MARC Riders Advisory Council Meeting June 20, 2019 4:30Pm‐6:00Pm

MARC Riders Advisory Council Meeting June 20, 2019 4:30pm‐6:00pm

Phone: 1‐888‐407‐4198 Code: 77713445#

**PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR PHONE IS ON MUTE WHEN YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING**

I. Call meeting to order Steve Chan, Chair

II. Introductions

III. Review of May minutes Brian Love, Acting RAC Secretary for May meeting

IV. Review of May performance data Katherine Read, MARC Assistant Chief Transportation Officer

V. MARC Train preparation for summer high heat/weather David Johnson (DJ), MARC Chief Transportation Officer Amtrak and Bombardier Management

VI. August 5 Penn Line schedule change and 2019 Penn Line Amtrak trackwork update DJ and Amtrak Commuter Operations management

VII. Old Business

VIII. New Business, including questions and comments from guests

Upcoming meetings (all Thursdays, 4:30‐6:00pm)

 July 18, 2019 (in person)  August 15, 2019 (teleconference)  September 19, 2019 (in person)

Reminder: E‐mail rail car or station defects to Katherine Read – [email protected] MARC Train Service On-Time Performance May 2019

Same Month Month Year to Date 2018

Brunswick Line Brunswick 94.16% 96.26% 85.95% Frederick 90.15% 95.00% 87.50% West Virginia 89.39% 93.88% 81.82% Total Brunswick 91.27% 95.06% 85.08% Camden Line Camden 77.06% 87.79% 88.29% BTS OTP 83.66% 91.15% 86.88% Penn Line Baltimore 91.36% 91.76% 84.33% Perryville 86.47% 83.36% 85.09% Amtrak OTP 89.81% 89.08% 84.57%

MARC SYSTEM TOTAL OTP 87.44% 89.87% 85.43% MARC On Time Performance Summary May 2019

Penn Line Weekday 89.23% Month 88.46% Year to Date 91.29% AM Southbound (Trains 401‐423) 89.77% PM Northbound (Trains 426‐448) 87.37% AM Northbound (Trains 400‐412) 88.31% PM Southbound (Trains 537‐449)

Trains below 90% (late more than twice, red‐bold lower than 80%): 410 (73% month, 84% YTD) 517 (86% month, 89% YTD) 412 (82% month, 90% YTD) 520 (59% month, 73% YTD) 414 (82% month, 90% YTD) 532 (77% month, 65% YTD) 415 (86% month, 95% YTD) 537 (77% month, 75% YTD) 419 (86% month, 91% YTD) 544 (77% month, 78% YTD) 421 (82% month, 90% YTD) 548 (82% month, 74% YTD) 422 (86% month, 92% YTD) 579 (86% month, 60% YTD) 435 (64% month, 79% YTD) 610 (82% month, 75% YTD) 443 (86% month, 85% YTD) 612 (86% month, 93% YTD) 446 (86% month, 88% YTD) 634 (82% month, 77% YTD) 447 (82% month, 81% YTD) 641 (87% month, 88% YTD) 451 (86% month, 88% YTD) 642 (86% month, 88% YTD) 453 (86% month, 85% YTD)

100% for month: 418, 424, 427, 431, 433, 440, 449, 554

Penn Line Weekend 95.83% Month 96.48% Year to Date

(continued) MARC On Time Performance Summary May 2019

Bombardier Transportation Services OTP (Brunswick and Camden Lines): 83.66% Month 91.15% Year to Date

Brunswick Line 91.27% Month 95.06% Year to Date 92.42% AM Eastbound 90.15% PM Westbound Trains below 90% (late more than twice, red‐bold lower than 80%): 873 (86% month, 95% YTD) 891 (82% month, 95% YTD) 877 (82% month, 93% YTD) 894 (86% month, 93% YTD) 878 (82% month, 89% YTD)

100% for month: 870, 871, 880, 883

Camden Line 77.06% Month 87.79% Year to Date 83.33% AM Westbound 75.97% PM Eastbound

Trains below 90% (late more than twice, red‐bold lower than 80%): 840 (82% month, 90% YTD) 852 (64% month, 89% YTD) 842 (77% month, 85% YTD) 853 (59% month, 83% YTD) 844 (73% month, 80% YTD) 854 (64% month, 86% YTD) 845 (77% month, 82% YTD) 856 (77% month, 90% YTD) 846 (68% month, 82% YTD) 857 (77% month, 87% YTD) 849 (77% month, 86% YTD) 858 (86% month, 92% YTD) 850 (73% month, 92% YTD) 859 (55% month, 85% YTD) 851 (68% month, 78% YTD) 860 (77% month, 90% YTD)

