Jump to content


Photo

Winter Storm Juno/Maryland MTA & MARC


  • Please log in to reply
2 replies to this topic

#1 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 25 January 2015 - 11:29 PM


 

MTA Preps For Approaching Winter Storm




 

With predictions of a messy mix of rain, sleet and snow hitting the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), one of the largest multi-modal transit agencies in the country, has developed a comprehensive strategy to keep the buses, subway cars and light rail trains moving.

 

(See below for quick bulleted information on MTA’s winter prep efforts by mode.)

 

When it comes to MTA Local Bus service which hosts more than 66 million boardings annually, the first forecasts of wintery weather set into motion patrols of bus service areas that are particularly challenging such as hills and sharp curves. If snow or ice accumulates, bus diversions can employed which slightly change existing bus routes to avoid hills and other areas they might become stuck in the elements. Another safety strategy put into place is the removal of articulated buses, the extra-long buses with two connected passenger compartments, from service.

 

For Light Rail, oftentimes the weather related problems come from above – or the overhead power lines called catenary wires, to be exact. When ice or heavy snow coats the wires, it can cause them to snap. A snapped catenary wire can lead to a shutdown of the Light Rail system because the wires provide the main power source for the train. So when significant snow/ice is expected, Light Rail managers run “Ice Trains” along the 30 miles of track in the MTA Light Rail system when regular revenue service ends around 1:30 a.m. The ice train itself looks like a regular light rail train but is equipped with a device that removes any ice from the overhead catenary lines that supply power to Light Rail vehicles.

 

While the Ice Trains run the entire line, they concentrate on the northern portions of the line at North Avenue and Hunt Valley and near Lake Roland where moisture contributes to the icing problem. When deployed, Ice Trains run constantly until the morning commute and rush hour begin.

 

Another piece of equipment used to battle winter weather on the Light Rail system is a switch heater. Switches are sections of track that move and allow trains to switch from one track to another. Switch heaters are units that warm the switch and prevent ice and snow buildup from freezing the switch and making it inoperable.

For Metro Subway, keeping the rail warm is of prime concern since frozen rails can mean cracked rails and delayed passengers. So third-rail heaters are deployed to assure proper contact between the train and the power source. Switches on Metro Subway tracks are heated just as the Light Rail switches to prevent ice and snow buildup.

 

When it comes to MTA’s MARC train service, responsibility for maintenance of way for the Camden and Brunswick lines lies with CSX, which owns the tracks. And for the Penn Line, it falls to Amtrak to maintain the tracks. But that doesn’t mean the MTA isn’t looking to keep MARC riders safe. Conductors put snow/ice protocols into effect for passengers boarding and alighting, i.e., taking extra care to eliminate any ice that may have accumulated on car-entry steps between stations. Engineers approach stations more slowly than usual in order to avoid overshooting the station on wet rails.

 

It’s a similar situation for Commuter Bus where the foul weather preparations are conducted in concert with the State Highway Administration, which is responsible for maintaining/clearing ice and snow throughout Maryland’s network of Park and Ride lots. Commuter Bus drivers operate with the understanding that patrons may need extra time to board and alight the coach.

 

Perhaps the most important aspect of the MTA’s foul weather preparations is communications with the public. MTA online communications teams stay on the job during the entire weather event in order to inform the public of all service disruptions and diversions via the MTA website, email/text alerts and social media outlets. Online communications teams are augmented by the MTA Transit Information Contact Center, (410-539-5000 / TTY 410-539-3947) announcements at rail stops and stations and broadcast announcements by our Transit Team on TV and radio stations throughout the region.

 

We advise our passengers to please allow extra time to travel and to listen to MTA Transit Team Reports and visit our website at www.mta.maryland.gov.  Customers can also call the MTA Transit Information Contact Center Monday through Friday from 6am to 7pm at 410-539-5000.  TTY 410-539-3497.   To sign up for email notifications about service delays and modifications go to www.mta.maryland.gov/enotifications and visit MTA’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mtamaryland or Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/mtamaryland for more sources of updated information.

MTA Winter Preparation Effort by Mode

Local Bus:

  • As weather conditions develop, MTA patrols service areas of roads that are particularly challenging (hills, curves and the like) to monitor road conditions and advise of any needed diversions, speed restrictions or service stoppage due to ice or snow.

  • All Local Bus equipment is put in “ready-to-operate” mode with each Bus Maintenance Superintendent directing a multiple-level snow motion plan for continuous service and communications.

  • Local Bus articulated coaches are held back from service until the snow has cleared.

Light Rail and Metro Subway:

  • Salt trucks with plows are prepared in order to remove or reposition snow on Light Rail and Metro Subway parking lots. (Light Rail alone uses approximately 160 tons of salt – that’s 20 dump trucks filled with eight tons of salt – to clear parking lots along its 27-mile length.)

  • Salt crews survey and address Light Rail and Metro Subway walkways and stairs. 

  • “Snow trains” run on Light Rail and Metro Subway tracks during the night to assure rail viability (and third-rail operation as well) by the time passenger-bearing cars begin their morning run.

  • Tree trimming crews are placed on standby to address any issues that may arise – or fall – on our tree-lined rail rights-of-way. (Responsibility for maintenance of way for the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines lies with CSX, which owns the tracks. Responsibility for the Penn Line is Amtrak’s.)

MARC Train and Commuter Bus:

  • Depending on the expected probability of the below-freezing weather event, MARC Train parking lots are pre-treated with sodium chloride (salt). 

  • For Amtrak platforms (on the Penn Line), salt is prohibited due to its propensity to cause concrete to disintegrate – the rail ties on Amtrak lines are concrete. Only magnesium chloride or potassium chloride are used to counteract slippery surfaces on those platforms, stairs and walkways. 

