Number 3 Volume 17 March 1989 RTD's Master Computer LACTC Leaders Day Retires Top Operators Hero Stops Bus Operator Recognition 9rABLE 0FCONTENTS RTD Ridership, Revenues Higher Than Forecast Master Computer Controls Metro Rail Reed Takes LACTC Chair RTD is in a highly stable and sound financial condition in mid-year of its fiscal operation, announced General Manager LACTC Gets New Head Man Pegg in mid-Febuary. This is the result of RTD ridership and passenger Annual Report Issued for FY 1987-88 revenues having been higher than anticipated during the first half of fiscal year 1989. With these trends continuing Director Day Retires From RTD Board through June 30, RTD will Finish FY 1989 with a balanced budget, Pegg said. Top Operators "System-wide patronage was up almost 12 million riders to 201 million during the first half of FY 1989, compared to a Moving the Post Office projected 189 million passengers," he said. As a result, RTD passenger revenues increased $8.1 Vaughn Named Operator of the Month million to $113 million, as compared to the forecast of $104 million in the same period, he added. Blood Donor Honor Roll Pegg noted other highlights regarding patronage and revenues since the new fare structure started an July 1, Vasquez Chosen Info Operator of the Year 1988. "While there was a slight decline in overall boarding of 3.9 percent, or 8.2 million passengers, there was at the "Fresh Savings" Kick Off at Galleria same time a net increase in passenger revenue of 24.8 percent, or $22.5 million," he said. Commendations In recent years, the third quarter of the fiscal year has been a period when the RTD faced possible fare increases Public Commendations and service reductions to balance its budget by year end. This year RTD riders can Look forward to the same level of Employee Rider Brings Bus to Stop service and fares through June 30, Pegg said. Shifting Gears Schedule Changes About the Cover Marathon Runners Top Operators for 1987/88 Strut Your Stuff Just the Break He Needed Every year for the last four years that the Los Angeles Marathon has rerouted all our inner-city lines, the District Art Types His Last Schedule has had a fair number of employees running in the race. Last year we ran the names and times of all those employees Looks Like a Good Investment who cared to share that information with us. If you ran the 1989 marathon, please call the Headway and let us know. To Your Health We would love to hear from you and brag about you in our next issue. Call 972-7165 to reserve your deserved space in Marriage Counseling the Headway. Self-Help Groups: Grapevines in Action Tommy the Shoeshine Man Tribute to Our Bus Drivers MARCH 1989 HEADWAY 2 MASTER COMPUTER To CONTROL METRO RAIL by Greg Davy, News Bureau Representative When Metro Rail trains package, which includes all start running in 1993, a real of the software and hard- pro will be in the control ware necessary to monitor room. The Supervisory and operate the trains and Control and Data Acquisi- peripheral systems. tion System (SCADA), the SCADA will use computing software for the thousands of sensors subway, is a proven veteran throughout Metro Rail's first in the transportation 4.4 miles of tunnels and five business. stations to monitor condi- The SCADA program is tions. It will then display doors are held open at each electrical power, the Metro the latest version of a well- the information for humans station can be adjusted to Rail communication system tested system which is to use to make decisions. All improve efficiency. Train has eight hours of battery currently running subways components of Metro Rail, speed and the distance backup. The automatic train in Paris, Caracas, Montreal, from huge ventilation fans maintained between trains control system and lighting and Mexico City. It is being and Sprinkler systems to the can be altered. in stations and tunnels are brought to Los Angeles by amplifiers in station But SCADA will not be backed up for two hours, Sondetag-TAI, a French loudspeakers, will be under the ultimate authority on sufficient time to move subsidiary of the interna- its constant scrutiny. the trains. A second hard- trains to exits and evacuate. tional corporation Thomson- The information ware system, the Automatic Because SCADA has CSF through their local gathered from the array of Train Control System, will been improved during years subsidiary, AXYAL. This sensors will be displayed on monitor the position and of operation in other cities, team was put together by TV screens where operators speed of trains at all times. the Los Angeles version of Bechtel Civil Inc. of San can make minute-to-minute If an operator using SCADA the system will have more Francisco, the prime adjustments in system should attempt to make an comprehensive safety supplier of