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Railroad Newsline for Wednesday, 11/22/06
Author: Larry W. Grant
Date: 11-22-2006 - 05:06
Railroad Newsline for Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Compiled by Larry W. Grant
In Memory of Rob Carlson, 1952 – 2006
Rail News
BNSF Workers Honored For Saving Fellow Employee
Windle Todd and Brian Watson have worked for the BNSF Railway Company for a combined 31 years. But it's what they did in the span of mere minutes that earned their employer's praise and extended a fellow employee’s life.
Todd, 50, and Watson, 24, didn't even know each other Oct. 19 as they worked in opposite ends of a four-story brick tower in BNSF’s Pasco, WA, yard. Todd, a carpenter, was painting, and Watson, a yardmaster, was in the conductor's lounge when they both got word that a fellow employee had fallen over in a chair.
"I thought it was a joke, but when I walked around the corner, somebody was laying on the ground," said Todd, who didn't immediately realize the seriousness of the situation.
About 10 workers already were tending to the unconscious man, and when one asked if anyone knew CPR, Todd and Watson stepped forward.
Todd had received company-sponsored training in the life-saving technique several times in recent years. Watson had learned it as a Boy Scout, but his most recent training was four years ago. They both responded on instinct.
"It was the weirdest thing. You always feel for a pulse, and people always have a pulse," Watson said, feeling the pulse in his own wrist as he talked. "I checked for his pulse, and it wasn't there."
Together, Todd and Watson went to work with Todd administering chest compressions as Watson breathed provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They kept going until the man started to respond.
An automated external defibrillator was brought over but wasn't needed. Paramedics soon arrived and took over.
The man underwent triple-bypass surgery the following week and is expected to return to work in mid-December, said Jeep Labberton, terminal manager.
Todd and Watson, meanwhile, have learned to accept hero status among their peers. After they retold their story to about 25 engineering personnel, Labberton reiterated the point: "They not only saved his life, they saved his quality of life."
Todd was presented with the American Heart Association's Heart Saver CPR Certificate, available to anyone who receives the association's training and uses it to save a life.
Lancene Lamson, American Heart Association coordinator at the Kennewick General Community Training Center, commended BNSF for the CPR training it gives to employees. From January through October, she and instructor Bobbi Sanders taught the skills to about 140 workers in the railroad's Northwest division. - BNSF Today, Source: Joe Chapman, The Tri-City Herald
Rochester Coalition Claims DM&E Continues To Mislead FRA In Attempt To Secure $2.3 Billion Federal Loan
ROCHESTER, MN -- The Rochester Coalition today released a report it filed with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Friday detailing the coalition's numerous attempts to discuss mitigation with the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E). The report contradicts DM&E's claims that Rochester has refused to discuss mitigation and calls into question whether the railroad's misrepresentations violate federal standards for receiving government loans.
DM&E has requested a $2.3 billion taxpayer-financed loan to expand and upgrade its railroad in order to haul coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin (PRB) to distribution points in the Upper Midwest and East. The project could result in 34 or more mile-long trains passing through Rochester every day, carrying coal and hazardous materials just a few hundred feet from Mayo Clinic at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
The report provides the FRA with additional evidence supporting an Aug. 25 Rochester Coalition filing that argued, "DM&E has consistently failed to meet the standard for honesty, integrity, and candor required for public officials to rely on its representations, and, therefore, has failed on a key qualification to receive an RRIF loan, and has failed to provide adequate assurance that the taxpayers' massive investment is protected and the loan will be repaid."
"To the best of our knowledge, DM&E has provided no information to challenge the factual basis of our conclusion," said Stephen Ryan, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP and legal counsel for the Rochester Coalition. "To the contrary, the DM&E continues to make completely false statements in an attempt to secure the largest loan to a private company in U.S. history."
The filing focuses on the latest example of the DM&E's misrepresentation, a statement Kevin Schieffer, president and CEO of DM&E, submitted to the FRA Sept. 22, 2006: " ... One of the ironies to Rochester's opposition is that it will be the least impacted city on our entire route in terms of traffic, and can be most easily mitigated if Rochester was willing to discuss mitigation. To date they have refused." (Schieffer letter at 6, emphasis in the original).
The coalition leaders wrote that, "While Mr. Schieffer has previously made such untrue statements to the public, this is the clearest action on his part of making a knowingly false statement on this issue as part of the loan application process."
The coalition's submission provides detailed reviews of the six meetings between the coalition and Schieffer where mitigation was discussed, the exchange of letters concerning the substance of mitigation options being discussed, and the public statements Schieffer made concerning the negotiations, including the formal offer where Schieffer "rejected mitigation measures to address one of Rochester's and Mayo's primary concerns - a 'catastrophic hazardous materials spill.'"
The submission also identifies that Schieffer's latest false representation, " ... in an attempt to influence governmental action to approve the $2.3 billion loan application would on its face seem to violate 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001, which provides in relevant part - ' ... whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive ... branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willingly - ... (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; ... shall be fined ... or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.'"
"Mr. Schieffer's latest false statement exemplifies his willingness to say virtually anything - no matter how untrue - to improve his chances of securing the $2.3 billion loan from the FRA," said Ryan. "Given both DM&E's history of misrepresentations and its most recent examples, we remain concerned that the DM&E's loan application also likely contains misrepresentations on its ability to repay the loan."
Background
The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) is seeking the largest federal loan to a private company in American history - a $2.3 billion subsidy from U.S. taxpayers to finance a major rail expansion project through the Midwest. The loan far exceeds the famous Chrysler bailout, which was debated vigorously in the halls of Congress and by the American people. The proposed $2.3 billion taxpayer loan to DM&E has not been subject to a single minute of debate in Congress, and the public has been barred from examining details of the loan application and the company's finances.
A recent poll, conducted by KRC Research, showed that a majority of registered voters in Minnesota's First Congressional District and more than two-thirds of Rochester residents oppose the DM&E's request for the $2.3 billion federal loan. The same poll conducted statewide in South Dakota found a plurality of residents also opposes the railroad's loan request.
According to the New York Times ("Lobbyist Turns Senator But Twists Same Arms," Feb. 28, 2006), DM&E's loan was made possible in 2005 when Sen. John Thune, a former DM&E lobbyist, championed legislation to increase the Federal Railroad Administration's loan program from $3.5 billion to $35 billion and modified the loan criteria to benefit his former employer.
The Rochester Coalition represents the city of Rochester, Minnesota, Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Mayo Clinic. The Coalition opposes DM&E's $2.3 billion federal loan and the railroad's efforts to expand its rail line through Rochester. DM&E, which according to government statistics has the worst safety record in its class, currently operates three to four slow-moving trains, carrying mostly grain products, each day through Rochester.
The federal loan would enable DM&E to haul as many as 34 mile-long trains each day through the heart of Rochester at high speeds, carrying coal and unspecified amounts of hazardous materials a few hundred yards from Mayo Clinic, Rochester Methodist Hospital, several nursing homes and other health- care facilities. The project threatens Mayo Clinic patients, many of whom are critically ill and unable to evacuate in the event of a DM&E derailment involving hazardous materials.
For more information, visit www.dmetraintruth.com. - PRNewswire.com, Source: Rochester Coalition
BNSF Reopens Line At Everett, Washington
EVERETT, WA -- Freight, passenger and commuter train traffic between Everett and Seattle resumed early Tuesday morning as one of two sets of track was cleared following a derailment, a railroad representative said.
Ten rail cars loaded with wood products jumped the tracks early Monday, blocking the BNSF Railway Company's main line just south of the old Everett train station.
