Twin Cities Metro ridership up 2.3 percent

Customers boarded Minneapolis Metropolitan Area Transit Authority buses and trains more than 78 million times last year, a 2.3 percent increase over 2009.

The year 2010 marks only the fourth time in past 30 years that Metro Transit’s annual ridership has exceeded 78 million.
“With signs that the economy is slowly improving, we have a positive outlook for ridership to continue to grow in 2011,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.

Customers used Hiawatha light-rail trains 10.5 million times in 2010, a six percent increase and the highest annual ridership in the line’s six-year history.

Ridership on core urban routes – the heart of the Metro Transit system — increased .7 percent to 65.6 million.
Ridership on the new Northstar commuter rail line closed its first year at 710,400 rides, nearly 21 percent below expectations. The rush-hour only service intended for workers was hampered by the weak economy and a seven percent unemployment rate with fewer people headed to jobs in downtown Minneapolis.

Lamb said average weekday rides last month on Northstar were 2.5 percent higher than December 2009, a trend that continues in early January with average weekday rides up more than 14 percent.

“While Northstar ridership last year did not match expectations, service quality was high with a 95.6 percent on-time performance,” he said. “Best of all, 2010 Northstar operations finished within budget despite low ridership.”

GE Transportation and TESSCO form partnership

GE Transportation and TESSCO Technologies Incorporated have formed a long-term partnership to offer Positive Train Control solutions to the North American Rail industry.

GE Transportation and TESSCO will co-produce, market and sell integrated, turnkey, Positive Train Control and Monitoring solutions. The two organizations will support the U.S. rail network in its response to the U.S. Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that set a December 31, 2015 deadline to implement PTC in over 7,000 presently “dark territory” switch locations in the United States.

“TESSCO and GE are combining their individual strengths to bring the best turnkey, dark territory solution to our customers,” said Pierre Comte, CEO of GE Transportation’s Intelligent Control Systems business. “TESSCO brings a unique combination of state-of-the-art communication and radio frequency technology – GE brings its innovative signaling solutions; together, we are able to offer an integrated PTC solution.”

“We are excited and honored,” commented TESSCO CEO Robert B. Barnhill. “Our power and radio frequency propagation station provides the PTC infrastructure for the GE controller and the radio to detect the condition of rail right away, and monitor oncoming locomotives to help prevent train-to-train collision, over-speed derailment, incursions into established work-zone limits and movement of a train through a switch left in the improper position. We are proud to come together with GE Transportation to create history-making innovations to meet the safety requirements of the railroads.”

Amtrak

In response to customer demand, Amtrak Keystone Service (Harrisburg – Philadelphia – New York) will add Quiet Car® service starting January 24, providing passengers with a peaceful, quiet atmosphere to work or rest without distraction.

The coach car adjacent to the locomotive will typically be designated as the Quiet Car. Seating on the Quiet Car is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. There is no additional charge for a seat in a Quiet Car.

While riding in the Quiet Car, passengers must follow these guidelines:
Hushed Voices: Strictly limit conversation and speak only in quiet, subdued tones.
Muted Devices: No use of any devices that emit sounds, including cellular phones, handheld games without headphones, laptop computers with audible features enabled, or CD, DVD, iPod and MP3 players without headphones.
Headphones/Earpieces: Volume must be low enough so that the audio from headphones/earpieces cannot be heard by neighboring passengers.

The Amtrak Quiet Car first started in 1999 on the Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and Washington. Today the Quiet Car has expanded to include Acela Express and Northeast Regional service between Washington and Boston, as well as the Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Ohio rail developments to be considered Jan. 20

Two industrial development sites in Ohio, with the potential to create much-needed jobs, will boost their attractiveness to new business with new rail connections, if Ohio Rail Development Commision Commissioners approve at the meeting on January 20th. 



The Eastpointe Business Park near Zanesville, Ohio, is seeking to improve both rail access and safety by extending rail service deeper into the 1,200-acre industrial park and adding new lights and gates to grade crossings at the site. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority is asking the ORDC to serve as project sponsor so it may access $475,000 in federal rail line relocation funds for the project. 


In Van Wert County, the local port authority is seeking a $500,000 grant to rehab a rail line into a 1,600-acre job ready mega site that could generate up to 2,500 jobs and improve service and business for two existing companies.