100% for month: None MARC On Time Performance – Discussion May 2019

Penn Line performance continues to be impacted by Amtrak trackwork between New Carrollton and Odenton. We have seen improvement in several trains, specifically Trains 634 and 536, which both benefited from a schedule change to the Amtrak train that departs Washington right ahead of 634. There are chronic problems with some trains, namely 520, 537, 532, 579 and 544, which will be addressed with the next schedule change. To that point, Amtrak has notified us that the existing schedule (March 4, 2019) will remain in effect until Sunday, August 4. A new schedule will take effect August 5 and we are developing that at this time. The above‐listed chronically late trains will be addressed. Other trains, such as 435, 449, are being impacted as they are the first and last trains to operate on the opposite track during evening rush hour and are the proverbial “salmon swimming upstream”. The performance of these trains ‐ along with northbound off peak service ‐ will improve once the trackwork is completed. Penn Line weekend service experienced no significant issues. Camden Line service was at its poorest level in many years. Delays caused by CSX accounted for over 50% of delays:

% By % By Minutes Delays Delays within MTA's control 4.3% 4.0% Delays within CSX's control 44.5% 53.2% Acts of God/outside forces 17.5% 18.5% Other (includes PTC) 33.7% 24.3%

Weather and PTC‐related delays were up compared to previous months, but the major issue continues to be CSX dispatcher/interference. MARC Train management will continue to work with CSX to improve performance and will elevate this issue to senior MTA and MDOT leadership if there is not improvement in performance. Brunswick Line service was also impacted by a greater than usual number of weather and PTC delays. While weather is a factor outside of our control, MARC continues to work with Bombardier, CSX, and our PTC supplier team to make improvements to the system to reduce the number of delays – specifically, maintaining the PTC system’s GPS signal throughout the trip.

MARC Train Service Breakdown by Delays and Minutes: May 2019

Brunswick Line Camden Line Penn Line Minutes Delays % By % By Minutes Delays % By % By Minutes Delays % By % By Minutes Delays Minutes Delays Minutes Delays ACCIDENT 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 192 3 5.9% 1.4% COMMUNICATION/SIGNALS 40 7 4.4% 12.7% 56 7 2.1% 4.0% 73 7 2.2% 3.3% CREW 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 58 4 1.8% 1.9% DISPATCHER/INTERFERENCE 277 16 30.7% 29.1% 785 63 30.1% 36.4% 1233 133 37.6% 63.3% MECHANICAL-EQUIP. 6 1 0.7% 1.8% 68 3 2.6% 1.7% 267 9 8.1% 4.3% MECHANICAL-HUMAN ERR. 23 1 2.5% 1.8% 10 1 0.4% 0.6% 60 1 1.8% 0.5% PASSENGER 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 33 3 1.3% 1.7% 48 4 1.5% 1.9% POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL 133 10 14.7% 18.2% 295 23 11.3% 13.3% 6 1 0.2% 0.5% SECONDARY DELAY 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 584 19 22.4% 11.0% 512 17 15.6% 8.1% SECURITY 40 1 4.4% 1.8% 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 598 8 18.2% 3.8% TRACK/CATENARY 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 322 22 12.3% 12.7% 216 21 6.6% 10.0% WEATHER 384 19 42.5% 34.5% 458 32 17.5% 18.5% 18 2 0.5% 1.0%

903 55 2611 173 3281 210

00 MARC Train Cancellations, Terminations and 60+ minute Delays May 2019 Date Line Train Cause Synopsis of Situation

5/8/2019 P 548 Mechanical‐Equipment Train 548 delayed one hour departing Washington due to electric locomotive failure. Locomotive replaced and train departed. 5/16/2019 P 413, 415, Accident / Security Train 413 struck a person walking on the tracks south 517, 419, of Odenton. Individual was transported from scene 408, 410, with life threatening injuries, but since it was not a 412 fatality, law enforcement released the scene faster than a typical incident of this nauture. Delays ranged from 30‐90 min. 5/16/2019 P 610, 612, Secondary Delay Cancelled due to above incident involving Train 413 ‐ 421, 423, crews and equipment out of position. 641 5/16/2019 P 422 Mechanical ‐ Human Error Cancelled due to droping HEP (lights/climate control) after departing Washington. Investigation found improperly connected electrical cables. Passengers accomodated on Train 424.

