SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Transit/Transportation News

[fflint]

Bay Area Transit Blog, SFGate

Bicycling Magazine Ranks San Francisco 6th Best Cycling City Nationally
by Matthew Roth on April 6, 2010


Streetsblog Editor Bryan Goebel, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, and SFBC's Leah Shahum riding downtown on Bike to Work Day. Photo dustinj

San Francisco today was named the sixth best city in the nation for cycling by editors of Bicycling Magazine, the best ranking of any city in California. Bicycling editors chose San Francisco in part because of the huge growth in cycling over the past two years and despite the injunction that has prevented the city from substantially improving its bicycle infrastructure.
"San Francisco has one of the most vibrant bike cultures in the nation and in spite of the injunction ridership is way up," said Bicycling Editor-in-Chief Loren Mooney.

Mooney said she has been following the progress of the injunction and has been excited by the recent improvements to the city's streets, such as the protected bicycle lane on Market Street. According to Mooney, San Francisco ranked as high as it did because of the city's bicycle culture and community and because of the hard work of the bicycle advocates in the face of adversity.

Two years ago, when Bicycling did its last ranking, the magazine segregated cities by size; San Francisco received an Honorable Mention behind Portland, Denver, and Seattle in the category of cities sized 500,000 to 1,000,000,

"Not only is San Francisco strong now, it will be great to see where they are in two years on our next list," said Mooney.

Mayor Gavin Newsom's spokesperson Brian Purchia said they were pleased to be the highest rated city in Calfornia. "With street improvements under way and working closely with the cycling community, our ranking is sure to rise."


San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Leah Shahum was thrilled with the news. "Despite some unexpected roadblocks in the past few years, we are still experiencing unprecedented growth in the numbers of people choosing bicycling for transportation," said Shahum. "Today 53 percent more people are riding compared to just three years ago."

Added Shahum, "One of the things I'm most proud of in San Francisco is that bicyclists are still on the cutting edge of re-imagining and pushing the envelope on how our city's public space is valued. It's not a coincidence that greater support for bicycling is connected to this larger, broader movement for more livable streets."

Bicycling editors based the rankings in cities with populations of at least 100,000 and used factors such as cycling-friendly statistics (numbers of bike lanes and routes, bike racks, city projects completed and planned) and changes in these statistics and a city’s future plans since the last survey. They also gave credence to a city's bike culture, such as the number of bike commuters, cycling clubs, cycling events, and renowned bike shops. Editors also referenced the Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report prepared by the Alliance for Biking and Walking, the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America project, and interviews with national and local advocates, bike shops, and other experts.

[M II A II R II K]

Transit boom in the works


April 7, 2010



Read More: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Transit-boom-in-the-works-90066007.html

The redeveloped Bayview and Hunters Point neighborhoods will feature $229 million in transportation improvements, including elevated rapid-bus lines, extensions to existing Muni service, new bike paths and improved pedestrian walkways.Under the long-term transit proposal — a joint effort between the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development — existing local bus lines like the 23-Monterey, the 54-Felton and the 24-Divisadero would be extended to better serve the Candlestick Point and Hunters Point neighborhoods.

The bus lines would also be realigned to connect more efficiently with BART and Caltrain, said SFMTA Deputy Planning Director Peter Albert, who presented the plan at the agency’s Board of Directors meeting Tuesday.

The southeastern neighborhood would also benefit from a new bus rapid transit line — a dedicated lane for swift-moving transit vehicles — set to carry passengers from Candlestick Point to the Bayshore Caltrain and Balboa Park BART stations. The BRT line will run over a bridge proposed to be built on top of Yosemite Slough, a delicate environmental site in the area.

Two new downtown buses, slated for service between the Financial District and Hunters Point, are also among the transit plans. The Hunters Point Transportation Plan includes biking and walking improvements in the neighborhood, which has long lacked the proper infrastructure planning found in other areas of The City, Albert said.

[BTinSF]

Muni Charter Measure Supporters Take to the Streets to Collect Signatures
by Michael Rhodes on April 8, 2010

People catching Muni near West Portal station this morning were greeted by an unusual sight: Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, SPUR Executive Director Gabriel Metcalf, and a team of volunteers were out canvassing the avenue to gather signatures for a ballot measure that would change the way the city sets Muni operator salaries.

Elsbernd, who first introduced the measure late last year only to see it receive an icy reception in a Board of Supervisors committee, said getting it on the ballot through a signature campaign was a daunting task, but so far people are receptive.

"If they give you that two seconds to talk to you about it, they'll sign it," he said. "It's just whether or not they'll give you that two seconds."

