Cntracting Cmmuter Rail Services An Industry Overview David C. Wilcck, PE Michael Baker Jr., Inc./Vice President Nrwd, MA James R. Stetzel Transit Safety Management, Inc./Sr. Railrad Manager Gergetwn, MA
Overview Brief Histry Service Delivery Mdels Current Cntracting Practices Lessns Learned
Brief Histry Cmmuter Rail Cntracting Service f Freight Railrads Purchase f Service Agreements Influential Legislatin: 1970 Railpax 1973 Reginal Rail Rerganizatin Act 1981 Nrtheast Rail Service Act
Brief Histry Cmmuter Rail Cntracting 1/1/83 Cnrail exit 1/9/89 Tri-Rail 6/22/92 VRE Manassas Line 7/20/92 VRE Fredericksburg Line 10/92 Metrlink Tday 27 services in 23 urban areas
Service Delivery Mdels Cntracted Areas f Service Equipment Maintenance Maintenance f Way Operatins Other
Service Delivery Mdels Prviders f Services Public Agencies Traditinal Freight Railrads Amtrak (US) and VIA Rail (CA) Cntractrs: Jint Ventures Special Purpse Cmpanies
Service Delivery Mdels Cntracting Packages Bundled Service (B) All services prvided by a single entity Unbundled Services (UB) Services brken int multiple cntracts
Cntracting Practices Summary 13 Fully Bundled Five agencies d it all in-huse MBTA (Bstn) is the largest fully bundled service cntracted ut 14 Unbundled Varies frm minr t fully unbundled Metrlink is the largest fully unbundled service w/multiple cntractrs
Equipment Maintenance Maintenance f Way Operatins Cntracting Practices Summary - Bundled Service Urban Area Agency/In-huse MBTA Bstn Freight Railrad Metr Nrth Railrad NYC Nrth and East Amtrak r VIA Lng Island Rail Rad NYC Lng Island Cntractr New Jersey Transit NYC - NJ SEPTA Philadelphia Music City Star Nashville NICTD Chicag Suth Bend IN Trinity Railway Express Dallas Ft. Wrth A-Train Dentn Cunty TX MetrRail Austin TX Rail Runner Express Albuquerque NM CalTrain SF San Jse NCTD Caster San Dieg
Equipment Maintenance Maintenance f Way Operatins Cntracting Practices Summary - Unbundled Service Urban Area Agency/In-huse Shreline East New Haven New Lndn Freight Railrad MARC DC Baltimre/Brunswick Amtrak r VIA VRE DC Nrthern VA Cntractr SFRTA (Tri-Rail) Miami West Palm Beach METRA Chicag Nrthstar Minneaplis Frnt Runner Salt Lake City UT Sunder Seattle Westside Express Prtland OR ACE San Jse Stcktn Metrlink Ls Angeles AMT Mntreal GO Transit Trnt West Cast Express Vancuver
Lessns Learned Mdern Era Agreements Quite lengthy Detailed perfrmance standards Reprting requirements Mandated staffing levels Penalty regimes Clear expressin f gals and bjectives
Lessns Learned Develpment f Unexpected Trends Tw Mst Difficult Cntracting Trends t Predict: Unbundling creating a service delivery scenari where different functinal prviders nly prvide that single element f the service Agency staff invlvement at New Starts
Lessns Learned Develpment f Unexpected Trends These trends have created significant new rles and respnsibilities fr agencies: Management and crdinatin f multiple service prviders Quick reslutin f finger pinting Taking respnsibility when an agency emplyee is the cause f a prblem
Lessns Learned Factrs Affecting Scpe f Wrk Extent t which the Agency wns/ cntrls the service assets Ability f Agency t be invlved Extent t which the cmmuter rail service may impact ther agency services
Lessns Learned Delivery f Services Staff resurces dedicated t cntract versight Enfrcing the perfrmance regime Custmer service
Lessns Learned Extra Wrk Cmpensatin Every agreement has a prvisin fr service changes, extra wrk. Sme Fixed Price Cntracts have Cst Plus extra wrk prvisins
Lessns Learned Oversight Degree f versight varies Mst agencies have a dedicated grup that mnitrs cntract cmpliance Strng agency presence in capital prgram Agency presence n service end mre uneven
Lessns Learned Best Practices What is agency trying t accmplish thrugh prcess What are the Gals and Objectives What type/duratin cntract best fits What functins des the Agency wish t prvide Effective mnitring/managing Rle f hst railrad
Lessns Learned Key Perfrmance Indicatrs Safety Perfrmance Imprved Custmer Service Cst Effectiveness/Imprved Asset Utilizatin Respnsiveness t Agency
Lessns Learned 30 Years f Cntracting Cmmuter Rail Service N ne size fits all cnstraints in cntracting Agency emplyees may be invlved in day-t-day service delivery Unbundle if it makes sense and yu can manage it
Lessns Learned 30 Years f Cntracting Cmmuter Rail Service Cmmit sufficient, experienced resurces t cntract management and versight Maintain an excellent relatinship with the hst freight railrad The best way t cntract ut yur cmmuter rail service is the way that wrks best fr yu
Cntracting Cmmuter Rail Services Questins David C. Wilcck, PE Michael Baker Jr., Inc./Vice President Nrwd, MA James R. Stetzel Transit Safety Management, Inc./Sr. Railrad Manager Gergetwn, MA