5/16/2019 P 435 Secondary Delay Cancelled due to cancellation of Train 422. Passeners accomodated on Train 537 and 439. 537 added a stop at Odenton. 5/28/2019 P 401 Mechanical ‐ Equipment Terminated at Bowie State University due to leased Amtrak electric locomotive failure. Passengers transferred to Train 403. 5/28/2019 P 400, 415 Secondary Delay Cancelled due to termination of Train 401. Passengers accomodated on Train 502 and 517, respectively. 5/28/2019 C 852 Positive Train Control Cancelled due to Positive Train Control failure. Passengers accomodated on Trains 850 and 854. 5/29/2019 C 850 Mechanical‐Equipment Cancelled due to cab car failure. Passengers accomodated on Trains 852 and 854. 5/29/2019 P 536 Accident Delayed 90 minutes due to striking trees and other debris that fell on the tracks after a severe thunderstorm. 5/29/2019 P 579, 451 Weather, Secondary Delay Train 579 held at Edgewood for 90 minutes due to above‐discussed delay to Train 536 and trees across the tracks. Train 451 delayed due to late 579.

5/30/2019 C 843 Secondary Delay Cancelled due to cancellation of Train 850 previous day ‐ no equipment available to operate train. Passengers accomodated on Trains 841 and 845. MARC Train Cancellations, Terminations and 60+ minute Delays May 2019 Date Line Train Cause Synopsis of Situation

5/30/2019 C 850 Weather Cancelled due to Tornado Warnings on Camden Line. Passengers accomodated on Train 852 and Penn Line. 5/30/2019 B 891 Weather Terminated at Point of Rocks due to downed trees on the Frederick Branch. Frederick TransIT provided supplimental bus service to Monocacy and Frederick.

5/31/2019 C 851 Dispatcher‐Interference Terminated at Greenbelt due to disabled CSX freight train at Riverdale Park and resulting severe freight train congestion. Passengers used Washington Metrorail to reach their final destinations. MARC Train Service Weekday Station Boardings Comparison Report May 8, 2019 vs. May 9, 2018

Penn Line North 2019 South 2019 Total 2019 North 2018 South 2018 Total 2018 Perryville 10 140 150 0 118 118 Aberdeen 15 242 257 1 194 195 Edgewood 36 278 314 0 714 714 Martin Airport 11 419 430 5 309 314 Penn 213 3,515 3,728 170 3,318 3,488 West Baltimore 2 793 795 8 772 780 Halethorpe 22 1,460 1,482 9 1,364 1,373 BWI 221 2,204 2,425 84 2,314 2,398 Odenton 153 2,597 2,750 146 2,263 2,409 Bowie 165 644 809 186 491 677 Seabrook 43 340 383 43 332 375 New Carrollton 547 407 954 662 466 1,128 Washington, Union Station 11,057 0 11,057 10,452 0 10,452 Totals 12,495 13,039 25,534 11,766 12,655 24,421

Camden Line East 2019 West 2019 Total 2019 East 2018 West 2018 Total 2018 Camden 0 442 442 0 388 388 St. Denis 0 12 12 0 10 10 Dorsey 27 600 627 20 657 677 Jessup 101 0 22 Savage 24 373 397 16 432 448 Laurel Race Track 055 0 77 Laurel 33 671 704 45 702 747 Muirkirk 34 375 409 38 448 486 Greenbelt 34 22 56 28 17 45 College Park 179 44 223 151 41 192 Riverdale 18 87 105 16 68 84 Washington, Union Station 2,180 0 2,180 2,391 0 2,391 Totals 2,530 2,631 5,161 2,705 2,772 5,477 Brunswick Line East 2019 West 2019 Total 2019 East 2018 West 2018 Total 2018 Washington, Union Station 0 2,892 2,892 0 3,310 3,310 Silver Spring 50 405 455 52 426 478 Kensington 203 17 220 185 10 195 Garrett Park 59 0 59 57 1 58 Rockville 226 275 501 239 213 452 Washington Grove 45 1 46 47 1 48 Gaithersburg 417 36 453 420 15 435 Metropolitan Grove 237 8 245 289 4 293 Germantown 826 11 837 905 5 910 Boyds 25 0 25 18 0 18 Barnesville 100 0 100 81 0 81 Dickerson 20 0 20 19 0 19 Point of Rocks 362 1 363 317 0 317 Monocacy 215 0 215 289 0 289 Frederick 80 0 80 114 0 114 Brunswick 444 0 444 345 0 345 Harpers Ferry 62 0 62 57 0 57 Duffields 96 0 96 104 0 104 Martinsburg, WV 129 0 129 85 0 85 Totals 3,596 3,646 7,242 3,623 3,985 7,608 MARC Train Service Penn Line Station Boardings Report Saturday, May 11, 2019

