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Railroad Newsline for Friday, June 08, 2007

Compiled by Larry W. Grant

In Memory of Rob Carlson, 1952 – 2006

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RAIL NEWS

BNSF SPECIAL TAKES OFF

On Tuesday, June 5, the 2007 BNSF Railway Special kicked off in McCook, Nebraska, then headed to Sterling, Colorado, and arrived in Denver Thursday, June 7. This annual train offers rides to local BNSF employees, their families and special guests, including the local Boys & Girls Clubs.

Guests will have the unique opportunity to take a train ride onboard 13 vintage passenger cars and view territory from a perspective that is not available to the public. The trip will last 21 days, ending June 26 in Alliance, Nebraska, and cover nearly 7,000 miles of BNSF north central territory.

"This is a great opportunity," says Boyd Andrew, general manager, Nebraska Division. "It’s a chance to realize our mission statement, celebrate our community and heritage."

"It’s a family business," says Scott Burkey, engineer, Powder River Division. "We’re on the road a lot, but the railroad helps take care of our family through excellent benefits. Personally, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else."

Employees’ family and friends all enjoyed seeing the scenic views. Kids received paper engineer hats and some of their favorite treats. Employees also had an opportunity to meet each other’s families and learn a little history from older employees.

The Special was established 11 years ago as a way to thank employees for their contributions to the company’s success; the Special has evolved into a much-anticipated family experience in every community it travels. - BNSF Today

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ROCKS, TREES HAMPER TRAIN RIDE: BOULDERS CRASH ONTO DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD TRACKS

Photo here:

[www.durangoherald.com]

Caption reads: Trees lean on a car on the 9:45 a.m. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train near Cascade on Wednesday. (Eric Drayner/The Durango Herald)

Photo here:

[www.durangoherald.com]

Caption reads: Fallen trees damaged at least one railcar near Cascade on Wednesday. (Yvette Drayner/The Durango Herald)

Powerful winds on Wednesday ambushed the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, sending boulders and trees crashing onto the track and onto at least two railcars -- canceling a scenic 45-mile ride for three trainloads and two busloads of visitors.

Eric Drayner, a civil engineer with the California Department of Transportation, and his wife, Yvette, left Durango at 09:45 hours on the third train of the day.

"They stopped us at Cascade about 12:30, and a conductor told us that boulders had closed the track up the line," Eric Drayner said. "Our train backed up and parked on the wye (siding)."
The Drayners walked around a few minutes and then went to the concessions car. They had barely placed their order when they heard a thud.

"The wind was really whipping," Drayner said. "Two trees on the river side of the track with weak root systems fell and hit a gondola car immediately ahead of the concessions car."

A Pullman two cars ahead of the gondola was struck by a single falling tree.

Paul Schrank, D&SNGR vice president and general manager, said the problem started when a pair of boulders -- he estimated them at 6-feet by 6-feet -- closed the track near Elk Park, a few miles south of Silverton. The first train was about 20 minutes outside Silverton at the time, he said.

The operator of a small motorized railcar that always precedes trains discovered the blockage and sounded the alert, Schrank said.

A speed swing -- a rail-mounted loader -- removed trees that had fallen across the track behind the convoys, allowing the trains to reverse course at sidings at Elk Park and Cascade, Schrank said.

On the return, members of their train crew had to remove trees from the track twice, Yvette Drayner said.

Two busloads of visitors who took U.S. Highway 550 to Silverton expecting to ride the train back to Durango were disappointed, too. They returned the way they went -- on rubber tires.

Eric Drayner said he has wanted to ride the D&SNGR since he saw a documentary about the line 25 years ago.

"We had more adventure than we expected today," he said. "But we're going to be back on board tomorrow."

Drayner praised the way the train crews handled the situation.

"They were Johnny-on-the-spot," Drayner said. - Dale Rodebaugh, The Durango Herald

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BNSF COAL TRAIN DERAILS IN NORTH DAKOTA

TOWER CITY, ND -- A BNSF Railway Company train C SCMSUD1 52 hauling Wyoming coal derailed here, dumping 31 fully loaded coal cars and blocking the single main track on the west end of town. Tower City is approximately 30 miles west of Dilworth, Minnesota

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the cars jumped the tracks at about 14:55 hours. The 122-car train was traveling east from Spring Creek Mine in Wyoming to Superior, Wisconsin, he said.

"There were no injuries or hazardous materials involved," Melonas said. The cause of the derailment was not known, he said.

