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NRC Bulletin - October 10, 2014 
Welcome New NRC Member
Tracks Unlimited 
NRC Toolbox Talks

 

The NRC Safety Committee has revised and updated the NRC's Toolbox Talks. They are available for download at: www.nrcma.org/learn/SafetyToolbox.

 

A version is available in PDF format as well as in Microsoft Word so that NRC member companies can make company or job specific changes.

 

Member-Get-A-Member Campaign   
 
Help Grow the NRC and Strengthen our Voice

 

Three options to help recruit new members:

 

1. Reply to this email with names and contact information of potential members and we'll send them a membership information package.

 

2. Make a quick introductory call and follow up using the "E-Kit" found here.

 

3. Direct a potential new member to www.nrcma.org where they can learn more about the NRC and join online. 

 

Visit the NRC Bid Notifications page on the NRC website at:

www.nrcma.org/go/bids

 

Publicize your Rail Industry Event on www.nrcma.org/calendar.cfm

Visit: www.nrcma.org/listevent.cfm to submit an event

NRC Website: www.nrcma.org 

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ConferenceNRC Conference: Golf and Fishing Registration Open, Exhibition Nearly Sold Out   

 

Registration is open for the NRC Conference & NRC-REMSA Exhibition - January 7-10, 2015 at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida.

 

Register online now at: www.nrcma.org/form3.cfm or click here to download a pdf registration form.

 

NRC Membership - Conference registration and exhibit booths rates for NRC members are significantly discounted. If your company is not already a member of the NRC, you may join online at: www.nrcma.org/form4.cfm

 

There are 8 exhibit booths remaining for the NRC-REMSA Exhibition. You can sign up for a booth at: www.nrcma.org/go/exhibition2015. The Exhibition begins Wednesday, January 7 in the evening and ends Friday, January 9 in the morning. Urszula Soucie of REMSA is your contact for all exhibition related questions - you can reach her at 202-715-2921 or [email protected].

  

Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Diplomat Resort and Spa at 888-627-9057 or going to the following link to reserve online: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/nrc2015. When making your reservations by phone, be sure to mention that you are with the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Conference in order to receive the discounted room rate. This rate expires and our room block is opened for general sale on 12/19/14. This hotel block will most likely sell out long before that, so the sooner you book the better.

 

The 2015 NRC Golf Tournament will be Friday, January 9 at 12pm at the Jacaranda Colf Club. For more information and to register visit http://www.nrcma.org/ps.nrcconference.cfm?ID=167. 

 

The 2015 NRC Fishing Tournament will be held on Friday, January 9 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. For more information and to register visit http://www.nrcma.org/ps.nrcconference.cfm?ID=2371.  

  

For more information on the NRC Conference, visit  www.nrcma.org/go/conference.

 

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 NRCAwardsNow Accepting Nominees for the 2014 Field Employee of the Year Awards, NRC Rail Construction Projects of the Year, and the NRC Hall of Fame - Nominations due November 14th     

 

The NRC will be honoring the most outstanding people and projects in the rail construction and maintenance industry by awarding the annual Railroad Construction Projects of the Year and Field Employee of the Year honors, and inducting a new class into the NRC Hall of Fame.  

 

These awards will honor the industry's best and brightest and also highlight NRC member companies' commitment to hiring hardworking and dedicated people who work on the most innovative and efficient railroad projects around the country.  

 

The NRC is now accepting nominees for each of these awards. Below are brief descriptions of each and you can find the official forms on the NRC website at http://www.nrcma.org/ps.nrcawards.cfm?ID=2422. All nominations are due by Friday, November 14, 2014. Please submit them via email to [email protected].  

 

Railroad Construction Projects of the Year - This year there are two categories for submitting a Railroad Construction Project of the year: the Large Project Category (projects with budgets over $10 million) and the Small Project Category (projects with budgets of $10 million or less). The purpose of this award is to honor innovation, expertise, and quality project management applied towards the successful execution of a rail construction project by NRC member companies in 2014. Any type of rail construction project is eligible for the award, including freight rail, industrial track, rail transit, commuter rail, intercity passenger rail, rail on port facilities, and rail on military facilities.  

