via YPTransportation

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Objective

This position is responsible for assisting the Assistant Director, Environmental & Long Range Planning in the management and coordination of Metro-North Railroad (MNR) efforts in the identification and resolution of all planning, design and implementation issues related to MTA/LIRR East Side Access (ESA).  Ensure protection of MNR interests as ESA design/construction progresses.

Responsibilities
Coordinate, communicate, and disseminate all ESA related issues within MNR with other MNR departments in resolving operational, environmental and institutional issues related to ESA.

Coordinate MNR’s involvement in the multi-agency (MNR, LIRR and MTACC) Rail Activation Plan.  Provide support to MNR, MTACC and LIRR and attend Rail Activation Plan Task Working Group Meetings.  Work with Metro-North representatives (various departments) to the Rail Activation Plan to ensure that MNR interests are protected.  Identify issues from Rail Activation Plan meetings and work with teams to either resolve or bring issues to the attention of senior management.  Assist in the preparation of the remainder of the Rail Activation Plan document. Provide assistance in developing Memorandum of Agreements, assessment and negotiation of cost sharing data with MTACC/ESA.

• Provide technical review, recommendations and analyses on Operation impact related to pedestrian flow, customer service, etc.  in Grand Central Terminal (GCT)
• Act as liaison when needed, at ESA meetings and other external meetings related to ESA.  Prepare and deliver presentations as needed.
• Draft status reports to Senior Management related to ESA
• Develop and coordinate  annual internal control reviews
• Provide support for the Long Range Planning Department as designated PeopleSoft Representative

Required Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Planning Strategic or Regional/Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Public Policy/Administration and/ or related field and a minimum of five (5) years experience in planning, design review and/or technical management of projects, preferably in a transportation operation.

Qualified applicants can submit an online application by clicking here. Applications due by April 16.

About Metro-North Railroad

Playing a vital role in the economy of New York State and Connecticut, Metro-North Railroad, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is the busiest commuter railroad in the nation with an annual ridership of over 82 million. A dynamic organization with a strong focus on customer service, safety, and new technologies, Metro-North employs approximately 5,900 people. Operating out of its home base in New York City’s historic Grand Central Terminal, the railroad’s three lines serve 120 stations in seven counties in New York and two counties in Connecticut. In 2011, Metro-North received the prestigious International Brunel Award for Overall Excellence in Railroad Design, recognizing its continuing work as a more efficient operation, its commitment to sustainability, and its focus on providing excellent customer service. Metro-North was the first American railroad to win this coveted award in its 26-year history. The competition is open to all passenger and freight railroads in the world. Metro-North has a reputation for rewarding employee resourcefulness and innovation, and offers excellent job opportunities in a challenging and diverse environment.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is requesting proposals on behalf of the Joint Program Office (JPO) of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) in the U.S. Department of Transportation from individuals interested in serving as Module Authors for the development of the ITS content of the Road Network Operations (RNO) ITS Web Resource to be published on the World Road Association PIARC website.  The current proposed structure includes seven themes and twenty-five Modules.  Prospective authors are asked to indicate which Module(s) they are qualified for and are proposing to cover in response to this RFP.  Prospective authors may apply to author one or more Modules or all Modules within a Theme. A number of Module Authors may be chosen from this RFP.

ITS America will be accepting proposals until April 5, 2013 at 2 p.m. EDST.

The primary purpose of the World Road Association (PIARC) Road Network Operations ITS Web Resource is to provide the current and future ITS workforce with a web-based reference tool for decision-making regarding investments in ITS and related services, focusing on the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The PIARC RNO ITS Web Resource is intended to be a series of up-to-date, web-based modules that provide a basic introduction to key ITS topics, with an international perspective.

Click here to view this RFP.

For questions, contact Sarah Clements of ITS America at sclements@itsa.org

Reference 130316 or search for ‘Sustainability’ on WMATA’s career site

Note the 3/21/13 closing date.