Commissioners will also consider a request for funding to make repairs to a railroad bridge on the city of Greenfield-owned rail line in Highland County. They will also hear briefings on a staff-approved project to rehabilitate the Indiana & Ohio Railroad Line from Lancaster to Logan, a rail bridge repair project in Ashtabula County and funding for a steel trans-loading facility on the Cleveland Commercial Railroad.

NCDOT improves rail crossings in three counties

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, North Carolina Railroad Company and Norfolk Southern Railway have partnered on improvements to make railroad crossings safer and more efficient in Lenoir, Craven and Carteret counties.

The improvement projects were paid for with 55.7 percent state funds from NCDOT, 24.3 percent state funds from the North Carolina Railroad and 20 percent funds from NS.  

This is a part of the North Carolina Railroad Company’s Eastern North Carolina Safety Project to improve grade crossing protection on unsignalized or partially signalized grade crossings between Pine Level and Morehead City.

This project is also a part of a comprehensive statewide NCDOT program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Automatic warning devices are now in place at more than 2,400 of North Carolina’s over 4,100 public at-grade crossings.  

Lenoir County:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the NS intersections of Wooten Street in La Grange, Parrott Dickerson Road near Kinston, Blount Street in Kinston and Independence Street in Kinston. This project cost $994,340.

Craven County:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the NS intersections of Up Creek Road in Cove City, Prentiss Riggs Road near Cove City, Clark’s Road near New Bern and Camp Kiro Road near James City. This project cost $1,002,000.

Carteret County:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the NS intersection of Carl Garner Road. This project cost $268,000.

WMATA completes weekend trackwork

The scheduled track overhaul on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Blue and Orange Line that interrupted service between the Rosslyn and Farragut West Metrorail stations and closed the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend was completed successfully and all stations reopened on time. 



This past weekend, Metro replaced four track switches, which comprised the entire rail interlocking at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, which was a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to improve rail system safety. Metro also improved cell phone coverage on the Orange Line, single-tracked trains on the Orange Line to continue work for the rail extension to Dulles and made safety improvements on the Red Line. 



During the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend of Feb. 18 to 21, there will be no Blue and Orange Line service between the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations as Metro replaces four track switches, to comply with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. The track switch replacement comprises the entire rail interlocking between the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations. The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations will be closed during the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend.

GE to assist with DART Green Line expansion

GE Transportation has provided an integrated solution for the entire 24 miles and 15 new stations of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line that went into service in December 2010. GE’s solution facilitated the longest single-day opening of electric light rail in the United States since 1990. GE Transportation also provided the signal system for the northwest portion of the Green Line (13.5 miles) that provides new service to the City of Farmer’s Branch and the City of Carrolton and extended DART Light Rail service within the City of Dallas.

GE Transportation’s solution, worth about $35 million, includes Ultra Cab II for the onboard cab-signaling portion of the solution, Vital Logic Controller for wayside interlocking control and a centralized control system that coordinates activities.
DART’s expansion program will double the DART Rail System to 90 miles, while future Blue Line expansion plans continue to unfold.

“The Green Line changes everything for our customers," DART President Gary Thomas said. "Customers living in Pleasant Grove now have seamless access to jobs at Baylor, Downtown, the Market District, UT Southwestern/Parkland, Love Field and Farmers Branch and Carrollton. Business owners all along the corridor can connect with new customers and new pools of prospective employees."

“We are extremely pleased to have had the opportunity to assist DART in the deployment of its Green Line extension,” said Pierre Comte, president of GE Transportation’s Intelligent Control Systems business. “This project reflects our desire to deliver integrated solutions that involve moving goods and people safely and efficiently in all parts of the world, and in particular, helping metropolitan areas more efficiently manage the flow of people and traffic through the use of intelligent transportation systems. DART’s future expansion plans could be an opportunity for GE Transportation and DART to work closely in serving the needs of the Dallas community.”

RMI announces Sixth Annual FastTrack Award winners

RMI, an independent provider of rail information services to the transportation industry, has announced its 2011 FastTrack Award winners. Now in its sixth year, the FastTrack Award program honors RMI customers who exemplify RMI’s goal to streamline processes and improve procedures.