A crew of about 50 workers was being sent to the scene Wednesday.

"The line is expected to reopen" this (Thursday) afternoon, Melonas said.

Customers may experience delays between 24 and 36 hours on trains moving through this corridor.

Cleanup could take about three weeks, Melonas said. - The Billings Gazette and BNSF Service Advisory

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RAILROAD DAYS TO HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC TRAINS JULY 06-08

Photo here:

[www.mtshastanews.com]

Caption reads: These two young railroad enthusiasts toured historic locomotives and other railroad equipment during last year’s Dunsmuir Railroad Days. Much of the same equipment will be open to the public during this year’s event, July 6 through 8. (Photo courtesy Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce)

DUNSMUIR, CA -- The highlight of Railroad Days 2007, July 6 through 8, is the collection of Union Pacific and Portola Railroad Museum historic equipment, which will be open for public tours.

The only charge for the exhibits and special activities is a $1 Railroad Days button.

Among the equipment that will be on display is UP's Centennial DD40X No. 6936, the largest diesel-electric locomotive built.

Comprised of two engines on one frame that deliver 6,600 horsepower, the Centennial was named in honor of the railroad's centennial anniversary celebration in 1969. With a top speed of 90 miles per hour it is still the most powerful diesel locomotive built.

Western Pacific 917-D “A” with a “B” unit “The Streamliner” is also on display.

Electromotive Division of General Motors started building that style in 1939 and it became so popular that they were still being built in the 1950s for both freight and passenger trains when riding by rail was glamorous.

The Shasta Cascade Rail Preservation Society and the Dunsmuir Railroad Depot Historical Society will join together in a public ceremony to greet the trains from the Portola Museum and the Feather River Rail Society on Friday, July 6 at 17:00 hour for the “Meet the Trains” VIP reception. The event will include music by “Tulsa” and a train memorabilia exhibit at the Amtrak Depot.

UP is lending its mini-train for this year's Railroad Days, which will provide free rides around the rail yard and downtown.

The Kent Family Magic Circus will offer illusion, juggling, fire-eating, bullwhip, lasso and escapes entertainment on Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8.

There will be plenty of activities for the youngsters including children's games along with the Siskiyou County Arts Council ArtsBus at the new Pine Street Depot under the big balloon arch.

On July 7 will be the annual Lil' Mr. and Miss Engineer pageant at the Dunsmuir Children's Park, along with the Dunsmuir Certified Growers Market. The Rotary Club will also hold is all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and the parade on Dunsmuir and Sacramento avenues begins at noon.

The 31st annual Railroad Days Softball Tournament will be held June 29 through July 1 in conjunction with Mount Shasta's Fourth of July celebration. Teams come from as far away as Seattle, Wash. to play each other in the historic railroad community.

New this year is a Rugby Tournament on Saturday, July 7. Both tournaments will take place at the Dunsmuir Ball Park where Babe Ruth played in an exhibition game.

On Saturday afternoon, Dunsmuir Recreation and Parks District administrator Mike Rodriguez will oversee pool games, coin toss and t-shirt relays at the Dunsmuir Community Pool.

Two G-scale model railroad layouts, one with actual steam locomotives, will be set up at the Amtrak Depot. The Dunsmuir Cedar Flats Model Train Club layout, vendor booths of handcrafted items and train memorabilia and a food court will be open all weekend.

Southwest Railcar Limited will be providing five speeders/motorcars for public rides again this year on the old oil spur in the Dunsmuir Rail Yard. These are little track inspection/repair vehicles that were used for many years by the railroads until the hy-rail vehicles took over in recent decades. They will be giving short rides at no charge to the public throughout the weekend to participants wearing a button.

All train exhibits, vendors and children's activities continue through Sunday, July 8.

Railroad Days has been a tradition in Dunsmuir from the early days of steam when a committee was formed in 1940. It was made up of Dunsmuir engineers and members of the Dunsmuir Eagles Club. - The Mt. Shasta Herald

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GOOD SAVE: COOK PROUD OF EFFORTS IN SAVING TSRR

PALESTINE, TX -- A little more than a week after the 80th Texas Legislature ended in Austin, Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, said during a visit to Palestine that he was proud to see the efforts end successfully to save the Texas State Railroad.

Cook, whose district includes Anderson, Freestone, Limestone and Navarro counties, was in town Wednesday to attend the Rotary Club meeting at the Ben E. Keith community room.

