November 2010 - Amtrak

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8 | November 2010 Amtrak Ink A complex logistical operation and consumer promotion, the Disney’s Christmas Carol Train Tour delivered the highest earned media value in Amtrak’s history. The team’s goal was for the company to generate at least $4 million in earned media value and the campaign actually exceeded the goal by 100 percent. Across the country, close to 700,000 people lined up to see the event; in one location alone there were close to 20,000 attendees in one day, many of whom stood in line until midnight. Disney’s Christmas Carol Train Tour Team Members Donald E. Cushine, Senior Director System Operations Support Teresa C. Hughey, Director of Charter and Group Services Gail B. Reisman, Senior Director National Advertising and Marketing Programs Michele E. White, Director of Sports and Entertainment Marketing Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DDS) Team Information Technology and Finance, Washington, D.C. The three members of the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standards (PCI- DSS) team were responsible for bringing Amtrak into compliance with new credit card regulations regarding payment card security. Amtrak was elevated to a “Level 1 Merchant” by credit card companies in 2009 based on the quantity of debit card and credit card payments that it accepts each year for passenger tickets, and food and beverage services. With the expectation that new requirements would be imposed with Level 1 status, a cross-organizational team was formed in 2008 that identified areas of PCI-DSS requiring remediation. The team members established a project with to become PCI-DSS compliant and to pass Level 1 Certification in 2009. After an investigation, the team determined that Amtrak had to implement a number of new technologies and technical fixes, policyrelated enhancements, and administrative changes to address over 200 issues. On October 26, 2009, Amtrak successfully obtained Level 1 Certification from Trustwave, a qualified third-party assessment vendor that is responsible for performing PCI Compliance Certifications. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) Team Members Ronald R. “Ron” Baklarz, Chief Information Security Officer Franklin C. “Frank” King, Director of Information Security Janet R. Langenderfer, Senior Director, Credit Cards, Treasurer’s Department, Finance Police Information Management Systems (PIMS) Project Team Amtrak Police Department – Nationwide The Police Information Management System (PIMS), the nerve center of the Amtrak Police Department (APD), went live after several years of hard work and dedicated service by the team members. Assistant Chief of Amtrak Police Lisa Shahade notes that the team dedicated countless hours of time both on and off duty to ensure that this $4 million project was successfully launched. It was completed ahead of time and came in under budget by nearly $1 million. The task was clearly defined by a contracted schedule to develop and implement a system by which the APD could move into the future with a high-tech, state-of-the-art computer system, and the operational benefits would increase officer safety through the availability of enhanced data retrieval. This project not only met, but exceeded, all expectations. Key enhancements include a redefinition of operational procedures (Dispatch & Police); complete call processing from receipt of call to written report; enhanced decision-making based on real-time statistical reports; reduced call processing and dispatch time; and increased officer safety through the availability of enhanced data retrieval. The PIMS Project Team also left room for future growth in state of the art technology such as mobile data terminals such as Blackberry and PDA devices for inputting information. PIMS Project Team Members William R. Bessette, Sergeant Daniel L. Campbell, Contractor/System Administrator Clifford A. Cordani, Captain William J. Foster, Sergeant Ronald K. Gontkof, Detective Michelle A. Jennings, Administrator IMS Applications Felix L. Perez, Inspector Brian P. Ravert, Captain Lisa A. Shahade, Assistant Chief Albert R. Winterbottom, Lt. (Retired) 2010 CHARLES LUNA SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Generation 2 Transfer Bridge Team The G2 Transfer Bridge Team was composed of seven dedicated employees who demonstrated a significant role in improving customer and employee safety. Previously, the standard procedure for a train-to-train transfer between conventional equipment was to have passengers make a significant step (sometimes a jump down) onto the ballast and then climb aboard another train on neighboring track. This had to be accomplished while making sure passengers didn’t touch both trains at the same time in order to avoid an electric shock. This process was time consuming, came with a high risk for injury due to traversing unstable ballast, and was sometimes embarrassing for passengers and crew that literally had to be pushed up onto the rescue train. After experiencing train-to-train transfers as a passenger two days in a row, Solomon Carey Jr. identified a better way to complete this process and raised the issue with his supervisor, Denise Labencki-Fullmer. His idea centered on the predecessor G1 Transfer Bridge that was developed for Acela trainsets. A team consisting of Carey and his colleagues, including Richard Gadbois (who had experience with the development of the G1 transfer bridge), brought the idea to fruition. From cradle to grave, the project took approximately one year to complete, and on October 9, 2009 the first train-to-train transfer with a G2 bridge occurred. The G2 was assembled in two minutes, and the transfer was completed within 15 minutes. Besides Amtrak, NJT and MARC have also used the G2 Transfer Bridge and have expressed interest in it. Kate Warr, Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee administrator, rides on the Northeast Corridor about once a week, and personally experienced a transfer using the G2 bridge after a trespasser strike that caused her train to be annulled. She was amazed at how quickly the transfer took place, and commented on how orderly, safe and easy the process was. Generation 2 Transfer Bridge Team Members Solomon J. Carey, Jr., Program Manager, OBS Operations Richard P. Gadbois, Regional Safety Officer Phyllis F. Gadson-Boykins, Trainmaster Gregory J. Marzili, CAD Engineer Michael F. Pollick, Safety Director Joseph Blair Slaughter, Manager, Vehicle Industrial Design Lawrence M. Tkachenko, Conductor (Retired) SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT Juan J. Bernal Mechanical Foreman III, Mechanical, San Antonio, Texas Juan J. Bernal started his career with Amtrak on October 6, 1997. He first worked in the Southwest Division Mechanical