INDUSTRY NEWS
Metro Receives Final P3010 Light Rail Vehicle
With Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) light rail system expanding, Metro in 2012 ordered new P3010 light rail vehicles (LRV) from Kinkisharyo International. This month, Metro received the final rail car of the order at Metro’s Division 16 adjacent to LAX. This shipment completes the P3010 LRV fleet, which at 235 rail cars is the largest rail fleet at Metro.
The P3010s will be a major part of Metro’s system for many years to come. The cars are used on all Metro light rail lines including the A Line (Blue), C Line (Green), E Line (Expo) and L Line (Gold). They’ve also been used during testing along the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor.
The first P3010 arrived in October 2014, 10 days ahead of schedule, at the new Kinkisharyo plant in Palmdale where final assembly took place. The contract created more than 400 jobs, exceeding Kinkisharyo’s contractual requirements and contributing more than $200 million in wages and benefits to the local economy.
The P3010s are high floor cars equipped with state of the art technology and feature various upgrades over Metro’s previous light rail fleets to improve the passenger experience. Among the improvements: a new communications system so passengers can better reach train operators, passenger information displays, and new LED Lighting to clearly illuminate the passenger compartments.
The total approved budget for this contract was $1.02 billion and the cars were delivered on-time and on-budget.
Metro’s P3010 Project Team would like to recognize the great partnership with Metro’s Vendor Contract Management/Procurement Team on working tirelessly to support the project. The P3010 Project Team extends a special thanks to Victor Ramirez who served as the original Contract Administrator during the project solicitation phase in 2011 and then provided guidance throughout the project phases for the past nine years. Ramirez supported the project from initial award all the way to the last vehicle shipment.
Metrolink Installs Antimicrobial Air Filters Aboard All Trains to Protect Health and Safety of Passengers and Employees
As COVID-19 cases across the state soar, Metrolink is again stepping up efforts to keep its riders and employees safe and healthy. Last month, Metrolink announced the addition of new, state-of-the-art antimicrobial air filters on all its train cars to ensure the air passengers breathe is safe.
In March, Metrolink began implementing a new multi-faceted health and safety program to keep riders and Metrolink employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include a face-mask requirement at station platforms and aboard trains, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing measures, and partnerships with leading health and safety institutions for guidance on health matters.
“With every passing day, we learn more about ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and take necessary steps to keep our riders and employees safe aboard our trains,” said Metrolink Board Chair Brian Humphrey. “Understanding the airborne nature of COVID-19, we installed new state-of-the-art air filters that improve the air flow aboard our trains and destroy 99.9 percent of impurities. Together with enhanced cleaning, physical distancing and our face mask requirement, this new step reduces the exposure risk of infection.”
Built by Purafil, the new PuraShield air filters do more than capture airborne microbials. They destroy them on contact. The filters screen out 99.99 percent of the staphylococcus bacteria, 99.91 percent of the H1N1 virus, 99.96 percent of E. Coli bacteria, and 99.58 percent of the SARS virus.
They do this through a high-efficiency fiber treated with a proprietary antimicrobial technology. That technology involves copper and silver ions jointly attacking the viral and bacterial cells, weakening the cell walls, then sterilizing, suffocating, and starving the pathogens.
The new filters work with Metrolink’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, which in itself is another protective layer. Intake vents draw in outside air, send it through the HVAC system, and then distribute the filtered and cleaned air into the cars. Through this process, the filters screen out and kill not only viral and bacterial particles, but also biological and atmosphere odors, providing a more pleasant experience for riders.
“Our focus since the beginning of this crisis has been on ensuring health and safety,” said Metrolink Chief of Safety and Security Don Filippi. “We significantly enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, which include a daily deep cleaning of the trains. We expanded our Clean Care Crew that wipes and disinfects trains throughout the day and uses an electrostatic sprayer to mist hospital-grade disinfectant on all train cars – including hard-to-reach places.”
Passenger feedback led to Metrolink doubling its hand-sanitizing stations and keeping a ready, fresh supply of masks available for riders arriving without them. Face coverings are required on Metrolink platforms and trains, and Metrolink riders can be assured there’s plenty of space for physical distancing by using the agency’s online tool, How Full is My Train?