One set of tracks was cleared about 02:20 Tuesday, enough to resume normal Amtrak passenger service from Bellingham to Seattle and Sound Transit's Sounder commuter trains as well as freight shipments, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said.
Repair crews expected to reopen the second set of tracks later, possibly around 20:00 Tuesday, Melonas said.
Cause of the derailment remained under investigation but train handling has been ruled out as a factor. It occurred as the train was passing over a switch at 19 mph, well within the 25 mph speed limit, Melonas said. No one was injured, no hazardous materials or toxic substances were involved and there was no risk of pollution, he added. - The Associated Press, The Bellingham Herald
Tickets Selling Out Fast For Christmas Train Ride
PALESTINE, TX -- Tickets are selling out for the Victorian Christmas Train Ride aboard the Texas State Railroad.
The event takes place three weekends in December. The Dec09 ride is already sold out and tickets are going quickly for Dec02 and 16 rides.
Last year's train rides sold out, and organizers expect the same this year.
The steam train rides take place from 16:00 to 18:00 each of those Saturdays. Entertainment takes place before the train ride from 15:00 to 16:00. Riders are asked to arrive at the Palestine depot at 15:00.
The event will include strolling carolers, a visit with Santa, eggnog, lemonade, brownies and cookies.
Entertainment during the three weekends of the train ride includes an Elvis impersonator on Dec02. Other entertainment before the train ride includes Anderson County Cloggers, the Ray Brothers, and RSVP, a local band.
Attendees are invited, but not required, to dress in Victorian style for the event.
"It's a great ride for adults or children," Susan Cottle-Leonard, city of Palestine tourism director said. "How often can you ride a steam train through the Piney Woods?"
Other holiday events are taking place in Palestine during those weekends as well, including the performance of "Miracle on 34th Street," a Christmas dulcimer concert, a parade and a jamboree.
Adult tickets are $30. Tickets for children ages 4-12 are $10 and children ages 3 and younger are admitted free.
To make reservations or get more information on the train ride and other events, call the Palestine Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-659-3484 or 903-723-3014, or visit www.visitpalestine.com. - The Tyler Morning Telegraph
Grant Money To Be Used To Build Rail Car Assembly Yard
COLUMBUS, NE -- A $1.3 million grant for building a rail car assembly yard near Oconee should help Nebraska Central Railroad remain an engine for moving agricultural products to market.
A short-line railroad such as Nebraska Central plays a vital role in keeping rail transportation on track in the state, said Beverly Vonasek, railroad liaison manager for the Nebraska Department of Roads.
The Norfolk-based railroad, which also maintains an office in Columbus, has been awarded one of three grants announced by the Nebraska Railway Council this week. The roads department provides staff liaison for the council.
The grants, totaling $3.2 million, went to Nebraska Central, $1.2 million to Nebraska Northeastern Railroad and $700,000 to Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway.
Nebraska Central, which will provide 30 percent matching funds for its $1.3 million grant, plans to use the funds to build four new tracks for sorting rail cars at Oconee. The project's total cost is an estimated $1.9 million.
A phone message to a Nebraska Central operations official seeking comment on the grant was not returned.
Vonasek said construction on the new rail yard is expected to begin in the spring and become operational next summer or fall.
Nebraska Central and other short-line railroads are an integral link in moving grain products from rural areas to feed the state's surging ethanol industry and serve markets outlets in the Pacific Northwest, Vonasek said.
The short-line railroads are feeder lines for main lines such as the Union Pacific Railroad line that runs through Columbus, she said.
The numbers support Vonasek's contention.
Columbus has been in the vanguard of the state's ethanol development since the early-1990s when ground was broken on the plant now owned by Archer Daniels Midland Co. The plant ADM acquired in the late-1990s is already the state's largest, although a Blair facility under construction will change that.
ADM plans a new plant located next to the existing Eighth Street facility that will increase ethanol production from about 100 million gallons to 500 million gallons annually. Ethanol production should begin by 2008 or 2009. The state's 12th ethanol plant is now in production at Lexington. Seven more are under construction and another 16 are "under consideration," according to state ethanol officials.
In 1987, the state's lone ethanol plant accounted for 1 percent of annual corn production. Today, the plants consume about 26 percent to 28 percent of the corn production. Experts predict consumption could top 50 percent in a few years.
The new Oconee rail yard will ship grain to the expanded Columbus plant and other plants served by Nebraska Central's lines, Vonasek said. The yard will be used to assemble cars for trains for several other ethanol plants, she said.
Nebraska Central operates a car switching area near the viaduct in Columbus and a line that extends from Columbus to Norfolk. The railroad also has branch lines from Norfolk to Genoa, Fullerton and Albion, David City to Central City and around the Grand Island area running up to Ord.
The state, through the Light Density Rail Line Assistance Act, has a continuing interest in seeing that short-line railroads remain operational to serve the growing ethanol industry, Vonasek said.
Nebraska Northeastern plans to use the grant for track rehabilitation, including joint bolt replacement, bridge repair, erosion control and rail and cross-tie replacement between Dakota City and Osmond.
Nebraska Kansas Colorado plans track rehabilitation, including new ties, surfacing and grade crossing renewals. - Jim Osborn, The Columbus Telegram
Old Fruitvale School, Colfax Depot Win Prestigious Awards
PLACER COUNTY, CA -- Successful campaigns to restore the Old Fruitvale School in rural Lincoln, California and the Colfax Passenger Depot in Colfax, California were honored with prestigious Governor's Historic Preservation Awards Thursday, Nov16. The award presentations were made during a ceremony at the newly rehabilitated Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Only seven projects from throughout the state received awards at the ceremony.
The awards program is the only one of its kind sponsored by the state to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of historic preservation.
Fruitvale School was restored by an army of volunteers. Grant funds provided by Placer County, fund-raisers and other private donations covered the cost of materials.
The campaign to restore the Colfax depot was a joint effort by the city of Colfax, Colfax Area Historical Society, Colfax Depot Restoration Committee and Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society. Both projects were nominated for awards by Placer County's Historical Advisory Board. "They're wonderful organizations that have put fantastic programs together worthy of statewide recognition," said county Museums Administrator Melanie Barton.
Located northeast of Lincoln, Fruitvale School was built in 1889 and closed in 1946 when the Lincoln School District began busing students from the surrounding area to schools in Lincoln.
In 1971, neighbors formed a charitable association and purchased the schoolhouse for $50. The restoration campaign got under way in 2001, led by retired university professor Lyndell Grey.
Placer County Supervisor Robert Weygandt, who represents the Lincoln area, also was instrumental in getting the project started. Some remodeling work was done in 1972, but serious problems remained.
Since 2000, the roof has been replaced, the building repainted, restrooms renovated, the electrical system rewired, floors replaced, the foundation repaired and other improvements made.
In 2003, the county Board of Supervisors agreed to purchase a conservation easement on 17.6 acres of ranchland near the old schoolhouse through the county's Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation Program. Together, the restored schoolhouse and ranchland are cornerstones of an outdoor-education and living-history program that teaches school children what farm life was like in the early days of Placer County.
In September, an after-school program was added that familiarizes students in the first through eighth grades with the history and agricultural heritage of the Lincoln area. The old schoolhouse also is used for community gatherings and can be rented out for events such as weddings and birthday parties. "It's very rewarding to see Fruitvale School acknowledged," Supervisor Weygandt said. "I would like to commend all the community, particularly Lindy Grey, for their vision and work. It's extremely important to preserve our heritage in light of all the rapid change we're experiencing."
The Colfax Depot is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was used by Southern Pacific Railroad from 1905 to 1945 and continued to be used for regular passenger service until 1971. Amtrak renewed passenger service to Colfax in 1976, which continues today through bus service.