After twenty minutes of standing out on West Portal Avenue, Elsbernd said he'd collected about 15 signatures. To get on the November ballot, 70,000 of San Francisco's half-a-million registered voters must sign a petition in support of putting the measure on the ballot . . . .

The measure would remove language from the City Charter that currently sets Muni operator salaries and benefits at the average of the two highest-paying large transit agencies in the country, instead of through a collective bargaining process. The measure's supporters argue that the charter provision has been too costly for Muni and has given management less flexibility to negotiate better work rules . . . .

The operators union has . . . strongly opposed the measure, though union representatives couldn't be reached for comment today. In the past, Transport Workers Union Local 250-A President Irwin Lum has defended the current Charter provision, which he said has ensured decades of labor peace.

SPUR's Metcalf, however, called the measure a "small but practical" way to improve Muni by ultimately reducing costs and giving the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which runs Muni, more leverage to negotiate operator work rules that he hopes will reduce absenteeism and make Muni more efficient . . . .

Source: http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/04/08/mun...ke-to-the-streets-to-collect-signatures/

[Busy Bee]

Found this .pdf on a docstoc.com. Not sure of the source or if it was published in some sort of trade mag, but thought I'd post it since it shows a rendering of an EMU. Of course it could be just for illustrative purposes, but if this did come from Caltrain it wonder if they are considering off the shelf EMU's like one from Alstom:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=15459016


I also found this in my saved images file. I have no idea where it came from:

[202_Cyclist]

VTA looks at design-build BART approach


San Jose Business Journal
David Goll
5/06/2010

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/05/03/daily103.html


The first phase of the BART extension from the south end of Fremont to north San Jose could happen eight months sooner and $85 million cheaper using a design-build approach, according to VTA General Manager Michael Burns.

The transit agency's directors will discuss pursuing a design-build format for the $2.5 billion, 10-mile extension at their meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Santa Clara County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose.

The 10-mile line would have stations located in Milpitas and the Berryessa district of San Jose.

Because of financial constraints, VTA must build the $6 billion, 16-mile extension from the future Warm Springs BART station in Fremont to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara in two phases. The Bay Area Rapid Transit District is currently building the 5.2-mile extension from the existing Fremont BART station to Warm Springs.

"We would move from the design-bid-build approach to design-build," Burns said after a speech on the BART extension he gave to a lunch-time gathering Thursday of the Silicon Valley chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association International at the Holiday Inn on First Street in San Jose. "We would lose some control on the project, but share more of the risk with a (general contractor)."

Burns said the project could go out to bid after only 65 percent of the design work is done, instead of 100 percent, making the project proceed more quickly at a lower cost.

About 65 percent of the design work has already been completed, according to Brandi Childress, VTA spokeswoman.

However, Burns told the gathering of more than 100 industry leaders that VTA must wait until early next year to find out if it will receive $900 million in federal funds to help pay for the first phase. Most of the project will be funded through state and local money already in place.

VTA officials also hope to hear as early as next month if their study of environmental impacts of the 10-mile extension will receive approval from the Federal Transit Administration, Childress said.

[Busy Bee]

Just read that the website of industrial design firm Antenna, chief designers of NY's R-142 and 143 subway cars, is working with BART on the next generation BART car. No further details were revealed, but this could only be a positive.

The image that was thrown around the media in 2009 and featured on Wikipedia is more than likely a generic conceptual image developed around the time the original RFP's went out and way before the procurement process is set to complete:


wiki

[OhioGuy]

First tracks for SMART being laid

Work being done by Caltrans as part of Highway 101 widening
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 4:03 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 4:03 a.m.

The first tracks of a railroad line that someday will carry commuters in Sonoma and Marin counties are being laid near San Rafael.

Ironically, the work on the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit line is being done by Caltrans as part of its Highway 101 widening project.

"When we built new lanes, we had to move everything over, including the railroad tracks," said Robert Haus, a Caltrans spokesman. "Part of the deal was that we had to build new tracks to replace the ones that we took."

The new track stretches 3,500 feet on the west side of Highway 101 from the Puerto Suello tunnel south to Paloma Avenue.

The former Northwestern Pacific Railroad line is part of the 70-mile line SMART is planning to run trains on by 2014, although the timing of the opening may be jeopardized by a $155 million funding gap.

"It's a big deal in that there is rail construction going on on the SMART line," said SMART spokesman Chris Coursey. "It is not making it any less expensive for us; we always assumed it would be done."