In September, Metrolink joined the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) national Health and Safety Commitments (HSC) Program and pledged to take the necessary steps to keep riders and employees safe from the spread of COVID-19. Metrolink trains display APTA’s Seal of Commitment reflecting the pledge to institute policies and practices to protect the health and safety of its passengers. The HSC also helps transit agencies nationwide share information and deliver the highest safety standards, as more becomes known about the COVID-19.
By the numbers: SFMTA Protecting Operator and Customer Health and Safety
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has responded to COVID-19 by working to minimize the risk of transmission and protect the health and safety of its employees and the public. Health and safety is SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan’s number one priority.
To assess how it is doing, the SFMTA has been monitoring data through its Transportation Recovery Plan Dashboards. The Objective 1 dashboard compiles metrics associated with health and safety, including sanitizing vehicles and facilities, promoting physical distancing, and encouraging mask compliance. The latest findings include:
- As of December 6, operator reported mask-related incidents are down 92 percent from the peak in April.
- Mask compliance on Muni is at an all-time high at 96 percent of observed passengers wearing masks.
- Mask distribution is up – SFMTA Transit Information Program (TIP) staff distributed over 14,000 masks to customers the week of November 16.
- To date, no COVID-19 positive cases have been traced to riding Muni.
These findings are even more important as the city and the region have been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases after the Thanksgiving holiday. While there is an alarming surge in cases, it's important to recognize that SFMTA’s science-based best practices paired with the public's embrace of critical interventions like wearing a face mask or face covering is allowing the agency to keep its system running for those who need it during this unprecedented time.
The numbers reflect efforts that have been underway since the beginning of the pandemic to protect operator and customer health and safety. Since March, SFMTA has implemented mitigation measures that limit the possibility of exposure to, and transmission of, COVID-19. To encourage customers to practice good public health behavior throughout their journey, the agency launched an Ambassador Program in April and expanded it as the TIP program in September. TIP staff provides information to customers on best practices and alternatives to Muni like the recently-launched Essential Trip Card discount taxi program. TIP staff also provides the public with information about COVID-19 Muni Core Service, help manage crowding, and distribute masks to customers that may have forgotten theirs.
Other measures Muni has implemented include audio announcements and head signs on buses to remind customers that masks are required when riding Muni. The agency has continued the sanitization practices it implemented at the onset of the pandemic. Vehicles return to operating divisions at the end of each run, so each operator starts their shift with a sanitized vehicle.
The metrics show that these measures and added precautions to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the public are paying off. As the pandemic continues, the SFMTA is committed to using data to inform COVID response, service delivery, and budget decisions.
Caltrain Rider Survey Shows More Essential Workers Onboard
Caltrain released the results of its Pandemic Rider Survey this month, providing insight into how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the rail service.
This survey clearly shows the demographic shift that took place after the shelter-in-place order in March. The average annual household income of 2020 Caltrain riders is $95,000, down from $158,000 last year, affirming Caltrain’s decision to join Clipper START, which offers discounted rides to low-income transit users. Additionally, the amount of Latino and African American riders on board has doubled, with the former going from 12 percent to 26 percent and the latter from 4 percent to 8 percent. Based on the survey, this is due to higher income riders being concentrated in fields that more easily allow work from home, leading to a larger percentage of essential workers using the service, a trend common throughout the Bay Area and beyond. The shift towards essential workers was a major reason Caltrain recently changed its schedule to provide increased off-peak and weekend service to more effectively meet their needs.
A major shift in rider behavior came from riders’ access to a personal vehicle. Only 12 percent of riders drove to their home station this year, down from 24 percent last year, while 11 percent of people took a bus to the station, up from 1 percent. This stems from the fact that only 36 percent of riders had access to a vehicle to make the trip, down from 51 percent in 2019. The primary reason for choosing to ride Caltrain, given by 46 percent of riders, is lack of access to a car, double last year’s number. Given the amount of essential workers that do not have another means of getting to and from their jobs, it shows the necessity of keeping transit service operational during this time of crisis.