Months of hard work paid off when the legislature voted to approve the transfer of control of the Texas State Railroad from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to a local railroad authority which will allow private rail company American Heritage Railways run daily operations at the park, then paid off again when the legislature included $12 million in funding to seal the deal, Cook said.

“We got the $12 million in funding, which was absolutely critical,” Cook said Wednesday, prior to the Rotary Club meeting. “People (legislators) had to make sure in Austin that this would save the state tens of millions of dollars.”

The $12 million funding had been requested as part of the contract between American Heritage Railways and the Texas State Railroad Operating Agency, a group of Palestine and Rusk officials and business people appointed by their respective city councils to find a way to keep the historic trains running.

Budget cuts in recent years threatened the trains’ weekend runs, as state officials planned to halt the trips between the Palestine and Rusk depots and turn the trains into static displays, or museum pieces, citing the cost of maintenance and repairs.

However, the state changed course after public outcry and allocated enough funds to maintain the trains’ normal schedule, first through the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, then through December 2006, and again through the current fiscal year, which ends on August 31.

Private citizens, local and state elected officials and local groups collected signatures, held fund-raisers, wrote to and met with state officials to convince them first to continue to fund operations as a state park, and later to allow the park to be run by a private company under local supervision, all in the hopes of keeping the trains running.

Those individuals who devoted so much time and effort to the TSRR’s cause are the reason the trains will continue to roll past August 31, Cook said, particularly noting the work done by operating agency members, local officials and current Agriculture Commissioner and former state senator Todd Staples.

“The legislation that is successful is driven by people who care about it,” Cook said. “I give the credit to the folks here who never quit. I’m convinced that without that, this would be a static display.”

With the projected increase in ridership that American Heritage expects due to its ability to advertise the railroad, the surrounding areas stand to receive tremendous economic benefit, Cook added.

“I just have high hopes for it now,” he said. - Beth Foley, The Palestine Herald

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RUSK TO RATIFY RAILROAD PACT

JACKSONVILLE, TX -- Now that the regular session of the Texas legislature has closed, and the potential for a state-operated Texas State Railroad is dead, the cities of Rusk and Palestine and the Texas State Railroad Operating Authority are working to complete the final stages of the privatization process.

The Rusk City Council will hold a special meeting at 17:00 hours Thursday, June 7, to consider a purchase and sale agreement with American Heritage Railroad.

According to Mike Murray, city manager of Rusk, on Monday the council will look over a draft copy of the agreement, and will consider its approval.

“It is one of the final steps in the process. Earlier in the year, the council authorized City Attorney Forrest Phifer to draft an agreement for the purchase,” Murray said. “Ron Stupes, city attorney for Palestine, wrote the majority of it, along with the help of Mr. Phifer, and sent it off to American Heritage. As far as I know, they haven’t gotten back to us regarding the agreement yet.”

In the final week of the legislature the state approved $12 million in funds for the privatized lines, which had been one of the initial prerequisites of an agreement with AHR. - Kelly Young, The Jacksonville Daily Progress

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MAY RAILROAD TRAFFIC HAS A DOWN MONTH, SAYS AAR

WASHINGTON, DC -- Railroad carload and intermodal volumes on United States railroads had another down month in May compared to the same time period last year, according to data released earlier today by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

The AAR said that U.S. railroads originated 1,636,963 carloads of freight in May, which was down 4.6 percent -- or 79,471 carloads -- from May 2006. Intermodal was also down 2.0 percent -- or 23,926 trailers or containers -- for the month.

As was the case over the first four months of the year, inclement weather, including heavy rain and tornado damage in the Midwest during early May, contributed to the lackluster monthly performance.

“The severe weather impacted the Midwest for about two weeks,” said Tom White, AAR director of editorial services. “This had an impact on coal shipments and other freight movements.”

Of the 19 commodities tracked by the AAR, seven saw year-over-year increases, with chemicals and petroleum products up 4.6 and 4.0 percent, respectively. On the other side, farm products were down 20.4 percent and lumber and wood products were down 15.7 percent.

While the weather in May did not help matters, White said the railroad industry has been affected much worse by Mother Nature, with some severe winter storms in the late 1990s and bad flooding along the Mississippi River in the early 1990s, which lasted for an extended period of time and required sufficient re-routing.

May’s performance reflects what is still a soft market, said White. And he said this is related to the current state of the U.S. economy in key railroad-dependent sectors, including construction and automobiles.

