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October 2018
Part 1 : Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2018: Preface
Part 2 : Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2018: Amtrak, California, & Colorado
Part 3 : Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2018: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia and Illinois
Part 4 : Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2018: New Jersey, New York, Ohio & Oregon
Part 5 : Progressive Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2018: Pennsylvania, Texas, & Washington
New Jersey Transit is the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 944,000 weekday trips on bus, light-rail, commuter-rail and Access Link systems. Service launched: Commuter rail, 1979; light rail, 1930s Miles: 1,001 (commuter rail) Rolling stock: 188 locomotives, average age 16 years; 1,098 rail cars, average age 20 years; 93 light-rail vehicles, average age 16 years Locomotives on order: 17 ALP 45A dual powered locomotives; first vehicle to be delivered in December 2019; manufacturer is Bombardier Ridership: commuter rail, 85.4 million; light rail, 23.7 million Annual operating cost: $2.35 billion budget (systemwide) Annual capital cost: $1.46 billion budget (systemwide) Stations: 62 light rail, 165 commuter rail Major capital improvement projects: Positive train control installation continues; Raritan River Bridge Replacement Project, to advertise this year; Long Slip Fill and Rail Enhancement Project, to advertise this year.
The Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) is a rapid transit line from Center City Philadelphia to Lindenwold, New Jersey. PATCO is a subsidiary of the Delaware River Port Authority. Service launched: 1969 Miles: 14.5 Rolling stock: 120 rail cars Annual ridership: 10.8 million (2017) Annual operating budget: $57.8 million (2018 budget) Annual capital cost: $65.17 million (2018 budget) Stations: 13 Major capital improvement projects underway: $194 million refurbishment of all 120 rail cars; $45 million Lindenwold Yard rehabilitation; $6 million project to improve Lindenwold, Woodcrest and Ferry Avenue stations; $31 million plan to make all stations fully accessible; $5.2 million Woodcrest Lot rehabilitation
* Information sources: ridepatco.org, drpa.org
The MTA Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving a modern record-high ridership of over 89 million trips per year. Service launched: 1834 Miles: 320 Rolling stock: 45 locomotives, average age 20 years; 1,120 rail cars (includes diesel cars), average age 17 years Cars/locomotives on order: M9 EMU base order, 92 units; expected delivery May 2019 to January 2020; manufacturer is Kawasaki Annual ridership: 89.2 million Annual operating cost: $1.5 billion Annual capital cost: $600 million Stations: 124 Major capital improvement projects: • The double-track project, which will add a second track in a single-track territory between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, is set for completion this year. Cost: $432 million. • The LIRR Main Line expansion project, which will add a third track between Floral Park and Hicksville and eliminate seven grade crossings, broke ground this year. Expected completion: 2022. Cost: $2.1 billion. 3TC (Third Track Constructors) was awarded the project contract in December 2017.
MTA Metro-North Railroad was created in 1983 when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority assumed control of Conrail’s suburban and commuter operations in the states of New York and Connecticut. Metro-North operates three main lines — the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven — each extending over 70 miles north and east from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and serving 111 stations. The 95-mile Port Jervis and 30-mile Pascack Valley lines west of the Hudson River extend north from New Jersey Transit’s terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, connecting with service from Penn Station in New York City, Secaucus Transfer and serving 11 stations in New York. Commuter-rail Service launched: 1983 Miles: 384 Rolling stock: 67 locomotives, average age 18 years; 1,159 rail cars, average age 15 years Cars/locomotives on order: 60 EMU cars manufactured by Kawasaki; expected delivery in 2020 Annual ridership: 86.6 million Annual operating cost: $1.6 billion Annual capital cost: $2.46 billion (5-year program) Stations: 124 Major capital improvement projects underway: Metro-North has a $2.46 billion capital plan programmed from 2015 through 2019. This comprehensive program includes investments in safety, fleet, right of way, stations, communications, signals, power, yards and shops. The majority of the program is dedicated to achieving and maintaining a state of good repair for railroad assets. Major projects in this five-year period include positive train control, station rehabilitation/replacement, extensive customer service initiatives, bridge repair/replacements and replacement of structures at the Croton-Harmon fleet maintenance shop.
The subway opened in 1904. It travels through underground tunnels and elevated structures in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. On Staten Island, NYCT’s Staten Island Railway links 22 communities. Miles: 665 mainline track Rolling stock: 6,418 subway cars Annual ridership: 1.727 billion (2017) Annual operating expenses: N.A. Annual capital expenses: N.A. Stations: 472 Major capital improvement projects: In May, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveiled a 10-year, $40 billion “Fast Forward” plan to repair NYCT’s subway and bus systems. The plan calls for updating the subway signal and track infrastructure to improve performance. Within five years, the agency plans to install communications-based train control on five additional rai lines. Within the 10 years, the control system would be implemented on 11 more lines.
* Information sources: mta.info/nyct, MTA reports
The agency provides public transit services to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Services include heavy and light rail, bus, bus rapid transit and paratransit. Established on Dec. 30, 1974, as a successor to Cleveland Transit System, Shaker Heights Rapid Transit and a number of suburban bus systems. Service launched: light rail, 1913; heavy rail, 1955. Route Miles: Light rail, 15.3; heavy rail, 19 Rolling stock: 1 locomotive, age 36 years; 40 heavy-rail cars, average age 34 years; 34 light-rail cars, average age 37 years. Annual ridership: light rail, 1.6 million; heavy rail, 6.3 million Annual operating budget: $259.7 million (2018 budget)* Annual capital cost: $30 million Stations: 34 light rail, 18 heavy rail Major capital improvement projects underway: Complete E. 34th Station ADA rehabilitation, $7 million; complete E.116th Station ADA rehabilitation, $5.6 million; complete Farnsleigh Station ADA rehabilitation, $1 million; complete demolition of WB CRMF access bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway, $600,000; complete design for Red Line fiber optic communication system replacement, $800,000; complete light-rail retaining wall rehabilitation, Phase 2, $2.1 million; complete Tower City Track 10/Track 13 rehabilitation with platform, catenary and signal work; complete construction of the Red Line West Park to airport track rehabilitation, $10 million; complete signal system evaluation, $400,000; complete replacement of the West 65th Substation, $2.5 million; complete replacement of Puritas and Warrensville/Van Aken substations, $5.5 million; begin construction of E. 79th Station ADA rehabilitation, $8 million.
* Information source: riderta.com
The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) provides bus, light- and commuter-rail service in the Portland, Oregon, region. Service launched: MAX light rail, 1986; WES commuter rail, 2009 Miles: 60 service miles, MAX light rail; 14.7 miles of track, WES commuter rail Rolling stock: 145 light-rail vehicles; 3 commuter-rail trains Annual ridership: 40 million trips on light rail (FY2017); 449,000 trips on commuter rail (FY2017) Operating budget: $710 million for all transit services (FY2019) Annual capital improvements: $274.2 million (FY2019) Stations: 97 for light-rail, five for commuter-rail service Major capital investments: The FY2019 budget provides funds for keeping the TriMet system in a state of good repair while also allowing for expansion to meet the region’s future needs. The budget does that by funding new light-rail vehicles, station and right-of-way maintenance, as well as the expansion and upgrade of TriMet facilities. In addition, TriMet will continue to renovate MAX Blue Line stations and support the development of the Division Transit (bus) and Southwest Corridor (light rail) projects.
*Information source: trimet.org
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