Metrolink CEO Brief – June 21, 2019
Director Brian Berkson and Mayor Rusty Bailey to Become Newest Guest Train Conductors
Next week, we will welcome two new Guest Train Conductors, Board Director and Jurupa Valley Mayor Brian Berkson and Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey to the Riverside, San Bernardino and 91/Perris Valley Lines.
The new Guest Train Conductors will welcome passengers and announce stations stops and safety messages.
Berkson also serves on the boards of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Riverside Transit Agency and the Western Riverside Council of Governments.
Bailey has served as the Mayor of Riverside since 2012 after first being elected to the Riverside City Council in 2007 and has also served as a U.S Army officer and worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Berkson and Bailey will join other guest conductors including Angels Hall of Famer Tim Salmon, Riverside County Supervisor and Metrolink Board Member Karen Spiegel and City of Highland Mayor Pro Tem and Metrolink Board 2nd Vice Chair Larry McCallon. Future guest conductors include State Senator Connie Leyva and Metrolink Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
Exploring Alternative Energy Solutions for a Zero-Emissions Future
On Tuesday afternoon, members of the executive leadership team traveled to a rail yard in Anaheim to meet with a vendor who is working to advance a research and development project that would upgrade any locomotive to a zero-emission, battery-operated hybrid locomotive.
The vendor is currently working on a project with North Carolina Department of Transportation to simultaneously upgrade a Tier 2 locomotive to Tier 4 and install a battery that would provide two clean power sources. If this project were successful, it would reduce emissions, noise and mechanical delays.
The team has approached Metrolink to work with them to advocate for this type of program to agencies that fund projects of this nature. While there are other companies exploring this new technology, staff believes advocating and partnering with this type of initiative is an important first-step to a zero-emissions future for our agency. Staff will continue to pursue this another other initiatives that enable the agency to best serve the Southern California region.
Doing Business with Metrolink: Procurement Update
We currently are accepting proposals for PO779R-20 - Provision of Ballast - due June 26, SP510-20 - Financial Advisory Services - due July 2 and PO793-20 - Locomotive Oils and Lubricants - due July 23.
We have also released the RFP for the bundled operations and maintenance contract - MSOP150-20 - Rail Operations, Maintenance and Support Services Procurement - due October 11. The objective of the bundled contract is to obtain a single firm or joint venture that will operate and maintain our system for an anticipated seven years.
Maintenance activities will include inspection and repair of tracks, bridges, structures, wayside signals, communications, rights-of-way, grade crossings and Level 1 train control systems for the entire system. Responsibilities will also include maintenance of SCRRA facilities and all equipment, locomotives, rail cars and rail car components, along with mechanisms such as brake systems, motors, seats and passenger communication equipment.
The vendor portal can be found here and an up-to-date list of open and upcoming procurements can be viewed here.