“Until certain industries kick back into gear, we are really still in a wait and see mode, when it comes to seeing a recovery,” said White.

But the recent Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Global Insight, which predicts that retail container traffic will be picking up over the course of this year and break monthly records, said White. And he said this is something the railroads are waiting on at the moment, which may help railroad traffic rebound.

“If this were to happen, we may see a lessening the monthly declines, and we need to turn it into a positive,” said White.

The AAR reported that for the first five months of this year U.S. rail carloads were down 4.3 percent -- or 320,851 carloads -- to 7,087,341 carloads. The biggest declines for this time period were crushed stone, sand, and gravel, which was down 11.3 percent -- or 56,685 carloads -- and motor vehicles and equipment, which was down 10.5 percent -- or 52,947 carloads.

U.S. intermodal traffic, which includes trailers and containers on flat cars and not included in carload figures, was down 59,428 trailers and containers -- or 1.2 percent -- to 4,990,830 units for the first five months of the year, according to the AAR, and total volume was estimated at 721.4 billion ton-miles, which was down 3 percent from the same timeframe last year. - Jeff Berman, Logistics Management

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AGENCY PUSHING FOR SOUTHERN IDAHO INTERMODAL FACILITY

JEROME, ID -- WOW Logistics of Jerome ships 200 containers of dairy products overseas each month. It must ship the containers directly to port or to an intermodal facility in Salt Lake City, where the containers are placed on a rail line for transport.

If an intermodal facility was built in southern Idaho, his business would be better equipped to grow, said warehouse manager Mitch McClurg.

"I would guess the savings, especially with fuel prices the way they are, would be at least 30 percent, if not more, if we were able to ship our containers to a closer facility," McClurg said. "Having an intermodal facility in southern Idaho would be a huge advantage for everyone in the state. We alone could probably increase our shipments overseas by 50 percent."

An intermodal facility, a place that would allow for the loading and unloading of ocean-going containers between trucks and rail cars, is not a new idea, said Rural Magic Valley Economic Development Association Director Kelly Bangerter.

"I've been in contact with many businesses, and shipping improvements is a big issue," he said.

The rural Magic Valley is served by Union Pacific and the Eastern Idaho Railroad, which is dependent on UP to serve the area by way of a connection point in Minidoka, Bangerter said, but businesses can't just put their freight on a rail car anywhere. They must first put their goods in a container and haul it 270 miles to Salt Lake City, the area's closest intermodal facility.

"Businesses have two solutions really, build a facility in southern Idaho or relocate to be closer to an existing facility," Bangerter said. "Idaho is the only state west of the Rocky Mountains that doesn't have an intermodal facility and we are also hundreds of miles from most major markets and ports."

Bangerter says businesses such as the Standlee Hay Co. in Eden could see substantial savings on their freight bill.

"Standlee Hay ships about 150 containers each month but could boost that to 300 to 400 if they had an intermodal facility nearby," he said. "Those in agriculture are the biggest ones hurt by shipping costs because they only work on a 3 percent profit margin. With such a tight margin they can be crippled with a bad crop or soaring fuel costs."

Idaho Wheat Commission Executive Director Blaine Jacobsen said wheat shippers in southern Idaho pay well above the normal threshold for shipping. He estimates that southern Idaho shippers pay $20 million more than they should.

"The Surface Transportation Board has calculated what is considered the normal threshold for shipping and in some parts of southern Idaho they are paying 180 percent of what's considered normal," Jacobsen said. "About 40 percent of the wheat grown in Idaho is raised in southern Idaho and almost all of it is bulk shipped by rail. They are a captive market and depend on Union Pacific. There just isn't any competition."

The commission fully supports an intermodal facility being built. Jacobsen also sits on the Idaho State Department of Agriculture's transportation advisory group and says that the need for such a facility has been discussed.

"It's an idea that's surfaced and I'm sure we'll talk about it more," Jacobsen said.

Right now RMVEDA is going after a $50,000 Gem Grant to help pay for a feasibility study that supporters hope will be wrapped up by early fall.

"Union Pacific has to be behind this for it to be a go," Bangerter said. "We sat down with them about a year ago and they were actually quite open to the idea. We just have to show them the economic advantage to them putting a facility here." - Blair Loch, The Twin Falls Times-News

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PHOTO EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY IN GREEN RIVER, WYOMING

GREEN RIVER, WY -- Photography lovers are in for another treat from the duo David Halter and R.J. Pieper.

