Following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
Following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
Following is a staff report from the editors at Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal that will be continuously updated with the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, a pandemic, and the U.S. has declared a National Emergency. The global railway industry has been responding. Following is a
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, a pandemic, and the U.S. has declared a National Emergency. The global railway industry has been responding. Following is a
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, a pandemic, and the U.S. has declared a National Emergency. The global railway industry has been responding. Following is a
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, a pandemic, and the U.S. has declared a National Emergency. The global railway industry has been responding. Following is a
Michael P. Melaniphy has resigned as President and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association, effective April 29. APTA Vice President-Member Services Richard A. White is Acting President and CEO until a permanent replacement is selected.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority police officers went on strike at 2:00 p.m., March 21.
While SEPTA management was hoping to negotiate a new contract without a strike, it has implemented a contingency plan to deal with this situation.
In the last year, Alstom has invested more than $3 million to enhance its 150,000 square foot rail signaling manufacturing facility in West Henrietta, N.Y., enabling the site to accommodate approximately 200 new jobs.
"As gas prices rise and families look for environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives, President Obama is committed to making sure our freight and passenger rail networks move people and goods more quickly and efficiently than ever before," said Deputy Secretary John Porcari. "Thanks to companies like Alstom, American workers are building the rail lines and equipment that will allow us to compete and win in the global economy."
In addition to benefits realized through job creation linked to projects throughout the U.S., New York received several direct investments through the recent round of federal rail funding. These included $295 million to alleviate delays for trains traveling the Northeast Corridor in and out of Manhattan, $58 million to upgrade tracks, stations and signals along the state’s Empire Corridor and $1.4 million for a new intermodal station in Rochester.
Over the past six months, Alstom has secured several large-scale transportation projects valued at well over $300 million. Among these are an upgraded signaling and train control system for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, as well as a complete overhaul and modernization of 120 rail for the Delaware River Port Authority’s PATCO system. Alstom also marked several recent milestones in its North American signaling activities, including receipt of the first Federal Railroad Administration type approval for U.S. deployment of a fully-functional PTC system.
Guillaume Mehlman, Alstom Transport’s managing director in North America, said, "Alstom has seen first-hand how federal and state investments in rail transportation projects help companies like ours create good jobs. We are expanding our facility in Rochester and hiring several hundred people in order to meet additional demand created by such investments. We applaud federal, state and local policy makers who see the linkage between investing in the nation’s rail transportation system and creating good jobs."
Drakontas LLC, a company
that develops situation awareness and wireless communications tools for first
responders, law enforcement and homeland defense, formally demonstrated
its prototype wireless emergency messaging solution for transit passengers in
subway tunnels on June 29. The 30-minute demonstration showcased the messaging
platform capability inside a passenger train at PATCO’s 8th and Market Station
in Center City Philadelphia.
The Delaware River Port
Authority and PATCO have completed an extensive Alternatives Analysis study
focusing on identifying mass transit transportation needs and solutions for
Southern New Jersey. This study concluded with a recommendation for light rail
transit along the Conrail rail right-of-way from Glassboro to Camden.
A waterfront rail line in
Philadelphia moved closer to reality as the Delaware River Port Authority
approved a $6.5-million contract for environmental studies and preliminary
design, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The work, expected to take about two
years, is to prepare the way for a proposed $500-million light-rail line in the
middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue.
New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie’s proposal to cut NJ Transit’s subsidies comes just as the Atlantic
City Rail Line is planning to expand, the Press of Atlantic City reports. Transit
officials have proposed building a new station in Egg Harbor Township, near
Galloway Township’s Pomona section – a station that could turn into a major
work transit hub for the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes
Technical Center and future businesses such as the Next Generation Aviation
Research and Technical Park. This comes as lines across the state already have
seen numerous service cuts – including a popular early morning Atlantic
City-to-Philadelphia run that was canceled less than a month ago.
NJ TRANSIT BOARD ADVANCES PORTAL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
Final engineering and design work will begin on a pair of
new bridges over the Hackensack River that will increase capacity, flexibility
and reliability for rail customers traveling into and out of New York.
