Comments on: WSDOT RIFs cut passenger rail staffing

By: Opinion: WSDOT and Amtrak Cascades - Seattle Transit Blog

Opinion: WSDOT and Amtrak Cascades - Seattle Transit Blog — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:46:38 +0000

[...] news that was brought forward to us recently? Washington State Department of Transportation reorganized the passenger rail division during a critical time when federal funding is available for key [...]

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:04:45 +0000

From: http://allaboardwashington.org/cms/index.php

UPDATE – WSDOT Passenger Rail Shakeup

Last Friday, March 13th, there was a major reorganization of the office at WSDOT that handles the Amtrak Cascades service. It has came to our attention that several key staff members who were responsible for the Amtrak Cascades program have been let go or otherwise reassigned to other duties. All Aboard Washington is fully aware of the current situation at WSDOT, and we are actively working with the Legislature, WSDOT, and others to ensure that our state’s Passenger Rail program remains healthy and growing. We will post more news and detailed developments online as they become available.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:48:45 +0000

I’d like to point out that while Uznanski may be the only one no longer employed, those who are still employed have been reassigned to work on freight projects, and thus to NOT work on desperately needed passenger projects.

Oh well, I guess Obama really thinks that electric cars are the answer to our problems as that’s the sort of factory he’s going to visit tomorrow in California.

Paving our way to oblivion!

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:45:06 +0000

If freight pays its way, why does it need any help from the State DOT?

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:44:34 +0000

I have never understood why the contractors are against rail projects, but their history in Washington State shows a strong record of advocating against them. And apparently they are still at it.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:36:18 +0000

Well even if the road/sprawl interests are up to their old tricks it isn’t like their efforts are going to lead to the Federal rail money suddenly being re-allocated to roads. Walking away from $800 million in Federal money seems kind of silly in any case.

Also I’m not sure contractors would necessarily be against rail projects. After all somebody has to build those. Many of the projects involve grade separation or reworking grade crossings which will even provide work for contractors who specialize in roads.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:23:47 +0000

Freight pays it’s way. Stimulus money is great but Federal funds all to often provide seed money for programs for which the States are all to often left holding the bag when it comes to long term funding. The great “green” ideal is sustainability yet all of the proposals for funding this rely on taxing the supposedly unsustainable parts of the economy… mmmm, then where does the money come from?

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:09:09 +0000

Freight volumes are down.

Passanger numbers are up.

So let’s fire the staff who are the brain-trust on passenger matters??

Infrastructure Stimulus money is coming and the AGC, Washington State Auto Dealers, Washington Asphalt Pavement Association, etc. don’t want rail to spoil the party.

Asphalt uber alles!!

By: Bernie

Bernie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:25:25 +0000

Of the people listed last week as being affiliated with the Passenger Rail Administration only Ken Uznanski is no longer listed with the staff. Hardly worth impeaching the Governor, especially seeing who the most likely replacement would be in a special election.

By: And1

And1 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:09:50 +0000

The new org chart chart has the Freight Director and her staff and the old one didn’t so it is four fewer.

If they follow their mid-range plan they can go after over $700 million in stimulus that only the state can go after, not ST. That would get the Amtrak Cascades service up 8 SEA-PDX round trips from 4 today.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:56:16 +0000

The WSDOT restructures State Rail and Marine Office press release is online now at WSDOT.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:39:21 +0000

I’d guess project managers are more expensive than assistants and research/planners. Sounds like less chiefs and more Indians which should get more work done. I did notice that they don’t list a Rail Passenger department anymore. However, I don’t think that’s much of a change because everybody was cross listed before so I think “Rail Passenger Department” was a bit of a “marketing tool” (maybe a good one?).

It makes sense that many of the people dealing with passenger service would also be handling freight since one of the big parts of the job is working with BNSF to share ROW. ST administers the “passenger” component of Sounder and Amtrak the Cascades. I’m not sure how much lobbying WSDOT did for federal rail dollars. I think that’s up to our Senators and Congressional representatives. Certainly ST has a hand in the political arena but I’m not so sure I really want to see WSDOT given the mandate to try and formulate policy.

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:12:01 +0000

Well, the re-org is not a cost saving move. In comparing the previous org chart from Nov,07 to the new one just released, the Freight and Marine office gained a net of 4 positions.
The interesting thing is that they lost project managers and the head of the Cascades passenger rail (Ken Uznanski), and picked up admin assistants for the two dept heads, and several researchers/planners.
The focus is clearly going to be supporting ‘freight movements’, rail, truck, and ports. I don’t see passenger rail even listed as a primary job, in spite of the press release’s kind words towards passenger rail.
We’ll see!

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:20:35 +0000

Right, “Marine” is Port traffic. One of the things the WSDOT Rail and Marine department runs is the Grain Train which gets the wheat from eastern Washington to the ports where it can be exported.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:12:54 +0000

Jeff,

Thank you for the Press Release. Could you, if possible, let me know when this is on the WSDOT page?

Thank you!

seattletransitblog@gmail.com

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:21:05 +0000

Ooops, perhaps Cascades was always in the Freight page. Well I guess that’s what we passengers are? Never mind!

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:11:38 +0000

Umm, then why is the Cascades program now on the FREIGHT webpage at WashDOT??

Why is “State Rail and Marine Director” Scott Witt’s actual title “Freight Systems Division Co-Director” and is listed under the WSDOT Freight Systems Division?

And will someone please explain this new organizational chart?
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7F45D0CA-794C-4492-8D79-AA56ED89F621/0/RailSystemOrgChartFinal031009.pdf

(I presume “Marine” is different from “Ferries” at WashDOT)

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:12:56 +0000

Ok, so perhaps things aren’t nearly so bad as many here feared. Then again it is a press release.

By: Jeff Adamson

Jeff Adamson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:03:58 +0000

FYI:
WSDOT Headquarters – News
310 Maple Park Ave. SE Olympia, WA 98504-7407, 360-705-7000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009

Contact: Scott Witt, State Rail and Marine Director, 360-705-6903

WSDOT restructures State Rail and Marine Office

OLYMPIA –The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced today that it has restructured the State Rail and Marine Office to improve efficiencies and service, eliminating a total of four positions; three vacant positions and the position of Rail Passenger manager.

“Rail, both passenger and freight, is a critically important component of the state’s transportation system”, said Scott Witt, State Rail and Marine Director. “We don’t take these moves lightly. But we believe this restructure allows us to combine and focus all of our assets in support of Washington’s rail program”.

An internal review and a survey of stakeholders revealed that the top three services that the State Rail and Marine office should focus on are freight and passenger rail planning, rail project management, and targeted communications.

The office has been segmented into three operating teams responsible for data and strategic planning, financial management, and delivery/project management. Moving forward, the State Rail and Marine Office will continue to focus on aggressively pursuing federal stimulus funding referencing the Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan, the recently released Amtrak Cascades Mid Range Plan, and the department’s strategic project list in accordance with Legislative directive.

The State Rail and Marine office directs and manages the state’s freight and passenger rail capital programs and operations. It enacts the direction of the Legislature as it impacts rail and marine initiatives and manages rail system improvements that support economic development, move people and goods, relieve road and airport congestion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The department works with railroads, ports, communities, and other organizations to improve the state’s rail system. WSDOT is also responsible for rail project identification, strategic rail transportation planning, development of state rail and marine data, and state grant programs administration.

More information on the State Rail and Marine Office is available on-line at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Freight/Rail/.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:04:30 +0000

Sorry for the double post!