[PRCo] Fw: Transnet 2005 - 5
Harold G.
transitmgr2 at earthlink.net
Mon Mar 21 18:10:40 EST 2005
-----Original Message-----
From: Harold G. <transitmgr2 at earthlink.net>
To: transitmgr2 at earthlink.net <transitmgr2 at earthlink.net>
Date: Monday, March 21, 2005 3:39 PM
Subject: Fw: Transnet 2005 - 5
-----Original Message-----
From: Harold G. <transitmgr2 at earthlink.net>
To: Harold G <transitmgr2 at earthlink.net>
Date: Monday March 21, 2005
Subject: Transnet 2005 - 5
THE LATEST IN TRANSIT INFORMATION
TRANSNET 2005 - 5
NEW EVENTS, OPENINGS, COMMENTS AND TRENDS
CONGRATULATIONS PORTLAND,
SAN DIEGO, DENVER, SALT LAKE CITY, SACRAMENTO, PHOENIX AND OTHERS
IN PORTLAND:
RIVERPLACE STREETCAR EXTENSION OPENS.
THE PORTLAND STREETCAR EXTENSION OPENED
ON MARCH 11 AND 12 WITH A MAJOR CELEBRATION.
- FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2005-11 AM. RIBBON CUTTING,
START OF STREETCAR EXTENSION OPERATION.
- SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005-11 AM. CELEBRATION
BEGINS AT SW RIVER PARKWAY AND SW RIVER
DRIVE. FOOD, PERFORMANCES
A 0.6 MILE, 6 STOP EXTENSION. THIS STREETCAR
PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO HEAVY LRT REQUIRED
ON MAJOR TRI-MET RAIL LINES BY PROVIDING
COMMUNITY FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE.
THE NEW STATIONS ARE: SW HARRISON AT 3RD AVE.
AT 1ST AVE, HARBOR DRIVE, RIVER DRIVE AND
SW MOODY AT GIBBS. THERE IS A CONNECTION HERE
TO THE PORTLAND AERIAL TRAM.
I ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE STREETCAR ON
JULY 21, 2001 AND VISITED AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER
10, 2001 WHEN I WAS IN PORTLAND FOR THE OPENING
OF TRI-MET'S AIRPORT LINE. I RETURNED TO KENOSHA
THAT EVENING AND THE NEXT DAY, SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S ROOM THERE HAVING
COFFEE WHEN THE WTC DISTRUCTION HAPPENED.
IT TOOK ME TO FRIDAY TO RETURN TO NEW JERSEY.
LETS ALL REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS MURDER AND
THAT WE WERE ATTACKED.
OTHER PORTLAND NEWS:
- I-205 LIGHT RAIL PROJECT: PHASE 1 OF THE SOUTH
CORRIDOR PROJECT WILL BRING MAX GREEN LINE
TO CLACKAMAS COUNTY, MILWAUKIE AND
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND ON 8.3 MILE LINE.
- PORTLAND MALL REVITALIZATION PROJECT WILL
ENLIVEN sw 5TH AND 6TH AVENUES AND ADD 1.8
MILE MAX SERVICE BETWEEN ROSE QUARTER AND
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY.
THE ABOVE TWO ROUTES WILL SERVE 46,000
RIDERS BY 2025. BOTH ARE CONSIDERED FOR
FUTURE FEDERAL FUNDING.
- WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUTER RAIL WILL
SERVE I-5 CORRIDOR AND CONNECT TO MAX LRT
IN BEAVERTON. THIS IS A 14.7 MILE, FIVE STATION
STATION LINE TO CARRY 3,000 RIDERS DAILY.
- FREQUENT SERVICE BUS NETWORK WILL EXPAND
THE NUMBER OF 15-MINUTE SERVICE LINES TO 22.
THE ABOVE IMPROVEMENTS ARE PART OF A ROLLING FIVE-
YEAR STRATEGY TRANSIT INVESTMENT PLAN. PORTLAND
IS ONE OF A SELECT GROUP OF WESTERN CITIES
BUILDING A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT NETWORK. THE
COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT GOOD URBAN DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES SUCH A NETWORK.
IN SAN DIEGO
THE SAN DIEGO TROLLEY HAS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED
JULY 9 THE PUBLIC OPENING OF THE $506 MILLION MISSION
VALLEY EAST LRT EXTENSION.
THE PROPOSED OPENING SCHEDULE IS:
- FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2005 - OPENING CEREMONIES FOR
INVITED GUESTS AND MEDIA.
- SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005 - FOUR HOURS OF FREE
RIDES FOR THE PUBLIC.
- SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2005 - PAID OPERATIONS BEGIN
THE NEW LINE FEATURES A DEEP TUNNEL STATION AT
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY WITH OTHER STOPS AT
GRANVILLE, ALVARADO MEDICAL CENTER, AND 70TH
STREET ON THE 5.8 MILE SEGMENT BETWEEN MISSION
SAN DIEGO AND LA MESA. THE LINE WILL BE DESIGNATED
THE GREEN LINE CONNECTING THE ORANGE LINE ON
THE EAST WITH THE BLUE LINE ON THE WEST. ELEVEN
NEW LOW FLOOR SIEMENS S70 LRV'S WILL SERVE THE
LINE BETWEEN SANTEE AND OLD TOWN.
THE PROJECT WILL COST $430.96 MILLION AND CARRY
10,000 DAILY RIDERS BY 2015
ALSO THE MID-COAST LRT EXTENSON 3.4 MILES FROM
OLD TOWN TO BALBOA AVE IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING. THIS PROJECT WILL CARRY
10,000 DAILY RIDERS IN 2025.