Station North South Total Line Percent System Percent Martin Airport 02626 0% 0% Penn 1 1,951 1,952 31% 31% West Baltimore 0 145 145 2% 2% Halethorpe 0 154 154 2% 2% BWI 56 613 669 11% 11% Odenton 58 182 240 4% 4% Bowie 46 58 104 2% 2% Seabrook 000 0% 0% New Carrollton 166 47 213 3% 3% Washington, Union Station2,722 0 2,722 44% 44% Totals 3,049 3,176 6,225 100% 100%

MARC Train Service Penn Line Station Boardings Report Sunday, May 12, 2019

Station North South Total Line Percent System Percent Martin Airport 099 0% 0% Penn 0 1,149 1,149 31% 31% West Baltimore 09191 2% 2% Halethorpe 35962 2% 2% BWI 42 275 317 9% 9% Odenton 41 126 167 4% 4% Bowie 47 20 67 2% 2% Seabrook 000 0% 0% New Carrollton 137 25 162 4% 4% Washington, Union Station1,695 0 1,695 46% 46% Totals 1,965 1,754 3,719 100% 100%

MARC Riders Advisory Council Meeting June 20, 2019 Teleconference Meeting Minutes I --- Call meeting to order (Steve Chan, Chairman): Called to order at 4:33 pm II --- Introductions (Steve Chan, Chairman) III --- Review of May minutes (Joe Conny, Vice Chair) Draft Minutes were emailed on 6/13/2019. Corrections from Brian Love were received on 6/19/20 and incorporated in the final version. IV --- Review of April performance data (Katherine Read, MARC Assistant Chief Transportation Officer)

• For the May 2019, the Brunswick, Camden, and Penn lines operated at 91.27 %, 77.06 % and 89.81 %. Four Brunswick line trains were at 100 %; 5 trains were below 90 %. Eight Penn line trains were at 100 %, 16 trains were below 90 %. • May was a challenging month for the Camden line on-time performance. Sixteen trains were below 90 %, 14 trains were below 80 %, no trains were at 100 %. Reasons for the delays were 1st dispatcher interference, 2nd weather, and 3rd secondary delays. • While communication problems were mentioned for May, problems were also noticed on several days during June on the Brunswick line, which were apparently all positive train control (PTC) issues. MARC staff were asked to comment. Katherine Read and Dean Del Peschio, Chief Mechanical Officer, responded. o The IPMS is the PTC system used with CSX. When the train stops at a station or under a bridge the GPS or cellular signal can be lost. It can take up to 15 minutes to retrieve the signal again. The PTC system is also weather dependent. MARC is learning where the trouble spots are. MARC is working with CSX to compute train location, speed, and distance traveled versus GPS to identify and avoid spots where GPS communication would be problematic. PTC is not currently operational on the Penn line. V --- MARC preparation for summer high heat and weather (David Johnson, MARC Chief Transportation Officer)

• Before every change of season (winter and summer), cars get an HVAC check. In summer, MARC makes sure there is enough emergency water on board every train and at strategic locations along the railroad (stations and other MTA facilities) from where water can be delivered to a stopped or disabled train. • Each year heat-related policies and procedures are reviewed in a meeting with Amtrak and Bombardier officials. A focus is on specific procedures to follow when a train is

disabled and without HVAC or head-end power, which changes the way a disruption is handled. • During the summer HVAC check, not only are refrigerant levels kept up but there is a “deep dive” into the HVAC system. HVAC filters are replaced every 30 days or sooner. • TC Williamson from Amtrak described procedures Amtrak implements to address high heat. When the temperature is above 90 °F, a standby Amtrak locomotive is kept in Odenton (currently in Baltimore but will return to Odenton when track work is completed) and a crew is always on hand in case a train becomes disabled. All Amtrak vehicles as well as trains are stocked with water and tools. If a MARC train breaks down, the next Amtrak train will typically stop to assist. • Bombardier heat-related preparations are similar to Amtrak’s: emergency water delivered, supervisors dispatched to disabled trains, MARC II and MARC IV well stocked with water. (MARC III cars are only on Penn Line.) • A request was made to have the condensation water lines in the HVAC units on the MARC III cars cleaned out with compressed air. Many of the condensation lines are corroded will be replace when the cars are overhauled. • There was a comment regarding what happened on May 30 when downed trees blocked the Brunswick line spur to Frederick and riders had to unload at Point-of-Rocks. Two small buses from Frederick Transit were inadequate to transport to Frederick the estimated 100+ riders. o It was reported that apparently conductors did not take an accurate head count to determine how many riders were going to Frederick station versus Monocacy station. o Without paying for idle standby buses, the short notice to Frederick Transit limits how many buses they can provide.