  • For platforms on the CSX Camden and Brunswick lines, sodium chloride is used for its effectiveness and lower cost. (CSX rail ties are wood.) 

  • Re-freeze issues are considered part of the overall approach to safety preparation. After the weather event, crews are dispatched to reapply the appropriate treatment where there is the potential for a re-freeze overnight. 

  • Commuter Bus snow preparation is conducted in concert with the State Highway Administration, which is responsible for maintaining Maryland’s network of Park and Ride lots. Commuter Bus drivers operate with the understanding that patrons may need extra time to board and alight the coach.

Mobility Paratransit Service:

  • Mobility paratransit services requests its passengers (via their Interactive Voice Response system) to consider whether their trip might best be delayed until the weather has cleared. 

  • Mobility also works with its contractors to make sure that Mobility vehicles are fully prepared for winter weather, and that operators have been informed to report early for their shifts.



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#2 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 26 January 2015 - 03:00 PM

And the Baltimore area has backed off from Winter Storm to "wintry mix":
 

 

MTA Prepared for Wintry Mix

MTA Media Advisory

With a mix of rain, snow and sleet forecast for the Maryland Transit Administration service area over the next 24 hours, the MTA has in place a comprehensive plan to keep the trains, subways, buses and light rail vehicles moving through inclement weather.

After the light precipitation that hit the Baltimore region early Monday morning, the MTA reported no weather related issues in its Local Bus, Metro Subway, Light Rail, MARC Train and Mobility transportation services as of noon Monday.

To avoid streets that become impassable with snowfall, the MTA has put into place Phase 1 of street diversions for Local Bus. To see what MTA Local Bus lines are affected, please visit the Advisory Page on the MTA website.

We advise our passengers to please allow extra time to travel and to listen to MTA Transit Team Reports and visit our website at www.mta.maryland.gov. Customers can also call the MTA Transit Information Contact Center Monday through Friday from 6am to 7pm at 410-539-5000. TTY 410-539-3497. To sign up for email notifications about service delays and modifications go to www.mta.maryland.gov/enotifications and visit MTA’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mtamarylandor Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/mtamaryland for more sources of updated information.

MTA Winter Preparation Effort by Mode

Local Bus:

As weather conditions develop, MTA patrols service areas of roads that are particularly challenging (hills, curves and the like) to monitor road conditions and advise of any needed diversions, speed restrictions or service stoppage due to ice or snow.

All Local Bus equipment is put in “ready-to-operate” mode with each Bus Maintenance Superintendent directing a multiple-level snow motion plan for continuous service and communications.

Local Bus articulated coaches are held back from service until the snow has cleared.

Light Rail and Metro Subway:

Salt trucks with plows are prepared in order to remove or reposition snow on Light Rail and Metro Subway parking lots. (Light Rail alone uses approximately 160 tons of salt per snow event – that’s 20 dump trucks filled with eight tons of salt – to clear parking lots along its 27-mile length.)

Salt crews survey and address Light Rail and Metro Subway walkways and stairs.

“Snow trains” run on Light Rail and Metro Subway tracks during the night to assure rail viability (and third-rail operation as well) by the time passenger-bearing cars begin their morning run.

Tree trimming crews are placed on standby to address any issues that may arise – or fall – on our tree-lined rail rights-of-way. (Responsibility for maintenance of way for the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines lies with CSX, which owns the tracks. Responsibility for the Penn Line is Amtrak’s.)

MARC Train and Commuter Bus:

Depending on the expected probability of the below-freezing weather event, MARC Train parking lots are pre-treated with sodium chloride (salt).

For Amtrak platforms (on the Penn Line), salt is prohibited due to its propensity to cause concrete to disintegrate – the rail ties on Amtrak lines are concrete. Only magnesium chloride or potassium chloride are used to counteract slippery surfaces on those platforms, stairs and walkways.

For platforms on the CSX Camden and Brunswick lines, sodium chloride is used for its effectiveness and lower cost. (CSX rail ties are wood.)

Re-freeze issues are considered part of the overall approach to safety preparation. After the weather event, crews are dispatched to reapply the appropriate treatment where there is the potential for a re-freeze overnight.

Commuter Bus snow preparation is conducted in concert with the State Highway Administration, which is responsible for maintaining Maryland’s network of Park and Ride lots. Commuter Bus drivers operate with the understanding that patrons may need extra time to board and alight the coach.

Mobility

Mobility paratransit services requests its passengers (via their Interactive Voice Response system) to consider whether their trip might best be delayed until the weather has cleared.

Mobility also works with its contractors to make sure that Mobility vehicles are fully prepared for winter weather, and that operators have been informed to report early for their shifts.

Office of Media Relations
Maryland Transit Administration



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#3 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 27 January 2015 - 01:43 PM

 

MTA Weather Advisory

 

MTA Local Bus Diversions Canceled

 

With the passing of last night’s snow storm that delivered a glancing blow to the Baltimore region, the MTA has canceled all Local Bus diversions.

 

All MTA travel modes, Local Bus, Metro Subway, Light Rail, MARC Train, Commuter Bus and Mobility transportation, are operating regularly with no weather-related issues to report.

 

The MTA thanks its customers for allowing extra travel time during the duration of the storm earlier this week.

 

We advise our passengers to listen to MTA Transit Team Reports and visit our website at www.mta.maryland.gov.  Customers can also call the MTA Transit Information Contact Center Monday through Friday from 6am to 7pm at 410-539-5000.  TTY 410-539-3497. 

 

To sign up for email notifications about service delays and modifications go to www.mta.maryland.gov/enotifications and visit MTA’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mtamaryland or Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/mtamaryland for more sources of updated information.

 

Office of Media Relations
Maryland Transit Administration



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users