The FastTrack Awards program is designed to recognize RMI’s power users — those railroads, shippers, leasing companies and others who maximize the value of its services by implementing procedures that result in more comprehensive automation of manual processes, improved information capture and reporting, greater accounting control, enhanced asset management or more efficient processes in any capacity.

2011 FastTrack Award Winners:

Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad uses RailConnect  and ExpressYard to automate rail operations and increase efficiency. RailConnect  increased BRG’s Train II event reporting to 96 percent and increased interchange reporting accuracy to 99 percent. ExpressYard increased BRG’s car repair billing accuracy to 97 percent and eliminated duplicate billing.

Canton Railroad engaged RMI Value Delivery to implement RailConnect best practices, improve operations and increase management efficiency. In just one week, RMI rebuilt all CTN master files to make use of many new RailConnect features and operating enhancements. CTN implemented ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface to provide customers with visibility on inbound railcars and automate railcar releases.

Carload Express uses RailConnect to operate and automate the Allegheny Valley Railroad, Camp Chase Railroad and Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. RailConnect automates blocking tables for the majority of inbound interchanges and applies repetitive waybill codes with 100 percent accuracy. Nearly 95 percent of Carload Express customers use ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface to automate railcar releases, improve customer accountability, and reduce demurrage charges.

Genesee & Wyoming moved the Georgia Southwestern Railroad to RailConnect  to automate operations and eliminate many manual and repetitive tasks. GSWR implemented ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface for customer communications and RailConnect mCrew for remote crew reporting. Over 90 percent of all GSWR carloads are automatically rated.

Katoen Natie Gulf Coast increased operational capacity, efficiency and productivity with RailConnect. KTN improved quality of service for its customers by providing real time data and visibility on planned rail movements. With RailConnect, KTN improved rail operations, reduced infrastructure spending and lowered operating costs by more than $100,000 in 2010.
Indiana Eastern Railroad uses ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface and e-BOL to automate communications and reduce manual processing. RailConnect helps IERR generate timely and accurate reports for its customers and has reduced administrative operating costs by more than 60 percent. Today nearly 90 percent of IERR customers use ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface and e-BOL.

Iowa Interstate Railroad uses RailConnect , Revenue Management System, and Cash Application to manage and reduce operating costs. IAIS uses ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface to automate customer communications and deliver more than 70 daily reports. ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface helped IAIS reduce fax and email messages from 350 per month to less than 20, saving approximately 25 labor hours per month.

Massachusetts Coastal Railroad relied on RMI’s Value Delivery team for a seamless integration of 32 miles of new track. RMI helped MC implement automated switch lists and capture real time train movements. ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface automates railcar releases and gives MC customers a real time view of the new railroad.

Modesto and Empire Traction Company uses RailConnect to accurately manage railcar storage, which reduced dwell time by 16 perent and manual processing by 60 percent. RailConnect automates blocking tables and 100 percent of MET railcars are automatically assigned repetitive waybill codes. RailConnect has helped MET increase Train II reporting accuracy to over 90 percent.

The Port Terminal Railroad Association has worked with RMI to improve Car Scheduling in RailConnect. PTRA is now able to schedule cars as needed, reduce unnecessary data and greatly improve data quality. PTRA has improved “on time” delivery of outbound traffic and achieved a 97 percent right train, right day ratio with the Class I carriers.

RailAmerica’s New England Central Railroad uses RailConnect, RailConnect mCrew, and ShipperConnect Rail Carrier Interface. RMI has helped NECR increase operating efficiency and improve communication between customer service, train crews and customers. NECR uses RailConnect to automatically rate over 80 percent of all railcars and RailConnect mCrew captures more than 65 percent of all railcar movement in the field, in near real time.

Tacoma Municipal Belt Line Railroad uses RailConnect Car Hire Management to analyze monthly reclaim and demurrage billing, reduce errors and streamline car hire auditing. RailConnect helped TMBL automate status change reports for bad order railcars and reduce customer inquiries by 80 percent. RMI helped TMBL implement best practices for Service and Charge Code management and reduce errors by 100 percent.