Under a contract amendment approved today by the NJ TRANSIT
Board of Directors, the corporation is advancing toward construction of the Portal
Bridge Capacity Enhancement project, a crucial link between Kearny and Secaucus
on the Northeast Corridor that will replace the 99-year-old Portal Bridge.
The board also authorized a contract for construction management
services.
"This project will provide an essential upgrade to our core
capacity and positions NJ TRANSIT to efficiently accommodate growing ridership
for decades to come," said NJ TRANSIT Chairman and Transportation Commissioner
Stephen Dilts.
The new bridges will offer five tracks – three more than the
current bridge – providing the capacity to take full advantage of the
additional capacity into and out of New York that the Mass Transit Tunnel
project will create. The complementary bridge and tunnel projects will
eliminate two bottlenecks for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers.
In addition, the new fixed bridges will provide greater
reliability by eliminating the need for a movable span. The new bridges
will be built high enough above the river – 50 feet above mean high water – to allow
ships to pass underneath with none of the bridge opening and closing operations
that create delays for rail customers.
"The current bridge is functionally obsolete and expensive
to maintain," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. "This
project will eliminate a chokepoint for hundreds of trains and thousands of
customers each day."
About 350 NJ TRANSIT trains operate across Portal Bridge
each day, carrying about 150,000 customers. Another 30,000 Amtrak
customers cross the bridge each day. Amtrak owns the bridge and is
working jointly with NJ TRANSIT on the replacement project.
The Board authorized a $69.7 million amendment to an
existing contract with Portal Partners Inc. of Audubon, Pa. for final
engineering and design and an $18 million contract to AECOM-STV Joint Venture
for construction management consultant services.
A contract with Portal Partners Inc. for final engineering
for early action components was approved by the Board in July, 2009.
Construction of early action items, such as utility
relocation, is expected to start by mid 2010, with some heavy project
construction including access roads, platforms and piers to start in the
fall.
The entire project, estimated to cost about $1.7 billion, is
expected to be completed in 2017. A combination of state and federal
sources is expected to provide funding.
FIRST TUNNELING CONTRACT AWARDED FOR MASS TRANSIT TUNNEL
PROJECT
The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today approved the first
major tunneling contract for the $8.7 billion Mass Transit Tunnel, the nation’s
largest public transit project that will double commuter rail capacity between
New Jersey and New York.
The board authorized the award of a $583 million contract to
a joint venture of Barnard of New Jersey and Judlau Contracting Inc. of College
Point, N.Y., the lowest of three bidders. The contract covers
construction of one of the project’s three tunnel segments, a mile-long segment
in Manhattan.
"By improving this critical transportation corridor, we are
ensuring that our tunnels remain a source of economic strength and mobility for
New Jersey and the region," said Governor Jon S. Corzine. "This contract
will provide an immediate boost to our economy with the Manhattan and Palisades
tunnel segments expected to generate approximately 1,000 jobs and the Mass
Transit Tunnel project as a whole creating many more jobs over the next several
years."
NJ TRANSIT expects to receive bids for the Palisades tunnel
segment within weeks, followed by the third and final Hudson River
segment.
The Manhattan tunnel segment is part of an overall project
to build two new single-track commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River,
doubling capacity of the two-track tunnel that was built 100 years ago, which
today operates at its functional capacity. The other main feature of the
project is construction of an expanded New York Penn Station specially designed
to handle the customer surges associated with a commuter railroad.
"This project positions NJ TRANSIT to respond effectively to
the demands of New Jersey residents for 21st-century transportation options
that decrease our reliance on fossil fuel while improving the environment,"
said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Chairman Stephen Dilts.
The project is being built by NJ TRANSIT in partnership with
the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
"This is a major project that helps ensure we have the
capacity to meet the growing demand for public transportation," said NJ TRANSIT
Executive Director Richard Sarles. "It benefits residents throughout New
Jersey by creating operational flexibility system-wide, as well as
opportunities for convenient, one-seat rides to and from New York for customers
on ten of our 12 commuter rail lines."
The additional commuter rail capacity provided by the new
tunnel will remove an estimated 22,000 vehicles from regional roadways each
day.
