NEWSLETTER Summer 2014 Vol. 11, Issue 3 RUN’s 2014 Conference in Philadelphia—An Outstanding Success! Individual By Richard Rudolph and government officials, and gave Jefferson’s views on a Chair, Rail Users’ Network members of the public who variety of subjects, including Highlights are interested in transit related transportation issues. By all accounts, this year’s Rail issues. In all, more than 100 Users’ Network Conference, people attended this year’s The daylong Friday conference A Wild Ride On co-sponsored with SEPTA’s conference, which focused on began with RUN’s Chair, (Southeastern Pennsylvania how “Passenger Rail and Rail Richard Rudolph, providing NJ Transit p. 2 Transportation Authority) Transit Improves the Economic opening remarks, He noted Citizens’ Advisory Committee Vitality of Cities.” that transit and commuter When Will IL’s Routes was an outstanding success. rail ridership is increasing all Open? p. 3 Much of the credit should be The conference began with across the nation largely due given to members of the joint a “welcoming reception” to millennials and seniors Florida’s SunRail RUN/SEPTA CAC conference Thursday evening, May 1 at seeking alternatives to driving planning committee and staff the office of Urban Engineers, cars. Elsewhere in the world, Begins Operating p. 4 members of the Delaware a consulting firm “which brings rail transit, commuter rail, and Valley Regional Planning award winning projects to intercity passenger rail is viewed Schedule Changes for Commission, the Metropolitan successful completion, whether as a government obligation to Empire Builder p. 4 Planning Organization for it is in the Transportation, insure mobility for all. Given the the Philadelphia area which Facilities or Construction opportunity, he believes, citizens Conference Attendees includes South Jersey. While a Service areas.” Conference in the U.S. will support the number of rail advocates from participants attending this event expansion of passenger rail with Sample Transit p. 6 across the nation attended, the not only had an opportunity to their tax dollars and with their overwhelming majority came meet and socialize, but also met ridership. SEPTA CAC Chair From the SW Chief from the Delaware Valley with a special guest, Thomas Maurice Baynard also gave Front p. 12 area and included planners, Jefferson. He was portrayed welcoming remarks, thanking real estate developers, city by actor Steven Edenbo, who (Continued on page 6) The SLR Initiative In Maine p. 14 NYC’s Vast Transit System About to Grow Bigger A Not-Very-Modest By Andrew Albert open sometime in June. Already 4,5 lines to the 2,3 lines requires Proposal p. 15 the largest transfer point in many sets of stairways and New York’s enviable transit Lower Manhattan, the Fulton ramps. The Fulton Transit system is about get a bit bigger. Center will draw together the 1, Center will tie most lines Thanks to the MTA’s Capital 2,3,4,5,A,C,E,R,J,Z subway lines, together along a straight path, Program, including federal, and provide easier connections with the exception of the J,Z state and—in one particular between these lines. Eventually, lines, whose unique location will project—city funding, there will it will also connect to the 2nd still require the use of stairs. be some additions beginning in Avenue subway, providing an There will also be a shopping the Summer, with more to come all-weather underground route mall in the center, as well as in the fall. The Fulton Transit between Greenwich Street and offices, making it a destination Center—which will link 11 Water Street. in itself. The Fulton Transit subway lines, and incorporate Center is convenient to many a glass enclosure, allowing Currently, Fulton Street station downtown points of interest, natural light to penetrate down combines many of these lines including Ground Zero, below the surface—is set to already, but the trip from the (Continued on page 13) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 2 of 16 A Wild Ride at NJ Transit For Riders and Their Advocates By David Peter Alan background, so advocates expected her to Commissioners, Simpson was familiar lead the agency toward better performance, with transit; he had been Administrator of Last winter could not have been worse for with Simpson’s help. Simpson and the FTA in the Bush Administration until the managers and riders at New Jersey Weinstein had squabbled publicly, and 2009. So it appeared that better times were Transit (NJT). Service had just gotten advocates believed that a harmonious coming to NJT, both for the riders and the back to normal after a year of disruption relationship between the Commissioner people who advocate on their behalf. from damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and the Executive Director would bring in October, 2012. Then came one of about some