FRA clears the way for Maine to purchase Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway

The FRA has cleared all legal hurdles for the State of Maine to take ownership of 233 miles of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway in Aroostook and Penobscot counties, preserving rail service for that part of the State. The U.S. Department of Transportation provided a $10.5 million grant in October 2010 to the Maine DOT for repairs and upgrades for that section of the railroad.

"As an Aroostook County native, I understand how important the continued operation of this rail line is to Maine’s economy,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Approptiations Subcommittee on Transportation. “[The] news allows the State of Maine to take clear ownership of this portion of track, rehabilitate it, and improve it in order to preserve rail service for nearly two dozen employers in Aroostook and Penobscot counties. This will help prevent the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs which are dependent upon rail service."

According to a press release from the Governor’s office in October 2010, funding includes $7 million from a June 2010 bond, $4 million from a November 2009 bond that is being repurposed, $7 million from state reserve accounts, $1.1 million from rail balances from canceled projects and $1 million from a major shipper on the line.

Last April, FRA Administrator Joe Szabo traveled to Bangor, at Senator Collins’ request, to meet with the Senator, the Governor, local and state officials and businesses to discuss how to preserve rail service in Northern Maine. 

"Today’s decision by FRA clears the way for the state to take over this rail line, so we can begin the important work of upgrading and rehabilitating the tracks to preserve and improve rail service for northern Maine" said Senator Collins.

This purchase will preserve a vital economic corridor and transportation asset in Northern Maine. More than 25 businesses in the area rely on this rail link and an estimated 750-1,000 jobs would have been threatened or at risk if the tracks were abandoned.

CPR prepares to operate regardless of possible strike

Workers have voted to take strike action if necessary at both CN and CPR as negotiations with the companies continue and the deadline approaches. The workers are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers.

CPR has advised that it has trained 1,200 managers and has a comprehensive contingency plan in place to fully operate the railway should a labor dispute occur with the CAW, with the earliest possible date being February 8, 2011.

Workers at CN make up three different CAW bargaining units and have voted in favor of a strike if necessary, as follows:
Local 100 – 95 percent

Council 4000 (office and clerical) – 82 percent

Council 4000 (mechanical) -100 percent

Council 4000 CNTL (owner operators) – 93 percent

The CN strike deadline is Tuesday, January 25 at 12:01 a.m. The CAW represents 4,300 workers at CN in all bargaining units combined.

Workers at CPR, represented by CAW Local 101, voted 89 percent in favor of going on strike if necessary. The strike deadline is Tuesday, February 8 at 12:01 a.m. The CAW represents 2,100 workers at CPR.

CAW President Ken Lewenza said that negotiations with both companies have been challenging so far with each demanding concessions of the workers.

"Our members have spoken loudly and clearly about their issues and concerns and this high strike vote is a strong indication that our members are absolutely serious in addressing these concerns at the bargaining table," said Lewenza. "Workers at CN and CP will enjoy the full support of the union as they fight concessionary demands and secure a decent contract."

WMATA launches aggressive safety plan

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is launching a plan to improve safety and bring the Metro rail system back to a state of good repair that will have staff working around the clock to get the work done as quickly and safely as possible. The end result will mean improved service reliability, on-time performance and a smoother ride.

“This is the short-term pain of outages on weekends for long term gains for our customers in terms of a safer, more reliable and better quality service,” said Richard Sarles, Metro’s general manager. “This is the most aggressive program of work Metro has taken since the system was built.”

To minimize inconvenience and maximize efficiencies, track work will be accelerated and performed around the clock. Regular weekend single tracking will commence at 9 p.m. on Fridays and continue through closing on Sunday nights. Shutdowns during holiday weekends will typically commence at 9 p.m. on Fridays and continue through closing on Monday nights. Metro officials will periodically schedule daytime single tracking that will not impact off-peak schedules. As a result of this aggressive work plan, Metro will need to close portions of the rail system multiple times during weekends in 2011. The work will necessitate single-tracking and/or station closures. 


The 2011 tentative shutdown schedule: 


Jan. 14 to 17, 2011 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend: Metro plans to close the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines during the three-day Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14, through Monday, Jan. 17, as the agency undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project to improve safety, to comply with a recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board and maintain service reliability and a state of good repair. During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches. Metro also will conduct several additional projects in the area of the closure to maximize the amount of work to be done while there are no trains in the area.