Their combined perspectives are on display in the gallery at White Mountain Library until the end of June. A public reception is scheduled for June 7 from 18:30-20:00 hours.

From photographs of Easter Island Moai to the abandoned gas pumps west of Green River, visitors to the White Mountain Library will find something to intrigue them in the 25-piece exhibit. The program includes comments from Halter and Pieper about each photograph in the exhibit.

Halter is the technology coordinator for the Sweetwater County Library System and a part-time student at Western Wyoming Community College. Over the past year he has pursued photographs of the local area during “spontaneous” trips in Sweetwater County. Taking classes at Western Wyoming Community College has allowed Halter to take other “spontaneous adventures” such as traveling to Easter Island last June.

Pieper's interest in photography began as a child with “cheap point and shoot cameras.” When he entered White Mountain Junior High, he enrolled in the school's first photography class, improving little by little. He began to work independently due to the lack of a photography program in high school using his father's digital camera to take photos of anything he could.
Later, he enrolled in photography classes at Western Wyoming Community College. The photos in the library exhibit were shot with a Canon 20D.

He said the photos have a wild nature, which is why he called his exhibit “Photography Untamed.” The images were captured in many different locations, with most from Western Wyoming.

Halter has added a new dimension to his exhibit by enlarging two of the photos, “Profile of Boar's Tusk” and “Easter Island Sunset” and having them processed on canvas. Halter used a fish eye lens attachment to get the “extremely wide angle” of Boar's Tusk that resulted in the “curvature” of the horizon.

Halter had fun with the special effects of the macro lens in shooting the Hoya plant at White Mountain Library. Titled “Yin-Yang Hoya.”

“The flowers look almost fuzzy and the water droplet looks huge,” Halter said. Also included in the show is the pedestrian bridge that extends over the railroad tracks in downtown Green River. Halter's photo of Castle Rock at night titled “Green River Night” is captured using the bright lights near exit 89 on the Interstate above Green River to illuminate the rock. He took a 30 second exposure and was also able to capture the stars. Viewers will be interested in Halter's description of how he got the special effects in the photo titled “Technical Love” taken in February, 2007, using an infrared filter.

Pieper's exhibit shows his passion for trains and for the outdoors. “Big Spring Revisited” was taken on a second outing to Sheep Creek Canyon. He said the technique used to capture the water motion was achieved in the camera, “not in post processing.” “Palisades” was also taken on the outing to Sheep Creek Canyon. “Last Gas” is an image of some abandoned gas pumps still standing west of Green River, “showing the way life used to be.” “Electrified” resulted from a trip Pieper and Halter took to the top of White Mountain during a thunderstorm in June 2006. He said while many shots were taken, his was the only one to capture a bolt of lightning.

One of Pieper's hobbies is model railroading and railroad history so “Building Steam” of Challenger #3985 is included in the exhibit along with “Challenger in Three” of the same steam engine and a photo of UP 844 taken in May 2007. Built in 1945, the Challenger is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world. The photograph was taken in September of 2004 in Rock Springs while on “her” way back home to Cheyenne.

Exhibits are coordinated and sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, [www.sweetwaterlibraries.com]. - The Green River Star

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1927 BAYLOR BUS WRECK STILL REMEMBERED IN ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

Photo here:

[www.statesman.com]?

ROUND ROCK, TX -- Few motorists who drive over the Mays Street Bridge in downtown Round Rock, Texas realize that one of the most tragic events in the city's history occurred on the railroad tracks below.

In his book, "The Immortal Ten," author Todd Copeland recounts a collision that occurred Jan. 22, 1927, between an International-Great Northern Railroad train and a bus carrying the Baylor University basketball team at a crossing where the bridge now stands.

Ten young men were flung to their deaths or killed on impact. Twelve more people were injured and sustained lifelong physical and emotional scars.

The wreck had a profound effect on the Waco campus, but its impact on Round Rock was also deep, Williamson County archivist Karen Thompson said.

"This town was traumatized," said Thompson, who has written five books on Williamson County history. "Years ago, I interviewed some of the people who lived here then, and I had to plead with them to talk about it."

"The Immortal Ten," which is available at the Round Rock Public Library, describes how the bus left the campus on a cold, rainy Saturday morning and reached Round Rock shortly before noon.
The team was on its way to play a night game in Austin against the University of Texas.