The project is expected to generate and sustain 6,000 jobs
annually in peak construction years and create 44,000 permanent jobs after
completion.
Contract Details
The Manhattan tunnels segment will be constructed under a
design-build contract that includes final design and construction of rail
tunnels that will extend a distance of approximately one mile from a shaft at
Twelfth Avenue and 28th Street in Manhattan.
Construction will begin early next year, and is expected to
continue through late 2013.
The contractor will construct a 160-foot diameter access
shaft on the western edge of Manhattan, and then bore 16,500 feet of tunnels
averaging more than 120 feet beneath the surface to a new expansion of Penn
Station under 34th Street between Eighth and Sixth avenues.
The twin tunnels will be located an average of 120 feet below
street level and will proceed diagonally northeast then eastward and split into
four tunnels to maximize train movements in and out of the expanded New York
Penn Station as the tunnels approach 34th Street.
The contractor will perform the excavation using two tunnel
boring machines (TBM’s), massive equipment units that cut through rock and
other material to form tunnels that are each about 27 feet in diameter. The
total length of the TBM-bored tunnels included in this contract segment is
16,500 feet.
The Mass Transit Tunnel will double service capacity to 48
trains per hour during peak periods from the current 23 trains. Twice as
many passengers will be able to be accommodated, from 46,000 each morning peak
period now to 90,000 in the future. The project also will also create
transfer-free, one-seat rides for travelers on 10 of NJ TRANSIT’s 12 rail
lines.
The Port Authority is contributing $3 billion toward the
Mass Transit Tunnel project cost, while the federal government will contribute
$3 billion under its "New Starts" transit funding program. Another $2.7
billion will come from a combination of other federal funds, including stimulus
and clean air funding, as well as the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s congestion
mitigation contribution.
NJ TRANSIT BOARD ADVANCES SOUTH JERSEY TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS
The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today advanced several key
South Jersey transportation initiatives, including a study to evaluate
improvements to the Atlantic City Rail Line and an agreement with the Delaware
River Port Authority (DRPA) that will provide funding for a study of the
proposed extension of light rail to Glassboro.
In addition, NJ TRANSIT is taking the lead on a
Gloucester-Camden-area Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study to examine the congested
corridor southeast of Camden along routes 55, 42 and 676. The agency is
also partnering with the DRPA for the design and construction of a new NJ
TRANSIT bus loading area across from the Walter Rand Transportation Center.
"Today’s Board actions advance transit initiatives involving
all three NJ TRANSIT travel modes in southern New Jersey," said NJ TRANSIT
Executive Director Richard Sarles. "We are pleased to work with the
Delaware River Port Authority to improve access to public transportation in
this region."
Atlantic City Rail Line Operations Analysis Study
The Board authorized a $735,000 contract with LTK
Engineering Services of New York, NY, for a study to identify Atlantic City
Rail Line infrastructure improvements to accommodate potential service
expansions in the future.
Today, the Atlantic City Rail Line is primarily a
single-track railroad with a limited number of passing tracks. The study
will look at the impact to the line and infrastructure needs resulting from
increased service frequency, faster trip times and additional stations.
Among the items to be evaluated are the projected ridership
impact of the opening of the Pennsauken Transit Center and proposals for new
stations in Woodcrest and at the Atlantic City Airport.
Camden-Glassboro Light Rail Agreement
Another item advanced by the Board today will provide for
the funding of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed light
rail system between Camden and Glassboro. The Board authorized an
agreement with the DRPA, by which NJ TRANSIT will fund up to $8,954,000 for the
preparation of the EIS.
In May 2009, the DRPA recommended that diesel light rail
service be advanced from Camden to Glassboro within the existing Conrail
right-of-way. The light rail system would serve 13 new stations between
the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden and downtown Glassboro.
Gloucester-Camden Bus Rapid Transit
Today the Board also authorized a $750,000 contract with
AECOM USA, Inc. of Newark, NJ, for a study to evaluate bus service improvements
along the congested Route 55/42/676 highway corridor that connects suburban
Gloucester and Camden counties with the City of Camden and Philadelphia.