THE SAN DIEGO TROLLEY LRT OPENED IN 1982 AS THE
FIRST NEW LRT IN THE USA. PREVIOSLY EDMONTON AND
CALGARY HAD OPENED THEIR LRT LINES. OTHER
LINES HAD PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED NEW LRV'S
IN BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO AND CLEVELAND AND
BOSTON HAD BUILT A NEW PCC LINE TO RIVERSIDE
IN THE 1950'S. I ATTENDED THE 1982 OPENING
AND HAVE WATCHED THE TROLLEY GROW INTO A
FULL SIZE NETWORK. STILL TO COME IS THE PROPOSED
3.4 MILE MID-COAST LRT EXTENSION TO BALBOA AVE
AND THE OCEANSIDE-ESCONDIDO DMU LRT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TROLLEY PRESIDENT AND
GENERAL MANAGER PETER TERESCHUCK ON THE
CONTINUED GROWTH OF THIS NETWORK.
IN DENVER:
RTD IS CONSTRUCTING THE SOUTHEAST CORRIDOR LRT PROJECT
DUBBED T-REX. T-REX IS A 19.1 MILE DOUBLE TRACK LRT
EXTENSION ALONG I-25. T-REX IS A $1.6 BILLION PROJECT,
TESTING OF THE 34 NEW LRT CARS BUILT BY SIEMENS AT THEIR
SACRAMENTO PLANT IS NOW UNDERWAY ON A SECTION OF THE
T-REX LINE. THE NEW CARS COST $2.4 MILLION EACH AND CAN
CARRY UP TO 125 PASSENGERS AT 55 MPH. TEST OPERATIONS
ARE BETWEEN BROADWAY AND UNIVERSITY BLVD.
ALSO THE 12 STATION, 12.1 MILE WEST CORRIDOR LRT WILL
BE CONSIDERED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. THE LINE WILL CARRY
28,700 DAILY PASSENGERS BY 2025. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I
SERVED ON A PEER REVIEW FOR THIS LINE.
IN DALLAS:
DART'S NEXT LIGHT RAIL IS THE NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST
LINE. THE NORTHWEST LINE EXTENDS 10.75 MILES ALONG I-45
TO THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH. THE SOUTHEAST LINE IS
10.2 MILES TO BUCKNER. THE LINES ARE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE
FUNDING. ABOUT 46,000 DAILY RIDERS BY 2025. THE FIRST SECTION
BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE AMEFRICAN AIRLINES VICTORY
STADIUM STOP OPENED FOR EVENTS LAST NOVEMBER.
IN SALT LAKE CITY:
THE PRESENT LRT LINE WILL BE EXTENDED FROM THE
DELTA CENTER TO A NEW TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT AMTRAK.
A 9 STATION, 43 MILE COMMUTER RAIL LINE CONNECTING
OGDEN AND DOWNTOWN IS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING. THE LINE WILL SERVE 12,000 DAILY RIDERS. UTA
HAS ACQURED USED GALLERY CARS FROM METRA TO SERVE
AS ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT ON HOLIDAYS.
IN SACRAMENTO:
SACRAMENTO RTD WILL OPEN SERVICE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN
AND THE AMTRAK STATION AND ALSO ON THE FOLSOM
EXTENSION IN OCTOBER.
IN PHOENIX:
VALLEY METRO CENTRAL PHOENIX EAST VALLEY LIGHT RAIL
IS A 19.5 MILE LIGHT RAIL LINE FROM THE SPECTRUM MALL
IN PHOENIX, THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREAS OF PHOENIX
AND TEMPE, TO MESA. THE TOTAL COST IS $1.4 BILLION.
IN SEATTLE:
THE CENTRAL PUGET SOUND RTA (SOUND TRANSI( IS
CONSTRUCTING A 13.9 MILE LIGHT RAIL LINE FROM CONVENTION
PLACE THRU DOWNTOWN TO SOUTH 154TH STREET IN TUKWILA.
THE TOTAL COST IS $2.44 BILLION. THE LINE IS EXPECTED TO
CARRY 42,500 DAILY RIDERS IN 2020. THE LINE WILL USE THE
EXISTING BUS TUNNEL AND STATIONS DOWNTOWN.
IN LOS ANGELES:
= METRO GOLD LINE EAST SIDE EXTENSION: THE PRESIDENT
IS RECOMMENDING $80 MILLION IN 2006 FOR A 5.9 MILE LRT.
THE PROJECT WILL COST $898.6 MILLION AND WILL CARRY
AN ESTIMATED 23,000 DAILY RIDERS BY 2020.
IN NEW JERSEY:
- THE NEXT LIGHT RAIL IMPROVEMENT IN NEW JERSEY
WILL BE THE EXTENSION OF THE HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT
RAIL LINE TO TONNELLE AVE LATER IN 2005.
- THEN IN 2006, THE NEWARK CITY SUBWAY WILL BE CONNECTED
TO THE NEWARK BROAD STREET STATION ON THE M&E FROM
PENNSYLVANIA STATION VIA A SHORT TUNNEL AND STREET
RUNNING. ALSO ON THE NEWARK CITY SUBWAY, ADDITIONAL
LATE EVENING TRIPS TO GROVE STREET WERE ADDED WITH THE
JANUARY 8, 2005 SCHEDULE AS A RESULT OF A REVISED
SHARED TRACK AGREEMENT
NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
BUS OPERATIONS BEGAN IN 1980 FOLLOWED BY THE TAKEOVER
OF CONRAIL COMMUTER RAIL LINES.
IN MINNEAPOLIS:
- RIDERSHIP ON THE HIAWATHA LINE CONTINUES AT HIGH
LEVELS. THE LINE CONNECTS DOWNTOWN WITH THE
LARGE MALL OF AMERICA AND INCLUDES A DEEPTUNNLE
STATION AT THE AIRPORT
- SUPPORT IS GROWING FOR THE PROPOSED CENTRAL CORRIDOR
LRT BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL VIA UNIVERSITY AVE.