Joe Potter, a 21-year-old student, was behind the wheel. Coach Ralph Wolf sat nearby. The team, along with several students who had come along as passengers, sat in rows of wicker chairs that stretched to the rear of the 25-foot-long vehicle.

As the bus turned south off Main Street and angled down an incline on what is now Mays Street, Wolf caught sight of an eastbound train on the tracks that crossed the road.

The train engineer blew his whistle, but Potter did not hear it.

Wolf shouted a warning to Potter, whose vision was hindered by a mud-spattered windshield and a huddle of boxcars parked on a side rail.

Unable to stop because of the slippery road, Potter gunned the engine.

He almost made it across the tracks.

The train's engine slammed into the rear of the bus, killing several of the players on impact.

"The bus was utterly demolished and empty of passengers," Copeland writes. "The team's green and gold jerseys lay in the mud alongside spare tires."

Four players lay motionless near one another.

Two bodies hung from the cowcatcher on the front of the engine.

Nearby residents rushed to the scene with bedsheets that they had torn into makeshift bandages for the victims.

Round Rock physician Dick Bolling Gregg treated the injured.

The dead included players Sam Dillow, Robert Hailey, Robert Hannah Jr., Clyde Kelley, Willis Murray, James Walker and William Winchester. The other victims were Jack Castellaw, team scorekeeper; Merle Dudley, a cheerleader; and Ivey Foster Jr. of Taylor, assistant sports editor of the Baylor student newspaper.

They became known as the Immortal Ten, a phrase that was coined by a Waco reporter. The term is still used today in memorial observances on the Baylor campus.

The remaining 12 passengers, including Potter and Wolf, lived, although several of the victims needed extensive treatment.

In the aftermath, the Texas Legislature and state transportation agencies began a decades-long crusade to replace many of the road-level railroad crossings with overpasses. The Mays Street Bridge, which was built in 1935, is one example.

"In those days, there were no automatic barriers at railroad crossings," Copeland said last week. "It was up to motorists to determine whether it was safe to cross."

Next to the bridge is a historical marker erected by the Texas Highway Commission that bears the names of the 10 victims. It is barely visible to motorists as they approach the bridge from downtown.

But Thompson always notices it.

"Every time I turn that corner at Main Street and the gas station and head down that incline on Mays Street, I can still see that Baylor bus carrying those boys toward the tracks through that cold, rainy weather back in 1927," she said. - Bob Banta, The Austin American-Statesman

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TRANSIT NEWS

GREEN LINE EXTENSION TO LAX DERAILED AS COMMITTEE TABLES JOINT POWERS BILL

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Assembly Bill (AB) 889, which would establish a joint powers construction authority for a highly anticipated extension of the Metro Green Line light rail to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), has been put on hold for the rest of the year.

The State Assembly Appropriations Committee decided to table the proposed legislation Thursday, May 31st, effectively ending its chances of reaching the Assembly floor for a vote this year.
"It's very disappointing," said David Ford, deputy for Torrance Assemblyman Ted Lieu, AB 889's sponsor. "With LAX moving forward with its modernization plans, the assemblyman really believes that this was an opportunity to be a large part of that, an extension of the Green Line into LAX."

Lieu's legislation would create a joint powers authority (JPA) that would be in charge of construction, hiring contractors and overseeing the proposed light rail extension, similar to the authority that was formed for the Expo Line, which is currently under construction in downtown Los Angeles. The Westside light rail project is expected to reach Culver City in 2010.

This is the second setback in as many weeks to the light rail's proposed extension to the airport, which is backed by many area politicians, including Lieu, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, State Senator Jenny Oropeza of Long Beach and Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. Along with Congresswoman Jane Harman of Venice, they have formed the Green Line Coalition, a group of local, county, state and national legislators who advocate the light rail extension to the airport.

Last week, the chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA or Metro), Terry Matsumoto, told The Argonaut that because of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to take away $1.3 billion that was previously earmarked for state transportation needs, many capital works projects could be postponed.

"Those were funds that we expected to come in because of the (upswing) in the state's economy," said Matsumoto. "Now, because we don't plan on having them, it's safe to say that there will be delays (in capital rail projects)."

An underground rail line from the Red Line to the beach, called the Purple Line, the second phase of the Mid-Cities Light Rail Exposition Line, more commonly known as the Expo Line, to Santa Monica and an extension to LAX from Crenshaw Boulevard -- the Crenshaw Corridor -- are the primary capital rail projects that Metro will be examining in the near future, says Matsumoto.