The depot's architecture is sometimes known as the railroad's Colonnade style. Twenty-five depots of that style were built, and 14 are still standing. The Colfax depot is the only example in Placer County. Railroad Heritage Society volunteers took the lead in restoration work. The Historical Society provided information and funding to complete a museum in the baggage room. "I was very pleased to see that two of the award-winning projects are in Placer County," said Supervisor Bruce Kranz, who represents Colfax on the Board of Supervisors.
"The Colfax project shows how much can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.
This historic building was restored by many hours of volunteer labor by the Colfax Area Historical Society, Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society and the community at large. It's a community focal point, and a reminder to residents and tourists alike of the critical role the railroad played in the development of our region."
The county Historical Advisory Board makes recommendations to Barton, the Facility Services Department and Board of Supervisors on planning and policy issues related to county museums and other historical resources. - Rocklin & Roseville Today
Fort Bend County Poised To Join Regional Rail District
FORT BEND COUNTY, TX -- Fort Bend County Commissioners Court members are expected to take the first step today toward creating a regional rail district designed to improve the flow of rail traffic from Houston through the county.
Some, such as County Judge Bob Hebert, have hopes the new freight rail district will lead to a solution that moves train traffic off of the U.S. 90A corridor through Fort Bend County. That promises to be a difficult trick, since the corridor is now part of the region's busiest rail line running west from the Port of Houston.
This afternoon the commissioners court will consider approving a concurrent order between Fort Bend County, Harris County, the City of Houston and the Port of Houston to create what's known under the Texas Transportation Code as a freight rail district.
Such a district has no taxing authority, but would serve as a vehicle that "gives the players the ability to come up with a strategy" for dealing with regional rail issues. Then it will be up to the district to find ways to fund that strategy.
Hebert said the primary purpose of the district is to address serious rail issues in Houston. For one, rail cars traveling to Houston have a longer dwell time - the time it takes until they move out again to another destination - than anywhere else. "It's the longest of any metropolitan area in the country," Hebert added.
The aging Union Pacific Railroad system in the region will find itself under more strain, Hebert said, because of tremendous growth in container traffic coming from the Port of Houston, as that facility becomes the largest of its kind in the country.
So the region faces a situation where more freight trains likely will be called for, while the City of Houston already struggles with serious traffic tie-ups at dozens of railroad crossings.
For Fort Bend County's part, "we'd like to see freight pulled off of U.S. 90A," Hebert said. "I don't know if we can."
However, he said there are several options. Among them is a proposed alternate route through the county, which Hebert described in a September letter to TxDOT Houston District Engineer Gary Trietsch. "Although a large portion of this option would be new track, and the route is somewhat longer than the current U.S. 90A track, it would provide railroads with high-speed, fully grade-separated multi-line track that avoids areas of high density and allows for future growth in concert with a well-designed and community friendly route."
Hebert was prompted to write the letter after a proposal surfaced during work on a document - The Houston Area Freight Rail Study - that the Texas Department of Transportation has nearly completed. The proposal, which alarmed local officials, called for double-tracking and increasing train traffic along U.S. 90A.
While a TxDOT official said strong negative reaction by local officials resulted in the department removing the proposal from the study, such an idea could well be attractive to Union Pacific Railroad as it looks for ways to meet what most believe will be increasing demand in the form of more container traffic flowing into the Port of Houston. - Bob Dunn, Fort Bend Now
Tons Of Copper Stolen
RIVERBANK, CA -- In a daring heist officials described as shocking in its size, thieves stole more than 20 tons of scrap copper from a container manufacturing plant over the weekend.
"Your average Joe Crankster won't be towing this on the back of his bike to a local recycler," Stanislaus County sheriff's deputy Royjindar Singh said. "This was somebody that knew the stuff was there and had the resources to get it out."
The theft occurred late Saturday or early Sunday at a Silgan Containers Manufacturing Corp. plant on the 3200 block of Patterson Road in Riverbank.
Authorities believe the thieves drove some kind of large vehicle - likely a flatbed truck - through an unlocked gate, then used Silgan's forklifts to load 12 to 14 barrels full of scrap copper onto the truck's bed.
Each barrel weighs about 3,500 pounds.
The thieves apparently made their getaway northbound on First Street. Sheriff's deputies found a barrel of the scrap copper in the road near First and Atchison streets about 01:30 Sunday, Singh said. The barrel is being held as evidence.
Detectives estimated Silgan's loss at as much as $150,000.
"It's not something you'd expect to happen," Silgan area manager David Rex said. "You can have things stolen here and there . but you never expect to lose that volume of copper."
Silgan makes metal caps and cans for the food industry, and copper wire is used in the manufacturing process, Rex said. Workers place leftover scrap copper in large barrels and store them in an open, three-sided building near the rear of the property.
Recyclable metal thefts recently have surged - in Stanislaus County, California and beyond - thanks largely to the soaring cost of recyclable metals.
The cost of copper, for example, has more than doubled since June 2005, from $1.40 per pound to more than $3 today.
Because "copper is everywhere," Singh said, thieves have plenty of opportunities.
They have stolen vases from graveyards, plaques from parks and irrigation pipes from farms, authorities said. At home construction sites, they have torn freshly laid pipes from the earth and ripped newly installed copper wires from walls.
Last month, Ceres police and sheriff's deputies caught a man stealing 50 pounds of copper wires from a train track control box. Thieves have stolen wiring from railroad crossing signals, interrupting rail traffic and creating the possibility that a warning signal would fail when a train approached.
"It's easy money," Singh said. "And it's very difficult to track. . The problem has not gone away at all."
Singh urged all local recycling centers to report suspicious clients. High quality copper fetches $3 or more at local recyclers, although scrap copper pays significantly less.
At Silgan, the weekend theft was the first of its kind at the plant, officials said.
"It's unprecedented in our company," plant manager Martin Ott said. "I was very shocked."
Silgan wants its copper back: Company officials have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves.
They might not get their wish.
"If it's somebody that knows the market, it could be gone already," Singh said. - Chris Togneri, The Modesto Bee
Ports' Plan To Clean Air Is Hailed, Criticized
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach approved a sweeping environmental plan Monday that aims to make deep cuts in air pollution by upgrading the vehicles that call on the nation's busiest harbor complex by land and sea.
The plan emerged from years of agitating by Harbor Area community activists, and it built on the "No Net Increase" policy developed under former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. Implementation of the plan has now become the signature policy of the new leadership team at the Port of Los Angeles appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"The San Pedro Bay ports have grown markedly since Phineas Banning dredged the first small area of the San Pedro Bay in 1850," Villaraigosa told a rare joint meeting of the Los Angeles and Long Beach port commissions. "Our economic potential lies in our ability to thoughtfully address the issue of green growth."
The Clean Air Action Plan involves upgrades to both ports' shore-side infrastructure, as well as improvements for ocean vessels, trucks and trains.
Officials expect the changes -- which would be enforced through a variety of incentives and requirements -- to eliminate thousands of tons of harmful pollutants from the air within five years.
In four-plus hours of public testimony Monday, area residents, business representatives, environmentalists and labor officials mostly hailed the plan as a milestone for the ports.
However, divisions remain.
Business groups fear costs
Business groups have complained that their input was not heeded, and that much of the plan's costs will be borne by industry. The two ports and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have pledged about $400 million for air pollution initiatives, but the total cost of the plan is estimated at closer to $2 billion.
"We don't understand exactly how we are to implement the plan," said T.L. Garrett of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President Gary Toebben said the plan will lead to shippers, truckers and railroad companies eventually passing costs onto consumers.