THIS LINE WOULD SHARE 5 HIAWATHA CORRIDOR STOPS
BEFORE BRANCHING OFF TO ST. PAUL.
AND IN CHARLOTTE:
THE CHARLOTTE AREA TRANSI SYSTEM'S SOUTH CORRIDOR
IS A 9.5 MILE LIGHT RAIL LINE EXTENDING FROM THE CITY'S CENTER
CITY TO I-485 IN SOUTH MECKLENBURG. THE CAPITAL COST
IS $426,5 MILLION FOR 18,000 DALY RIDERS. THE INNER END
WLL BE SHARED WITH THE REPLICA TROLLEY OPERATION.
THE ABOVE PROJECTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS
MANY EXPAND AN EXISTING LINE TO BUILD A
LRT NETWORK. THIS IS THE FUTURE GROWTH
AREA FOR LIGHT RAIL. PORTLAND, SAN DIEGO AND
DENVER ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO A
COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK.
LRT PERSONNEL CHANGE
CONGRATULATIONS TO JOE MARIE ON HIS APPOINTMENT
AS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR
VALLEY METRO IN PHOENIX. JOE WAS FORMERLY ASST
GM FOR LIGHT RAIL OPERATIONS AT METRO TRANSIT IN
MINNEAPOLIS. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY WITH PAT IN PGH.
STATE FUNDING IN PENNSYLVANIA
GOV ED RENDELL SHIFTED $68 MILLION IN FEDERAL HIGHWAY
MONEY TO PREVENT THE PLANNED FARE INCREASES AND
SERVICE CUTS. IN PITTSBURGH, DISCONTINUATION OF LRT
ROUTE 52 WAS CANCELLED, THIS BYPASS ROUTE TO THE
MT WASHINGTON TUNNEL OPERATES 5 AM AND 5 PM
PEAK HOUR TRIPS MONDAY TO FRIDAY. FARE INCREASES EFFECTIVE
IN EARLY MARCH HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. FULL PAGE NEWSPAPER
ADVERTISEMENTS HAVE EXPLAINED HOW TO APPLY FOR REFUNDS.
$25.3 MILLION WENT TO PAT IN PITTSBURGH AND $42.7 MILLION
WENT TO SEPTA IN PHILADELPHIA THIS DISTRUBUTION WAS
APPROVED ON MARCH 11, 2005 BY THE SOUTHWSTERN
PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION BY A 47-2 VOTE.
PAT AND OTHER SYSTEMS WILL BE HIT BY A NEW FEDERAL
LAW FOR HIGHER FUEL COSTS SO AS TO BURN ULTRA=LOW
SULPHER DIESEL BY JUNE 2006. THE PRICE WAS ESTIMATED
AT $2.25 PER GALLON COMPARED TO 84 CENTS LAST SUMMER.
WITH TRANSIT SYSTEMS FACED WITH SERVICE CUTBACKS AND
HIGHER FARES, OUR NATION MUST REEVALUATE THESE LAWS.
PAT ANTCIPATES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A 1.5 MILE EXTENSION
UNDER THE ALLEGHENY RIVER TO THE NORTH SIDE TO SERVE
THE TWO NEW STADIUMS. THE PROJECT WILL COST $385 MILLION.
SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY DATE:
TEN YEARS IN TOKYO
IN THE SUBWAY ON MARCH 20, 1995, FIVE AUM SHINRIKO CULT
MEMBERS BURST PLASTIC BAGS FILLED WITH THE POISONOUS
SARRIN NERVE GAS. TWELVE PEOPLE DIED AND 5,000 WERE
LEFT WITH DAMAGED HEALTH. THE AUM GROUP NOW HAS FAR
FEWER MEMBERS BUT IT STILL EXISTS UNDER A NEW NAME
ALEPH. MEMORIAL SERVICES WERE HELD THIS YEAR AT A
TEMPORARY SHRINE ATTENDED BY THE PRIME MINISTER. THE
CULT PROMISED TO PAY MILLIONS TO VICTIMS BUT HAS
COME UP WITH LESS THAN HALF. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
ANTI-TERROR PLANS INCLUDE DETECTION AND CLEANUP
AS WELL AS EVACUATION
A MAJOR PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING IN SEATTLE.
PLANS FOR A NEW ART MUSEUM'S "SCULPTURE PARK" CONFLICT
WITH THE LOCATION OF THE WATERFRONT STREETCAR'S MAINTENANCE
BARN. SUPPORT FOR THE TROLLEY IS GROWING. WITHOUT THE
MAINTENANCE BASE, THE TROLLEY WOULD CEASE OPERATION THIS YEAR. FULL DETAILS NEXT MONTH.
THE POSSIBLE END OF THE HERITAGE TROLLEY IN SEATTLE IS IN
DIRECT CONTRAST WITH MANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIES. NEW
HERITAGE LINES HAVE OPENED IN LITTLE ROCK, MEMPHIS, SAN
PEDRO, TAMPA AND CHARLOTTE. MAJOR TRANSIT SERVICES
IN NEW ORLEANS (CANAL STREET) AND SAN FRANCISCO (MARKET
STREET) ARE OPERATED WITH NEW OR RESTORED VINTAGE
EQUIPMENT. THE WATERFRONT STREETCAR IS AN ASSET TO SEATTLE.
WRITE THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND SOUND TRANSIT IN SUPPORT.
SEATTLE PLANNERS NEED TO SPEND LESS TIME ON A PROPOSED
MONORAIL SYSTEM THAT WILL DUPLICATE THE SOUND TRANSIT LRT
AND MORE TIME ON THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION ASSETS. THE
STREETCAR WAS THE WORK OF A DEDICATED FORMER CITY
COUNCILMAN AND METRO BOARD MEMBER GEORGE BENSON.
