Metra’s Monthly Commuter Newsletter May 2015 Metra stands for transit Metra joined its fellow Chicago area transit agen- cies and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers last month to highlight the need for consistent, long-term federal funding for the nation’s transportation and public transit systems. The Stand Up 4 Transporta- tion event was part of a na- tional initiative sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association. A press confer- ence at Chicago Union Station focused on the Move Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which expires on May 31, and the Highway Trust Fund, which will start teetering on insolvency this summer. The Metra Chairman Martin Oberman speaks at the Stand Up 4 Transportation event last month at Union Station. Behind region’s transit agencies, like him are (left to right) state Rep. Al Riley (D-Olympia Fields); U.S. Rep. Bob Dold (R-Kenilworth); Joe Szabo, senior others around the country, rely fellow at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning; Amtrak Board Member Tom Carper; U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski on federal funds to keep their (D-Western Springs); CTA President Forrest Claypool; Metra Board Member Norman Carlson; and Metra Executive systems in working order. Director/CEO Don Orseno. Present at the event were ski (D-Western Springs), Mike nation, as a state and as a region, too long. We can’t afford to put it representatives of Metra, RTA, Quigley (D-Chicago), Bill Foster we can’t afford to pay for our in- off any longer.” CTA, Pace and Amtrak, along (D-Naperville) and Bob Dold frastructure,” said Metra Chair- The region’s transit system with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D- (R-Kenilworth). man Martin Oberman. “But the has been severely underfunded Ill.) and U.S. Reps. Dan Lipin- “It’s tempting to say that as a reality is, we’ve put it off for far (Continued on Page 2) Metra launching new effort to improve safety Representatives of Metra designed to proactively address committing to implementing the Don Orseno. “We are particular- management and transportation safety issues and create a more voluntary system. ly pleased with the enthusiastic unions joined offi cials from the positive safety culture. “Safety is Metra’s highest cooperation of our labor unions, Federal Railroad Administra- At a ceremony at Metra priority, and this new program who have demonstrated their tion last month to announce the headquarters, labor, manage- is a major and exciting enhance- commitment to making Metra creation of a “Confi dential Close ment and FRA offi cials signed a ment to our safety efforts,” said the safest possible railroad.” Call Reporting System,” which is memorandum of understanding Metra Executive Director/CEO (Continued on Page 2) WWW.METRARAIL.COM 2 ON THE BI-LEVEL that could lead to the identifi ca- culture and labor-management tion of the employee. NASA cooperation. Safety will compile the data and then The adoption of the Confi den- (Continued from Page 1) forward it for analysis by a peer tial Close Call Reporting System On the Bi-Level According to the FRA, which review team of labor, Metra will bolster Metra’s numerous Published by Metra’s Media has promoted the adoption of the management and FRA represen- existing safety programs and re- Relations Department. Send system by a handful of railroads tatives, which will recommend inforce safety as Metra’s highest letters, questions or feedback to so far, the system complements corrective action. NASA also will priority. Those programs include On the Bi-Level, Metra, 547 W. Jackson, Chicago IL, 60661- existing safety programs, builds monitor trends across railroads our annual Safety Poster and 5717. Or e-mail onthebilevel@ a positive safety culture, creates and share results. Essay Contest, nearly a thou- metrarr.com. an early warning system, focuses A close call is defi ned by the sand annual Operation Lifesaver We can’t guarantee all letters on problems instead of people, FRA as “a situation in which an safety presentations and frequent will be printed or answered. Please keep letters to less than provides an incentive for learn- ongoing sequence of events was safety blitzes conducted at Metra 200 words and include your fi rst ing from errors and targets the stopped from developing further, stations throughout the six-coun- name, hometown and what line root cause of an issue, not the preventing the occurrence of ty Chicago region. you ride. (Names are not re- symptom. potentially serious safety-related Signees of the memorandum quired but strongly encouraged.) We reserve the right to edit letter Under the new system, em- consequences.” Examples of included Orseno; Pete Zwolfer, for length and grammar. ployees will be able to confi den- close calls would be trains travel- Metra Deputy Executive Direc- tially report “close calls” – such ing at excessive speed, workers tor