 

Criteria: Brief statements describing your company's innovation, expertise and high quality of work on the project, explanations of challenges and how you overcame them, and your safety/loss record on the project.

 

Application Deadline: November 14, 2014

Application: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28358   

Large Project Criteria: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28359  

Small Project Criteria: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28357 


Field Employee of the Year - This award recognizes and honors the rail contracting field employee who has demonstrated the most dedication and excellence in his/her job.  The NRC Field Employee of the Year goes above and beyond what is required on a regular basis, demonstrates innovation and perseverance, is a team leader, and a great asset to the company.  The candidate must also possess a strong commitment to safety and customer satisfaction.  Any field employee of an NRC member company is eligible for the award.  Only one award will be given to the employee who best addresses the stated criteria.  

 

Criteria: A brief essay supporting why your candidate should be considered for this award including specific anecdotes and/or specific examples of your candidate performing quality work, prioritizing safety, providing exceptional customer service, and going above and beyond what is typically required of the job.  This statement can be written by any one of the employee's supervisors or peers, and must be endorsed by the highest ranking officer of the company who is involved with supervising or evaluating the candidate's performance.

 

Application Deadline: November 14, 2014

Application:  http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28360 

Criteria: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28361 

 

Hall of Fame - The purpose of the NRC Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the NRC and the rail construction and maintenance industry.  Any current or former employee or owner of an NRC member company is eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.  

 

Criteria: Brief statements describing the candidate's excellence in the rail construction and maintenance business, contributions to the rail construction and maintenance industry, leadership, and corporate citizenship.

 

Application Deadline: November 14, 2014

Application: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28362  

Criteria: http://www.nrcma.org/download.cfm?ID=28363  

                                                                                                                                   

Again, please have all nominations in by Friday, November 14, 2014.  If you have any questions regarding these awards and the nominating process, please contact Alice Post via email or 202-715-1264, or NRC President Chuck Baker at 202-715-2920 or [email protected].

 

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NRCGrassrootsU.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren Visits Atlantic Track in Richmond, IL, Discusses Atlantic Track's Expansion in Illinois
From left to right: Congressman Randy, Hultgren, George Perrelli (Atlantic Track), Ashley Bosch (NRC), Dave Francis (Atlantic Track)

On September 22, U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren (R-IL-14, Financial Services Committee and Science, Space and Technology Committee) joined representatives from Atlantic Track and the NRC for a tour of Atlantic Track's manufacturing facility in Richmond, IL. The NRC organized the event.

Upon his arrival, Congressman Hultgren was greeted by Atlantic Track's Richmond team, including Vice President - Midwest Region Dave Francis and Plant Manager George Perrelli. The Congressman was briefed on Atlantic Track's history, current operations, and recent growth and expansion in Richmond and Chicago Heights, IL.  

 

Atlantic Track supplies new & relay rail, joint bars, tie plates and other track material to Class I and short line railroads, transit agencies, rail contractors and end users in the US, Canada and worldwide. In addition to rail and track material distribution, Atlantic Track manufactures turnouts, specialty trackwork, transit rail products, compromise rails, movable bridge joints, track panels and more. Their other products and services include crane runway and transit systems.

 

"Atlantic Track's Richmond facility boasts hardworking employees who manufacture special track components vital to railroads nationwide. Atlantic Track is an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) company where each employee actually is an owner and has a stake in the company's success" said Congressman Hultgren. "They believe in old fashioned blood, sweat and tears, working long hours to meet the high demand for their quality products, and have invested millions to expand their operations in the 14th District. Northern Illinois is a major cargo and freight hub for our nation-seeing Atlantic Track's facility first-hand makes me proud to represent them in Congress." 

 

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These congressional visits are coordinated and executed by the NRC staff, for more information on NRC Grassroots Events, please visit:  

DullesHensel Phelps Wins Design and Build Contract for Dulles Corridor Rail Yard  

 

Hensel Phelps Construction has been awarded the contract to design and build the rail yard and maintenance facility for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Silver Line).