HIS LEGACY SHOULD BE PRESERVED SAID PRESENT COUNCILMAN
RICHARD CONLIN.
FEDERAL FUNDING DEVELOPMENTS:
- THE HOUSE FINALLY APPROVED A $284 BILLION HIGHWAY AND
TRANSIT BILL. LONG DELAYED. THE PROPOSAL WOULD
GIVE $52.3 BILLION TO TRANSIT. IT NOW MOVES TO THE
SENATE.
SPEAKING OUT FOR AMTRAK: STATEMENT BY
CONGRESSWOMAN JULIA CARSON OF INDIANA
ON MARCH 3, 2005 BEFORE THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
"AMTRAK HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS CONTINUED
VALUE AS A CRITICAL PUBLIC RESOURCE
UNEQUIVOCALLY WORTHY OF OUR FEDERAL
FUNDS......THE PAST 3 YEARS HAVE BEEN
AMONG THE MOST SUCCESFUL IN AMTRAK'S
34 YEAR HISTORY......AMTRAK HAS SUCCEEDED
IN CUTTING EXPENSES WHILE BRINGING RAIL
RIDERSHIP TO AN UNPRECENTED 25 MILLION
PASSENGERS......OVER AMTRAK'S 34 YEAR
HISTORY CONGRESS HAS SPENT ROUGHLY
$1.9 TRILLION ON AIR LINE AND HIGHWAY
SUBSIDIES, OVER 63 TIMES THE APPROXIMATELY
$29 BILLION IT HAS ALLOCATED TO AMTRAK."
THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S DISTRICT INCLUDES THE
IMPORTANT AMTRAK BEECH GROVE SHOP WHERE
640 EMPLOYEES REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE
15 WRECKED SUPERLINERS AND LOCOMOTIVES, AND
COMPLETED OVERHAULS ON 30 SUPERLINERS,
46 LOCOMOTIVES, 36 BAGGAGE CARS AND 62 PASSENGER
CARS.
OTHER AMTRAK ACTIONS: SEVERAL MAYORS IN
MISSISSIPPI INCLUDING JOHN ROBERT SMITH OF
MERIDIAN SIGNED A LETTER CRITICISING THE PROPOSED
BUDGET AS "MISGUIDED AND DETRIMENTAL". MERIDIAN
IS SERVED BY TWO DAILY AMTRAK TRAINS, ONE SOUTH TO
NEW ORLEANS AND ONE NORTH TO NEW YORK. LETTERS LIKE THIS HIGHLIGHT THAT KEEPING AMTRAK IS
A NATIONAL CONCERN, NOT JUST IN THE NORTHEAST.
SIMILAR LOCAL SUPPORT IS PRESENT IN MONTANA.
IN A MESSAGE TO AMTRAK CO-WORKERS, DAVID GUNN
REPORTED THAT THE AMTRAK BOARD APPROVED A $223 MILLION ADVANCE ORDER PLAN TO PROCURE MATERIALS
AND AWARD CONTRACTS IN ADVANCE TO GO FORWARD
WITH FY O6 PROVETS. DAVE ASKS THAT "ALL EMPLOYEES
KEEP UP THEIR GOOD WORK'. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT FUNDING PROBLEMS AT AMTRAK AND IN LOCAL
TRANSIT RESULT IN POOR EMPLOYEE MORALE AND WASTE
MANAGEMENT EFFORTS TO OPERATE THE SYSTEMS.
HOW TO SUPPORT AMTRAK: CONTINUE CONTACTS
WITH YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
SUPPORT AND FUND NARP AND STATE GROUPS.
WORK WITH YOUR STATE TO EXPAND RAIL SERVICE.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.
VISIT <WWW.NARPRAIL.ORG>
SHOULD RAPID TRANSIT SEATING BE P.C.?
RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE WMATA
CAPACITY BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SEATS AND INCREASING
STANDING ROOM HAVE RESULTED IN APPROVAL OF A FIRST
$260,000 PHASE STUDY. MANY TRANSIT AGENCIES AND
MANUFACTURERS HAVE HISTORICALLY MADE THESE DECSIONS
INTERNALLY .
WHILE ORIGINAL IRT CARS IN NEW YORK OPTED FOR SIDE BENCH
SEATING, THE BMT (ALSO A STREETCAR OPERATOR) HAD A MIX
WITH CROSS SEATING. THE IND CARS FROM THE 1930'S AND 40'
INTRODUCED A BACK TO BACK CROSS SEAT AND A LONG SEAT
NEXT TO THE DOOR. OVER THE YEARS, ALL CROSS SEATS HAVE
BEEN REPLACED WITH LONG SEATS ON NEW CARS.
IN CHICAGO, SEATING HAS BEEN REDUCED WITH SINGLE AND
DOUBLE CROSS SEATS NOW IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
AN ORDER OF 700 NEW CTA CARS WILL HAVE LONG SIDE
BENCH SEATING. ON THE BUS SIDE, CTA IS TESTING SIMILAR
SEATING IN A LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUS. IF ACCEPTD, THE
CTA MAY ORDER REPLACEMENT BUSES WITH THE AISLE FACING SEATS.
IN PARIS, FOLD UP SEATS ARE USED NEAR DOORS FOR USE
IN NON-PEAK HOURS.
LOOKING BACK IN HISTORY, THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY LIKED
THE CONCEPT OF 2 AND 1 CROSS SEATING. THE PITTSBURGH
RAILWAYS #1700 SERIES PCC CARS WENT TO 2 AND 1 SEATING
IN THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR REPLACING THE SIDE BENCH
USED ON PREVIOUS PCC CARS. I ALWAYS LIKED HAVING A BENCH
SEAT ON THE DOOR SIDE AND WE PUT THIS ON MANY NEW LOOK
BUSES IN THE 1970'S. PASSENGERS ACCEPTED THIS AS THEY
WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT FROM PCC CAR DAYS.
