtrak Cascades to offer more frequent and reliable passenger rail service between Portland and Seattle."

"This is an important milestone in our longstanding relationship with WSDOT to fund improvements for additional and improved passenger service in the Cascades corridor," said Matt Rose, BNSF Railway chairman and CEO. "We believe reaching this agreement is consistent with that long-term relationship with WSDOT and our agreement with Amtrak, which will bring improved passenger service in the corridor."

Washington state received an additional $161.5 million in high-speed rail funds redirected from Wisconsin and Ohio, which declined the ARRA money. Agreements to obligate this additional funding for Washington projects are expected in the near future.

 

UP launches safety campaign aimed at truckers

Union Pacific Railroad has launched an outdoor billboard campaign aimed at getting South Texas truck drivers to safely use railroad crossings.
At the center of the campaign is a yellow traffic sign featuring an 18-wheeler truck stuck on railroad tracks. Along with this visual warning comes a variety of written reminders, including, "Always expect a train," "Keep your rear clear," and for Spanish-speaking drivers, "Cuidado con el tren" ("Use caution with trains").

An estimated 1.3 million South Texas drivers will view these messages over the next year. The messages will be displayed on six billboards located along Interstate 35, between San Antonio and Laredo.

"There has been an increase in heavy truck traffic across the rail line that parallels I-35 and we hope to reach truck drivers before they cross the tracks," said Mike Brazytis, superintendent for UP’s San Antonio Service Unit. "The signs will remind them to stop for trains and ensure their trucks are equipped to safely cross the tracks."

Trucks that are longer than the space between the highway and the railroad tracks often leave their bumpers hanging over the tracks. And heavy trucks that lack enough space between the bottom of their trailers and the grade crossing often get stuck on the tracks. Both scenarios pose the life-threatening risk of collision with trains. The billboards encourage professional truck drivers to follow traffic laws requiring them to allow enough space between their trucks and the railroad tracks. They also remind drivers to make sure they have adequate vertical clearance before attempting to cross the tracks.

"Union Pacific is literally raising the rail safety message to remind professional truck drivers of their responsibility to cross the tracks safely," said Webb County Judge Danny Valdez. "The billboards will also reach the general public, which will make our community even safer."