communications operations. operating change that is features than any of its systems for Metro Rail. As an example, braking contrary to safety parame- predecessors. The system's "omnis- and acceleration rates for ters, this automatic system When Phase 2 construc- cient" brain, consisting of a trains approaching and will not allow the change to tion begins, the SCADA pair of identical Gould leaving stations can be be made. system will be expanded to Model 32-67 computers, is reduced during off-peak SCADA will stay on the cover all 16 passenger one of the major components hours. That saves energy job even during emergen- stations along 17.3 miles of of a $35 million communica- and, therefore, money. cies. For example, if there track. tions and central control The length of time that should be systemwide loss of MARCH 1989 HEADWAY 3 Reed LACTC Gets New Head Takes Neil Peterson, 44, most that could merge the performance and financial Chair of recently the interim general LACTC and the RTD. He mismanagement led to a manager of the AC Transit also commented that he grand jury investigation. District in Oakland, was hopes to continue the "de- His five-year contract LACTC named as executive director escalation" of the rivalry with the LACTC includes a of the Los Angeles County between the two agencies. base salary of $125,000 per Los Angeles County Super- Transportation Commission Peterson said he would year and, among other visor Pete Schabarum, (LACTC) on January 25. allocate local tax money to benefits, a housing allow- outgoing chairman of the In announcing the the RTD and several ance to help relocate his Los Angeles County Trans- appointment, LACTC smaller public bus systems family from Seattle to Los portation Commission Chairperson Christine E. in ways to encourage Angeles. (LACTC), passed the gavel Reed said, "Mr. Peterson competition within the January 11 to Santa Monica brings over 20 years of public sector. He sees this as City Councilwoman experience in building and a means to catalyze the Christine Reed. managing organizations, "balkanized" Los Angeles Annual Report Supervisor Ed Edelman particularly those which are transportation system into was elected unanimously as people intensive and service better serving the public. Issued for the LACTC vice chairman oriented. We have found the Peterson is a former FY 1987-88 for 1989. In taking over as right person to lead the vice president and member chairwoman, Reed pledged Commission in the years of the Executive Committee The District published in ahead." of the American Public January the annual report Peterson ran the Seattle Transit Association. He is a covering its operational and METRO system from 1977 ...Reed pledged to graduate of Williams financial highlights for fiscal to 1983. METRO is the College, and holds a masters year 1987-88. implement the regional agency responsible degree in public and The 16-page, two-color for planning and operating international affairs from booklet reports on key eight-point plan transportation and waste- the Woodrow Wilson School events in the progress of water services in the Seattle worked out between of Public and International Metro Rail construction and area. In 1983, the system Affairs at Princeton Univer- bus operations, plus finan- the LACTC and was recognized by the sity. Peterson has served as cial statements and over- American Public Transit city manager for New views of the past fiscal year. the District... Association as the nation's Brunswick, New Jersey, and "This annual report best-managed transit a division director for the reflects a year of transition district. Seattle has an state of Washington's at RTD," said General to implement the eight-point extensive bus fleet including Department of Social and Manager Alan Pegg. "Many plan worked out between the largest fleet of articu- Health Services. Following positive changes occurred the LACTC and the District lated buses in the United his success at Seattle's during FY 1988 and this to streamline county transit States and operates a trolley METRO, Peterson headed booklet highlights them." services. system which includes his own company, Ex- The attractively She also vowed to monorail and street cars. ecutemps, which provided packaged report was ensure the full implementa- In a press conference interim management prepared by the Marketing tion of the newly developed following his appointment, services to private compa- and Communications San Gabriel Valley Transit the new executive director nies and government Department and distributed Zone, which is designed to listed various reasons he agencies. While the interim to employees, local govern- take over 19 RTD lines. accepted the multi-year manager of the AC Transit ment and community Other changes in this year's contract with the LACTC.