05.07.12 -
San Francisco Chronicle – May 1, 2012
LOS ANGELES – Despite complaints from local labor unions, Los Angeles County has awarded an $890 million contract for commuter light rail to a Japanese firm. Officials at the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority said the contract awarded to Kinkisharyo International to build 235 cars is crucial for opening the new light rail system on time and replacing old equipment on existing systems. Competing bids were rejected from Siemens Industry Inc. and CAF USA Inc.
The new light rail vehicles will be used on several projects, including the Crenshaw Line, the Expo Line to Santa Monica and Gold Line extensions. Earlier procurement issues, most notably with the Italian firm AnasaldoBreda resulted in a failed $300 million contract in 2009 to build 100 cars. As a result, Metro officials welcomed the new contract, as time is running short to purchase and deliver the rail cars before the new lines are complete.
“We are running out of slack, and the past two years have used up the slack that we had,” Art Leahy, Metro’s chief executive officer told the Board. “We are on the edge of slipping behind our construction schedule.”
Labor unions and civic organizations opposed the Japanese bid, saying the federal and local tax revenue that is paying for the rail cars should be used to create jobs within the state of California, not in Japan. Siemens, which has a factory in Sacramento, said it would create 1,122 jobs, open a new Los Angeles factory and invest $5 million in job-training programs.
This is hard; money is tight and jobs are a concern. How much of a premium does an agency pay for jobs–blindly making decisions on the “buy American” issue likely makes for poor decisions. I am in favor of creating and sustaining American jobs. That said, Wal-Mart used to tout their “Made in America” policy but it has been gone for many years. In order to provide the low cost goods that so many Americans buy at Wal-Mart they had to reach out to overseas manufacturing. Whether or not you agree with Wal-Mart’s decision, millions of shoppers benefit from this policy change. Cheaper rail cars means the authority can build more facilities for millions to use for decades to come. TW
The Tom Warne Report
04.30.12 -
Tom Warne has been invited to provide partnering facilitation services for the I-405 NE 6th St to I-5 Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project. WSDOT is the owner and Flatiron is the contractor.
04.30.12 -
TxDOT News Release – April 24, 2012
AUSTIN – The North Tarrant Express project in Texas is in the final stage to receive $415 million under the federal government’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) financing program, advancing a project that will address safety and congestion. The North Texas project includes improvements to sections of I-35W and construction of an interchange at I-35W and I-820. In addition, the project develops multimodal managed lanes to serve the region’s public transportation needs. The Texas Department of Transportation has requested $537 million in Fiscal Year 2012 TIFIA credit assistance for the project.
TxDOT has planned extensively with local partners for I-35W improvements, while aggressively seeking a funding award. Construction could begin in 2013, subject to a final agreement with TxDOT’s project partners, and subsequent determination of legal sufficiency by the Attorney General and Legislative Budget Board approval.
“The North Tarrant Express project leverages federal investment with significant state and private contributions,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. “This public-private partnership will improve the entire I-35 corridor and the ability to transport goods and services throughout the nation.” The Tom Warne Report
04.23.12 -
The Virginian-Pilot – April 14, 2012
Work is to begin on Virginia’s controversial $2.1 billion construction project to add tolls to the Midtown and Downtown tunnels now that funding is secure, according to an announcement by the state’s private partner. The announcement came after the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $422 million federal loan and an additional $675 million in bonds were issued. Secured financing means the Elizabeth River Crossing is cleared to hire contractors and begin work on the E-ZPass toll system.
Opponents who intend to stop the plans and the $1.84 rush-hour tolls say they still plan to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the 1995 Public-Private Partnership Act. They also say the Virginia Department of Transportation does not have the authority to negotiate the Midtown agreement.
“It doesn’t change anything,” said Patrick McSweeney, the lawyer working for the group, which includes around 200 potential plaintiffs. “The basis of the suit is either valid or not. It has nothing to do with whether (the state and its private partner) want to go forward with the risk they want to take.”
The project will add a second tube to the Midtown Tunnel, doubling its capacity, and make improvements to the Downtown Tunnel. It will also extend the Martin Luther King Freeway in Portsmouth to I-264, all of which will create 500 jobs directly and 1500 jobs indirectly, according to ERC public affairs manager Mary Humphries said. The Tom Warne Report
04.16.12 -
Patch.com – April 11, 2012
The Washington State Department of Transportation has sent out the first round of 700 civil penalty notices for drivers who did not pay their tolls under the state’s new tolling system on the Tacoma Narrows and the State Route 520 Bridges. The registered owners of vehicles have 80 days to pay their tolls before they receive civil penalty notices as part of the state’s new enforcement to collect overdue toll bills.
“This new enforcement program is designed for the unique nature of our photo tolling system,” said Toll Division Director Craig Stone of the Washington State Department of Transportation. “The new process strengthens one of the main reasons we’re tolling these bridges – to pay for them. This effort allows us to put collected tolls, fees and penalties back into each bridge program.”
WSDOT, which manages the state’s two tolled bridges – SR 520 across Lake Washington and the Tacoma Narrows – will mail the first civil penalty notices to registered owners of vehicles that crossed either bridge more than 80 days ago but have not paid the toll. The notices will include an initial toll amount, a $5 reprocessing fee for each reminder bill plus an added $40 civil penalty for each unpaid toll transaction. Those registered vehicle owners will have up to 20 days to respond to WSDOT with payment or to dispute the civil penalty.
“Don’t wait if you receive a notice of civil penalty—you need to act,” Stone said. “You have two options: pay the civil penalty or, if you think you are not responsible for it, dispute the civil penalty in writing or request a hearing.” The Tom Warne Report
Would you steal from your neighbor? At its basic level, failing to pay your tolls is simply that. What part of this don’t people understand? TW