Krishna Potturi, PE, PTOE, VMA, DBIA

Train data alert! FRA published its quarterly report on intercity passenger train performance, covering October - December 2023. This report provides data on Amtrak passenger train operations, including customer on-time performance and delays - and now features new route profiles. https://lnkd.in/gux6iTRS

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U.S. DOT Announces SMART Grants Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that it is accepting applications for the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. As a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the program will fund up to $500 million in grants over five years to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced technologies and systems to improve transportation safety and efficiency. “The SMART Grant program has helped communities, states, and tribes across America deploy new kinds of transportation technology solutions to improve safety and resilience,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As the program enters its third year of funding, we’re excited for even more communities to get funding and support to develop technological solutions to their most pressing transportation challenges.” USDOT will accept applications for Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. During Stage 1, the SMART program will fund technology demonstrations and prototypes that solve real-world transportation problems and build data and technology capacity for State, local, and Tribal governments. Later this year, recipients of Stage 1 grants will be eligible to expand their projects through the first of several Stage 2 grant opportunities. The funding opportunity is open to public sector entities seeking to carry out transportation projects that demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas: Coordinated automation Connected vehicles Sensors Systems integration Delivery/logistics Innovative aviation Smart grid Traffic signals “From Alaska to Maine to Puerto Rico, the SMART program has supported locally driven solutions across the country to make communities safer for all users and more connected and accessible. The popularity of this program demonstrates the demand for purpose-driven technology solutions, and we are excited to open the opportunity for another round of applications,” said Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Scientist at USDOT.

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Streamline your rail operations with Tracsis' innovative Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD) solutions. Our technology is designed to improve efficiency, coordination, and safety across rail. With our CAD solution, you get real-time visibility into rail operations, advanced dispatching tools, and comprehensive reporting features. Learn how Tracsis' CAD can transform your rail systems and help you optimize performance. Visit our website to discover more about our Computer-Aided Dispatching solutions and see why leading rail operators trust Tracsis for their dispatch needs - https://lnkd.in/e4Ehxr4Z #raildispatch #railinnovation #railtechnology #IoT #Bigdata

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Check out our latest blog. If you ever wonder the difference between CSM-RA and CENELEC standards and how they interact with each other. 👇🏼 Peter Williams Joshua Jackson Adrian Knight #CSMRA #systemssafety #safetyassurance

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Last week, I attended the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) midyear meeting, where colleagues from the #transportationindustry and I discussed challenges with traffic control at highway-rail grade crossings and ways to improve safty. It’s exciting to get to play a role in developing #MUTCD standards, which impact my work VHB and in the railroad industry daily. I'm looking forward to learning more and applying to be a member of the Rail and Light Rail Technical Committee. Learn more about the MUTCD and how the committee progresses it: https://lnkd.in/esZgB2nD #Maine #Transportation #Safety #ImprovingMobility #MUTCD

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U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveils roadmap with guidance on how to launch high-speed rail project June 17, 2024 The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions. The U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveiled a roadmap with guidance on how to launch a high-speed rail project. The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions.  “High-speed rail lines are complex megaprojects with unique challenges,” said Bernard Cohen, senior advisor for planning and operations at Alternate Concepts Inc., as well as former Massachusetts Department of Transportation secretary and the principal author of the roadmap. “We’ve created a practical guide that demystifies what’s involved in launching a new high-speed rail project.”  The report, “High-Speed Rail Projection Initiation: A Roadmap for Advocates”, focuses on five key building blocks of success:   Organization   Technical planning   Strategic engagement   Project funding   Compelling communications  The report argues that long-term, strategic advocacy campaigns are required to launch new high-speed projects. When designing campaigns, advocates must be fully aware of potential pitfalls, as well as likely sources of support and opposition.    The roadmap notes that a recent survey by Public Policy Polling for the Coalition found that 72 percent of U.S. registered voters support the creation of a nationwide high-speed rail network in the U.S. According to Ezra Silk, political director of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition, a major goal of the report is to help build a grassroots movement for a national high-speed rail network.  “Launching high-speed rail involves technical experts but you don’t need to be a transportation planner to take the lead in bringing high-speed rail to your community,” Silk said. “Millions of Americans want high-speed rail and this report will help give them the tools they need to turn their bullet train dreams into reality.”  The roadmap was designed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In May, the 600,000-member union announced a voluntary recognition agreement with Siemens Mobility to represent workers who will build the trainsets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas, Nev., to southern California by 2028. 

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The United States Gateway Program: The Country's Most Urgently Needed Infrastructure Development Project- Gateway is a comprehensive rail investment programme that will improve reliability, resiliency and redundancy while creating new capacity for a critical section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is the most heavily used passenger rail line in the U.S., with more than 2,000 intercity & commuter trains supporting approx. 800,000 daily passenger trips across eight states & Washington D.C. It serves a region home to 17% of the U.S. population and 97 Fortune 500 company headquarters, as well as an area contributing 20% of the national GDP. The NEC is a vital artery in the region. It is a critical element of the national transportation network, linking millions of people to good jobs and connecting this region with the rest of the country. The Gateway Program will also increase resiliency and capacity along a 10-mile stretch of the NEC between Newark, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in New York City (PSNY) This section of the NEC handles approximately 450 trains per day and over 200,000 daily Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT passenger trips. It also directly serves PSNY, the busiest rail station in America. This busy, 10-mile stretch of the NEC includes the North River Tunnel under the Hudson River, which has deteriorated due to age, intensive use, and damage sustained from saltwater exposure during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The Gateway Program will also replace and update rail infrastructure assets that, in many cases, are over 100 years old and expand capacity along this 10-mile stretch of the NEC when the entire Program is completed. The Gateway Program's first phase includes : 1. Construction of a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River 2. Rehabilitation of the existing two-track North River Tunnel 3. Completion of a concrete casing on the West Side of Manhattan to preserve right-of-way for the future tunnel to PSNY 4. Replacement of the Portal Bridge in New Jersey Later phases of the Gateway Program will include : 5. Replacement and expansion of the Sawtooth Bridges on the NEC located between Newark Penn Station and Secaucus Junction 6. Expansion of PSNY in Manhattan 7. Expansion and modification of Secaucus Junction Station and addition of loop tracks ("Bergen/Secaucus Loop") in New Jersey 8. Construction of Portal South Bridge 9. Construction of a rail yard and operational support facilities in New Jersey for NJ TRANSIT equipment and other elements to complete a modernized, four-track railroad from Newark Penn Station to PSNY MORE..... Join our ACTIVE RAIL GROUPS here on LinkedIn: On Track- Railway Construction, Bridges, Viaducts & Tunnels 🚉 https://lnkd.in/dhkSJd-w 🚈 Middle East & Africa RAIL https://lnkd.in/eqt6ZekM www.railmea.com ✅ If you find value, Like, Re-post and Follow me for more

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Three of HDR's rail and modeling heavyweights teamed up to share how to make an exceptional service development plan through new ridership data. This commentary in Railway Age is helpful for anyone looking to build or extend a passenger rail line. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/db-Fgebf #Transportation #FreightRail #Transit

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Agree or Disagree? FREQUENCY is better than FREE to drive increased #transit use, and low income ticket programs are a better way to make transit more accessible and to create mobility and opportunity without the unwanted secondary issues from #FareFreeTransit, such as social problems moving onto the vehicle making travel unwelcoming and the reduction of revenue making higher frequency service unaffordable. https://lnkd.in/eqAvHGXD

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