The railroad tracks had to be moved west to accommodate the new freeway lane that was part of the $56 million project to widen Highway 101 through central San Rafael.

The highway widening eliminated a bottleneck for southbound freeway traffic at the Lincoln Avenue exit, where four through lanes merged to three.

The railroad work costs $3 million, with the largest expense, $2.6 million, to widen the overpass over Linden Avenue to accommodate the train tracks.

The work also includes a bicycle-pedestrian path that will be part of one that is planned along the length of the SMART rail line from Cloverdale to Larkspur.

The San Rafael path is almost completed and will be opened within the next few weeks, filling a gap in a trail system in Marin County, Haus said.

The track work should be done in September, Haus said.

[rail car designer]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Got an email update from SMART the other day. I'll post the whole thing below, but the key points are:

• NCRA has rehabbed the line from Novato to Napa county for freight service.
• Rail rehab for SMART (in addition to what has already been done for NCRA), including 3 bridges, hasn't started but they are getting teams in place to do so.
• Real estate needs to be secured for some stations and the maintenance yard.
• Vehicles will be put out to bid by the end of next year.
• Station design firm will be selected by the end of this year.

rumors are these vehicles will be FRA compliant DMUs coming from Sumitomo Corp of America (Nippon Sharyo). So think Metra or Virginia for cars.

Originally Posted by northbay

i wanted to go to this, but having a newborn makes it difficult for me to find time for this stuff (why i dont post much anymore), so i just emailed them my opinions. which are: basically screw the wine bar and make as much room for passengers and bikes.

the last thing we need are tourists throwing up in the trains bathrooms

AND those wine bars add over $100k per married pair.

[northbay]

SMART's video that accompanys its TIGER II grant application:

• Video Link

[OhioGuy]

Japanese firm makes low bid of $82.7 million for SMART trains

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 1:06 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 1:06 p.m.


A Japanese train manufacturer is by far the lowest bidder to provide trains for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system.

Sumitomo Corp. of America, which builds cars in partnership with Nippon Sharyo Inc., submitted a proposal of $82.7 million to provide nine three-car trains.

The second-lowest proposal was submitted by Germany-based Siemens, which has a plant in Sacramento, at $104.2 million.

SMART had estimated that it would spend $80 million to $90 million for nine two-car trains, with a third middle car added later.

That could mean that SMART's initial order could be a third less than the price proposal by Sumitomo, which would be good news for the cash-strapped transit system.

SMART is facing a short-fall in tax revenue because of the recession, which hurts its ability to issue bonds to build the line.

[rail car designer]

Stadler and CAF were alternative (euro) compliant bids.

US Railcar was an FRA compliant bid.

Siemens had an alternative (euro) compliant bid based on the Desiro and an FRA compliant bid which was a new vehicle.

The Sumitomo bid is likely FRA compliant, all of their preliminary presentations highlighted benefits of FRA compliance.

[northbay]

^ im pretty sure an fra-compliant vehicle was a requirement in the bid for proposals. either way they made it clear they were looking for fra-compliant trains so that freight trains could still use the line (assuming they ever start up again).

i saw the list briefly at an economic symposium last month where smart had a booth but there were 7 or so companies with proposals. some were for like 120 million! sumitomo was the cheapest by far.

[electricron]

The Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo bid was $20 Million cheaper than all other bids, $40 Million cheaper than most, and almost $80 Million cheaper than the most expensive bid. Their bid was just $82+ Million.
They have made FRA compliant railcars in the past, and are doing so today. But this will be their first attempt at a DMU design in America.
Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)
NICTD Southshore Line

ttp://www.n-sharyo.co.jp/business/tetsudo/images/znictd-emu2000.jpg
NICTD Southshore Line

http://www.n-sharyo.co.jp/business/tetsudo/images/znictd.jpg

Railcars (Trailers)
MARC

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/photos/08/06/15/76325_large.jpg
CalTrans

http://www.n-sharyo.co.jp/business/tetsudo/images/zpcjpb.jpg

In the past, their North American EMU and trailer designs share common vehicles. I wonder if their low bid proposals was based upon these past designs, or on a brand new one. I seen this photo suggested as their DMU design entered, but I find it hard to believe they can build 9 powered pairs in a new design so cheaply.

Sumitomo Corp. of America/Nippon Sharyo Inc.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcsi....20&Ref=AR&Profile=1350&MaxW=600&border=0

I'm thinking they could be just adding a diesel generator to one of thier existing EMUs.