PASSENGERS WITH SUITCASES AND SHOPPING BAGS AND
HEAVY WEIGHT PASSENGERS PREFERRED THE BENCH TO THE NARROW
SINGLE SEAT.
OTHER PCC CARS ALSO USED THE 2 AND 1 SEATING...INCLUDING THE
EX SEPTA PCC CARS RUNNING ON MARKET STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO.
BUS OPERATORS DID SO ALSO. EVEN THE SMALL NEW KENSINGTON
CITY LINES WITH A LARGE MILL BUS RIDERSHIP HAD 2 AND 1
SEATING ON OLD LOOK BUSES.
MY POINT IS WHY SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
TO STUDY REINVENTING SEATING. WE HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.
FOR LONGER RIDES, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC WANTS AND DESERVES A
GOOD SEAT. ALSO REMEMBER THAT MANY PASSENGERS RIDE
MIDDAY, EVENINGSOR WEEKENDS AND OUR INDUSTRY SHOULD BE
SEEKING TO INCREASE THIS RIDERSHIP.
PART OF THE OVERCROWDING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE DELAYS
AND GAPS BETWEEN TRAINS RESULTING IN OVERLOADS ON
FOLLOWING TRAINS. MANY BELIEVE THAT WMATA NEEDS TO
IMPROVE OVERALL TRAIN OPERATIONS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE DEVELOPMENT OF P.C.
SEATING
NEWS FROM THE CHICAGO AREA
- UNUSUAL FIRE ON 2400 SERIES EL CARS. A SIX CAR
TRAIN ON THE GREEN LINE HAD A UNIQUE FIRE LEAVING
THE 47TH STREET STATION. THE FIRE WAS IN THE
THIRD CAR. THE MOTORMAN INSTRUCTED PASSENGERS
TO MOVE TO THE REAR CARS AND EXIT THE TRAIN. THEN
HE MOVED THE TRAIN TO THE NEXT STATION AT INDIANA
WERE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT CARS COULD EXIT THE
CARS.
- A PROBLEM FOR THE PROPOSD BROWN LINE REHABILITATION:
THE $530 MILLION PROJECT IS BARELY UNDERWAY AND
CTA HAS ADVISED RESIDENTS THAT 15 STATIONS WILL BE
CLOSED ON AN ALTERNTING BASIS FOR AS LONG AS A
YEAR. ORIGINALLY, CTA HAD STATED THAT ALL STATIONS
WOULD REMAIN OPEN. CTA CHAIRWOMAN CAROLE BROWN
APOLOGIZED FOR SAYING THAT THE STATIONS WOULD
REMAIN OPEN. CLOSING THE STATIONS WOULD SAVE
$29 MILLION AND SPEED UP THE JOB. PASSENGERS ARE NOW
QUESTIONING THE NEED TO GO TO 8 CAR STATIONS IF THE
ADJACENT COMMUNITY DIES IN THE PROCESS. THE BROWN
LINE SERVES ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS.
MANY LOCAL MERCHANTS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR LEASES
BASED ON THE PROMISE OF THE STATIONS STAYING OPEN.
INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT ARE NEW STATIONS AT BELMONT
AND FULLERTON REPLACING THE VERY NARROW PLATFORMS
WITH ADA COMPLIANT 20' WIDE ONES AND ELEVATORS TO
EACH PLATFORM. THESE TWO STATIONS ARE VERY
INADEQUATE TO TODAYS NEEDS AND THE END SECTIONS
ARE PROBABLY UNSAFE AT 2-3' WIDE.
(EDITOR-NEW YORK IS HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE L
CANARSIE LINE WHERE A NEW SIGNAL SYSTEM IS BEING INSTALLED.
FOR YEARS NOW L RIDERS FACED RANDOM SHUT DOWNS INCLUDING
WEEKEND AND EVENING ELIMINATION OF SERVICE BETWEEN
BROADWAY JCT AND 8TH AVE MANHATTAN. I PERSONALLY HAVE
BEEN SO AFFECTED AND QUESTION THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT WANT
AN EXPANSION OF THIS WORK TO OTHER LINES IF IT MEANS
SIMILAR SHUTDOWNS. ONCE AGAIN, ARE WE THROWING THE BABY
OUT WITH THE BATH WATER?)
- THE NEW CHARTER ONE BANK GAVE FREE SINGLE RIDE
CTA FARE CARDS TO VISITORS TO THEIR BANKS ON
FEBRUARY 14, 2005. AN EXCELLENT PROMOTION.
- CTA IS INVESTIGATING EXPRESS SERVICE BETWEEN
A PROPOSED LOOP SUPER STATION AT BLOCK 37 AND OHARE
AIRPORT. RUNNING TIME WOULD BE REDUCED TO ABOUT
30 MINUTES. PREMIUM FARES WOULD BE $10 TO $15.
BYPASS TRACKS WOULD ALLOW AIRPORT TRAINS TO
GO AROUND BLUE LINE TRAINS. A SIMILAR FAST SERVICE
WOULD OPERATE ON THE ORANGE LINE TO MIDWAY AIRPORT.
NEWS FROM THE BOSTON AREA
- ON MARCH 10, 2005, GOV MITT ROMNEW ISSUED A
$31 BILLION TRANSPORTATION TO-DO LIST FOR THE
NEXT 20 YEARS. IN ADDITION TO HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE
PROJECTS, THE PLAN INCLUDED $670 MILLION FOR
RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN BOSTON AND NEW BEDFORD/
FALL RIVER AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRACK
BETWEEN BOSTON AND WORCESTER. THESE LINES
WOULD EXPAND THE CONSIDERABLE MBTA REGIONAL
RAIL NET IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
- FROM LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK: IN 2003, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE SEASHORE TROLLEY MUSEUM,
FORMER NEW ORLEANS CAR NOPSI #966 JOINED
LOWELL REPLICA CARS #1601 AND #4131. #966
IS A TRADITONAL NEW ORLEANS GREEN DOUBLE ENDED CAR.