Rider frequency has decreased, with only 43 percent of riders using the service five days a week or more, down 10 percent from 2019. Only 39 percent of current riders are using a Go Pass or monthly pass, down from 59 percent last year, another indication that tech workers are likely to make up a much smaller share of current riders compared to before the pandemic. Only 65 percent of riders are using the service to go to work or school, down from 87 percent last year, although 20 percent said they were riding for social or recreational purposes, up from 9 percent last year.
Out of current riders, 78 percent were riding prior to the shelter-in-place order, showing a substantial amount of new riders in the system. Exactly 53 percent of current riders are riding as often as they were prior to March, 32 percent are riding less and 15 percent are using the system more.
Riders generally approve of the safety measures Caltrain enforces on board, with 86 percent saying mask wearing is an important safety measure, with 61 percent saying the same about social distancing, 54 percent about cleaning and sanitation practices, and 34 percent about ventilation. A mere 0.2 percent of riders said such measures were unnecessary.
Caltrain will continue to analyze the data in order to maximize the efficiency of the system, and support planning to improve the experience of current and returning riders. The full report for the 2020 Pandemic Rider Survey will be available in early 2021.
RTD Reinvents Van Go! as a True Countywide Service
San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) launched a new iteration of its Van Go! service on January 10, in response to customer feedback. RTD Van Go! is an on-demand rideshare service that will help residents travel more easily throughout San Joaquin County. For this new pilot program, RTD has eliminated zones, transfers, and restrictions on trip origin and destination; trips can be made as long as the travel is within San Joaquin County. Every RTD Van Go! vehicle is wheelchair accessible and its drivers are trained, licensed, and fully-prepared to help with accessibility needs.
“We are excited to be able to offer a true countywide premium service with the changes,” said RTD CEO Gloria Salazar. Passengers may create a tailor-made trip with RTD’s Van Go! anywhere within San Joaquin County seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Using the RTD Van Go! app, which is available for download from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, passengers may book a ride up to two days in advance.
SunLine Refueled Begins at a Level 3 Service Due to California's Rising COVID-19 Cases
SunLine Transit Agency launched SunLine Refueled this month as planned, however; the major initiative is modified due to a continued increase in COVID-19 cases and the state’s Regional Stay-at-Home order. While it was initially scheduled for three of the four SunLine Refueled pillars to begin, SunLine remains focused on keeping passengers and operators safe and will therefore be introducing only the Consolidated Fixed Route Network at a Level 3 service and the SunRide microtransit service at this time.
“Our team has worked diligently over the last 3 years to develop SunLine Refueled, and a number of efforts have been devoted to gearing up for its launch – such as gathering much-needed community input and finalizing plans in 2020,” said Lauren Skiver, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “And as we are seeing with many other community initiatives, COVID-19 has forced everyone to be flexible in their approach. Launching SunLine Refueled at Level 3 service allows us to deliver exciting additions and changes, while maintaining safety at the forefront.”
SunLine Refueled incorporates new transportation trends and alternatives, from microtransit to more direct and express service routes.
The four pillars of SunLine Refueled are: a Consolidated Fixed Route Network, SunRide, the 10 Commuter Link and the Route 1X. The 10 Commuter Link regional service did not begin this month as projected, however; it will be up-and-running when SunLine returns to Level 1 Service. The Route 1X, an express route for the main Highway 111 corridor, was slated for May 2021 and that timeline has not been adjusted to date.
SunLine’s five-level alert system for the Fixed Route Network was activated in March of 2020 to help communicate alterations to services as health conditions required. Level 3 status, which SunLine Refueled began under, means that bus routes are operating under the weekend schedule as part of the new Consolidated Fixed Route Network. This means Route 5 will not be running, as it is a weekday service, and other routes will have longer intervals. SunLine’s 2021 Rider’s Guide conveniently lays out the weekend schedule for further explanation.