"The chamber encourages the ports to use the new Clean Air Action Plan as an opportunity to develop a strategy that balances port growth with environmental concerns," he said. "We have cautioned the ports against setting unrealistic targets that rely on unknown and unproven technologies."
Environmental groups, meanwhile, have pushed the port to go farther. Many repeated calls Monday for new container fees, stricter pollution reduction targets and a more active oversight mechanism to ensure the plan is enforced.
Jesse Marquez of the Wilmington-based Coalition for a Safe Environment called on the ports to create a trust fund to pay for health care for residents affected by pollution.
"It is one thing to recognize that you are causing the problems of health and the environment; it is another thing to tell us you are creating plans and programs," he said. "(But) we have people sick and dying today."
A centerpiece of the plan is an initiative to replace every diesel truck that calls on the ports and is deemed to be environmentally unsound with a newer, "clean" vehicle. The ports expect to fund the new vehicles with public money -- a recognition that most truckers are low-income owner-operators -- but that did not go far enough for some environmental and labor groups.
Ports urged to improve pay
"Simply buying new trucks for drivers won't solve the problem," said Rafael Pizarro of the Coalition for Clean Air. "They'll never be able to maintain new green trucks in the long run unless we find a way for them to make a decent living."
Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn said she also was concerned about a proposed fee for polluting trucks. Even if it applies to shippers instead of truckers, it could trickle down to the often-impoverished drivers, she noted.
However, Hahn praised the ports for other changes they made to the plan in response to public input, including tighter restrictions on low-sulfur fuels and a quicker timeline for outfitting all terminals with shore-side electrical hookups for docked ships.
"On paper this plan looks great," Hahn said. "But it is only in the implementation whether we know if this is truly saving lives and improving public health."
Port commissioners from Los Angeles and Long Beach repeatedly stressed that the plan is a "living" document that will undergo further revisions.
"This project is about progress, not perfection," said Jerilyn Lopez Mendoza, vice president of the Los Angeles harbor commission. "If we were going to sit and get to the point where all of us were holding hands and singing 'Kumbaya' together, we'd be here until the next millennia." - Dan Laidman, Copley News Service, The Daily Breeze (LAX to L.A. Harbor)
Transit News
L.A.'s Transport Priorities
LOS ANGELES, CA -- If it helps people or things move more quickly and efficiently, L.A. needs more of it. With more drivers and more transit needs than any other county in the state, plus the busiest port in the nation, Los Angeles will get a sizable share of the money from Proposition 1B, the bond package passed two weeks ago that provides $19.9 billion for infrastructure. Now planners just have to figure out how to spend it.
Most of the money will be allocated according to preset criteria that identify the most beneficial projects. About $11.3 billion will go to various regions for highway and road projects; locally, the top priorities include widening the Santa Ana and San Diego freeways and installing technical improvements to speed rush-hour traffic. Another $2 billion or so will go for things such as grade separations at railway crossings and a replacement for the crumbling Gerald Desmond Bridge at the Port of Long Beach.
About $1 billion for public transit is expected to go to Los Angeles County, and given that transit funds are usually matched by federal money, that means at least $2 billion worth of new projects locally. Unfortunately, those spending decisions can be the most political.
The California Transportation Commission will decide how much transit money will go to L.A., but the decisions on which projects to pursue will be made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Board members have a history of pursuing narrow political interests over doing what's right for the county as a whole. County Supervisor (and MTA board member) Michael Antonovich, for example, is a fierce opponent of extending the Red Line subway along Wilshire Boulevard, preferring projects of far lower public value, such as an extension of the Gold Line to the San Gabriel Valley, which would benefit his own constituents.
A Red Line extension along Wilshire from its terminus at Western Avenue to at least Fairfax Avenue should be at or near the top of the MTA's priority list. Another priority should be a planned light-rail line along Crenshaw Boulevard to Los Angeles International Airport, directly connecting LAX to downtown by rail. A third would be the so-called downtown connector, a 1.5-mile subway line unifying the different rail lines that converge in the area, allowing, say, a rider to get from Pasadena to Staples Center without multiple train changes.
Many will argue that these projects are all downtown or Westside-centric and that they don't take the rest of the county into account. They're right. But these projects are also the ones that would have the highest projected ridership, in areas where needs are greatest. Those should be the decisive criteria. - Editorial Opinion, The Los Angeles Times
A Rail Easy Commute
DENVER, CO -- The trains ran on time, there were plenty of parking spaces, and many commuters tried a new way to get to work.
Photo here:
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After five years of construction, the $880 million, 19-mile southeast train started hauling commuters Monday between metro Denver's two major employment centers - downtown and the Denver Tech Center.
Passenger traffic was light because of the holiday week, but RTD officials said the launch of regular service was a success.
"I think our plan for the first day of service worked well," said RTD spokesman Scott Reed. "We were very pleased with the overall operation."
The much-feared parking shortage didn't materialize.
At 11:00, the Regional Transportation District had thousands of parking spaces available at southeast train stations. For the most part, trains were not packed with standing strap-hangers, as they were Friday and Saturday, when rides were free. Exact rider counts for Monday weren't available.
At the Lincoln end-of-line station, only 537 of 1,734 parking spaces were filled. At the Yale stop, 50 of 129 spaces were taken.
The only southeast parking lot that came within a few spaces of filling up was the 1,225-space Nine Mile garage, at Interstate 225 and South Parker Road.
Linda Tschappat left her car at Nine Mile to take the train into downtown Denver.
"I'm excited," said Tschappat, who was riding the "H" line to the transit stop at 18th and California streets, a short walk from her job at Qwest.
For more than three years, Tschappat has been driving 35 to 40 minutes each way for work. Typically, she would park about five blocks from her office for $2.50 a day.
"I'll try this until Dec. 1; if it works well, I'll buy a monthly pass," she said.
Many commuters never saw a fare inspector Monday. If a rider without a valid ticket is stopped by an inspector, he or she gets a warning for the first offense.
The next time it happens, it's a $30 fine plus court costs.
Shannon Alvis had a 10-ride ticket book Monday and walked to the Southmoor station to take the train to her job in the Denver Tech Center.
Alvis, who works for an environmental firm, calculated she might pay 50 cents more a day to take the train instead of driving, yet it's worth it.
"This is that much more convenient, and it gets me a little exercise," she said, referring to the walk to and from the stations.
Safety at Southmoor, which has a pedestrian tunnel under Interstate 25, remains a concern for Alvis.
"I'm hoping there is security at night," she said, pointing out the need in the tunnel area.
Opening the southeast line appeared to draw some riders from the 6-year-old southwest line.
When RTD began southwest train service, parking lots at the line's stations typically filled early on weekdays.
On Monday, some southwest rail parking lots had many spaces available late in the morning, according to RTD.
The lot at the Littleton station, which has 361 spaces, was only two-thirds full. The lot at the Mineral station nearly filled.
RTD expected some riders who have been using southwest rail to switch to the southeast because it is closer to their homes, Reed said.
The days before Thanksgiving do not offer the best test of southeast rail ridership or parking demand, Reed added, because many commuters may be on vacation. RTD planned its rollout this week for that reason.
Kennedy Ambundo was working Monday. He traded a ride on the 90X bus from Nine Mile for a train ride. The 90X and many other express bus routes were eliminated when southeast train service started.
Ambundo said his train ride took a little more than half an hour and dropped him off about a block from his job at the Magnolia Hotel.