for Operations; Marty Ryan, Board of Directors as safety concerns or violations nearly struck by trains, trains Metra Chief Transportation Martin J. Oberman of operating rules – without fac- running through a switch or a Offi cer; Hilary Konczal, Metra Chairman ing sanctions from Metra or the passenger door opened on the Director of Safety; Robert Lauby, Chicago FRA. The goal is to collect data wrong side of the train. Personal FRA Associate Administrator for Jack E. Partelow about close calls that otherwise injuries, serious train accidents Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Of- Vice Chairman would have gone unreported or and alcohol or drug use would fi cer; Ron Wesolowski, General Will County underreported, and to use that not be considered a close call. Chairman of the American Train data to identify safety hazards Results from railroads that Dispatchers Association; An- John Plante Treasurer and take steps to correct them have adopted such systems are thony Siriano, National Repre- Suburban Cook County before an accident occurs. Those encouraging. According to the sentative of the Transportation corrective steps could include FRA, a Confi dential Close Call Communications Union; Pete Rodney S. Craig new or better training, physical Reporting System resulted in a Semenek, Clay Craddock and J.J. Secretary Suburban Cook County changes, changes to safety rules 31 percent increase in the number Balonek, General Chairmen of or changes to operating rules. of cars moved between minor the Brotherhood of Locomotive Manuel Barbosa To maintain confi dentiality, derailments and a 90 percent Engineers and Trainmen; John Director the close calls will be reported drop in disciplinary cases at one England, Vice President of the Kane County to a third party, the National railroad. Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Trans- Romayne C. Brown Aeronautics and Space Adminis- That railroad, which was not portation Workers (SMART); and Director tration, which would remove any identifi ed, also reported sig- Barry Abbott, General Chairman Cook County information about the incidents nifi cant improvements in safety of SMART. Norman Carlson Director Lake County “The RTA is proud to stand this capital shortfall on their own, unifi ed with the CTA, Metra and issuing bonds, pursuing other Don A. De Graff Stand Pace in recognizing the need fi nancing tools, implementing Director Suburban Cook County (Continued from Page 1) for Congress to pass a sensible, fare increases and instituting by federal and state resources for long-term surface transportation operational effi ciencies. While Marc J. Munaretto many years. The system cov- bill that fully funds our region’s these actions have offered some Director ers six counties, representing 70 and nation’s public transit needs,” support, the magnitude of the McHenry County percent of the state’s population, said RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard. challenge makes it impossible for Brian K. Reaves and is the second-largest transit “The residents of northeastern these actions alone to suffi ciently Director operation in the country by pas- Illinois deserve reliable and af- address the problem. Suburban Cook County senger miles traveled, behind only fordable public transit options Riders and residents are urged to get them to work, school, the to visit rtachicago.org to learn John P. Zediker New York. Director Without federal assistance, doctor’s offi ce, and everywhere more about the region’s capital DuPage County the region may not be able to in between. We cannot do more funding needs and how best to make the capital investments that with less.” encourage their federal legislators The RTA, CTA, Metra and to support public transportation Don Orseno are required to meet its growing Executive Director/CEO transit needs. Pace have taken action to address funding. WWW.METRARAIL.COM MAY 2015 3 SOUND OFF Triply agreeable least it’s something! If you don’t have a tissue, pull your shirt I would like to address Ira’s up over your mouth and nose comment in the April issue. I or sneeze (and cough for that AGREE 100 percent. No. 1, in matter) into your elbow. Perhaps addition to the sneezing, add the posting signs in your existing coughing. People who cough sign-holders reminding people in the air think it’s okay. It can of how we can avoid spreading spread germs, which makes it germs will suffi ce. Or, would NOT okay. Cover your mouth you consider putting hand sani- when coughing, sneezing and tizers on cars? eating. I don’t agree with Ira’s No. 2 Seat hogs: I agree with recommendation for charging Ira on this as well. Charge an passengers an additional fare extra fee for the people who need Carman Bryant Howse replaces a window in a car being rehabbed at for occupying a seat with their Metra’s 49th St. Shop along the Rock Island Line. to put their bags on the seat next personal belongings (by the way, to them.