Submission Deadline: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 5pm.

The Northeast Corridor Commission seeks a graduate student to support all aspects of the Commission’s work. Working closely with a small team of highly motivated transportation professionals, the intern will have the opportunity to shape project work in coordination with Commission staff. The Commission is currently developing key reports on the current and future value of the NEC, while participating in the major short- and long-term planning efforts that will guide the development of the NEC. The intern will be responsible for policy research, transportation planning and analysis, report preparation, website content development, assistance with day-to-day office management and administration, and other tasks as assigned. Successful candidates will demonstrate a willingness to undertake unfamiliar initiatives and strong enthusiasm for the Commission’s work.

The Commission maintains a full-time staff in Washington, DC. The Commission is accepting intern applications from current graduate students in the Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York metropolitan areas. This paid internship includes term-time work in spring 2013, with the possibility of extending into summer 2013.

Qualifications

Candidates should be pursuing a masters degree in public policy, urban and regional planning, transportation, business, or a related field. Candidates should have:

• Experience collecting, evaluating, and interpreting quantitative data;

• Excellent skills in written, verbal and graphic communication of quantitative and qualitative information, including the ability to clearly express technical concepts to wide audiences;

• Strong computer skills in data analysis, word processing, and graphic design – experience with the Adobe Creative Suite, data visualizations, and/or geographic information systems (GIS) is preferred; and

• An ability to build relationships with all levels of an organization, work in a fast-paced office environment with tight deadlines, and stay organized and detailed-oriented while working on a wide range of tasks.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, a resume, and a one-page writing sample to: Jeremy Steinemann, Transportation Analyst, jsteinemann@nec-commission.com . Successful writing samples should emphasize strong writing skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts to broad audiences. Writing samples may pertain to transportation, city planning, public policy, or related issues, but need not demonstrate proficiency in a particular content area. Submission Deadline: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 5pm.

Congress created the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (NEC Commission) in recognition of the inherent challenges of coordinating, financing, and implementing major improvements that cross multiple jurisdictions. The Commission’s goals are to lead the creation and implementation of a visionary, long-term, regional investment strategy for the Northeast Corridor; advance near-term projects; coordinate regional planning and communication; and educate stakeholders and the public about the Northeast Corridor’s investment needs and its role in the future economic growth and development of the region.

The NEC Commission is comprised of representatives from each of the NEC states, Amtrak, and the U.S. DOT, with non-voting representatives from freight railroads and states with connecting corridors. For more information about the Commission, visithttp://www.nec-commission.com.

(Source: The Guardian, UK)

Tube worker says station manager at King’s Cross refused to let him take bandages from control room to treat victims

A London Underground worker who was among the first to arrive at one of the bombed tube carriages on July 7 was told to “piss off” by his superior when he rushed back to collect more first aid equipment to treat the injured and dying, he said today.

Imran Chaudhury fought back tears as he said one of the duty station managers at Kings Cross, Ken Leach, tried to obstruct him from collecting bandages from the station’s control room, despite the fact that his clothing was covered in blood and injured passengers could clearly be seen on CCTV emerging from the ruined train.

Leach’s superior, group station manager Peter Sanders, had also been in the room but had said nothing, said Chaudhury, which still “haunts” him, he told the inquest into the deaths of the victims of the bomb attacks. Fifty-two people died in the attacks, 26 were killed in the Kings Cross blast.

Click here to read the entire story

Note: It scares me to think how ill-prepared many of our U.S. transit systems across the country are even after such a coordinated mass-casualty event occurred in one of the busiest and well-policed systems around the world.  In Washington, DC I see so many security lapses day in and day out when I ride the system but given the complexities of the system and its vast network, it is definitely difficult to have a 100% fool-proof security.  While it is not possible to put a policeman in every station every hour of the day, I can see a lot of vigilant riders who help keep a watch on the system.  The system riders are sensitized to such dangers and have been repeatedly requested over the PA system, over the years, to inform station managers or authorities if they spot an unattended bag or any object that looks suspicious. As I write this, I can feel that stern lady voice over the DC Metro’s PA system: “Hi, Is That Your Bag?”, a part of the “See it Say It” public safety campaign, suggesting people to report any suspicious object they spot while riding the trains or on the Metro facilities such as stations and parking lots.   At times, I can’t help but feel over a period of time after listening to the announcements a gazillion times,  I feel like I have a part to play in keeping the system safe and secure.  The sense of alertness goes up when I read about a bomb threat or a situation regarding transportation security (the downside of being in transportation business). At times I feel that any failure on my part,  as a rider and user heavily-dependent on the system, to be vigilant may result in a possible strike keeps me alert (I admit sometimes it’s hard to stay awake after a long day at work).   I assume this social policing (rather social conditioning/sensitizing) initiative involving our public definitely has helped the transit police.  It will be great  to know if the if the Metro has ever compiled an evaluation report of sorts explaining how many calls were received and how many threats (minor and major) were averted/prevented/addressed since this campaign went into effect.

Related articles

• 7/7 inquest: Passengers showed ‘remarkable heroism’ after London bombings as pics revealed of carnage (mirror.co.uk)
• Metro calls for vigilance by riders and employees – Washington Post (news.google.com)
• 7/7 inquest: staff tell of devastation (guardian.co.uk)
• Feds: Man Sought to Blow Up DC Metro Stations (abcnews.go.com)
• US: Man arrested over “plot to bomb Washington DC metro” (teaandpolitics.wordpress.com)
• 7/7 inquest: Phone calls reveal chaos – listen here (mirror.co.uk)
• 7/7 inquests: Aldgate manager ‘didn’t want to cause panic by mentioning bomb’ (telegraph.co.uk)
• 7/7 footage at inquest shows final bomber Hasib Hussain (guardian.co.uk)
• 7/7 inquest: Tube refused first aid kit (guardian.co.uk)
• You: Confusion after King’s Cross 7/7 blast (guardian.co.uk)
• 7/7 officer tells of frustration over firefighters (independent.co.uk)
• Firefighters delayed entering 7/7 tunnel (independent.co.uk)
• You: 7/7 bombers were seen ‘celebrating’ (guardian.co.uk)
• 7/7 inquest hears recordings of tube staff following blasts (guardian.co.uk)
• A.M. Top News: Washington DC Metro stations are allegedly targeted in terror plot (nj.com)
• Passengers showed ‘remarkable heroism’ after bombings (independent.co.uk)
• 7/7 inquests: firefighters refused to follow police onto tracks (telegraph.co.uk)