"This is something that really helps people," he said. - Jeffrey Leib, The Denver Post
THE END
Compiled by Larry W. Grant
In Memory of Rob Carlson, 1952 – 2006
Rail News
BNSF Workers Honored For Saving Fellow Employee
Windle Todd and Brian Watson have worked for the BNSF Railway Company for a combined 31 years. But it's what they did in the span of mere minutes that earned their employer's praise and extended a fellow employee’s life.
Todd, 50, and Watson, 24, didn't even know each other Oct. 19 as they worked in opposite ends of a four-story brick tower in BNSF’s Pasco, WA, yard. Todd, a carpenter, was painting, and Watson, a yardmaster, was in the conductor's lounge when they both got word that a fellow employee had fallen over in a chair.
"I thought it was a joke, but when I walked around the corner, somebody was laying on the ground," said Todd, who didn't immediately realize the seriousness of the situation.
About 10 workers already were tending to the unconscious man, and when one asked if anyone knew CPR, Todd and Watson stepped forward.
Todd had received company-sponsored training in the life-saving technique several times in recent years. Watson had learned it as a Boy Scout, but his most recent training was four years ago. They both responded on instinct.
"It was the weirdest thing. You always feel for a pulse, and people always have a pulse," Watson said, feeling the pulse in his own wrist as he talked. "I checked for his pulse, and it wasn't there."
Together, Todd and Watson went to work with Todd administering chest compressions as Watson breathed provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They kept going until the man started to respond.
An automated external defibrillator was brought over but wasn't needed. Paramedics soon arrived and took over.
The man underwent triple-bypass surgery the following week and is expected to return to work in mid-December, said Jeep Labberton, terminal manager.
Todd and Watson, meanwhile, have learned to accept hero status among their peers. After they retold their story to about 25 engineering personnel, Labberton reiterated the point: "They not only saved his life, they saved his quality of life."
Todd was presented with the American Heart Association's Heart Saver CPR Certificate, available to anyone who receives the association's training and uses it to save a life.
Lancene Lamson, American Heart Association coordinator at the Kennewick General Community Training Center, commended BNSF for the CPR training it gives to employees. From January through October, she and instructor Bobbi Sanders taught the skills to about 140 workers in the railroad's Northwest division. - BNSF Today, Source: Joe Chapman, The Tri-City Herald
Rochester Coalition Claims DM&E Continues To Mislead FRA In Attempt To Secure $2.3 Billion Federal Loan
ROCHESTER, MN -- The Rochester Coalition today released a report it filed with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Friday detailing the coalition's numerous attempts to discuss mitigation with the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E). The report contradicts DM&E's claims that Rochester has refused to discuss mitigation and calls into question whether the railroad's misrepresentations violate federal standards for receiving government loans.
DM&E has requested a $2.3 billion taxpayer-financed loan to expand and upgrade its railroad in order to haul coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin (PRB) to distribution points in the Upper Midwest and East. The project could result in 34 or more mile-long trains passing through Rochester every day, carrying coal and hazardous materials just a few hundred feet from Mayo Clinic at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
The report provides the FRA with additional evidence supporting an Aug. 25 Rochester Coalition filing that argued, "DM&E has consistently failed to meet the standard for honesty, integrity, and candor required for public officials to rely on its representations, and, therefore, has failed on a key qualification to receive an RRIF loan, and has failed to provide adequate assurance that the taxpayers' massive investment is protected and the loan will be repaid."
"To the best of our knowledge, DM&E has provided no information to challenge the factual basis of our conclusion," said Stephen Ryan, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP and legal counsel for the Rochester Coalition. "To the contrary, the DM&E continues to make completely false statements in an attempt to secure the largest loan to a private company in U.S. history."
The filing focuses on the latest example of the DM&E's misrepresentation, a statement Kevin Schieffer, president and CEO of DM&E, submitted to the FRA Sept. 22, 2006: " ... One of the ironies to Rochester's opposition is that it will be the least impacted city on our entire route in terms of traffic, and can be most easily mitigated if Rochester was willing to discuss mitigation. To date they have refused." (Schieffer letter at 6, emphasis in the original).
The coalition leaders wrote that, "While Mr. Schieffer has previously made such untrue statements to the public, this is the clearest action on his part of making a knowingly false statement on this issue as part of the loan application process."
The coalition's submission provides detailed reviews of the six meetings between the coalition and Schieffer where mitigation was discussed, the exchange of letters concerning the substance of mitigation options being discussed, and the public statements Schieffer made concerning the negotiations, including the formal offer where Schieffer "rejected mitigation measures to address one of Rochester's and Mayo's primary concerns - a 'catastrophic hazardous materials spill.'"
The submission also identifies that Schieffer's latest false representation, " ... in an attempt to influence governmental action to approve the $2.3 billion loan application would on its face seem to violate 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001, which provides in relevant part - ' ... whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive ... branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willingly - ... (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; ... shall be fined ... or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.'"
"Mr. Schieffer's latest false statement exemplifies his willingness to say virtually anything - no matter how untrue - to improve his chances of securing the $2.3 billion loan from the FRA," said Ryan. "Given both DM&E's history of misrepresentations and its most recent examples, we remain concerned that the DM&E's loan application also likely contains misrepresentations on its ability to repay the loan."
Background
The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) is seeking the largest federal loan to a private company in American history - a $2.3 billion subsidy from U.S. taxpayers to finance a major rail expansion project through the Midwest. The loan far exceeds the famous Chrysler bailout, which was debated vigorously in the halls of Congress and by the American people. The proposed $2.3 billion taxpayer loan to DM&E has not been subject to a single minute of debate in Congress, and the public has been barred from examining details of the loan application and the company's finances.
A recent poll, conducted by KRC Research, showed that a majority of registered voters in Minnesota's First Congressional District and more than two-thirds of Rochester residents oppose the DM&E's request for the $2.3 billion federal loan. The same poll conducted statewide in South Dakota found a plurality of residents also opposes the railroad's loan request.
According to the New York Times ("Lobbyist Turns Senator But Twists Same Arms," Feb. 28, 2006), DM&E's loan was made possible in 2005 when Sen. John Thune, a former DM&E lobbyist, championed legislation to increase the Federal Railroad Administration's loan program from $3.5 billion to $35 billion and modified the loan criteria to benefit his former employer.
The Rochester Coalition represents the city of Rochester, Minnesota, Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Mayo Clinic. The Coalition opposes DM&E's $2.3 billion federal loan and the railroad's efforts to expand its rail line through Rochester. DM&E, which according to government statistics has the worst safety record in its class, currently operates three to four slow-moving trains, carrying mostly grain products, each day through Rochester.
The federal loan would enable DM&E to haul as many as 34 mile-long trains each day through the heart of Rochester at high speeds, carrying coal and unspecified amounts of hazardous materials a few hundred yards from Mayo Clinic, Rochester Methodist Hospital, several nursing homes and other health- care facilities. The project threatens Mayo Clinic patients, many of whom are critically ill and unable to evacuate in the event of a DM&E derailment involving hazardous materials.
For more information, visit www.dmetraintruth.com. - PRNewswire.com, Source: Rochester Coalition
BNSF Reopens Line At Everett, Washington
EVERETT, WA -- Freight, passenger and commuter train traffic between Everett and Seattle resumed early Tuesday morning as one of two sets of track was cleared following a derailment, a railroad representative said.
Ten rail cars loaded with wood products jumped the tracks early Monday, blocking the BNSF Railway Company's main line just south of the old Everett train station.
One set of tracks was cleared about 02:20 Tuesday, enough to resume normal Amtrak passenger service from Bellingham to Seattle and Sound Transit's Sounder commuter trains as well as freight shipments, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said.
