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A l l A b o a r d

Sacramento Adds New Station to Light-Rail System

The opening of the new 8th & H Streets/County Center station on Sacramento Regional Tran-sit’s light-rail network marks the first step in the development of the new Green Line route, which will extend first 1.1 miles to the River District later this spring, then ultimately to Sac-ramento International Airport. The new 8th & H Streets/County Center station is already served by trains on the system’s existing light-rail route between downtown Sacramento and the

intermodal Sacramento Valley Station, while the new Richards Boulevard station will book-end the city’s massive renovation of the former Southern Pacific railyards district.

The Regional Transit District is undertaking the Green Line project to the River District with-out federal funds, but is planning on applying for federal investment to support the full route to the airport. The transit authority plans on beginning preliminary engineering of the full Green Line this spring, with service expected to begin in 2021. The agency’s two existing light-rail routes average more than 50,000 daily riders on a 37-mile system serving 45 stations that first opened in 1987.

Construction Underway on SMART Regional Rail Line

Through a $103 million contract with a joint venture between Stacey & Witbeck and Herzog, construction on the first phase of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system is now underway. The initial 37-mile segment will link the downtowns of Santa Rosa and San Rafael by 2016 over a former Northern Pacific right-of-way. The full corridor will ultimately link Cloverdale in Sonoma County with Larkspur and the Golden Gate Ferry to San Francisco in Marin County on a 70-mile route.

Construction work on the first phase will

include installing track and constructing new bridges, seven station platforms and grade crossings. Construction activity will also cre-ate 1,000 jobs, and lower-than-expected bids are saving the project $4 million. The project is funded through a local quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2008. Ultimately, ser-vice will be provided by a fleet of six two-car diesel-multiple unit (DMU) vehicles produced by Sumitomo Corp., and Nippon Sharyo, with final assembly taking place in Rochelle, Ill.

Alkali Flats Mansion Flats

Alkali Flats Mansion Flats

Richards Boulevard

Sacramento Valley Station Sacramento

Valley Station

Proposed Richards Blvd.

Station

Proposed Richards Blvd.

Station

MOS-1 CIRCULATOR

March 2009

L Street

Visit the project Web site at www.sacrt.com/dna

Fact SheetMarch 2009

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“This contract builds the backbone of the SMART rail system,” said Bill Gamlen, SMART’s Chief Engineer. “It’s an old patchwork quilt of rail pieces that are bolted together on wooden ties that have become fouled over time. We will build brand new continuously welded rail on concrete ties on brand new ballast.”

(For more information on the SMART system, see RAIL #23 – ed)

Amtrak to Begin Norfolk Service Sooner Than Expected

By December 31, Amtrak passengers in Virginia will have a new way to reach one of the state’s

largest metropolitan regions, with the launch of direct service to Norfolk. Originally planned to begin in late 2013, the project timeline has been expedited to allow a daily roundtrip train to operate between Norfolk and Washington, D.C., serving the former city’s new Harbor Park station and offering nearby connections with the Tide light-rail system. The daily roundtrip train will depart Norfolk in the morning and return from Washington in the evening.

The service expansion from Richmond is sup-ported by more than $114 million in invest-ment from Virginia to upgrade freight rail tracks between Richmond and Norfolk, along

with construction of the new Harbor Park sta-tion. Although Amtrak operates multiple daily roundtrips between Richmond and Newport News, the Norfolk trip will restore intercity pas-senger rail service to Norfolk for the first time since 1977. State officials project the service will cover its operating costs in its first year – much like Virginia’s state-supported service be-tween Washington, D.C., and Lynchburg, which began in 2009 – and could ultimately include three daily roundtrip trains.

“This service will provide immediate relief to road-weary travelers between two of the state’s most congested regions,” said Virginia Gov-ernor Bob McDonnell. “This service is long overdue and I congratulate our partners and commend their cooperation in moving up the scheduled start date.”

VRE to Purchase New Railcars

In a nod to record ridership on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail network – which connects northern Virginia with Wash-ington, D.C., and is now often carrying more than 20,000 daily passengers – the railroad is purchasing eight new bi-level commuter rail-cars from Sumitomo Corp. Needing to replace existing 40-year old equipment that was ac-quired from the Metra commuter rail system serving Chicago, as well as expand its rolling stock to accommodate the growing ridership, VRE will purchase the new railcars for $23.1 million over a four year contract.