Responsibilities:

This is a high level professional and technical position involving the development and analysis in support of Authority-wide sustainability planning, initiative development, and performance measurement. Incumbent uses innovative analysis, corporate/transit best practices, and in-depth evaluation. The incumbent analyzes current performance, identifies new business models and markets, develops implementation strategies and plans, and provides project management support.

Results provide refined critical information to enable effective organizational decision making, performance management, and leadership. Incumbent communicates regularly with executive staff and other Authority personnel. Incumbent conducts special studies to ensure efficient management of resources. Incumbent produces presentations that communicate Authority¿s stance and leadership in sustainability practice.

English: Washington, DC Metro logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Develops, evaluates, and supports sustainability initiatives, programs, policies, and procedures for the Authority.
•  Independently conducts analytical studies.
• Serves as a project analyst and provides project management support to resolve problems and to meet PLAN objectives and Authority strategic goals.
• Conducts special studies focusing on life-cycle costing, cost benefit analysis, and return on investment calculations for potential investments.
• Researches and summarizes selected policy areas related to sustainability.
• Prepares reports on transit issues such as sustainability best practices, impacts of transit on regional sustainability, and summarizes selected policy and technical areas related to sustainability innovations in the transit industry.
• Researches and drafts responses to inquiries from members of Congress; federal, state, regional, and local officials; the Board of Directors; and the public.
• Prepares and presents reports and recommendations for a variety of internal and external customers.
• Attends meetings, hearings, high-level planning sessions, and other activities essential to the execution of the functional responsibilities of PLAN.
•  Maintains effective working relationships with individuals and organizations with whom interface and cooperation are required.

The above duties and responsibilities are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. It is not intended to limit in any way the right of supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of sustainable business practice and sustainable development.
• Knowledge of and experience in leading interdisciplinary teams to facilitate effective policy and initiative planning, development, implementation, and support.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of strategic business planning, performance metrics, and innovation management.
• Knowledge of financial analysis including: life-cycle costing, cost benefit analysis, return on investment calculation.
• Knowledge of the sustainability and environmental policy context in which transit systems operate. Familiarity with sustainable design, green building, and energy planning in a transit context.
• Knowledge of public transit principles and practices and the application of new technology and other innovations to transit agencies.
• Demonstrated success in completing difficult assignments, displaying innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to acquire and maintain current knowledge of major transit systems and changes in the public transportation field that may be of benefit to the attainment of the Authority’s goals and objectives.
• Ability to effectively analyze and present findings on various assigned studies.
• Ability to prepare concise technical reports and engaging presentations for a variety of internal and external customers.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of management and organizations with who interface and cooperation are required.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.

The employee performs moderately difficult administrative and office management work assignments for the head of an entity whose staff consists of one or more subordinate branch management level persons who are responsible for key functions and/or programs. Incumbents in this class perform a full range of administrative support duties which affects the efficacy of work processes performed by others. Contacts are maintained with members of other departments with whom the Director level maintains working relationships. Some situations require the use of persuasion and tact to maintain the Director¿s viewpoint. Written guidelines are generally available, but require interpretation.

To be considered for the position, you must meet minimum qualifications. It is, therefore, very important for you to include on your application any education/experience you have had that is described in the minimum qualifications. Incomplete information may delay the assessment process.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in planning, public policy, business administration, or related field. A Master¿s degree preferred. A minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible experience in sustainable business practices, sustainable development, or related field.

MEDICAL GROUP:

Ability to satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

High School Diploma or GED and a minimum of 5 years experience in office management activities that involved providing administrative/secretarial services within a diverse organizational entity. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in word processing on the standard software currently in use by the Authority based on a computerized word processing skills evaluation which measures efficiency at various levels; demonstrate proficiency in communication and clerical skills based on a computerized skills evaluation which measures proficiency in spelling, punctuation, capitalization and grammar.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

1. Education, training and experience
2. Personal Interview
3. Medical examination which may include alcohol and drug testing
4. Performance attendance record
5. Background check to include criminal, education, work and driver’s record

Closing Statement

Posted salary ranges and offers are subject to Union contract agreements and Metro salary administration guidelines. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is an equal opportunity employer, and encourages applications from minorities, females and persons with disabilities.

