Metrolink CEO Brief – May 24, 2019
Title VI and Budget Meeting and Public Outreach
The Community Relations team conducted a meeting in Los Angeles that focused on gaining the public’s feedback on the proposed update to the Title VI policies and plans, as well as with the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget.
We began public outreach for the meeting on May 10, which included seat drops, CIS messaging, conductor announcements, social media posts and posted notices in 10 different languages. Through our outreach efforts, 1,338 people participated in the meeting either through viewing the Facebook Live (pictured above) or attending the meeting.
Metrolink is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to update our Title VI Triennial Report. The report specifies that no person shall on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex or disabilities be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal funds.
Additionally, for those who were unable to attend, we hosted a Facebook Live and the documents related to the public outreach can be found at www.metrolinktrains.com/publichearing.
We also encouraged the community to leave continuous feedback through June 13, at www.metrolinktrains.com/ecomments.
Creating opportunities for inclusion and engagement with the public is my on-going effort for Metrolink. As our June 14 hearing approaches, I look forward to providing the results of our outreach efforts to the Board.
Director McCallon Becomes Newest Guest Train Conductor
As of this week, City of Highland Mayor Pro Tem and 2nd Vice-Chair Larry McCallon can be heard aboard San Bernardino Line trains as part of our guest train conductor program.
Director McCallon’s recorded voice welcomes passengers onboard Metrolink trains and announces San Bernardino Line station stops.
Director McCallon served in the United States Air Force for 21 years and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during the Vietnam War and is a retired businessman with 18 years’ experience as president and CEO of McFam Corporation.
The guest train conductor program is part of our ongoing efforts to better engage with riders on the system. We launched the program earlier this month on the Orange County Line with Angels World Series hero and Hall of Famer Tim Salmon. Future guest conductors we plan to introduce are State Senator Connie Leyva, Riverside County Supervisor and Metrolink Director Karen Spiegel, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metrolink Director Hilda Solis, along with Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, among others.
Be sure to keep your ears open and you may soon hear a familiar voice on your train!
Metrolink, Metro Partnering on Regional Connectivity
This week, a marketing street team promoted a new, free on-demand ride-sharing initiative through Via at the El Monte Metrolink Station. Via is an on-demand shared transit provider, similar to Uber and Lyft. The marketing team informed riders boarding and detraining about this first/last mile opportunity through this partnership between Via, Metro and Metrolink.
This is part of an existing one-year pilot program launched by Metro in January. The pilot program is funded through a $1.35 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration for its Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox Demonstration program.
The program’s service zones connecting to Metrolink consist of a 13-square-mile area around the Burbank Airport-South and Burbank-Downtown stations, and a 23-square-mile area around the El Monte Station.
The program seeks to develop a fully integrated transportation experience that is personalized to the commuter’s traveling needs.
In support of addressing First Mile/Last Mile gaps as Metrolink continues to grow, we seek to create new opportunities, like Via for commuters to enjoy our services as they connect from one transportation service to the next.
The marketing and promotion effort will continue at the Burbank Airport-South, Burbank-Downtown and El Monte stations.
Speaking at the Railway Association of Southern California and American Council of Engineering Companies of Orange County
This week, I had the opportunity to be the guest speaker at two events: the Railway Association of Southern California (RASC) annual scholarship dinner on Tuesday and the American Council of Engineering Companies, Orange County Chapter (ACEC) on Wednesday.
At RASC, I was given the chance to inspire graduate and undergraduate students looking to further their education in the rail industry by talking to them about Metrolink.
At ACEC (pictured left), I provided information on my mission for Metrolink, our current projects and future opportunities with the agency.
As a nonprofit organization, RASC is dedicated to promoting the diverse professions within the railroad industry and sponsoring fellowship among railroad professionals.
Several thousand dollars in scholarships were awarded to students with big dreams in the railroad industry and I was pleased that Metrolink was a part of their promising futures.
As a group representing consulting engineering and land surveying firms within the private sector, ACEC’s goal is to grow and improve California using several engineering services.
I was delighted to showcase Metrolink being one of four railroads in the nation to meet the federal PTC deadline of full implementation, and our plans to share our knowledge with other railroad providers.
In the above photo, I’m with Camilo Rocha, ACEC-OC President, TRC; Stephanie Sweeny, ACEC-OC Board Member, TRC; Dave Moritz, ACEC-OC Board Member, Psomas; Bernie McInaly, ACEC-OC Board Member, Guida Surveying; and Tamara Werkmeister, ACEC-OC Board Member, WSP.
I also elaborated on the SCORE project and the improvements it will add to our customers’ experiences.
Euphoria Film Shoot at Union Station
On May 11-12, a Metrolink train at Union Station was part of the action in the filming of the new HBO television series, Euphoria starring Zendaya Coleman, known for her recent role in Disney’s Marvel Universe, a multimillion-dollar franchise.
HBO selected Metrolink to film onboard our trains. The film production crew of 190 people, used Platform Seven between tracks 13 and 14, as well as the parking lot to stage the equipment trucks.
To pull off this huge event, and to provide safety and protection for everyone involved, it took several Metrolink departments including Operations, Equipment, Compliance, Contracts, Legal, Marketing and our Rights-of-Way.
As a result of Metrolink’s Revenue Advertising program, an estimated $71,000 was generated. A final amount will be determined following the complete invoice process.
The upcoming episode will air later this summer on HBO. Watch the trailer here.
CMF Monitored by the Latest Robotic Security System
Metrolink’s security team deployed an improved security system to monitor the grounds of the Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) and the north entrance of Union Station.
This state-of-the-art robotic security system has the capabilities to provide credential validation, notify security operations of trespassers in-real time, recognize license plates, while also offering cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The system has long-range audio paging and close-range video conferencing, and is equipped with its own battery management system.
Introduced to CMF and Union Station as a pilot program, and now in the evaluation stage, the results are promising. The new technology enhances our current security measures by adding facial recognition and sending verbal security notification to the security staff along with other safety features.
The device is being monitored from the Security Operations Center in Pomona. I look forward to sharing the results of the program in the near future.
Kick Off Summer over Memorial Day Weekend with our $10 Holiday Discount
Metrolink is offering $10 Holiday discounted tickets on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.
On Memorial Day, Metrolink is offering a Sunday/Holiday schedule. As part of the Sunday/Holiday schedule, there will not be service on the Ventura County or Riverside lines, nor on the four stops of the Perris Valley Line extension of the 91/Perris Valley Line.
This is a great way to extend the weekend by taking Metrolink throughout Southern California by heading to the beach, a theme park or Downtown Los Angeles.
Metrolink’s Rail 2 Rail® program with Amtrak, which allows Metrolink Monthly Pass holders to travel on Pacific Surfliner trains within station pairs at no additional charge, will be suspended from Friday, May 24 through Tuesday, May 28. The program will resume on Wednesday, May 29.
The $10 Holiday ticket can be purchased on the Metrolink app, or at ticket vending machines at Metrolink stations under “special ticket options.” Riders on May 27 can also purchase one-way or round-trip tickets for destinations that offer a fare less than $10. Regular weekend service and fares will apply on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.