Protecting the people aboard public transit

News reports show that the American Public Transportation Association is advocating for better security protection aboard public transit to counter terrorism. Such advocacy follows a failed attempt by two terrorists of blowing up a passenger train in Toronto. It’s worth noting that The Transit Coalition works to develop a safe, integrated, cost effective and environmentally sound public transportation system for Southern California region. That would include ensuring protective measures are in place to keep our trains and buses as safe as possible while maintaining business-friendly policies for marketplace transit lines. As officials debate for solutions, the federal government must not forget about one major source of the problem. 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where a group of religious extremists believe they have a right to kill innocent people in order to serve their religion. Combating terrorism is going to require both protective measures from the state and federal level combined with religious leaders confronting extremists of their so-called religous duty to mass-murder innocent people. Until this happens, officials need to continue their debates for solutions. One form of intelligence-driven protection that works is bomb sniffing dogs which randomly check for suspicious items aboard vehicles and transit stations. Let’s not forget that we the transit rider must also continue to be on the lookout for any suspicious activities.

Controlling Cajon Pass traffic during inclement weather

(4/15/13) – IE Transit Talking Points Short

The Transit Coalition is aware the micro-climate in the Cajon Pass area can become unstable at times. For instance, the skies could be clear in Victorville and it could be calmly drizzling in San Bernardino...Yet, the Cajon Pass which separates the regions could be very windy, wet and foggy. Commuters and regular travellers are also well aware that the Cajon Pass separates the inland chaparrals from the desert.

Since the weather through the Cajon Pass can become unpredictable, it would be wise for Caltrans and San Bernardino County to adopt measures to control the speed limit based on the current conditions. During normal conditions, the speed limit would be 65-70 mph, but if a layer of pea soup fog blankets the Cajon Pass, digital signs leading up to the affected area would warn drivers ahead of time to slow to a safe speed depending on the thickness of the fog. A sign such as “DENSE FOG AHEAD – 35 MPH ZONE 2 MILES” would be useful. Safety is paramount along steep-grade roadways, especially where the weather can be unstable.

Transparency of the NCTD Sprinter train interruption

(4/3/13) – IE Transit Talking Points Short

The North County Transit District has been working hard to provide continuous coverage of the transit district’s progress of the Sprinter train interruption. As mentioned, NCTD suspended all Sprinter light rail service between Escondido and Oceanside due to maintenance issues with one of three sets of braking systems on the train.

North County Transit District Chief of Safety Tom Tulley was tasked to lead the effort for the Sprinter Recovery Task Force which includes posting blog posts on updates and publishing answers to common questions which were backed up with facts. NCTD can be credited in keeping the public well informed with fact-based plans and solutions to get the trains rolling again.

However, this level of transparency was certainly not the case when the brake issue was first discovered just one year after the Sprinter opened. The San Diego Union Tribunereported that a Sprinter subcontractor and a NCTD engineer initially knew about the problem, but failed to pass the information to NCTD staff. The engineer later resigned.

Meanwhile, The Transit Coalition has been following NCTD’s Sprinter-ruption blog and praises Tulley’s efforts in keeping the public informed with reader-friendly blog posts. NCTD has a rather surprising fact and lesson for the state and the federal government: Nearly all U.S. manufacturers of diesel multiple unit trains have gone out of business. With demands for mass transit on the rise in the country, shouldn’t the state and feds explore incentives to get train manufacturing back into the United States?

Friday Transportation Tips: Keeping your bus secure

The Riverside Transit Agency has published some tips to safeguard your safety and security while riding the bus. There’s several ways you can help. First, familiarize yourself with the following signs of suspicious activity and report passengers who:

• Are acting in a disorderly manner.
• Are harassing or disturbing others.
• Leave a package and quickly leave the area.
• Are carrying a weapon for the purpose of committing a crime.
• Nervously pacing the bus or transit station.
• Wear clothing that is extremely inappropriate for the weather, such as a heavy coat on a hot day.

Secondly, learn how to determine suspicious packages from lost-and-found items. Look for the following characteristics of unattended packages and report suspicious items which:

• Are placed in an out-of-the-way location.
• Have attached batteries, electronics, wires, or any other signs which may suspect explosives.
• Have an attached message.
• Discharge suspicious cloud, mists, gases, vapors, odors or fluids.
• Cause nearby individuals showing signs of illness or distress.

Remember, in an emergency always follow the instructions of your bus driver, the police and/or fire officials.

Express buses or light rail for North San Diego County?

(3/18/13) – IE Transit Talking Points Short

 

Down south, with the Sprinter train service suspended, early reports are showing that NCTD’s replacement bus service is costing NCTD far less money and transporting some passengers faster than the rail line did. So, should the Sprinter be permanently replaced by a fleet of express buses? Not quite. The reports are certainly questionable. 