THE TWO MUSEUMS ARE PLANNING AN EXPANSION AT LOWELL.
- DORCHSTER-MATTAPAN STATION RENNOVATIONS: RED
LINE STATIONS AT ASHMONT, SHAWMUT, FIELDS CORNER
AND SAVIN HILL ARE BEING REBUILT. IN ADDITION, THE
PCC LINE TO MATTAPAN WILL BE REBUILT WITH A NEW STATION
AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE END TERMINAL. IT IS
EXPECTED THAT THE PCC LINE WILL SHUT DOWN SOON DURING
THIS REBUILDING. THE FIELDS CORNER AND ASHMONT
STATIONS FEATURE CONVENIENT TRANSIT TO SUBWAY
CONNECTIONS. FIELDS CORNER ONCE ALSO SERVED
EASTERN MASS STREET CARS FROM QUINCY.
- SILVER LINE PHASE I ALONG WASHINGTON STREET WILL
TEST THE NEW NEW MBTA FARE STRUCTURE WITH THE
CHARLIE CARD AND NEW FARE BOXES.
MBTA EXTENDS ELEVATOR/ESCALATOR REPAIR PACT:
A $3.5 MILLION EXTENSION WITH KONE INC HAS BEEN
EXTENDED 5 MONTHS DESPITE NON-RELATED ESCALATOR
ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN ONE DEATH (A PASSENGER
WAS CHOKED TO DEATH ON A PORTER SQ ESCALATOR)
AND ONE DAY AFTER A WOMAN WAS TRAPPED AND
INJURED ON A HARVARD SQ. ESCALATOR. ALSO ON
FEBRUARY 8, AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR WAS CRUSHED
BY AN ELEVATOR DOOR WHILE THE ELEVATOR WAS RISING.
- SUBSCRIBE TO BSRA "ROLL SIGN" FROM PO BOX 181037
BOSTON, MASS. 02118. CONTRIBUTE TO RESTORATION OF
MBTA TYPE 5 STREETCAR #5706
- ALSO BSRA HAS ISSUED A NEW PUBLICATIONS CATALOGUE.
WRITE BSRA PUBLICATIONS, PO BOS 77, HINGHAM, MA.02043
FARE INCREASES
- IN NEW YORK: INCREASE IN METROCARD DISCOUNT FARES
AND COMMUTER RAIL FARES. BASIC FARE REMAINS AT $2.
- IN SAN FRANCISCO:
THE BOARD THAT OVERSEES PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE
CITY HAS VOTED TO RAISE BUS AND TROLLEY FARES 25
CENTS TO $1.50. CABLE CAR FARES ARE TO INCREASE
$2 TO $5. LOCAL RIDERS MAY USE THEIR MUNI PASSES
WITH THE NEW $5 FARE AIMED AT TOURISTS. THE
PROPOSED INCREASES MUST NOW BE APPROVED BY THE
MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MUNI IS
FACING A $57 MILLION DEFICIT.
- IN NEW JERSEY:
DESPITE A 4.4% (225.5 MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS) INCREASE
IN 2004 OVER 2003, NJT IS FACING A $60 MILLION SHORTFALL.
THEY HAVE BEEN HOLDING REGIONAL PRESENTATIONS
AROUND THE STATE. I ATTENDED THE FEBRUARY
PRESENTATION IN SUMMIT WHICH WAS WELL ATTENDED.
BUT ACCORDING TO THE PAPER, SOME OTHER MEETINGS
WERE LIGHTLY ATTENDED. COMMUTER RAIL RIDERSHIP
IS DOWN ABOUT 2% SINCE 2001. THE GREATEST LOSS WAS
ON THE NORTH JERSEY COAST LINE WHICH WAS DOWN
12%, (EDITOR-THIS LINE WAS HARD HIT BY THE 9/11 TERROR
ACTION AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER). BUS RIDERSHIP IS
DOWN ABOUT 2%. LIGHT RAIL RIDERSHIP HAS INCREASED
58% TO 11.3 MILLION DUE TO EXPANSION OF THE HUDSON
BERGEN LRT AND THE OPENING OF THE RIVER LINE IN
SOUTH JERSEY. TOTAL RIDERSHIP CLIMBED FROM
225.3 MILLION TO 225.5 MILLION.
SYSTRA CONSULTING CELEBRATING 20TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUNCHING OF THE
COMPANY. ORIGINALLY NAMED LS TRANSIT
SYSTEMS AND INCORPORATED ON FEBRUARY
25, 1985.
SYSTRA CONSULTING HAS COMPLETED 20 YEARS OF SERVICE
TO THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY. BASED IN BLOOMFIELD, NJ, SYSTRA
HAS OFFICS IN BOSTON, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA,
CHADDS FORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CALIFORNIA AMONG OTHERS.
SYSTRA IS A FULL SERVICE ENGINEERING, PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURAL FIRM. IT IS PART OF A WORLD WIDE GROUP.
I JOINED THE FIRM IN 1985 AND HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED EVER
SINCE.
