Albany-Schenectady 2nd Track Soon To Be Underway; Rochester To Get A New Train Station

Albany, NY June 26 2014 - The project to double-track the Albany-Schenectady route that is a huge bottleneck will soon be underway according to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). The firm that’s been awarded the $83.1 million contract, Middlesex Companies of Littleton, Massachusetts, has successfully completed other projects for Amtrak such as the Niantic rail bridge replacement.

The extra track is expected to eliminate bottlenecks caused by the limited track time available for both passenger and freight operations. Construction might start this July.

In another recent development, a new parking lot that will be just to the north of the current Rensselaer complex is being suggested.

Rochester’s New Digs

Earlier in the day, NYSDOT announced that under a design-build construction contract, a new intermodal rail/bus transportation center will rise in Rochester, NY. The Pike Company, Inc., an experienced design-build firm based in Rochester, is the lead contractor.

Funding for the project includes a $15 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through the Transportation Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, which was secured by Congresswoman Slaughter. Overall, the new center’s cost is pegged at less than $30 million for the design and construction of a new larger rail station. It will greatly improve station functionality and accessibility, reduce travel delays and enhance amenities for rail travelers. Under an agreement reached in 2012, Amtrak will continue to own and operate the station on the site of the existing Amtrak station located on 320 Central Ave. in Rochester.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Memorialized In Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal, New York City, June 30, 2014 – The structure Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis fought so hard to save now has a permanent place dedicated to honor her - Grand Central Terminal's main entry vestibule. In a ceremony held in the adjacent Vanderbilt Hall, Mrs. Onassis’s place in the Beaux Arts century-old building is secured as you come thru the main entrance at Pershing Square (89 East 42nd Street and Park Avenue) and find the bas-relief plaque and her name on the wall to remind everyone of the former First Lady’s valiant efforts.

New features of the foyer include a 43” high and 18” wide plaque honoring Mrs. Onassis’ work to save the Terminal that is displayed on the foyer’s west wall. Her name is rendered in bronze letters on the wall and painted along the arch leading to 42nd Street. Also, there are two display vitrines rotating digital imagery that recount Mrs. Onassis’ life and the 101-year history of the Terminal, including its preservation and renovation. The historic restoration of the main entry vestibule as the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Foyer was performed for approximately $465,000.

The event

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Thomas F. Prendergast, Chairman/CEO of the Metropolitan

Transportation Authority, Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti, William J. vanden Heuvel, Municipal Art Society (MAS) leaders Fred Papert and Kent Barwick, Chairman Prendergast said, “Grand Central Terminal, as we know it today as one of the world’s premier transportation hubs and one of New York’s top destinations in its own right, is the product of the men and women who built it. It is also the product of those who overcame great obstacles to preserve it for future generations. The rededication of the Terminal’s main entry vestibule to her is a fitting tribute to the woman who led those efforts, saving Grand Central during one of its most difficult hours.”

“The dedication of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Foyer is a significant moment for Grand Central and for Metro-North,” said MTA Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti. “Mrs. Onassis is one of America’s most cherished historical figures, and she is considered by many a renowned savior of Grand Central. This landmark building, universally acclaimed as one of the world’s great public spaces, is still here today because of her leadership. Today, Grand Central Terminal recognizes Mrs. Onassis’ achievements.”

William J. vanden Heuvel, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the 1960s, senior advisor in the Kennedy White House and close friend to Mrs. Onassis spoke about his friendship with her. He said her efforts to save GCT began with a letter to the Mayor at the time, Abraham Beame. He remarked the Mayor’s interest in saving Grand Central was wavering and that her letter gave him the added impetus to continue the good fight.

It was fitting that Ms. Onassis was recognized with a memorial in Grand Central Terminal, after all, it wouldn’t be here without her.

Photo caption:  Top-Ribbon-cutting ceremony. MTA Chairman Prendergast with the scissors. (L-R) Kent Barwick, MNR Pres Giulietti, ex-MNR Pres/MTA Chairman Stangel, GCT VP Fleisher, William vandel Heuvel and Fred Papert (Municipal Art Society)
Middle-right-The plaque on the foyer's wall.