Repair crews expected to reopen the second set of tracks later, possibly around 20:00 Tuesday, Melonas said.
Cause of the derailment remained under investigation but train handling has been ruled out as a factor. It occurred as the train was passing over a switch at 19 mph, well within the 25 mph speed limit, Melonas said. No one was injured, no hazardous materials or toxic substances were involved and there was no risk of pollution, he added. - The Associated Press, The Bellingham Herald
Tickets Selling Out Fast For Christmas Train Ride
PALESTINE, TX -- Tickets are selling out for the Victorian Christmas Train Ride aboard the Texas State Railroad.
The event takes place three weekends in December. The Dec09 ride is already sold out and tickets are going quickly for Dec02 and 16 rides.
Last year's train rides sold out, and organizers expect the same this year.
The steam train rides take place from 16:00 to 18:00 each of those Saturdays. Entertainment takes place before the train ride from 15:00 to 16:00. Riders are asked to arrive at the Palestine depot at 15:00.
The event will include strolling carolers, a visit with Santa, eggnog, lemonade, brownies and cookies.
Entertainment during the three weekends of the train ride includes an Elvis impersonator on Dec02. Other entertainment before the train ride includes Anderson County Cloggers, the Ray Brothers, and RSVP, a local band.
Attendees are invited, but not required, to dress in Victorian style for the event.
"It's a great ride for adults or children," Susan Cottle-Leonard, city of Palestine tourism director said. "How often can you ride a steam train through the Piney Woods?"
Other holiday events are taking place in Palestine during those weekends as well, including the performance of "Miracle on 34th Street," a Christmas dulcimer concert, a parade and a jamboree.
Adult tickets are $30. Tickets for children ages 4-12 are $10 and children ages 3 and younger are admitted free.
To make reservations or get more information on the train ride and other events, call the Palestine Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-659-3484 or 903-723-3014, or visit www.visitpalestine.com. - The Tyler Morning Telegraph
Grant Money To Be Used To Build Rail Car Assembly Yard
COLUMBUS, NE -- A $1.3 million grant for building a rail car assembly yard near Oconee should help Nebraska Central Railroad remain an engine for moving agricultural products to market.
A short-line railroad such as Nebraska Central plays a vital role in keeping rail transportation on track in the state, said Beverly Vonasek, railroad liaison manager for the Nebraska Department of Roads.
The Norfolk-based railroad, which also maintains an office in Columbus, has been awarded one of three grants announced by the Nebraska Railway Council this week. The roads department provides staff liaison for the council.
The grants, totaling $3.2 million, went to Nebraska Central, $1.2 million to Nebraska Northeastern Railroad and $700,000 to Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway.
Nebraska Central, which will provide 30 percent matching funds for its $1.3 million grant, plans to use the funds to build four new tracks for sorting rail cars at Oconee. The project's total cost is an estimated $1.9 million.
A phone message to a Nebraska Central operations official seeking comment on the grant was not returned.
Vonasek said construction on the new rail yard is expected to begin in the spring and become operational next summer or fall.
Nebraska Central and other short-line railroads are an integral link in moving grain products from rural areas to feed the state's surging ethanol industry and serve markets outlets in the Pacific Northwest, Vonasek said.
The short-line railroads are feeder lines for main lines such as the Union Pacific Railroad line that runs through Columbus, she said.
The numbers support Vonasek's contention.
Columbus has been in the vanguard of the state's ethanol development since the early-1990s when ground was broken on the plant now owned by Archer Daniels Midland Co. The plant ADM acquired in the late-1990s is already the state's largest, although a Blair facility under construction will change that.
ADM plans a new plant located next to the existing Eighth Street facility that will increase ethanol production from about 100 million gallons to 500 million gallons annually. Ethanol production should begin by 2008 or 2009. The state's 12th ethanol plant is now in production at Lexington. Seven more are under construction and another 16 are "under consideration," according to state ethanol officials.
In 1987, the state's lone ethanol plant accounted for 1 percent of annual corn production. Today, the plants consume about 26 percent to 28 percent of the corn production. Experts predict consumption could top 50 percent in a few years.
The new Oconee rail yard will ship grain to the expanded Columbus plant and other plants served by Nebraska Central's lines, Vonasek said. The yard will be used to assemble cars for trains for several other ethanol plants, she said.
Nebraska Central operates a car switching area near the viaduct in Columbus and a line that extends from Columbus to Norfolk. The railroad also has branch lines from Norfolk to Genoa, Fullerton and Albion, David City to Central City and around the Grand Island area running up to Ord.
The state, through the Light Density Rail Line Assistance Act, has a continuing interest in seeing that short-line railroads remain operational to serve the growing ethanol industry, Vonasek said.
Nebraska Northeastern plans to use the grant for track rehabilitation, including joint bolt replacement, bridge repair, erosion control and rail and cross-tie replacement between Dakota City and Osmond.
Nebraska Kansas Colorado plans track rehabilitation, including new ties, surfacing and grade crossing renewals. - Jim Osborn, The Columbus Telegram
Old Fruitvale School, Colfax Depot Win Prestigious Awards
PLACER COUNTY, CA -- Successful campaigns to restore the Old Fruitvale School in rural Lincoln, California and the Colfax Passenger Depot in Colfax, California were honored with prestigious Governor's Historic Preservation Awards Thursday, Nov16. The award presentations were made during a ceremony at the newly rehabilitated Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Only seven projects from throughout the state received awards at the ceremony.
The awards program is the only one of its kind sponsored by the state to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of historic preservation.
Fruitvale School was restored by an army of volunteers. Grant funds provided by Placer County, fund-raisers and other private donations covered the cost of materials.
The campaign to restore the Colfax depot was a joint effort by the city of Colfax, Colfax Area Historical Society, Colfax Depot Restoration Committee and Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society. Both projects were nominated for awards by Placer County's Historical Advisory Board. "They're wonderful organizations that have put fantastic programs together worthy of statewide recognition," said county Museums Administrator Melanie Barton.
Located northeast of Lincoln, Fruitvale School was built in 1889 and closed in 1946 when the Lincoln School District began busing students from the surrounding area to schools in Lincoln.
In 1971, neighbors formed a charitable association and purchased the schoolhouse for $50. The restoration campaign got under way in 2001, led by retired university professor Lyndell Grey.
Placer County Supervisor Robert Weygandt, who represents the Lincoln area, also was instrumental in getting the project started. Some remodeling work was done in 1972, but serious problems remained.
Since 2000, the roof has been replaced, the building repainted, restrooms renovated, the electrical system rewired, floors replaced, the foundation repaired and other improvements made.
In 2003, the county Board of Supervisors agreed to purchase a conservation easement on 17.6 acres of ranchland near the old schoolhouse through the county's Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation Program. Together, the restored schoolhouse and ranchland are cornerstones of an outdoor-education and living-history program that teaches school children what farm life was like in the early days of Placer County.
In September, an after-school program was added that familiarizes students in the first through eighth grades with the history and agricultural heritage of the Lincoln area. The old schoolhouse also is used for community gatherings and can be rented out for events such as weddings and birthday parties. "It's very rewarding to see Fruitvale School acknowledged," Supervisor Weygandt said. "I would like to commend all the community, particularly Lindy Grey, for their vision and work. It's extremely important to preserve our heritage in light of all the rapid change we're experiencing."
The Colfax Depot is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was used by Southern Pacific Railroad from 1905 to 1945 and continued to be used for regular passenger service until 1971. Amtrak renewed passenger service to Colfax in 1976, which continues today through bus service.