COMING EVENTS
- APRIL 2, 2005-WILMINGTON: NARP REGION III
CONFERENCE AT 10 AM AT DART, 400 SOUTH
MADISON STREET. <doug198 at earthlink.net>
- APRIL 2-5, 2005 IN LOS ANGELES:
APTA COMMUTER RAIL CONFERENCE
APRIL 2, 2005: TECHNICAL TOURS
APRIL 3-5, 2005: COMMITTEE AND TECHNICAL
MEETINGS AT WESTIN BONAVENTURE HOTEL
- APRIL 8-10, 2005- TROLLEY MEET AT ORANGE
CITY, FLORIDA. TALK BY BILL VOLKMER
- APRIL 9, 2005 -SPRINGTIME IN NEW JERSEY BUS
TOUR BY METRO NY BUS ASSOCIATION. CONTACT
GARY GRAHL, 1435 THIERIOT AVE-6L,BRONX 10460
- APRIL 9, 2005 -BOSTON: BSRA
- APRIL 9, 2005 AT 11 am: PITTSBURGH
REDEDICATION CEREMONY AT THE HEINZ
HISTORY CENTER, 1212 SMALLMAN STREET,
PITTSBURGH FOR RESTORED HARMONY SHORT
LINE 1947 gmc MODEL 3207 BUS BY THE ANTIQUE
MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION. $10 FOR
RECEPTION AND CEREMONY FROM AMCAP
AT PO BOX, 572, BRIDGEVILLE, PA. 15017.
(EDITOR-I WORKED FOR HARMONY FROM 1951 TO
1961. THEN I WAS MANAGER OF COMMUNITY
TRANSIT THAT OPERATED MANY HARMONY
ROUTES. HARMONY WAS A PIONEER 100% DIESEL
OPERATOR WHEN OTHER PITTSBURGH OPERATORS
HAD LARGE FLEETS OF GASOLINE POWERED
BUSES INCLUDING MANY FROM FITZJOHN AND
BEAVER. HARMONY LIKED THIS 32 PASSENGER
4 CYLINDER VERSION. HARMONY SHORT LINE
WAS OWNED BY DAVID I McCAHILL FROM
PREVIOIS INTERURBANS "PITTSBURGH, MARS
AND BUTLER RY' AND "PITTSBURGH, HARMONY,
BUTLER AND NEW CASTLE RY".
- APRIL 11-14, 2005-ATLANTIC CITY:
NJT TRANSACTIONS
- APRIL 15, 2005-NEW YORK CITY: NY DIV-ERA
- APRIL 22, 2005-CHICAGO: CERA MEETING.
PROGRAM BY WILLIAM VOLK
- MAY 2-8, 2005-IN UNIONTOWN, PA, WORLD WAR II
VETERAN'S REUNION. A MAJOR CELEBRATION.
UNIONTOWN IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF GENERAL
GEORGE MARSHALL AND WAS A MAJOR HUB
ON REGIONAL WEST PENN INTERURBAN. SEVERAL
OF OUR READERS PASSED THRU UNIONTOWN
AFTER WORLD WAR II. ITS TIME TO RETURN.
- MAY 6, 2005-PENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM:
GRAND OPENING OF TROLLEY DISPLAY BUILDING
- MAY 7, 2005-PTM RECOGNITION BANQUET
- MAY 7, 2005-BOSTON BSRA
- MAY 17,2005-RAHWAY, NJ. PESENTATION BY
HAOLD GEISSENHEIMER AT NJERHS
- MAY 21,2005-CONNECTICUT SHORE BUS TOUR
BY METRO NY BUS ASSOCIATION
- MAY 28, 2005-OPENING:ROCKHILL TROLLEY MUSEUM
- MAY 28-30, 2005 PTM FRIENDS & FAMILY DAY
- JUNE 4, 2005-BOSTON BSRA. PREESENTATION BY
HAROLD GEISSENHEIMER ON LOW FLOOR LRV'S
- JUNE 5-8,2005-PITTSBURGH: APTA RAIL MEETING
- JUNE 18,2005-PENN-DEL EXPRESS BUS TOUR
BY METRO NY BUS ASSOCIATION
- JULY 7-9, 2005-TRB RAIL PASSENGER CAUCUS
IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRB RAIL COMMITEES
AT BOSTON SEAPORT HOTEL AND WT CENTER
- JULY 9, 2005-BOSTON BSRA
- AUGUST 20-23, 2005-TORONTO AND ONTARIO
BUS TOUR BY METRO NY BUS ASSOCIATION
- OCTOBER 15, 2005-HELLO MTA BUS TOUR
BY METRO NY BUS ASSOCIATION
- NOVEMBER 5, 2005-PTM FUND RAISING AUCTION
AND DINNER AT WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR
IN PITTSBURGH, PTM TROLLEY LECTURES INSPIRE NOSTALGIA. A FEBRUARY 17 LECTURE IN WEST MIFFLIN
BY MEMBER GEORGE GULA TALKED ABOUT THE ONCE
EXTENSIVE TROLLEY NETWORK IN PITTSBURGH.
A SIMILAR SLIDE SHOW IS PLANNED FOR 7 PM, MARCH
21, 2005 AT WEST VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PTM
HAS AN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM INCLUDING
SCHOOL TOURS.
ALSO IN PITTSBURGH: THE 7TH STREET BRIDGE DOWNTOWN ACROSS THE ALLEGHENY RIVER HAS BEEN
RENAMED THE ANDY WARHOL BRIDGE TO HONOR A
NATIVE SON. THE WARHOL MUSEUM IS LOCATED JUST
OVER THE BRIDGE IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. WORTH A VISIT THIS YEAR ON THE MUSEUM.S TENTH ANNIVERSARY.
SEE THE COLUMBIA RIVER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
THE RIVERBOAT COLUMBIA QUEEN RETURNS FOR 2005.
8 NIGHT CRUISE FROM PORTLAND. <greatamericariver
journeys.com/5x5>
VISIT TO "THE GATES" DISPLAY IN NEW YORK'S CENTRAL
PARK. ON OPENING DAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2005 AND
ON CLOSING DAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2005, I JOINED FRIENDS
FOR A WALK THRU THE PARK TO SEE THIS DISPLAY.
