Rail Track Improvements in PA to Increase Capacity, Create Jobs

American rail and intermodal freight giant CSX and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have begun work to upgrade the freight rail corridor that runs through PA so that it will allow double stack container traffic to operate on the line. The project will increase the clearances on 16 bridges along the route to allow double stacked trains to run along the line. According to CSX, the project will create 1,200 direct and indirect jobs and allow for the expansion of Philadelphia's freight transportation options.

Funding will come from federal, state, and private sources. CSX has already committed $12 million towards the track improvements, and PA has committed $10 million through the capital budget Transportation Assistance Program. An additional $10 million will be added from the federal government. Since Governor Ed Rendell took office, the Commonwealth's investment in rail freight has increased from $12.75 million to $40 million a year.


Governor Rendell said that in addition to supporting hundreds of jobs, the project will shave five hours off of travel time, which will improve efficiency, ease highway congestion, and improve PA's rail connections to the Midwest. Governor Rendell also pointed out that freight rail transportation is much more energy efficient that trucking. Today's average freight train has an efficiency of 400 ton-miles per gallon, while trucks currently hover around 130 ton-miles per gallon.


"A strong freight rail infrastructure will ensure that we maintain and expand this important industry, which is essential to our transportation success", noted Governor Rendell.

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Stricter Transit Standards to Be Sought

Citing an increase in the number of subway and light-rail crashes and resulting passenger injuries, the Obama administration will push for legislation that would allow the federal government to set and enforce safety standards on the nation’s transit systems, officials said on Sunday.

“Safety is our No. 1 priority when it comes to planes, trains and automobiles,” Mr. LaHood said in a statement on Sunday. “It only makes sense that we should be looking out for passengers who ride subways, too.”

From 2003 to 2008, the national rate of passenger injuries on subways and light-rail crashes increased to 1.362 injuries per 100 million miles from 0.483, a 182 percent increase,.

Under the administration’s plan, states would be allowed to maintain oversight of their transit systems as long as they could demonstrate that they have enough fully-trained staff members to enforce federal safety rules, the authority to compel compliance from the transit system and enough financial independence from the systems they are regulating, officials said.

The federal government would also cover the costs of salaries and benefits for state employees overseeing standards. In states that are unable to provide adequate oversight, the federal government would assume that role.

The Full article by the New York Times can be found by clicking HERE

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A Carpool is not a Rolling Hot Tub

My company, GVF is a non-profit transportation management association. One of the services we provide is developing commute alternative programs. The goals of these programs are to reduce congestion, improve worker productivity and happiness, and ultimately help the environment. Promoting commute alternative programs is never easy, and at time it feels like we are presenting the information in Sanskrit.

We promote a number of methods to reducing congestion that include carpooling, commute by transit, bike to work, vanpooling, telecommute, and flexible work schedule to name a few. All have their distinct advantages and disadvantages; however the biggest advantage of all of them to the average commuter is savings. In these times of a down economy and rising fuel prices one would think savings would be enough to entice people to show interest. Unfortunately that is not the case, and we constantly find people viewing these methods with a closed mind.

Carpooling is the easiest and most effective way to reduce commuting costs. Carpooling just one day each week will reduce your commute costs by a minimum of twenty percent. With the Emergency Ride Home Program you are covered if you need to leave work and don’t have your car. Combining cost reductions and ride home insurance with the fact that most people’s commute patterns do not change and many co-workers live close to each other makes this a no brainer. Countless carpooling expos have exposed the same apprehensions and concerns, people are not open to changing their commute habits even when it means saving money and time.

If carpooling doesn’t work (and it isn’t for everyone) perhaps biking to work makes sense. If you live within five miles of your place of employment, biking will take less than half an hour. Riding a bike will reduce more than congestion; it will shrink that ever expanding waste line too. Riding a bike, even one day a week during nice weather can have significant impacts. This summer, GVF managed our first Bike to Work Competition between four companies in the US 422 Corridor. Over 100 riders rode an excess of 40,000 miles in 20 weeks. Most people rode only one or two days each week.

Maybe you can’t carpool because you don’t always stay in your office all day, or biking is out if the question because you live to far from work. There is still an option for you; telecommuting. With today’s high speed internet, and low cost remote access options, working from home has gotten easier and sacrifices little more than the morning traffic jam. For the on-the-go worker, telecommuting makes sense because you can start and finish your day at home, rather than commute to an office you may not need that day. Telecommuting takes minimal effort to set-up, and can be a very nice benefit to offer employees when other companies are cutting benefits to remain profitable.

These solutions are a few options to easily lower commuting costs, improve the environment, and in many cases be a happier and more productive employee. Implementing any of these programs requires that both employer and employee are open to making small changes. If you are interested in learning more about commuting alternatives, or would like to offer program for your employees, please feel free to contact my organization. We have over 20 years of experience in developing alternative commuting solutions

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