Feb. 18 to 21, 2011 — Presidents Day Holiday Weekend:
Metro will close two Blue and Orange Line stations (Federal Triangle and Smithsonian Metrorail stations) during the three-day Presidents Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 21. During the Presidents Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, to comply with a NTSB recommendation.

March 4 to 6 and March 11 to 13, 2011 – Cheverly Aerial Structure Repairs: There will be no train service on the Orange Line between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations as Metro works to stabilize the ground, the abutment and aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station.

Orange Line Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project: During the weekends of March 18 to 20, March 25 to 27, May 27 to 30, June 3 to 5, Sept. 2 to 5, and Oct. 7 to 10, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will continue major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. During these weekends, the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations will remain open although there will be no train service between those stations. 



May 27 to 30, 2011 — Memorial Day Holiday Weekend: Metro will close the Eastern Market Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines during the three-day Memorial Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, May 27, through Monday, May 30. During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the Eastern Market Metrorail station to comply with a NTSB recommendation. 



Sept. 2 to 5, 2011 — Labor Day Holiday Weekend:
Metro will close two Blue Line stations (Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations) during the three-day Labor Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 5. During the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will install two new track switches between the Van Dorn Street and King Street Metrorail stations, to comply with a NTSB recommendation. 



Oct. 7 to 10, 2011 — Columbus Day Holiday Weekend:
Metro will close the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations on the Green and Yellow lines during the three-day Columbus Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, through Monday, Oct. 10. During the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail station to comply with a NTSB recommendation. 



Nov. 10 to 13, 2011 — Veterans Day Holiday Weekend: Metro will close the Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations on the Green Line during the three-day Veterans Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 13. During the Veterans Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace eight track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlockings at the Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations, to comply with a NTSB recommendation. 


Closures are subject to change.

GOP Senator Hutchison to retire

The United Transportation Union reports Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, the senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, has announced she will retire at the end of 2012, when her third six-year term ends.

The Senate Commerce Committee has oversight of many rail, transit, air and bus issues. She is considered a moderate Republican.

The Senate Commerce Committee, with a Democratic majority, is chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).

Harris joins BR&L

Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Inc. has named Jeff Harris national accounts manager. He will be responsible for business development within all North American Class 1, regional and shortline railroads while focusing on expanding the Vulcan
Spike Division into a primary or secondary track-spike supplier throughout the industry.   

Harris is a 15-year rail veteran with experience in the track division of Nortrak, BNSF, and Progress Rail.
 
BR&L’s Vulcan Spike manufactures 5/8 inch x 6 inch track spikes for the railroad and industrial communities. The Birmingham, Ala. – based company also supplies rail, OTM and switch material along with complete locomotive service and maintenance.

Pittsburgh Port Authority approves 15% service cut

The Pittsburgh Port Authority Board approved a 15 percent service cut as a substitute for an earlier plan to slash service by 35 percent, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. They were able to do so because of $45 million in emergency funding provided by Gov. Ed Rendell.

The action will eliminate 29 routes and cut weekday service on 47 others, worsening the overcrowding problems that have generated rider complaints during a two-year transit overhaul that was designed to refocus service on areas of high demand.

It also will cut 270 positions from the agency’s 2,700-member work force, causing layoffs of 180 existing union and management employees.

Rail service will be cut. The Brown Line to Allentown will be eliminated and the Blue Line-South Hills Village will no longer operate on weekends. Weekday Blue Line and Red Line service will be reduced.

Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie said in general, the trips most likely to be eliminated on bus and rail routes are on the "fringes" — early mornings, middays and late at night. "The idea is to preserve the core of the service," he said.

Patrick McMahon, president and business agent of Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, called the cuts "an unnecessary mistake."

"We are going in the wrong direction. If the region truly wants to attract emerging new industries, retain the amazing talent that graduates from our world-class colleges and universities and elevate the standard of living to a level competitive with any other major city in America, we need a public transit system equal to the challenge. We should be expanding, not shrinking, transit services,” McMahon said.

In a year, the transportation-funding shortfall will have hit PennDOT and other transit agencies. "In 2012, it will most definitely be a Pennsylvania problem and then we’ll have more of a base to work with," he said.