As the VRE prefers the gallery car format –

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most often identified with Chicago’s bi-level commuter rail vehicles – instead of a separated floors layout produced by other railcar manu-facturers, Sumitomo was the only bidder on the contract. Sumitomo will assemble the vehicles at a plant in New York State, and delivery will be completed by 2014. The VRE is also ex-ploring introducing Wi-Fi access to its trains, although a firm timeline for that process has yet to be established.

“Our bigger problem here is accommodating increased ridership and adding capacity,” said Paul Milde, a VRE Board Member and Supervi-sor from Stafford County, Va.

Illinois to Construct New Rockford Station for Chicago - Dubuque Route

Adding to the existing $60 million Illinois has committed to re-establishing intercity passen-ger rail service between Chicago and Dubuque,

Iowa, the state also recently announced an additional $3 million to build a new passenger station in Rockford, which will eventually be served by the new route. The Rockford facility will be multimodal – hosting intercity trains as well as regional and local bus service, taxi options and bicycle and pedestrian amenities – and is ultimately projected to cost $12 million in additional state and local investment. Con-struction on the station is expected to begin in late 2012, and the new rail service is expected to begin in 2014. Illinois is also in the process of developing new intercity service between Chicago and the Quad Cities by 2015. Both

routes could ultimately see further expansion in Iowa and potentially Nebraska.

“Investing in Rockford is good for Illinois,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “Not only will we create a new station and Amtrak service, we’ll create new jobs and attract more economic development to the Rockford area. Illinois residents will have additional travel options and reduced travel times from Rockford to the Chicago area and to western parts of our state.”

Miami Intermodal Center Nears Completion

With the completion of Miami Metrorail’s new AirportLink station this spring, the Miami Intermodal Center will move closer to its full operational capacity in 2013. Located adja-cent to the Miami International Airport – and connected to it by a people mover rail system already in service – the Miami Intermodal Cen-ter will become Florida’s largest multi-modal transportation facility and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. The Center will host not only Metrorail trains serving down-

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town Miami and other local destinations, but will also serve as the Miami terminal station for Amtrak intercity trains throughout the state and Tri-Rail commuter trains to Fort Lauder-dale and West Palm Beach, along with regional and local bus routes. The facility is also de-signed to accommodate future high-speed rail service, and is expected to attract more than 150,000 daily users.

(For more information on the intersection be-tween passenger rail service and airports, see RAIL #24 – ed)

The AirportLink Metrorail extension is the larg-est expansion to the heavy-rail metro system since its 1984 opening, and extends 2.4 miles from the existing Earlington Heights station to the Intermodal Center. The $500 million project has been supported by a half-cent local sales tax approved by voters in 2002, along with $100 million in state investment. With the new extension, the Metrorail network will operate over more than 24 miles of track, serving 23 stations and carrying more than 66,000 daily riders.

Toronto Orders DMU Vehicles for Airport Rail Service

Metrolinx – the transportation policy entity for the metropolitan Toronto, Ont., region – re-cently entered into agreement with Sumitomo Corp., and Nippon Sharyo to purchase an ad-ditional six diesel-multiple unit (DMU) vehicles to support its forthcoming Air Rail Link route between Toronto’s Union Station and Pearson International Airport, the two busiest transpor-

tation hubs in Canada. Metrolinx had already agreed to purchase 12 DMU vehicles from the Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo consortium in March 2011.

The vehicles will be assembled in Rochelle, Ill., and are scheduled for delivery in 2015, the same year as the Air Rail Link service is launched. The operation will provide 140 trips every day, covering the 14.5-mile route every 15 minutes and serving four stations, including Union Station and Pearson International Air-port. Air Rail Link trains will largely share the Georgetown South corridor with GO Train com-muter rail trains, but will operate as a distinct service and travel over a new 2.1-mile spur to reach the airport.

“This new contract from Metrolinx solidifies our expanding share in the DMU market and invigorates our plans to increase our future presence in the market,” said Hideyuki Ninomi-ya, Director of Transportation Systems at Sumi-tomo Corp. of America.