VI --- August 5 Penn Line schedule change and 2019 Penn Line Amtrak trackwork update

• First weekend in August, track 1 will be completed south of Baltimore and there will be no more trackwork south of Baltimore through end of 2019. There will be a phased approach to return to the “regular” schedule. • A new interim schedule will start on Aug. 5. Amtrak trains will not change until late September (7-8 weeks later). When Amtrak changes its schedule, MARC will also change its schedule, and that will be in place to early 2020. With the new Aug. 5 schedule, train 643 will return to its old schedule (4:40 pm) and restore stop at West Baltimore. Also, train 440 will go back to making all stops. (Seabrook will be restored.) Minor adjustments will be made to other trains.

VII --- Old Business

• An update on the MARC Tracker was requested. o The goal is to have the new MARC Tracker to go live by mi-July, which will include the website and transit app. It is not sure if the public API for the website and app would be available by mid-July. • Overhaul of MARC III cars – 63 cars on the Penn line.

o The overhaul for each car includes a new HVAC system, new P.A. system, LED destination signs both interior and exterior. LED signs will be identical with those on MARC IV cars. Signage on MARC III and MARC IV cars will communicate. o Seats are getting refurbished: seat cushions are being replaced with new foam and new vinyl seat covers. Vinyl seat covers are more durable than cloth and easier to clean. o Overhaul will be done of trucks and suspension system so that they will operate for another 15 years. o The first 3 cars are expected to be back in service by September or October. Full production should occur round September/October with 8 cars being overhauled at any given time. All cars should be finished in 2021. o It takes a maximum of 120 days for a car to go through the overhaul and be back in service. o Trains will not “lose” cars during the overhaul, however, some trains will run with single- level cars. Example: train 634 – 3 bilevels were replaced with 4 single-level cars. A longer-term solution may be to have MARC IV cars on the Penn line, but that is logistically difficult. • There was a question about shifting the large Departure board above Gate A at Union Station. There was no update except that it may be prohibitively expensive to accomplish.

VIII --- New Business

• A question was asked regarding the station LED signs: would it be possible to have the signs show to time constantly rather than have them alternate the date with the time? MARC will inquire with the sign programmers. • A comment was made about a sign at the Gaithersburg station. The sign shows and arrow indicating the direction for eastbound trains. The arrow actually points west. MARC requested that a photo be sent. (UPDATE: The sign if for handicap riders. It suggests that they go a bit further west and cross over tracks to get to other side to catch eastbound trains. A comment was made in a follow-up email to MARC that the sign’s instructions are a bit vague.)

Meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm.

Next meeting: Thursday, August 15

Minutes prepared by Joe Conny and Brian Love.

Teleconference Attendance

Initial Name Affiliation Atif Adam RAC – Penn Line

P Cheryl Bates-Harris RAC – Penn Line P Carrie Blough RAC – Brunswick Line P June Brandt RAC – Penn Line P JP Carnes-Stine RAC – Brunswick Line P Steve Chan, Chair RAC – Penn Line P Joe Conny, Vice Chair RAC – Brunswick Line

Katina Dashiell RAC – Camden Line

P Charles Enders RAC – Brunswick Line

Christopher Field, Secty. RAC – Penn Line

LaToya Griffith RAC – Brunswick Line

P JC Hendrickson RAC – Penn Line

Katherine Hodges RAC – Camden Line

Corine Lopez RAC – Camden Line

P Brian Love RAC – Penn Line

Judah Prero RAC – Penn Line

Initial Name Affiliation

P Andrea Farmer MTA-MARC Train P Katherine Read MTA-MARC Train P Dean Del Peschio MTA-MARC Train P David Johnson (DJ) MTA-MARC Train P Thomasina Swilling MTA-MARC Train P Kyle Nembhard MTA-Planning P Tom Mackay MTA P Josh Wolf MTA

Howard Carter Amtrak

P Justin Waldron Amtrak P TC Williamson, Jr. Amtrak

Mike Tierney Amtrak

Shaquana Stevens Amtrak

P Bill Egan Bombardier

Matt Sturgeon Bombardier

P Lee Woodward Bombardier

Nancy Roberts CSX

Marco Turra CSX

P Matt Gross CSX