Please apply before: 03/21/2013

Reference 130316 or search for ‘Sustainability’ on WMATA’s career site

America’s energy security gets a boost from the White House. President Obama proposed the creation of Energy Security Trust during his visit to the Argonne National Research Lab to talk about American energy security. The Energy Security Trust, a$2 Billion investment over 10 years, uses revenue generated by oil and gas development on federal lands to support new research and technology that will shift our cars and trucks off of oil for good.  Below is an infographic that outlines how this works:

Energy Security Trust Infographic via Whitehouse.gov

Here is an excerpt from the White House Blog:

So how does it work? The Energy Security Trust will invest in research that will make future technologies cheaper and better – it will fund the advances that will allow us to run cars and trucks on electricity or homegrown fuels, and on the technology that will enable us to drive from coast-to-coast without a drop of oil.

Over 10 years, the Energy Security Trust will provide $2 billion for critical, cutting-edge research focused on developing cost-effective transportation alternatives.The funding will be provided by revenues from federal oil and gas development, and will not add any additional costs to the federal budget. The investments will support research into a range of technologies – things like advanced vehicles that run on electricity, homegrown biofuels, and domestically produced natural gas. It will also help fund a small number of real-world experiments that try different transportation techniques in cities and towns around the country using advanced vehicles at scale.

If it is worth something, President Obama has indicated his desire to use the executive powers to curb climate change impacts should Congress fail to act.  According to Bloomberg, the president is also thinking of using a Nixon-era law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, to instruct all federal agencies to consider the impact of climate change when approving “major projects, from pipelines to highways.”  Of course, this can have some serious implications for large scale projects and some constituencies in the business sector are already freaking out over this mandate.

While we are busy discussing this issue, I’d like to share with you an address by President Obama from March 2011 in which he outlined his goals for reducing American energy dependence, heavily emphasizing new technology and alternative sources in addition to “safe and responsible” offshore drilling. A lot of what he outline in his blue print for change is already starting to take effect and I can only say that we are poised for a big change in the way we power our vehicles and industries.  Fossil fuels are definitely beginning to see a slow demise (but it will be decades before they are completely phased out in the transportation sector).

Related articles

• Obama at Argonne: Energy Security Trust fact sheets here
• In an America ‘can do’ speech, Obama introduces Energy Security Trust for transportation innovations
• Obama to unveil alternative energy proposal – CBS News
• The White House On Energy Security Trust And POTUS Obama’s Israel Trip Preview
• What You Need to Know About the Energy Security Trust
• Obama wants to create an Energy Security Trust with $2 billion for R&D
• Obama to Announce $2 Billion Plan to Get U.S. Cars Off Gasoline

(via Wall Street Journal)

The U.S. spending on transportation (and infrastructure in general) has flatlined (or some argue that it has declined considerably) over the decades while other countries around the globe, especially in Asia, have ramped up their investment in large-scale infrastructure projects such as building highways and railroads.  So, how does it look when we match our spending versus the other nations.  This chart from Wall Street Journal shows show you how badly we are behind in this race to stay competitive. Recommend reading the related article on WSJ that shows how funding for infrastructure projects may be coming from new sources as ‘wealth advisers are steering clients into infrastructure deals. Let’s not forget that we have already a crazy amount of things to fix and on top of that we have to spend on projects that can cater to the growing need for transportation as the population explodes.  But do we really have the money to fix the broke and embark on starting new projects? With a dwindling highway trust fund account and a political gridlock in Washington, even the basic of needs for keeping the country economically superior seems to be a bigger challenge than ever.