The depot's architecture is sometimes known as the railroad's Colonnade style. Twenty-five depots of that style were built, and 14 are still standing. The Colfax depot is the only example in Placer County. Railroad Heritage Society volunteers took the lead in restoration work. The Historical Society provided information and funding to complete a museum in the baggage room. "I was very pleased to see that two of the award-winning projects are in Placer County," said Supervisor Bruce Kranz, who represents Colfax on the Board of Supervisors.
"The Colfax project shows how much can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.
This historic building was restored by many hours of volunteer labor by the Colfax Area Historical Society, Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society and the community at large. It's a community focal point, and a reminder to residents and tourists alike of the critical role the railroad played in the development of our region."
The county Historical Advisory Board makes recommendations to Barton, the Facility Services Department and Board of Supervisors on planning and policy issues related to county museums and other historical resources. - Rocklin & Roseville Today
Fort Bend County Poised To Join Regional Rail District
FORT BEND COUNTY, TX -- Fort Bend County Commissioners Court members are expected to take the first step today toward creating a regional rail district designed to improve the flow of rail traffic from Houston through the county.
Some, such as County Judge Bob Hebert, have hopes the new freight rail district will lead to a solution that moves train traffic off of the U.S. 90A corridor through Fort Bend County. That promises to be a difficult trick, since the corridor is now part of the region's busiest rail line running west from the Port of Houston.
This afternoon the commissioners court will consider approving a concurrent order between Fort Bend County, Harris County, the City of Houston and the Port of Houston to create what's known under the Texas Transportation Code as a freight rail district.
Such a district has no taxing authority, but would serve as a vehicle that "gives the players the ability to come up with a strategy" for dealing with regional rail issues. Then it will be up to the district to find ways to fund that strategy.
Hebert said the primary purpose of the district is to address serious rail issues in Houston. For one, rail cars traveling to Houston have a longer dwell time - the time it takes until they move out again to another destination - than anywhere else. "It's the longest of any metropolitan area in the country," Hebert added.
The aging Union Pacific Railroad system in the region will find itself under more strain, Hebert said, because of tremendous growth in container traffic coming from the Port of Houston, as that facility becomes the largest of its kind in the country.
So the region faces a situation where more freight trains likely will be called for, while the City of Houston already struggles with serious traffic tie-ups at dozens of railroad crossings.
For Fort Bend County's part, "we'd like to see freight pulled off of U.S. 90A," Hebert said. "I don't know if we can."
However, he said there are several options. Among them is a proposed alternate route through the county, which Hebert described in a September letter to TxDOT Houston District Engineer Gary Trietsch. "Although a large portion of this option would be new track, and the route is somewhat longer than the current U.S. 90A track, it would provide railroads with high-speed, fully grade-separated multi-line track that avoids areas of high density and allows for future growth in concert with a well-designed and community friendly route."
Hebert was prompted to write the letter after a proposal surfaced during work on a document - The Houston Area Freight Rail Study - that the Texas Department of Transportation has nearly completed. The proposal, which alarmed local officials, called for double-tracking and increasing train traffic along U.S. 90A.
While a TxDOT official said strong negative reaction by local officials resulted in the department removing the proposal from the study, such an idea could well be attractive to Union Pacific Railroad as it looks for ways to meet what most believe will be increasing demand in the form of more container traffic flowing into the Port of Houston. - Bob Dunn, Fort Bend Now
Tons Of Copper Stolen
RIVERBANK, CA -- In a daring heist officials described as shocking in its size, thieves stole more than 20 tons of scrap copper from a container manufacturing plant over the weekend.
"Your average Joe Crankster won't be towing this on the back of his bike to a local recycler," Stanislaus County sheriff's deputy Royjindar Singh said. "This was somebody that knew the stuff was there and had the resources to get it out."
The theft occurred late Saturday or early Sunday at a Silgan Containers Manufacturing Corp. plant on the 3200 block of Patterson Road in Riverbank.
Authorities believe the thieves drove some kind of large vehicle - likely a flatbed truck - through an unlocked gate, then used Silgan's forklifts to load 12 to 14 barrels full of scrap copper onto the truck's bed.
Each barrel weighs about 3,500 pounds.
The thieves apparently made their getaway northbound on First Street. Sheriff's deputies found a barrel of the scrap copper in the road near First and Atchison streets about 01:30 Sunday, Singh said. The barrel is being held as evidence.
Detectives estimated Silgan's loss at as much as $150,000.
"It's not something you'd expect to happen," Silgan area manager David Rex said. "You can have things stolen here and there . but you never expect to lose that volume of copper."
Silgan makes metal caps and cans for the food industry, and copper wire is used in the manufacturing process, Rex said. Workers place leftover scrap copper in large barrels and store them in an open, three-sided building near the rear of the property.
Recyclable metal thefts recently have surged - in Stanislaus County, California and beyond - thanks largely to the soaring cost of recyclable metals.
The cost of copper, for example, has more than doubled since June 2005, from $1.40 per pound to more than $3 today.
Because "copper is everywhere," Singh said, thieves have plenty of opportunities.
They have stolen vases from graveyards, plaques from parks and irrigation pipes from farms, authorities said. At home construction sites, they have torn freshly laid pipes from the earth and ripped newly installed copper wires from walls.
Last month, Ceres police and sheriff's deputies caught a man stealing 50 pounds of copper wires from a train track control box. Thieves have stolen wiring from railroad crossing signals, interrupting rail traffic and creating the possibility that a warning signal would fail when a train approached.
"It's easy money," Singh said. "And it's very difficult to track. . The problem has not gone away at all."
Singh urged all local recycling centers to report suspicious clients. High quality copper fetches $3 or more at local recyclers, although scrap copper pays significantly less.
At Silgan, the weekend theft was the first of its kind at the plant, officials said.
"It's unprecedented in our company," plant manager Martin Ott said. "I was very shocked."
Silgan wants its copper back: Company officials have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves.
They might not get their wish.
"If it's somebody that knows the market, it could be gone already," Singh said. - Chris Togneri, The Modesto Bee
Ports' Plan To Clean Air Is Hailed, Criticized
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach approved a sweeping environmental plan Monday that aims to make deep cuts in air pollution by upgrading the vehicles that call on the nation's busiest harbor complex by land and sea.
The plan emerged from years of agitating by Harbor Area community activists, and it built on the "No Net Increase" policy developed under former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. Implementation of the plan has now become the signature policy of the new leadership team at the Port of Los Angeles appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"The San Pedro Bay ports have grown markedly since Phineas Banning dredged the first small area of the San Pedro Bay in 1850," Villaraigosa told a rare joint meeting of the Los Angeles and Long Beach port commissions. "Our economic potential lies in our ability to thoughtfully address the issue of green growth."
The Clean Air Action Plan involves upgrades to both ports' shore-side infrastructure, as well as improvements for ocean vessels, trucks and trains.
Officials expect the changes -- which would be enforced through a variety of incentives and requirements -- to eliminate thousands of tons of harmful pollutants from the air within five years.
In four-plus hours of public testimony Monday, area residents, business representatives, environmentalists and labor officials mostly hailed the plan as a milestone for the ports.
However, divisions remain.
Business groups fear costs
Business groups have complained that their input was not heeded, and that much of the plan's costs will be borne by industry. The two ports and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have pledged about $400 million for air pollution initiatives, but the total cost of the plan is estimated at closer to $2 billion.
"We don't understand exactly how we are to implement the plan," said T.L. Garrett of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President Gary Toebben said the plan will lead to shippers, truckers and railroad companies eventually passing costs onto consumers.
"The chamber encourages the ports to use the new Clean Air Action Plan as an opportunity to develop a strategy that balances port growth with environmental concerns," he said. "We have cautioned the ports against setting unrealistic targets that rely on unknown and unproven technologies."