Regarding the Green Line extension, "It's not even on our radar screen right now," he confirmed last week.

Ford said he believes that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was "working against" the bill, and that its lobbying efforts were a primary reason that the Appropriations Committee decided to shelve it until next year.

Ken Alpern, co-chair of the Friends of the Green Line, expressed similar sentiments.

"As the expression goes, 'You win a few and you lose a few,'" Alpern said.

"Some interesting behind-the-scenes efforts probably caused this bill to suddenly stop its previous momentum in the Appropriations Committee; most likely the Metro staff and/or board members who had opposed the Green Line Construction Authority played a role in this sudden reversal of fortunes," he speculated.

AB 889 appeared to be on a fast track through the various important Assembly and Los Angeles City Council committees before last month's Assembly vote, when it gained unanimous approval in April from the California State Assembly Local Government Committee and the L.A. City Council's Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Ford stated that the allocation of funds for transportation projects in Los Angeles County might have played a role in the committee's final decision.

"I think that there was some concern that transit dollars (in Southern California) are getting squeezed," Ford surmised. "Maybe they were reluctant to choose (AB 889) without knowing whether it can be funded."

MTA officials point out that, unlike the Green Line extension, the funding was already in place for the first stage of the Expo Line and for its joint powers agreement.

Rosendahl blasted the committee's decision to put the Green Line joint powers agreement on hold.

"I am very disappointed that the Appropriations Committee voted against this much-needed rail extension," the councilman said in a statement. "The Westside is paralyzed by constant traffic gridlock. This extension is a common-sense approach, a 'no-brainer' to relieving traffic congestion in our neighborhoods and communities."

"This vote will in no way, shape or form slow down the aggressive and cooperative efforts of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Metro and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) planners to work on a Green Line extension to LAX in the Green Line Interagency Task Force," Alpern asserted. "Those who favor the Green Line Construction Authority are at all levels of government and exist throughout the region, and they're not going to end this fight."

"Despite the lack of support from this committee, I remain hopeful and optimistic about our efforts to extend the Green Line into LAX," Rosendahl added. "I do not consider this vote to be a roadblock in our journey to mass transit, just a bump in the road -- a minor challenge that we will certainly overcome."

"This issue is not going to go away," Ford vowed. - Gary Walker, The Marina del Rey Argonaut

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TROLLEY SQUARE PLAN MOVES AHEAD -- WITH STRINGS

SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- Reluctant though it was, Salt Lake City's Historic Landmark Commission gave unanimous approval Wednesday to the relocation of four iconic landmarks, including the water tower and wrought-iron sign, at historic Trolley Square.

But the commission attached a thick string: The overall site plan for the mall makeover must be stamped by the Planning Commission and, on that point, things remain sticky.

The planning panel is certain to face concerns from landmark commissioners and neighbors about felled trees, poor pedestrian access and leaving the "ugliest parts" (a loading dock and parking ramp) on a prominent corner while obscuring the best parts (the historic barns).

Under the developer's current plan, the barns housing most of the existing shops would be "lost in the middle, never to be seen again," Commissioner Creed Haymond complained. "Those of us who are local are very sad to see this happen."

Landmark members worry both about a 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods store on the northeast corner -- complete with access ramps and two levels of parking on the roof -- as well as 20,000-square-feet-plus of retail planned for the mall's western flank.

"One of the things about Trolley is this rhythm and shape that goes with the trolley barns," Commissioner Esther Hunter told the Portland-based architect.

In response, architect Dan Foeller insisted designers plan to add buildings that blend -- complete with a modified mission style -- rather than compete with the historic complex.

"We're not trying to destroy old views," Foeller said, "and I don't think we do."

He noted groundwater prevents the developer from putting the Whole Foods parking beneath the street surface. And, he said, a refurbished pedestrian path would draw people to the original structure - albeit from the middle of the shopping center.

That did little to satisfy two community-council members, who equated the proposed plan to the "theft of historic public property."

"People have all sorts of love and now sorrow for Trolley Square," said Luke Garrott, a neighbor who also is running for City Council. "This is fundamentally . . . a bad plan. The feeling of openness will be violated."

Community-Council chairwoman Cindy Cromer agreed, saying the views from Trolley's surrounding streets would be lost.

If city planners approve the makeover, however, Wednesday's vote ensures several landmarks would be moved.