[northbay]

^ they probably will be going off existing hardware for sure

i'm pretty sure smart stipulated that there be some kind of 'aerodynamic nose' - it was one of the most popular issues amongst the public

but i'll take anything that works well

[rail car designer]

SMART required a lot of things in their RFP, and then ultimately chose based on price and not specification compliance. Vehicles built to the specification would have a pricetag in the $150+ million range. All bidders took risks on just how non compliant they wanted to go.

It is believed that Sumitomo / Nippon Sharyo won the project by taking little to no profit. Kudos to them for taking such a stance... When one bidder does such a thing, it essentially ends the evaluation and negotations phase as now that the numbers are public, they would be well within their rights to raise the price if a final offer was requested.

SMART was willing to evaluate equivalent compliant designs as they are by nature cheaper and more efficient. They asked that bidders submit any cost savings ideas and how much these would save.

[rail car designer]

Originally Posted by northbay

^ they probably will be going off existing hardware for sure

i'm pretty sure smart stipulated that there be some kind of 'aerodynamic nose' - it was one of the most popular issues amongst the public

but i'll take anything that works well

and no, an "aero" nose wasn't really required. at their price, expect something that looks similar to an existing Sumitomo / Nippon Sharyo car.

[northbay]

Originally Posted by rail car designer

SMART required a lot of things in their RFP, and then ultimately chose based on price and not specification compliance. Vehicles built to the specification would have a pricetag in the $150+ million range. All bidders took risks on just how non compliant they wanted to go.

it's clear they did that by choosing the cheapest bid. each company may have had different proposals with regards to how many of the specifications they met from the rfp, but specifically submitting a non-fra compliant train would've had zero chance of being accepted (which was what i originally meant).

Originally Posted by rail car designer

and no, an "aero" nose wasn't really required. at their price, expect something that looks similar to an existing Sumitomo / Nippon Sharyo car.

not surprising, but it's stupid on smart's part. this wont help with public relations (which smart has been handling poorly, even though i am a big fan of chris coursey.)

i like how on the smart website they picture a colorado railcar with some light rail train 'front' photoshopped on. not to mention that they've been showing video of the 'sprinter' in san diego which i believe (off the top of my head) uses seimens desiro dmus (non-fra compliant). both these trainsets look way better then those emus electricron posted.

but like i said, if it works (well), i'll take it. i hope the public is as forgiving...

[rail car designer]

I was incorrect on the front end topic. The actual passage from the spec is worded as "The nominal A- and B-car designs shall feature one aerodynamic full-width cab on each vehicle. Non-cab ends shall be blunt and allow passengers to transitions to an adjacent non-cab end."

hopefully it looks cool as I can see myself riding this in the future

[northbay]

Originally Posted by rail car designer

hopefully it looks cool as I can see myself riding this in the future

i agree!.. though with japanese trains it seems they either look really cool or really lame (i can say that because i'm japanese )

[northbay]

SMART finalizing negotiations with Sumitomo for new rail car


SUMITOMO CORP. OF AMERICA/ NIPPON SHARYO INC.
An artist's concept of a rail car to be built by the Sumitomo-Nippon Sharyo company was submitted to SMART directors in 2009.

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 6:27 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 6:27 p.m.

( page 1 of 2 )

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency is wrapping up negotiations with Sumitomo Corp. of America for a rail car that will be the face of the 70-mile commute train system, with a final decision to be made next month.

“Negotiations are nearly complete. We expect to make a recommendation as early as Oct. 25,” John Lackey, SMART capital projects manager, told the SMART operations committee Wednesday.

SMART is planning to send some board members and staff to Japan, where Sumitomo runs a very similar train between Nagoya and Takayama. The trip will take place before the board makes a final decision Nov. 10.

“We are sensitive to spending money on a trip like this when we are looking at a deficit,” SMART spokesman Chris Coursey said. “This is $60 million for what will be the signature piece of equipment for the system. We want to know what we are getting.”

Sumitomo was by far the lowest bidder, proposing to build nine three-car trains for $82.7 million, which was $22 million under the next-lowest bid.

Initially, SMART would only need to buy nine two-car trains, which would put the price at about $60 million.

The Sumitomo vehicle is a heavy rail vehicle that meets federal requirements for crash worthiness, Lackey said.

It would also be assembled in the United States with enough American parts to meet Buy America requirements, Lackey said.

Besides the car that is in service in Japan, Sumitomo also builds an electric-powered car for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which runs from South Bend to Chicago at speeds of 80 mph.

Engineers have indicated it too is a basis for the car that was proposed for SMART....

source: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/201...tle=SMART-finalizing-deal-on-rail-cars-#