SunRide – which began as scheduled on January 4 – is a microtransit service available in four Coachella Valley zones to connect riders to the Consolidated Fixed Route Network. Riders can use this service with a smartphone app, which will alert a SunRide vehicle to pick them up at a destination within the designated zones and bring them to and from bus stops within the same zone.
Riders can be assured that their health and safety continues to be SunLine’s first priority, with:
- The installation of hand sanitizing stations on each bus,
- Rigorous enhanced daily disinfecting procedures for all buses,
- Mandatory face covering requirements for all passengers and bus operators,
- Complimentary face coverings for passengers who have indicated a need, and
- The myStop Mobile app that shows the number of riders on any given bus in real time.
In a typical environment for service changes, SunLine does outreach with street teams at bus stops to help riders with questions and information – but for safety reasons, in-person public outreach has been suspended. The Customer Service Department is available to provide support, so for more information, go to SunLine.org, call (760) 343-3456 or e-mail refueled@sunline.org.
BART Phase II Project First to Submit for Critical Federal Funding Program
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) achieved two critical milestones for the BART Phase II Project being the first transit agency in the nation to submit an application for $1.735 billion through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program (EPD). VTA also received a $100 million funding allocation from the program, announced by the FTA last month.
The $1.735 billion federal funds will complete the funding plan to build BART Phase II. The newly established EPD program aims at increasing innovation, improving efficiency and timeliness of project delivery, and encouraging new revenue streams. The $100 million is the second funding allocation received from the FTA program to date, with the first $125 million received in August 2019 for a total of $225 million.
“These two major milestones for the BART Phase II Project affirm the significant merits of the project including enhanced mobility, job creation and access, economic development and recovery and congestion relief,” states Glenn Hendricks, Chair of the VTA Board of Directors.
The FTA’s EPD funding program enables VTA to shorten the funding process by more than 14 months ultimately streamlining project delivery. The program requires that projects utilize public-private partnerships, are planned to be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost.
VTA has secured 75 percent of the project cost through local, state, and other non-federal contributions including 2000 Measure A and 2016 Measure B local sales tax measures, state grants, bridge tolls and a negotiated public-private partnership with Google for the Diridon Station. With innovative partnerships and funding from a variety of sources, projects can be completed more quickly, making better use of taxpayer dollars and bringing new transit service sooner to growing communities.
Once the application is accepted as complete, FTA will expedite the review and evaluation of the application materials and notify VTA in writing within the 120-day review process whether the project has been approved for a Full Funding Grant Agreement.
In September 2018, FTA announced it was accepting expressions of interest from transit project sponsors for the EPD Pilot Program and that it would evaluate submissions and work with sponsors of selected projects to further define the steps required before a construction grant agreement could be awarded. VTA submitted an Expression of Interest in November 2018. In July 2019, FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams announced that FTA was beginning discussions with VTA regarding participation in the EPD Program. VTA would be the first agency and the BART Phase II Project the first project considered for the EPD Program.
Over the past several months, VTA has worked closely with the FTA to complete all the prerequisites for the application to qualify for the funding. The EPD application is an online submittal and includes documentation of the requirements included in the FTA July 28, 2020 Expedited Project Delivery Notice of Funding Opportunity. Generally, those requirements include information about the project’s local funding sources, inclusion in local and regional plans, and environmental clearance. It also includes documentation of estimated capital and operating costs, engineering and design documents, ridership projections, project benefit information related to mobility, congestion relief, environmental and economic development; the project’s Public-Private Partnership agreement, and critical third-party agreements.
The six-mile, BART Phase II Extension Project will extend southwest from the newly opened Berryessa/North San José Station with three more stations in San Jose and one in Santa Clara adjacent to the existing Santa Clara Caltrain Station. Five miles of the alignment will be underground, with a single bore tunnel containing side-by-side and stacked tracks and platforms. Construction is planned to begin in 2022, with substantial construction completed by 2028, followed by system testing and then passenger service.
TRANSIT PEOPLE AND HAPPENINGS
Nuria I. Fernandez Named Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration
On January 19, Association Executive Committee Member Nuria I. Fernandez announced that she would be stepping down immediately from her position as General Manager/CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to join the Biden-Harris Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She was appointed to Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on January 21.