New Jersey Transit Green Lights ‘Expanded’ Light Rail Vehicles

Newark, NJ, July 9, 2014 – NJ TRANSIT’s Board of Directors said tonight that the experiment was a success. Twenty-five Hudson-Bergen and ten Newark City Subway LRVs (Light Rail Vehicles) will be retrofitted with extra capacity that offers 50% more seating in late 2015. The test configuration went into operation a year ago in cooperation with car builder KinkiSharyo and HBLRT operator Twenty-First Century Rail Corporation. The move echoes Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) with the expansion of their KinkiSharyo-built LRVs that gave similar results.
The expanded light rail vehicle was originally placed into revenue service on July 4, 2013 and rotated to operate along the three segments of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system over the course of a six-month pilot program.
The move is expected to save NJ Transit a considerable amount of money long-term. By not purchasing new vehicles and deploying a retrofit, 75% of the cost of a new 2-car set could be channeled into the existing fleet and offer more seats to the public. It also is expected to save wear and tear by utilizing one set of powered units instead of two and require less maintenance overall. In effect, this is a low-cost solution to a vexing problem for commuters since the HBLRT went into operation in 2000.
NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim said passengers were clamoring for additional seating the HBLRT system that averages 45,000 commuters daily.
The design differs from the Dallas cars in that two extra sections need to be added to the ‘2 beds and a bath’ concept that originated as an experimental design on the BMT in Brooklyn NY nearly a hundred years ago. By expanding the cars to a ‘3 beds and 2 baths’ design, the additional trailer sections increase the car length by 37 feet and expand seating capacity from 68 to 102 seats in addition to providing additional standing room. By utilizing existing resources and spare Hudson-Bergen Light Rail equipment, the conversion is estimated to be significantly less than purchasing new standard light rail vehicles. NJ TRANSIT will conduct a full evaluation of the pilot program before determining whether to expand additional light rail vehicles in its fleet.
Before the testing for the new configuration began a YEAR AGO, the New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson at the time said, “Through customer surveys conducted as part of NJ TRANSIT’s Scorecard initiative, we’ve heard from customers, particularly on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, that crowding on trains is a top concern. Through a successful public-private partnership with the vehicle’s manufacturer, we will be piloting an expanded light rail vehicle on our system to test the feasibility of converting additional vehicles in our light rail fleet in order to increase capacity and ensure a comfortable ride for more customers.”

Photo caption: Interior and exterior of the test car for NJ Transit's stretch light rail vehicle

SEPTAs Trolleys Halted During Their Trolley Tunnel Blitz

Philadelphia, Pa, Wednesday, July 16, 2014 – SEPTA is following a trend other transit agencies around the country are practicing, an intensive 24/7 period of maintenance that requires a service outage for a period of time and is being nicknamed the ‘Trolley Tunnel Blitz’ for the Center City Trolley Tunnel. Beginning August 1, 2014, a 17-day period of no trolleys operating on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 which will be repaired for the over 5-mile tunnel route. These routes be diverted to 40th and Market streets and riders may transfer at 40th Street to the Market-Frankford Line for service to and from Center City.

New welded trolley rail, track switches, emergency lighting cables, and overhead wire are part of the maintenance program.

In a press release, SEPTA said, “Given that the Trolley Tunnel is a 5+ mile long, single track line, the length of our regular service day, and the number of Trolley routes operating through the tunnel it would take many months of night and weekend outages, spread out over the year, to complete the amount of work we have planned during this Blitz. An extended work window, during a traditionally low ridership period, makes it possible for our Track, Power, Communications and Signals, and Bridges and Buildings Maintenance Departments to efficiently complete important construction and maintenance projects that will benefit our customers."

The project is funded the Act 89 dedicated funding bill that provides the resources needed for SEPTA to begin Rebuilding for the Future. The Trolley Tunnel Blitz is part of a comprehensive infrastructure and revitalization program that tackles a $5 billion backlog of projects, including bridge replacements, substation, overhauls, and station improvements.