The study will identify and evaluate a range of capital and
operating bus improvement options, including BRT, to improve the quality and
reliability of bus service in an area that is subject to significant traffic
congestion and delays during peak periods. BRT relies on a combination of
strategies to improve service, including the use of dedicated bus lanes and
traffic signal prioritization technology.
This study and the Atlantic City Rail Line Operations
Analysis study are part of a broader evaluation of transportation improvements
advanced by the DRPA in 2008.
Walter Rand Transportation Center Bus Loading Area
Under a second agreement with the DRPA authorized by the
Board, the DRPA will fund $3 million for the design and construction of a loading
area for NJ TRANSIT buses at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden.
As part of the project, NJ TRANSIT will design and construct
a new bus loading area with a canopy, lighting, closed-circuit cameras, public
address system and signage. The project also includes repaving and
streetscape improvements on Broadway and the adjacent plaza areas.
The project will enhance pedestrian convenience and safety,
improve bus circulation and allow for more efficient boarding and alighting of
buses. It will also improve connectivity for customers transferring
between buses, the River Line and the PATCO High-Speed Line operated by the
DRPA.
Standing with U.S.
Senator Arlen Specter, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Philadelphia Mayor
Michael Nutter, Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler,
SEPTA General Manager Joe Casey, DRPA Board Chair John H. Estey, Board Vice
Chair Jeff Nash and others, DRPA CEO and PATCO President, John J. Matheussen,
announced an agreement that will result in Light Rail Service along Market
Street between City Hall and the Delaware River Waterfront initially serving
Pier 70 to the South and SEPTA’s Route 15 Trolley at Girard Avenue to the
North.
NJ TRANSIT Executive
Director Richard Sarles joined U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Rob
Andrews and other officials to break ground on a project that will offer
convenience and new travel options to South Jersey rail customers by directly
linking the River Line with the Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL).
DRPA CEO and PATCO
President John J. Matheussen said there will be two open houses in Philadelphia
on an Alternatives Analysis for expanding transit to Philadelphia’s Waterfront.
The first open house is scheduled for September 22 and the second will be held
on September 30. Identical information will be posted at both open houses.
The Delaware River Port Authority Commissioners have approved spending up to $500,000 to hire a professional design consultant to begin work to reopen the PATCO Franklin Square Station in Philadelphia.
First opened in 1936 as one of two Philadelphia stations on the Camden Bridge Line, the station has opened and closed several times over the years. A refurbished Franklin Square Station opened to cater to bi-centennial traffic on May 14, 1976, and on July 4, 1976, 23,000 people exited the Franklin Square Station en route to bi-centennial events.
The Franklin Square Station was closed in 1979 because of low patronage and has remained closed since then.
DRPA Chairman John Estey says, “substantial economic and demographic changes near Franklin Square have increased the viability of the station. PATCO riders could use Franklin Square to visit the National Constitution Center and the African American Museum as well as the planned President’s House and National Museum of Jewish American History. In addition, further enhancements and amenities are being added within the park to make Franklin Square a destination in itself.”
According to DRPA Vice-Chair, Jeff Nash, “reopening the Franklin Square Station should increase ridership among intra-city and reverse commuting customers. The station is also expected to result in increased weekend ridership.”
Franklin Square itself now attracts 750,000 visitors a year.? ?An online survey on PATCO’S website, www.ridepatco.org, asked riders their thoughts about reopening the Franklin Square Station. 588 customers have responded so far. 455 people, or 77.3 percent, believe reopening Franklin Square is a good idea. In addition, 297 riders, or 50.5 percent, said if Franklin Square were to reopen they would use PATCO more frequently for recreational travel.
DRPA CEO & PATCO President John J. Matheussen says, “the design work should be done by the end of the year and then a decision will be made on how best to proceed with the project.”
Matheussen also points out a refurbished Franklin Square Station will keep with the Authority’s Green Initiative by incorporating low energy and very minimal maintenance L.E.D. decorative light fixtures. It’s expected the concourse areas will be similar to other PATCO concourse improvements slated to begin soon at the four subway stations in Philadelphia and two in Camden.