While at VTA, Nuria served as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (2019-2020), spearheading the transit industry's national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She played a vital role in securing emergency relief for transit agencies nationwide and formed APTA's Mobility Recovery and Restoration Task Force, which successfully developed a roadmap for public transportation services in the post COVID-19 pandemic world.
Prior to leading VTA, Nuria served in leadership positions at some of the busiest transit agencies in the nation, including Chief Operating Officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Sr. Vice President of Design and Construction for the Chicago Transit Authority and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, consecutively. She also served as Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Aviation overseeing O'Hare and Midway Airports and as Acting FTA Administrator under President Bill Clinton.
Jim Hartnett Will Depart as SamTrans CEO/GM
Association Executive Committee Member Jim Hartnett recently announced that he would leave his position as CEO/GM of the San Mateo County Transit District in April. At that time, Deputy CEO/GM Carter Mau will become Acting CEO/GM and Caltrain’s Chief Officer of Rail Michelle Bouchard will serve as Acting Caltrain Executive Director.
Hartnett joined the District six years ago. Though his initial commitment was for only five years, the District is fortunate that he stayed on to help guide it through the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Hartnett was hired in 2015, he said his top two goals were to obtain a dedicated source of funds for Caltrain and to solve the SamTrans structural deficit. These lofty goals have challenged the District for decades, but Hartnett was finally able to reach them. Thanks to his leadership, the transit services that communities depend on are well-prepared to survive the pandemic, and will emerge equipped with the resources needed to expand service and address the congestion issues that will eventually return.
The passage of Measure RR last month in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties was nothing short of remarkable. Measure RR saved Caltrain from a potential pandemic shutdown in the short term, but it is important to acknowledge that the measure was in the works for years prior to the pandemic. The outcome is the result of a long-term strategy and vision that included collaborating with the business community and Caltrain’s state delegation to pass legislation, developing a groundbreaking Business Plan with a long-term Service Vision that provides a road map for Caltrain’s future, and building a strong coalition of support for investing in Caltrain’s future. Hartnett’s leadership was key to that realization of that strategy and vision.
Similarly, when Measure W was approved by San Mateo County voters in 2018, it was an outcome directly related to Hartnett’s leadership in developing a year-long Get Us Moving public engagement effort to collect and understand stakeholder perspectives and feedback and to use them to build a strong consensus around an investment plan that addressed the county’s most pressing transportation priorities.
Either of these accomplishments alone would be enough to cement Hartnett’s legacy for advancing the next generation of transportation improvements on the Peninsula, but he has done much more.
Prior to the pandemic, SamTrans was steadily increasing its bus ridership, bucking a national trend of declining ridership at other agencies. Caltrain, despite being the only system in the region without dedicated funding, became the seventh largest commuter rail service in the United States, and the most efficiently run. And when the future of Caltrain was on the line, Hartnett led a national advocacy effort that saved the Caltrain Electrification Project’s $647 million Federal Full Funding Grant Agreement at the 11th hour, after many assumed the funding would be eliminated.
Though not a move that garnered much attention or headlines, Hartnett’s reorganization of the executive functions of the organization and building of an outstanding executive team were incredibly important to the organization. He also led efforts to refresh the culture of the organization and presided over the development of plans and programs that will continue to make the transportation systems more effective, more reliable, cleaner, faster, and, very importantly, more equitable.
Regionally, Hartnett has been instrumental in fostering critical cooperation and coordination among Bay Area transit agencies both during and before the pandemic. He is a member of the Blue Ribbon Recovery Task Force established by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and Chair of the region’s Fare Integration and Coordination Task Force. According to BART General Manager Bob Powers, “Jim is an outstanding and trusted regional transit leader who has contributed greatly not just to the success of his organization, but to the region as a whole.” Jeff Gee, past Chair of the SamTrans and Caltrain Boards of Directors, and leader of the committee that hired Hartnett in 2015, said, “our hiring committee, which had representatives from San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, unanimously recommended Jim’s hiring. He was the right person at the right time. His leadership will be sorely missed but his contributions will endure.”