Sound Transit releases UW light-rail station design

The $38 million light-rail project at the University of Washington calls for pedestrian bridges over Montlake Boulevard Northeast and Northeast Pacific Place traffic, linking the light-rail station and University of Washington buildings to the Rainier Vista Triangle, the Seattle Times reports.

The plan does cost more than four times as much as Sound Transit’s original $8 million bridge, a narrow overcrossing from the station directly to upper campus. The UW regents and the city approved the simpler bridge in 2008, but the university later suggested a more ambitious vision that makes use of the triangle and aids bus routes.

In a tentative agreement among five governments, the state Department of Transportation agreed to supply $22 million from its Highway 520 bridge budget, because the triangle plan enhances the bicycle and pedestrian trails that will be part of a new six-lane, $4.6 billion crossing, according to Kerry Ruth, a DOT project manager. Sound Transit pledged $12 million, and UW $4 million.

According to the University newspaper, The Daily, Sound Transit predicts the University link line will bring in an extra 70,000 boardings per day by 2030. Sound Transit spokesman Bruce Gray said this portion of the light rail will have the highest amount of riders and noted its speed as compared to current options.

Josh Kavanagh, the director of UW Transportation Services said, “The Light Rail has been warmly received by commuters in towns, and we look forward to having that connection to the university.”

One major benefit of the station is that it will give students a direct route to the airport. The University Link will have stops around the city, including one in Capitol Hill, where a station is currently under construction. Despite the stops, Rebecca Barnes, the university architect and campus-planning assistant vice provost, is supportive of the plan.

“It will make it much easier to get to and from the university from parts of the city,” Barnes said. “[It’s] a faster connection from downtown and Capitol Hill.”

So far, the process is on schedule to be completed with the two-year tunneling process to create the underground station beginning this May.

CSXT members ratify pair of agreements

BLET members from two of the four general committees of adjustment on CSXT ratified two tentative collective bargaining agreements. They represent more than 40 percent of BLET engineers working for the Class 1 railroad.
BLET members from the Northern District GCA voted by an 82 percent to 18 percent margin to transition from the modified former Conrail Agreement to the CSXT Single System Agreement, with a majority of eligible members approving the change.

The Transitional Single System Agreement includes many new work rules and benefits. Those benefits include a new compensation system that combines a performance bonus plan, general wage increases and a signing bonus. The TSSA also resolves this GCA’s outstanding wage and rule Section 6 Notice for the current round of bargaining. Those members from the Northern District GCA and members from the Northern Lines GCA also ratified an agreement that implements a New York Dock notice served by the Carrier in 2009 to create the Northern Mid-Atlantic Seniority District. The NMAD Implementing Agreement was approved by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin and:

• preserves existing prior rights seniority for all employees working in the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts;

• provides expanded work opportunities in the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts using NMAD seniority;

• preserves seniority zones limiting the force assignment of locomotive engineers;

• provides for movement between seniority districts and zones that was heretofore restricted; and

• provides New York Dock protective benefits for displaced locomotive engineers with a connection to this transaction.

BLET National President Dennis Pierce praised those involved for their efforts. “I want to congratulate General Chairmen Rick Finamore and Jim Louis and their teams, as well as Vice President Gil Gore, for their hard work for more than a year to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion,” Pierce said.

These agreements become effective as soon as possible and will cover more than 2,100 BLET members.

CTA launches Train Tracker tool developed with Americaneagle.com

Americaneagle.com, a website design, development and hosting company, assisted in the development and launch of the new CTA Train Tracker for the Chicago Transit Authority. This highly-anticipated tool enables CTA riders to view estimated arrival times for all 144 train stations across eight rail lines on CTA’s website through a computer or Web-enabled mobile device.

In helping to develop CTA Train Tracker, Americaneagle.com worked closely with the CTA to integrate with the software that monitors the agency’s signal system. The integration allows CTA Train Tracker to deliver the predicted arrival times of approaching trains to be posted within a 15-minute timeframe. The tool was built to then refresh prediction times every 20-30 seconds, giving riders the most up-to-date information available.

Americaneagle.com also worked with the CTA to create a dynamic yet user-friendly interface for the desktop and mobile versions of the tool. Riders can choose the number of results that appear and how they are sorted. The tool allows for results to appear by track, route or time.