Connecticut's Norwalk Railroad Bridge Snarls 2 Rush Hours In A Week

Norwalk, Ct, June, 2014 - Twice in the same 7-day period in June, the 117-year-old Norwalk River Bridge was stuck in the open position as all Metro-North and Amtrak trains could not complete their appointed rounds for three hours during the pm rush.

While an old swing-bridge my have historical and sentimental value, it is so old and bad shape, it needs to be replaced.
To his credit, Ct. Gov. Malloy called for meetings with the MTA, ConnDOT, engineers and experts to see what can be done about fixing it and building a replacement. However in recent years, Gov. Malloy has done as predecessors Rowland and Rell before him didn't do the right thing instead of replacing or repairing old bridges. The money went into other places to balance the budget. Reality bites you in the rear at the most inopportune times and another oops moment pops up.
Connecticut owns the bridge and the Governor is looking for $465 million in Fed bread with Super Storm Sandy money to pay 75% of the cost to replace it. In this day and age, it is a tough political sell in our Nation's Capital.

The logistical issue of replacing the bridge is problematic. Land acquisition is the big problem as there's no room as a parallel bridge needs to be built with a modified right of way that would be exactly over existing structures and ongoing businesses. They say it will take 6 years to do it but I'm sure it will be longer than that.

Pleasure boat use and industrial heating-oil-carrying barges all stake a legal need to open the bridge for their use, much to the chagrin of 120,000 daily rail riders. Enough emergency bus service isn't available to ferry inconvenienced passengers especially during rush hours.

Meanwhile, Northeast Corridor riders can only hope they won't get stuck.

Clearly something needs to be done. Time is of the essence but time is also a commodity that is a tough factor when studies, planning and land acquisition are all roadblocks to the swift completion of a really dire need.

Good luck.

Photo caption: A pair of Metro-North M-8 trainsets pass each other on 'The Walk' - Norwalk's River Bridge.

PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ CONDUCTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

LaGuardia Airport, Queens, NY, Saturday, June 21, 2014 - There was a scenario devised for the event – a piece of metal got caught in a jet engine upon departure and the plane crash landed on takeoff. 145 victims were played by live people of the NYPD, Port Authority employees as well as some FBI agents. A container was set afire to simulate the downed plane. American Airlines donated use of the Boeing 737-823 plane for the training exercise.

According to Jim Munday, PA OEM and Senior Manager Emergency Operations (he’s #3 in .the pecking order) there were 4 prisoners on board (deportees/detainees) and his armed Air Marshall escort was killed in the crash. One surviving prisoner tried to escape and was apprehended. There were 145 victims and 25 dead that were simulated with dummies.

The purpose of the drill was to test the coordination effort with the different agencies. NYPD, FDNY and NYC Dept of Corrections wanted to join in the exercise to make it an all-inclusive coordinated training event within a larger scenario. Passengers as participants were given cards that defined their individual roles.

Those injured within the plane were ‘packaged’ and allowed to walk down the stairway then ‘repackaged’ as survivors. Participants didn’t know the whole backstory, just their individual roles as everything would be unfolded as a surprise, which is what a catastrophic event like this would be.

It was a learning experience for over 450 1^st responders for a domestic event. 18 days before this simulation, a similar exercise was held at JFK to simulate an international event. The idea was to test the leadership, communication and organization of the 1^st responders.

Amtrak’s Vermonter Extention To The Canadian Border Is Right Around The Corner

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The realization of the long-awaited extension of Amtrak’s Vermonter is right around the corner. It is projected the train will reach the Canadian border to St. Albans with a new stop along the way in Northampton by the end of the year. With the completion of the continuously welded rail north of Greenfield,, Vermont, the trip will be speedier too as higher track speeds will now be possible.

Another improvement in the speed of the Vermonter is the elimination of the changing ends in Palmer, Massachusetts as a new northbound track path is being completed.

Photo caption: Amtrak’s Vermonter changes ends in Palmer Mass. A scene soon to be eliminated with the new trackage.