Recognizing his leadership, Hartnett was named one of the Most Admired CEO’s in 2019 by the San Francisco Business Times. A long time civic and transit leader, past Vice-Chair of the High Speed Rail Authority Board, and former Chair of the SamTrans and Caltrain Boards, attorney and Navy veteran, with extensive international experience, Hartnett brought to the District an open style of leadership and a never give up attitude.
SANDAG and NCTD Celebrate the Completion of Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Phase 4
SANDAG, the North County Transit District (NCTD), Caltrans District 11, and the City of Del Mar are celebrating the completion of the fourth phase of stabilization projects along the Del Mar Bluffs. Construction began in May 2020 and took approximately seven months to complete.
Phase 4 included the installation of additional support columns to stabilize localized areas and sea walls, construction of a drainage channel along the top of the bluffs, and improvements to concrete channels and storm drain outfalls. The Del Mar Bluffs regularly experience erosion—roughly six inches per year on average—largely due to storm and irrigation runoff, as well as sea level rise. These critical investments in drainage infrastructure improvements will direct channel water across the bluffs and to the ocean, further reinforcing and protecting the bluffs.
“The completion of this work demonstrates significant progress in our multi-phased strategy to secure the Del Mar Bluffs and ensure continued reliability of this important rail corridor,” said SANDAG Chair and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear. “SANDAG is currently evaluating long-term alternatives to completely move the tracks off the bluffs to ensure the safe operation of the LOSSAN corridor, which serves nearly 8 million passengers annually, and is a major economic lifeline for San Diego County.”
Since 2003, SANDAG and NCTD have completed three stabilization projects along the Del Mar Bluffs between Coast Boulevard and Torrey Pines State Beach. To date, efforts include the installation of more than 230 concrete and steel support columns and improvements to drainage infrastructure to protect the bluffs from future erosion.
“It is always a pleasure to announce the completion of a project that will enhance safety and ensure the security of the Del Mar Bluffs. Improving the condition of this section of the LOSSAN corridor is a top priority for NCTD,” said Tony Kranz, NCTD Board Chair and Encinitas Councilmember. “NCTD is dedicated to increasing rail reliability on the coastal corridor by partnering with all local agencies on these important projects, evidenced through our collective efforts to evaluate funding needs for future stabilization projects.”
Last year, California State Transportation Agency Secretary David Kim convened a working group to determine the critical pathway needed to secure the stabilization of the Del Mar Bluffs for the coming decades. The working group is comprised of federal, state, and local officials; the executive leadership of regional transportation agencies; and representatives from stakeholder organizations and academia.
On December 2 the California Transportation Commission awarded the San Diego region $106 million for a portfolio of rail enhancement projects along the LOSSAN corridor, including $36.2 million to support the next phase of stabilization efforts. SANDAG, NCTD, Caltrans, and the City of Del Mar continue to be fully committed to securing the bluffs, with a focus on public transparency and safety throughout the process.
“This is a very important step toward realizing the dream of making transit competitive with the automobile and for curbing climate change-inducing emissions in our region,” said Caltrans Interstate 5 Corridor Director Allan Kosup. “This grant will go a long way to modernize and install an advanced train control system that will lead to faster travel times, increased rail ridership, and an improved alternative to driving along Interstate 5.”
Construction for Phase 5 is slated to begin in 2022. This phase of the project will address additional seismic and critical stabilization needs, including the installation of more support columns and replacing aging drainage structures. Phase 6 will continue to provide long-term rehabilitation and stabilization work, including protecting the base of the bluffs against additional bluff retreat. Recent erosion of the Del Mar Bluffs has highlighted the urgent need to identify a feasible long-term solution for the corridor.
While SANDAG and NCTD work to stabilize the bluffs, SANDAG is seeking additional funding to expedite the process of moving the bluffs inward as a long-term strategy. The funds needed will increase the reliability of passenger rail service for nearly 8 million annual passengers and keep nearly $1 billion a year of goods consistently moving through the corridor.