Michael Svanascini, president of Americaneagle.com noted, “Americaneagle.com was thrilled to help develop the new innovative CTA Train Tracker. The tool is especially exciting for those who can now access it through a mobile smartphone or touchscreen Web-enabled device directly from a CTA train station, as it works to reduce uncertainty about train arrival times.”

Americaneagle.com will be working closely with the CTA in coming months to further improve CTA Train Tracker based on customer feedback.



WMATA proposes $1.4 billion FY2012 budget

Washington Metropoliatan Area Transit Authority General Manager Richard Sarles proposed a $1.4 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2012 that maintains the current level of rail, bus and paratransit services without increasing fares.

His proposed budget is the first step in a six-month-long budget planning process before the Board adopts a budget in June, in time to begin the new fiscal year on July 1.

“Fully funding Metro is vital to our ability to build our new safety culture, as well as provide a robust schedule of services for riders and continue to serve as an economic engine for the region,” Sarles said when he presented his budget proposal to the Metro Board Finance and Administration Committee.

Over the past year, Metro has made progress in safety, service reliability and financial stability. Through a Board- and management-led series of strategic investments and organizational changes, the agency has begun to build a safety culture, take action on National Transportation Safety Board recommendations and address other crucial safety and state-of-good-repair capital needs through the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure and rolling stock.

The FY2012 annual capital program of work advances 140 projects that address safety and state of good repair needs on the system – with respect to both infrastructure and rehabilitation of equipment – as well as planning for future expansion, including the new rail extension to Dulles.

In the coming fiscal year, the proposed budget accounts for the elimination of an additional $74.2 million in operating budget requirements without adversely impacting customers or laying off Metro employees who live in the region and contribute to the local economy.

Even with an aggressive program of management efficiencies, in the coming year, Metro faces substantial cost drivers, including wages and fringe benefits, paratransit service growth and carryover that increases the base budget by $85.8 million.

To ensure Metro stays on the path of improvement and delivers core services to support the growth of the region, the General Manager’s proposed budget continues current levels of service on all transit modes, as well as funds the level of effort necessary to support core services and a robust capital program. The budget proposal calls for $72.4 million of additional funding for the system through a slate of alternatives including: wage reserves, increased subsidies from the jurisdictions, commercial revenues through monetized ground leases and marketing station naming rights and funding preventive maintenance at FY2010 levels.

Operation Lifesaver launches safety campaign

Operation Lifesaver, Inc.,  launched two new safety public service announcements at Amtrak’s Union Station in Chicago. The television safety campaign, targeting 18-34-year-olds and Hispanic viewers, is aimed at preventing vehicle-train tragedies in the Chicago area, where crossing incidents increased in 2010. The Federal Railroad Administration provided Operation Lifesaver’s grant for the campaign.

“Operation Lifesaver selected Chicago to launch this public service campaign because of its status as an important railroad hub,” said Illinois Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Chip Pew.  “With the growth of freight and commuter rail and the advent of high-speed rail, Operation Lifesaver’s safety message is more important than ever,” he said.

Joe Szabo, federal railroad administrator, said, “Once again, Operation Lifesaver is leading the charge to raise awareness about highway-rail safety.  These new PSAs serve as an excellent reminder to drivers about the need to be vigilant at grade crossings.”

The first PSA, Where’s the Best Man?, tells the story of a missing best man racing to his friend’s wedding. A hasty decision to ‘save time’ at the crossing brings consequences, raising the question: “Getting there. Is it worth your life?” The second PSA, Conductor Distraido (Distracted Driver), reaches out to 26 percent of the Chicago media market who watch Spanish-language TV.  It features two guys concentrating on a new truck’s electronic gadgets instead of the highway-rail grade crossing ahead, with the message:  “Stay Focused, Stay Alive at rail crossings.”

The spots will be shown on Chicago-area television stations and their websites in cooperation with the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

“These new safety PSAs remind drivers that their lives are worth the wait at rail crossings,” said Helen M. Sramek, president, Operation Lifesaver, Inc.  According to Sramek, the organization’s safety outreach has aided in an 80 percent drop in vehicle-train collisions over the past four decades. She noted that the PSAs will be distributed nationwide as funds become available.