Environmental groups, meanwhile, have pushed the port to go farther. Many repeated calls Monday for new container fees, stricter pollution reduction targets and a more active oversight mechanism to ensure the plan is enforced.
Jesse Marquez of the Wilmington-based Coalition for a Safe Environment called on the ports to create a trust fund to pay for health care for residents affected by pollution.
"It is one thing to recognize that you are causing the problems of health and the environment; it is another thing to tell us you are creating plans and programs," he said. "(But) we have people sick and dying today."
A centerpiece of the plan is an initiative to replace every diesel truck that calls on the ports and is deemed to be environmentally unsound with a newer, "clean" vehicle. The ports expect to fund the new vehicles with public money -- a recognition that most truckers are low-income owner-operators -- but that did not go far enough for some environmental and labor groups.
Ports urged to improve pay
"Simply buying new trucks for drivers won't solve the problem," said Rafael Pizarro of the Coalition for Clean Air. "They'll never be able to maintain new green trucks in the long run unless we find a way for them to make a decent living."
Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn said she also was concerned about a proposed fee for polluting trucks. Even if it applies to shippers instead of truckers, it could trickle down to the often-impoverished drivers, she noted.
However, Hahn praised the ports for other changes they made to the plan in response to public input, including tighter restrictions on low-sulfur fuels and a quicker timeline for outfitting all terminals with shore-side electrical hookups for docked ships.
"On paper this plan looks great," Hahn said. "But it is only in the implementation whether we know if this is truly saving lives and improving public health."
Port commissioners from Los Angeles and Long Beach repeatedly stressed that the plan is a "living" document that will undergo further revisions.
"This project is about progress, not perfection," said Jerilyn Lopez Mendoza, vice president of the Los Angeles harbor commission. "If we were going to sit and get to the point where all of us were holding hands and singing 'Kumbaya' together, we'd be here until the next millennia." - Dan Laidman, Copley News Service, The Daily Breeze (LAX to L.A. Harbor)
Transit News
L.A.'s Transport Priorities
LOS ANGELES, CA -- If it helps people or things move more quickly and efficiently, L.A. needs more of it. With more drivers and more transit needs than any other county in the state, plus the busiest port in the nation, Los Angeles will get a sizable share of the money from Proposition 1B, the bond package passed two weeks ago that provides $19.9 billion for infrastructure. Now planners just have to figure out how to spend it.
Most of the money will be allocated according to preset criteria that identify the most beneficial projects. About $11.3 billion will go to various regions for highway and road projects; locally, the top priorities include widening the Santa Ana and San Diego freeways and installing technical improvements to speed rush-hour traffic. Another $2 billion or so will go for things such as grade separations at railway crossings and a replacement for the crumbling Gerald Desmond Bridge at the Port of Long Beach.
About $1 billion for public transit is expected to go to Los Angeles County, and given that transit funds are usually matched by federal money, that means at least $2 billion worth of new projects locally. Unfortunately, those spending decisions can be the most political.
The California Transportation Commission will decide how much transit money will go to L.A., but the decisions on which projects to pursue will be made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Board members have a history of pursuing narrow political interests over doing what's right for the county as a whole. County Supervisor (and MTA board member) Michael Antonovich, for example, is a fierce opponent of extending the Red Line subway along Wilshire Boulevard, preferring projects of far lower public value, such as an extension of the Gold Line to the San Gabriel Valley, which would benefit his own constituents.
A Red Line extension along Wilshire from its terminus at Western Avenue to at least Fairfax Avenue should be at or near the top of the MTA's priority list. Another priority should be a planned light-rail line along Crenshaw Boulevard to Los Angeles International Airport, directly connecting LAX to downtown by rail. A third would be the so-called downtown connector, a 1.5-mile subway line unifying the different rail lines that converge in the area, allowing, say, a rider to get from Pasadena to Staples Center without multiple train changes.
Many will argue that these projects are all downtown or Westside-centric and that they don't take the rest of the county into account. They're right. But these projects are also the ones that would have the highest projected ridership, in areas where needs are greatest. Those should be the decisive criteria. - Editorial Opinion, The Los Angeles Times
A Rail Easy Commute
DENVER, CO -- The trains ran on time, there were plenty of parking spaces, and many commuters tried a new way to get to work.
Photo here:
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After five years of construction, the $880 million, 19-mile southeast train started hauling commuters Monday between metro Denver's two major employment centers - downtown and the Denver Tech Center.
Passenger traffic was light because of the holiday week, but RTD officials said the launch of regular service was a success.
"I think our plan for the first day of service worked well," said RTD spokesman Scott Reed. "We were very pleased with the overall operation."
The much-feared parking shortage didn't materialize.
At 11:00, the Regional Transportation District had thousands of parking spaces available at southeast train stations. For the most part, trains were not packed with standing strap-hangers, as they were Friday and Saturday, when rides were free. Exact rider counts for Monday weren't available.
At the Lincoln end-of-line station, only 537 of 1,734 parking spaces were filled. At the Yale stop, 50 of 129 spaces were taken.
The only southeast parking lot that came within a few spaces of filling up was the 1,225-space Nine Mile garage, at Interstate 225 and South Parker Road.
Linda Tschappat left her car at Nine Mile to take the train into downtown Denver.
"I'm excited," said Tschappat, who was riding the "H" line to the transit stop at 18th and California streets, a short walk from her job at Qwest.
For more than three years, Tschappat has been driving 35 to 40 minutes each way for work. Typically, she would park about five blocks from her office for $2.50 a day.
"I'll try this until Dec. 1; if it works well, I'll buy a monthly pass," she said.
Many commuters never saw a fare inspector Monday. If a rider without a valid ticket is stopped by an inspector, he or she gets a warning for the first offense.
The next time it happens, it's a $30 fine plus court costs.
Shannon Alvis had a 10-ride ticket book Monday and walked to the Southmoor station to take the train to her job in the Denver Tech Center.
Alvis, who works for an environmental firm, calculated she might pay 50 cents more a day to take the train instead of driving, yet it's worth it.
"This is that much more convenient, and it gets me a little exercise," she said, referring to the walk to and from the stations.
Safety at Southmoor, which has a pedestrian tunnel under Interstate 25, remains a concern for Alvis.
"I'm hoping there is security at night," she said, pointing out the need in the tunnel area.
Opening the southeast line appeared to draw some riders from the 6-year-old southwest line.
When RTD began southwest train service, parking lots at the line's stations typically filled early on weekdays.
On Monday, some southwest rail parking lots had many spaces available late in the morning, according to RTD.
The lot at the Littleton station, which has 361 spaces, was only two-thirds full. The lot at the Mineral station nearly filled.
RTD expected some riders who have been using southwest rail to switch to the southeast because it is closer to their homes, Reed said.
The days before Thanksgiving do not offer the best test of southeast rail ridership or parking demand, Reed added, because many commuters may be on vacation. RTD planned its rollout this week for that reason.
Kennedy Ambundo was working Monday. He traded a ride on the 90X bus from Nine Mile for a train ride. The 90X and many other express bus routes were eliminated when southeast train service started.
Ambundo said his train ride took a little more than half an hour and dropped him off about a block from his job at the Magnolia Hotel.
"This is something that really helps people," he said. - Jeffrey Leib, The Denver Post
THE END
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Railroad Newsline for Wednesday, 11/22/06 |
Larry W. Grant | 11-22-2006 - 05:06 |
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Re: Railroad Newsline for Wednesday, 11/22/06
|
Marty Bernard | 11-22-2006 - 06:57 |