much-needed improvement. That has not happened yet. At this writing, the worst winters in history, with service three months later, advocates and riders disruptions on NJT’s rail lines in North and Hakim’s tenure started with a burst of remain in suspense, wondering what will Central Jersey occurring with alarming activity. During her first weekday on the happen to their transit in the future. frequency. On top of that, NJT performed job, Monday, March 3, Simpson fired rail very poorly on February 2 at Super Bowl chief Kevin O’Connor and bus chief Joyce As Hakim began her job at NJT, XLVIII, the game billed as the “Mass Gallagher. On the same day, trains ran Simpson ordered some minor changes Transit Super Bowl.” Even three hours into and out of Penn Station, New York on in Board practices. He said that the after the game ended, the Meadowlands the Raritan Valley Line (RVL) for the first Board would hold two evening meetings Stadium had not yet been cleared, causing time. This marked the first “one-seat-ride” this year; in May and September, disgruntled fans to chant “Jersey Sucks” as service on that line. The Raritan Valley in response to a request by Donald reporters from publications as diverse as Rail Coalition and other advocates had Winship, Communications Director the New York Post and the Sporting News Cpushed for such service for years, with the of the Lackawanna Coalition. He also spread the word of NJT’s defeat. It seemed objective that RVL riders would no longer announced a three-month pilot program that NJT took as bad a beating after the be required to endure an inconvenient for opening meetings of the Board’s game as the Seattle Seahawks dished out to transfer at Newark. So far, only mid-day Customer Service and Administrative the Denver Broncos on the field. trains run through to New York, but NJT Committees to the public. Those three has promised that evening trains, running monthly meetings have already taken So the advocacy community and many after peak-commuting hours, will offer a place, and the future of the initiative will riders were hoping for improvement one-seat-ride later this year. Advocates on be decided in June. Simpson said that, when Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim took the line and elsewhere are still pushing if the experiment went well, all Board over the post of Executive Director at for the extension of one-seat-ride service committee meetings would be opened to NJT, replacing Jim Weinstein, who had to week-ends and toward their primary the public. There were no administrative taken much of the blame for losing nearly objective: peak-commuting hours. problems with the new practice, so 400 pieces of rolling stock to flooding advocates expect it to become permanent. during Hurricane Sandy, as well as for the Later that month, at the March meeting However, members of the public may only agency’s poor performance getting fans of the Board of Directors, Simpson observe and make two-minute statements out of the stadium after the Big Game. made a statement about the changes he before any agenda items are introduced wanted to see at NJT. They included and discussed. They may not ask questions Hakim was hand-picked for the job by the restoration of “off-peak” rail fares, or participate in discussions in any way. Transportation Commissioner James S. better use of Hoboken Terminal to ease Simpson. By law, the Commissioner of capacity constraints at New York Penn For her own part, Hakim said that she Transportation in New Jersey is also the Station, and improved service and fleet would ride the system extensively during Chair of the NJT Board of Directors. planning. It was an extraordinary event. her first month on the job, and that she Simpson and Hakim had worked together Before Simpson, no Commissioner had would talk with employees and other at New York’s Metropolitan Transportation even asked questions at a Board meeting. stakeholders, including the advocates. It Authority (MTA) during the 1990s. When Simpson not only asked questions, but he appears that she has kept that promise. Gov. Chris Christie took office in 2010, he delivered a 24-minute statement about She met with representatives of the appointed Simpson to head NJDOT, and his plans for NJT. He also referred to Lackawanna Coalition and the New Simpson picked Hakim to be Executive the advocacy organizations and their Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers Director of the New Jersey Turnpike members as “important stakeholders”; (NJ-ARP) in March, and has scheduled Authority. Hakim is an experienced an unprecedented level of positive another meeting in June. transportation manager and has a legal recognition. Unlike other NJDOT (Continued on page 5) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 3 of 16 When Will the New IL Routes Really Open? By F.K.