For instance, the Sprinter would easily outrun the Route 620 express buses during peak congestion along the 78 Freeway. Ridership impacts have not been factored; has transit ridership decreased along the corridor since NCTD suspended the Sprinter? Also, Route 620 bypasses several intermediate Sprinter stops which are connected by local bus routes, thus giving the bus route a fast turnaround. However to be fair, given its fast travel time during off-peak times between Vista and Oceanside, Route 620 could serve as a productive permanent express line between Oceanside, Vista and Escondido in the future while the Sprinter provides the local rail service. Transit officials have some work to do to improve mobility for the Oceanside-to-Escondido transportation corridor.

Friday Transportation Tips: Staying safe around the rails

Our public transit agencies work hard to ensure public safety around railroad tracks. Be a good patriot by following the tips below and be sure to teach them to your children:

• Lives come first over trip times. Never attempt to go around or under whenever the crossing lift-gates are down. Don't put lives at risk by ignoring the train signals or cutting around the lowered lift-gates in the name of saving a couple of minutes.
• Always wait for the lift-gates to rise before proceeding, even if the train has passed through; there may be second train coming.
• Cross the railroad tracks at designated crossings only; don’t be the one caught trespassing or hopping the fence.
• If you’re walking or riding a bicycle, look both ways before crossing over.
• Public transit vehicles must completely stop and look both ways before crossing the tracks. If you see a transit or school bus driver failing to do this, report it.
• Trains normally don’t blow their horns through “quiet zones”. Take that into consideration whenever you see a railroad crossing signal activated.
• Never walk along the tracks or trespass into the rail right-of-way. Most trains extend at least three feet beyond each side of the tracks.

The Sprinter Train Interruption and Safety

The North County Transit District suspended all Sprinter rail service March 9th until further notice due to discovered safety issues involving the rail line’s braking systems. NCTD reported that light rail vehicles are equipped with a multi-redundant braking system; therefore at no time were rail patrons at risk. However, the discovery of the faulty system has prompted NCTD to rightly shut down the rail line until the brakes are replaced and approved by regulators.

NCTD discovered during brake testing premature wear on one of three braking systems that total eight of the 24 brakes on each Sprinter car. Specifically, rotors inside the central brakes were exhibiting unexpected accelerated wear patterns. During the brake tests, NCTD found that the rail line’s brake system also meets all manufacturer and California Public Utilities Commission brake performance standards.

As NCTD works to replace the braking system, bus service will be offered as a replacement until further notice. Stations will also be staffed with ambassadors and NCTD volunteers to help affected patrons. While it is unfortunate that NCTD’s light rail system ran into an unforeseen safety glitch, this event clearly shows why mandatory safety testing and frequent in-house inspections are imperative for transit fleets. Checking for faults will allow operators to fix problems before they can become catastrophic. Suspending the rail line’s operations and offering alternative bus service in the name of safety is a small sacrifice we must accept to protect life. NCTD will be working with suppliers and regulators to expedite the replacement parts in order to get the trains up and running. Stay tuned for more information.

Safe and Reliable Marketplace Bus Lines

Law-abiding bus companies should not be paying the price for the foolish actions of Scapadas Magicas LLC.


A runaway bus overturned on Sunday, February 3, while descending Highway 38 near Redlands, claiming the lives of eight and injuring several others. Because of this collision, preventative measures will likely be discussed by public officials at the state and federal level. Regulating private sector bus operators has long been a challenge. How does one ensure that privately operated buses on the highways are safe and reliable while maintaining a robust economic transportation alternative offered by the marketplace? With a fatal bus accident at hand, the situation is serious.

The long term solution of balancing bus safety regulations and sustaining a profitable bus market economy is subject to debate. Both the state and the federal government must ensure that law-abiding bus companies with safe and well-maintained fleets don't end up paying the price for those who foolishly fail to maintain their buses or fail to properly screen their drivers for necessary qualifications. Those that violate safety regulations and create hazards which cause traffic collisions are the ones that should be footing the bill. The feds have started to take action.

The federal government on Friday, February 8, shut down Scapadas Magicas LLC, the operator of the bus involved in the fatal collision after federal inspectors found serious mechanical safety violations aboard two other buses. Without exception, any passenger bus that does not pass critical safety inspections should be pulled from operations immediately. However, simply shutting down illicit bus businesses is insufficient. Both Scapada Magicas' owner and the designated manager responsible for maintaining its bus fleet must be held accountable. The feds and states should punish bus companies who ignore safety protocol while refraining from placing unnecessary regulatory burdens on law-abiding bus operators. Ill-advised proposals such as outlawing all buses on mountain highways won't prevent the unsafe ones from entering the roads. Robust debate for a long term solution to get all of our buses on the road up to code while keeping marketplace transit service competitive needs to continue.