MORE THAN 3 MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO SEE THIS UNIQUE
DISPLAY OF ORANGE CLOTH AND STEEL. WHAT I FOUND
WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT THE PARK
AND THE DISPLAY AND ENJOY EACH OTHER. MOST CAME
BY SUBWAY AND TRAIN. THIS WAS AN URBAN POPULATION
WITH MANY INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ENJOYING THE
WORLD'S GREATEST CITY. THERE WERE NO AUTOS IN
THE PARK AND FEW OUTSIDE. NO PARKING LOT
SHUTTLES AND NO TRAFFIC JAMS.
IN COLORADO, ARTIST CHRISTO IS EXPECTED TO
REVISIT AN "OVER THE RIVER" PROJECT TO COVER
THE ARKANSAS RIVER.
EMAIL HISTORIC PHOTOS RECEIVED
EACH MONTH i RECEIVE MANY INTERESTING HISTORIC PHOTOS BY
EMAIL. THIS MONTH INCLUDED;
- FROM PITTSBURGH-REBUILT PCC #1976 - ONE OF TWO
WITH LRT FRONTS.
- FROM PHILADELPHIA-REBUILT PCC CARS FOR GIRARD AVE
- FROM NYCT, BRONX, NY- MOD TRAIN OF MANY COLORS
ON #5 LINE TO DYRE AVE, FORMER NYW&B
R/W. EXCELLENT CONSTRUCTION DECADES OLD.
CONTINUED TRAGEDY ON THE HIGHWAY
THE HIGH TOLL OF HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS PRESENT
A MAJOR CONCERN. THIS WAS CARRIED FORTH IN A
FEATURE STORY IN THE NEWARK STAR LEDGER ABOUT
THE FATE OF THE 1999 DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL'S WRESTLING TEAM. OF THEIR 16 MEMBERS,
4 HAVE PASSED AWAY, 3 IN AUTO ACCIDENTS. SUCH A
WASTE OF HUMAN LIFE AND OPPORTUNITY. THE
AUTOMOBILLE IS NOT ALWAYS A BLESSING.
AND ON THE RAILROADS:
ON MARCH 9, 2005 A UP FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILED IN A COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY. WHILE NO INJURIES WERE
REPORTED, ABOUT 150 TO 200 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM
A STRIP MALL. THE ACCIDENT DELAYED MEROLINK COMMUTER
SERVICE WITH BUSES RUNNING BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND RIVERSIDE.
TWENTYONE OF 48 CARS WERE DERAILED INCLUDING AT LEAST
ONE TANK CAR CONTAINING PROPYLENE GLYCOL. UP REPLACED
1,600 FEET OF DAMAGED TRACK AND WAS WORKING TO REIMBURSE
BUSINESSES FOR ANY LOSSES. ONE WONDERS IF THIS PROBLEM
IS GROWING AND IF FREIGHT RAILROADS ARE SAFE. MUCH CONCERN
ABOUT LRT SAFETY ON THE PASADENA GOLD LINE THANKS TO
NIMBY OPPOSITION WHICH IS VERY OVER BLOWN.
FOR THE RECORD:
BAD NEWS ON CRIME RATE. THE DALLAS CRIME RATE WAS THE
HIGHEST AMONG NINE US CITIES WITH MORE THAN A MILLION
RESIDENTS FOR THE 7TH CONSECTUTIVE YEAR. THE DALLAS
MURDER RATE CREPT UP TO #2 WITH 20 MURDERS PER 100,000
POPULATION BEHIND ONLY PHILADELPHIA WITH 22 MURDERS.
THE OTHER CITIES IN THE ANALYSIS WERE PHOENIX, SAN ANTONIO,
HOUSTON, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA, LOS ANGELES, SAN DIEGO
AND NEW YORK CITY. ENDLESS DEBATES IN CONGRESS NEVER
ADDRESS THESE REAL PROBLEMS AND THE ADMINISTRATION
IS STILL CUTTING EXPENDITURES IN CITIES.
IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE HOUSE HAS VOTED TO KILL A CITY
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE
SENATE HAS VOTED TO KEEP THE $2.07 BILLION PROGRAM.
THIS BECOMES ANOTHER ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED IN THE FINAL
BUDGET. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE USED TO
FUND JOB AND HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH AFFECT THE CRIME RATE.
OUR NATION IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DEVIDED. ARE WE TO
BECOME A RURAL NATION OR BUILD ON OUR URBAN SOCIETY?
IN SPAIN:
RESIDENTS OF MADRID MARKED THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY
OF THE MARCH 11, 2004 BOMBING OF FOUR COMMUTER
TRAINS. THERE WAS A FIVE MINUTE SILENCE BEFORE
OPENING OF THE NEW PARK OF THE ABSENT WHERE TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED FOR THE VICTIMS.
MADRID ALSO HOSTED AN ANTI-TERROR SUMMIT AND
ISSUED A PAPER ENTITLED MADRID AGENDA. COMMUTER
RAIL DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO AIRPORT SECURITY SO A MAJOR REQUIREMENT IS FOR CONTINUED OBSERVATION
BY CREWS AND PASSENGERS OF UNUSUAL INCIDENTS
AND PACKAGES IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY POLICING
TO MONITOR TERRORISTS.
ON THE WEB
INTERESTING RAIL EQUIPMENT WEBSITE:
RAILQUIP.INC HAS AN INTERESTING WEBSITE AT <www
railquip.com> FEATURING RAIL CAR MOVERS, LIFTS AND
RERAILING EQUIPMENT. MANY INTERESTING APPLICATIONS
FOR LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT.
FROM NEW ORLEANS:
WEEKLY NEWS LETTER ABOUT THE CANAL STREET LINE AT
<canalstreetcar.com>
WANT TO RECEIVE TRANSNET? SEND ME AN EMAIL
HAROLD GEISSENHEIMER
1-973 292 2916
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