Permission was granted to shift the water tower 20 feet to the south, push the 500 South Trolley Square sign a little west and scoot the trolley car to the southwest corner of the complex. In addition, the Sand House -- built in 1908 to hold sand for winter maintenance on the trolley tracks -- would be dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt on the west end. Plans call for a new tenant, however, since the Wells Fargo bank branch would relocate inside the larger building. - Derek P. Jensen, The Salt Lake Tribune

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STREETCARS MAY COME TO LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH, CA -- A streetcar system has been proposed for the city of Long Beach that could connect the Cal State Long Beach campus with downtown Long Beach.

City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal of the 2nd District made the proposal. Lowenthal told the Grunion Gazette that she looked at the streetcar system in Portland, Ore., and thought the system would also be viable for Long Beach.

According to Lowenthal, a study must be conducted before the proposal can be considered by the city council. An outline for the study, how much it will cost, who will conduct it and what kind of study it will be, must be submitted within 30 days.

The study aims to come up with an appropriate line for the streetcar to run on. Lowenthal said she wants the line to go along Broadway Avenue, because there are a lot of "great businesses" on Broadway that people can't get to because of a lack of parking. Lowenthal said because parking is a problem throughout the city, especially in the 2nd District, the streetcar system could possibly alleviate the demand for parking.

Lowenthal also said conducting the study could cost anywhere between $50,000 and $500,000, with the money to conduct the study possibly coming from city transportation funds.

"We don't need to do the [expensive] high-end study," Lowenthal said. Lowenthal added that there is also congressional money that the city could apply for.

The cost of the entire project - if approved - is yet unknown. According to Lowenthal, it will be based on how many miles of track are needed.

While Lowenthal wants the streetcars to connect CSULB to downtown Long Beach, she said there will likely not be a stop directly on campus. Lowenthal said it might stop at Bellflower Boulevard or Seventh Street, but that it likely "would not go to the heart of the campus."

Lowenthal said that she thinks Portland paid around $6 million for its streetcar system a few years ago. The cost for adding a similar one in Long Beach would most likely be more expensive.

The streetcars are electric trains with cables running above ground, like the streetcars in Portland and San Francisco.

According to Lowenthal, Portland was able to build its streetcar system in two to five years. Should the proposal be accepted by the city and the city commit to the project, Lowenthal said Long Beach streetcars "would be a near future possibility." - Colleen Donnelly, The Daily 49er (The Daily 49er is the student newspaper of Cal State Long Beach)

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HAPPY HOUR PREVAILS ON LIRR

FOREST HILLS, NY -- There will be no last call on the Long Island Rail Road.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has deliberated on the matter and decided against abolishing the sale of beer, wine and whisky aboard its trains and on the platforms.

"We could find no reason to change the policy," said Barry Feinstein, chairman of a special MTA board task force chosen to look into whether to ban sales of alcohol on board the LIRR.

MTA Executive Director Elliot "Lee" Sander said "many of our customers enjoy this amenity and I am pleased that the task fore confirmed that the current policy provides a benefit without compromising safety."

The issue goes back to late last year when MTA board member Mitchell Palley, a Long Island attorney, said that in his opinion the Long Island Rail Road's mission should not extend to selling alcoholic drinks to passengers.

Palley said he was not trying to promote prohibition of intoxicants but rather stop selling of drinks to LIRR passengers, most of whom drive a car after leaving the train.

But Jeremy Soffin, spokesman for the MTA, said the task force investigated and "found there was no correlation whatsoever" between the selling of drinks to LIRR passengers and cases of driving while intoxicated.

Both the LIRR and Metro-North Commuter Railroad acknowledged some problems from time to time but nearly all involved travelers already intoxicated before they boarded trains.

The Long Island Rail road earns more than $340,000 annually from vendors who sell beer, wine and liquor as well as snacks and soft drinks from carts on LIRR platforms and aboard some trains.

The LIRR sells drinks at platforms at Penn Station, Flatbush Avenue and Jamaica stations on eastbound evening rush hours trains. In summer months, bar carts are operated at Hunterspoint Avenue and on certain Hamptons-bound trains, where passengers are served drinks in their seats, airline-style.

Several organizations were formed to fight against a ban on drinks on the LIRR and the MTA said it had received thousands of e-mails, letters and other forms of communication in protest. - Phillip Newman, The Forest Hills Times Ledger

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THE END