Related articles

• Two Charts That Make The Case For More Infrastructure Spending
• Oberhelman calls for infrastructure improvement
• Why Americans Can’t Afford The Future: Dow Jones Industrial Average 2 Minute (INDEXDJX:.DJI)
• Aging Infrastructure in America is Like Giving Cash to China
• America’s Disastrous Infrastructure; USA Is Ranked At 25th In the World

(via Mashable)

Cool stuff.. You can be assured that state & city transportation officials around the globe (at least in the US) will be clamoring to test this new self-healing asphalt on their highways and city streets.

Via King5 News

Just spotted this nice report/update on the world’s tallest (5-story-tall) tunnel boring machine (TBM), Bertha, which will begin work in Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project (SR 99 Tunnel Project). Bertha’s deep-bore tunnel will replace the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct, which will eventually be torn down. She should begin digging next summer.  As reported below, Bertha’s 41 pieces – the largest weighing up to 900 tons – are being loaded on a single ship in Japan, leaving around mid-March and arrive in Seattle later this month, if all goes well in the choppy seas.

For those curious about the name Bertha, it was chosen as part of a contest for school-aged kids across Washington state. While we are at it, don’t forget to follow the live tweets from Bertha @BerthaDigsSR99, the only TBM in the world with it’s own twitter account (at least until the project finishes).  Pretty cool stuff, right? Also, you can follow the WSDOT blog to stay updated on the project’s progress.

Related articles

• Bertha, world’s largest tunneling machine, heading for Seattle
• World’s largest tunnel boring machine to be shipped from Japan to Seattle
• Tunnel boring machine in pieces for voyage to Seattle

via WUSA9

The latest transportation bill from Virginia legislature (HB2313), signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell has got a lot of Hybrid vehicle owners miffed. Under the new regulations, drivers of hybrid vehicles would have to pay a $100 annual fee.  So, the irate hybrid owners and other opponents of this measure have have started an online petition urging the governor to veto the fee now has more than 4,000 signatures (hoping to get to 10,000 by end of March) .  WUSA9’s Monika Samtani has done a nice report covering this issue. Check it out.

Critics are pointing out that :

It should be maddening for any tax payer in the country to see how the public dollars are spent wastefully on projects that are not really benefiting the community. Today’s Washington Post story on one such wasteful spending measure shows how badly the lawmakers manage the money, despite the pressure to not do so from the administrations (incl. current and the previous administration ). It explores an obscure federal program established by Congress in 2000 allows tiny airports to draw $150,000 in federal funds every year.  The article uses Oklahoma’s Lake Murray State Park Airport as a case study. This issue of wasteful spending takes added importance as the public are nervously watching what’s going to happen with the looming sequestration (scheduled to kick in on March 1) as the country is embroiled in a tough political battle to avoid further slide. Brilliant reporting.

And a few interesting nuggets from this Washington Post story:

• 88 shown airports, as reported, have no paying customers and no planes are based there. (check the interactive map that shows the airports and the number of flights each one received)
• The airports receive $150,000/year, as the result of a grant program established 13 years ago ~2000, which the post appropriately calls Congress’s golden age of pork)
• The looming sequester crisis would not touch the airport program. FAA allotted Lake Murray about $1,500 for each of its takeoffs and landings.
• In this particular case Lake Murray State Park Airport there is no control tower, no runway lights and also staff to monitor it. So what makes people visit?  Mostly for using the rest room facilities and occasionally for golf.
• According to local TV affiliate KOKH Fox 25, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism has tried to shut down Lake Murray State Park Airport for years, but Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) officials say closing the airport would cost Oklahoma taxpayers $184,000.  Under FAA guidelines, the airport must stay open for 20 years after the OAC spends money on an improvement project.
• Despite pressures from all corners, the program has remained strikingly difficult for anyone.  If it is any surprise, even

  Pres. Bush opposed continuing the program but the Tea Party dominated congress decided to continue with it.

Click here to read more.

Related articles

• Pork relic: Tiny airport attracts lots of federal money but few planes
• It’s Plane Pork
• Sequester Could Close Local Air Traffic Towers
• Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing may close if federal budget cuts go through
• Budget cuts could mean FAA furloughs, air traffic control tower shutdowns in … – NewsOK.com