 

Hensel Phelps' $252m price proposal was determined to meet all necessary requirements and was the lowest of the four received by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The other three bidders were Capital Rail Constructors (Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South), Metrorail Constructors Group Joint Venture (Turner Construction, Southland Industries, and Freestate Electrical Construction), and Skanska USA Southeast.

 

The design-build contract for the rail yard and maintenance facility is the second and final major contract for Phase 2 of the Silver Line Project. The first was awarded in May of 2013 includes the construction of six stations, 11.4 miles of track and guideways and wayside components, and was awarded in May 2013 to Capital Rail Constructors, a team consisting of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure.

 

Source: RT&S, Dulles Metro

 

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PANYNJPANYNJ to Build Rail Transload Facility, Improvements to Car-Float System

 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) board of commissioners approved a major redevelopment of Greenville Yard that will include a new ExpressRail facility.

The fourth of its type to be built by the authority, the ExpressRail facility will enable the adjacent Global Marine Terminal to ship and receive containerized cargo by rail for the first time. Containerized cargo will be transloaded from ship to rail.

 

Slated to open in July 2016, the facility will have an initial annual capacity of 125,000 container lifts. The project includes the construction of about 10,000 feet of working track, 32,000 feet of support track and switches, and infrastructure to support rail-mounted gantry cranes.

The board also approved a series of improvements to the cross-harbor car float system operated by NY-NJ Rail to move freight more efficiently by both water and rail between New Jersey and markets east of the Hudson River, including New York City and Long Island.

 

The work includes construction of up to two new transfer bridges at Greenville Yard and related lead and support tracks; the purchase of two larger car floats, each with the capability of transporting 18 rail cars; and the purchase of up to four new, ultra-low emission locomotives to replace older existing ones.

 

Additionally, off-site improvements to the freight-rail network in northern New Jersey will be made to ensure it can handle the increased rail activity that will be generated by the redeveloped Greenville Yard.

The total cost of the facility and improvements is $356m, of which PANYNJ will provide $320m and third-party stakeholders will contribute $36m. The authority funding will be reimbursed through a combination of federal funds and a cargo facility charge.

 

Sources: Progressive Railroading, PANYNJ

 

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AustinCapMetroAustin Capital Metro Approves $322.1M FY15 Budget

 

Capital Metro's board in Austin, TX approved a $322.1m budget for fiscal-year 2015, which runs from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015.

The new budget includes $222.8m for operating expenses, $4.6m for loan repayments and $12.8m for interlocal agreements.

Also in FY2015, the agency has budgeted $81.9m for capital projects, including track relocation work, an East subdivision quiet zone for freight rail, positive train control implementation, a rail and tie replacement program, and a rail timber and surface replacement program.

  

The full FY15 budget and capital improvement plan can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/Capmetroorg/About_Us/Finance_and_Audit/Capital_Metro_FY2015_Approved_Budget.pdf
  

Source: Progressive Railroading, Austin Capital Metro

 

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 BNSFDRonesBNSF Submits Waiver to FAA to Use Drones for Railway Maintenance

  

BNSF submitted a request for the exemption from multiple regulatory provisions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAS) to assist in supplemental inspections of railroad infrastructure and operations on BNSF right of way.  

 

The FAA has already granted exemptions for sUAS use by the film industry and is currently considering more than 40 waiver requests to allow drones to be used in e-commerce, agriculture, land surveying, and oil field inspections, among other applications.  

 

The petition submitted by BNSF to the FAA can be found here:

 

Source: BNSF 

 

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FRABallastFRA Issues Safety Guidance on Ballast

 

In September, the FRA issued a Track Safety Standards Technical Bulletin (T-14-01) that provides clarity and guidance for inspectors when examining track for ballast defects. The bulletin refers to - Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Section 213.103 and can be found here: T-14-01 Ballast General.pdf

Source: FRA

 

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