Maryland Moves Forward with Purple Line Light Rail Plans

With the approval of $69 million in state investment for project engineering, Maryland is moving forward with plans for its Purple

Line light-rail line, spanning Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and connecting four lines of the Washington metropolitan region’s Metro heavy rail network, the nation’s second-busiest subway system. The 16-mile route will link the Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line and the New Carrollton Orange Line intermo-dal station, where connections can be made to Amtrak intercity trains and Maryland’s MARC Penn Line commuter rail route. The Purple Line will also provide connections to the Metro Red Line and the MARC Brunswick Line at Silver Spring, and the Metro Green Line and MARC Camden Line at College Park, offering enhanced inter-rail connectivity in Maryland, while also linking with numerous regional and local bus routes.

The Purple Line is expected to require more than $1.9 billion in federal, state and local investment and begin construction in 2015 to launch service in 2020. Using portions of a for-mer freight rail right-of-way between Bethesda and Silver Spring, the project will also in-clude an upgraded bicycle and pedestrian trail within that segment, replacing the temporary

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trail that currently occupies the right-of-way. From Silver Spring to New Carrollton, Purple Line trains will utilize a mix of on-street trackage and new, private rights-of-way. The route would also mark the first application of light-rail technology in the Washington, D.C., region, although Maryland currently operates a light-rail system in the Baltimore region, and the city of Washington is installing new street-car lines in portions of the nation’s capital.

“We’d projected that we’d be entering this phase provided we got all the approvals by the FTA that we expected this year,” said Jack Cahalan, spokesman for the Maryland Depart-ment of Transportation. “All the money goes into the transportation trust fund, and it’s gen-erated just about the right amount of money that was needed at this time.”

Amtrak’s Downeaster Service Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Ridership Growth

Last December, Amtrak and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) celebrated a full decade’s worth of service on the Downeaster route between Boston, Mass., and Portland, Maine. Serving nine regular stops in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachu-setts – plus a seasonal station at Old Orchard Beach in Maine – the Downeaster’s five daily roundtrips carried more than 500,000 pas-sengers in fiscal year 2011, eight percent more than the previous year.

By the end of 2012, the route will expand north and east from Portland to serve Free-

port and Brunswick, following two years of rehabilitation of 30 miles of track. The $35 million project is supported with investment from the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act (ARRA), as well as state and local funds. NNEPRA and the Maine Department of Transportation are currently studying a further expansion of Downeaster service to Lewiston and Auburn, while work continues in upgrad-ing the existing line to increase train speeds and add additional trips.

“A lot of communities are very jealous of what we have here on the Seacoast,” Stephen Pesci, a member of the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority. “There are a lot of communities in New England that look at the Downeaster with a lot of envy. Being able to market a region as opposed to an individual community is a huge plus. With the Downeaster stopping in all these towns, it’s linking the region together.”

Charlotte Receives Investment, Approval for Light Rail Improvements

With $18 million in federal investment, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will begin expanding the station platforms and adding additional electric power substa-tions on its LYNX light-rail line in response to growing ridership and special events ser-vice. When it was opened in 2007, the 9.6-mile route between Uptown Charlotte and the region’s southern suburbs included platforms long enough for only two-car trains. The new investment will support the construction of longer platforms at the route’s 15 stations capable of serving three-car trains, along with the new electric substations required to support the power needs of the expanded consists.

Meanwhile, CATS also received approval from the Federal Transit Administration to begin design and engineering work to extend the

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system, adding another 9.4 miles and 11 sta-tions to the line, connecting Uptown and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The expansion is projected to open by 2016 and add an additional 24,500 daily riders to the LYNX system by 2035. Other rail projects in the region could include a commuter rail line between Charlotte and Davidson, as well as streetcar lines to Charlotte/Douglas Interna-tional Airport and between University Park and Eastland Mall.

“Charlotte and North Carolina continue to lead the way in the future of transportation,” said U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, who helped secure the federal investment. “This project will provide a valuable boost to Charlotte’s infrastructure, helping to alleviate transportation concerns during special events and peak commuting hours. It will also drive economic development in the region. Investments in infrastructure are directly linked to job creation, which continues to be my number one priority.”

About Fast Mail for Rail

Fast Mail for RAIL is a regular compilation of the latest news and updates from the passenger rail industry that delivers timely information, resources, and announcements to RAIL Magazine subscribers, colleagues and friends. Please keep us posted on your latest news and developments by emailing your content to fastmailrail@ctaa.org. Also, view Fast Mail for RAIl on the web at www.ctaa.org/fastmail_rail.