department in the Carman Journeyman Division, and is presently a Mechanical Foreman III in San Antonio. Trainmaster Ginger Brown recalls that John has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to passenger and employee safety throughout his years at San Antonio. He is an active member of the Amtrak Texas Safety Committee and has made significant contributions to the culture of safety in the area under his supervision. In this volunteer position, John posts safety alerts in the Mechanical department and attends to safety promotions, compliance with safety gear, posting of the day’s safety rules, and general observational walks around the work area. John also holds safety briefings with not only his direct reports but also with mechanical personnel, conductors and engineers. Many of the Safety Committee’s improvement initiatives were carried out after hours on John’s personal time. According to those who know him well, he has made safety his mission, contributing tireless off-duty hours to improving the area around the San Antonio station. Joseph F. MacDougall Mechanical Foreman III, Mechanical, San Antonio, Texas Joseph “Joe” MacDougall began his career with Amtrak in 1992. He has held various positions such as Unassigned Clerk, Ticket Clerk, Unassigned Extra Board and presently, Ticket Clerk. Joe began his term on the Bay District Safety Committee in February 2009 by inventorying and then repairing all safety deficiencies in the San Joaquin Valley, from baggage cart/trailer inspections to office furniture and general safety concerns. PAD Agent Clark Bergrun says, “Joe has a natural ability to foresee and prevent any potential safety issues. His diplomacy and charisma make his interactions with coworkers and management beneficial to all.” Assistant Superintendent Anthony Chapa gives Joe credit for ensuring that the station vehicles are more visible by adding additional flashing lights and reflective tape. Chapa recounts, “During station walkabouts, Joe discovered that 80 percent of the automatic doors at the stations did not have a func-
tioning emergency stop mechanism. His safety awareness allowed us to resolve this safety hazard and thus avoided any potential injuries to staff and passengers.” Mid-Atlantic Safe-2-Safer Administrative Committee The members of the Mid-Atlantic Safe-2-Safer Administrative Team are Patricia A. “Pat” Baylor, Florence “Pat” Graham and Deborah “Debbie” Benham. Pat Baylor was hired in 1984 as a Supervisor and progressed to Crew Base Supervisor, Product Line Supervisor, and Supervisor of the Auto Train before becoming an OBS Manager in 2009. Pat Graham was hired in 1985 as a Secretary. She became an Administrative Assistant in 1998 and Administrator in the Mechanical department in 2003. Debbie Benham was hired in1999 as a Red Cap. She worked as a Ticket Clerk for several years before becoming District Manager, Stations in 2007. In 2009, Amtrak launched Safe-2-Safer, a program that supports a behavioral bottom-up approach to safety. The launch of this new initiative required countless hours of manpower, meetings, and administrative and logistical support. Pat Baylor, Pat Graham and Debbie were hand-picked to assist the Steering Committee in scheduling training sessions, giving order to the action plans, task lists and the countless details involved in getting the project off the ground. Vice President of Transportation Richard Phelps recounts, “These women went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the Steering Committee had all the logistics in place for successful meetings ... they have been instrumental in the success of the rollout of Safe-2-Safer in the Mid-Atlantic Division.” They undertook the tasks associated with this new initiative while still maintaining their otherwise demanding jobs. With their assistance, the Mid-Atlantic delved first into Safe-2-Safer, set the tone for the other divisions and helped move forward one of the largest initiatives in Amtrak history. Mid-Atlantic Safe-2-Safer Administrative Committee Members Patricia A. “Pat” Baylor, Manager, On-board Services Florence “Pat” Graham, Mechanical Administrator Deborah D. Benham, District Manager, Stations SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR Empire District – New York State Amtrak’s Empire Safety Committee demonstrates a continuous and genuine effort to improve the safety environment for every employee and passenger under its watch. The Empire Safety Committee is a well-seasoned working group of 12 employees with several of its members having consistently served on the committee anywhere between three and 10 years. In 2009, the team marked significant improvements in its communications, by improving access to e-mail, providing phone and cell phone contact information to district employees, and establishing territory-wide distribution of its monthly safety theme pamphlet. The committee also initiated an outreach effort to CSX officials and DOT representatives to ask for regular participation on the Empire Safety Committee. These efforts resulted in the group’s ability to react proactively and efficiently to employee safety concerns throughout the district. Collective efforts, hard work and months of planning throughout 2009 produced the most successful employee Safety Fair ever. The committee used input obtained from fellow employees about the previous year’s fair to improve the 2009 event; the success of the safety fair demonstrates how the Empire Safety Committee consistently accepts and analyzes input and comments to produce significant improvements in employee and customer safety. The committee publishes monthly theme flyers that cover a full range of safety program compliance matters, and are used in daily job briefings, safety meetings, or quarterly contact meetings with employees to raise safety awareness. The information presented is also invaluable in influencing fellow workers about the significance of the committee’s work and the importance of collective safety efforts that focus on individual responsibility and knowledge. Empire Safety Committee Members David J. Batzold, Foreman II Michael R. Burns, Division Engineer Kevin M. Chittenden, Assistant Superintendent Thomas D. Connolly, Asst. Superintendent Terminal Operations Todd C. Hart, Passenger Engineer Virginia L. (Ginny) Hunter, Clerk Typist/Stat Clerk Donald S. Muscat, District Manager Stations Howard G. Noll, District Manager Station Andrew Pellettieri, Station Manager Special Duty James J. Slowey, Foreman II James P. Twyman, Passenger Conductor Catherine A. Welch, PE Chief Clerk STATE PARTNER Amtrak Ink November 2010 | 9 Robert Eaton Mayor of Leavenworth, Wash. Robert Eaton has been a citizen of Leavenworth, Washington, for 14 years. He was elected as Leavenworth’s mayor in 2008 after having served on the city council for six years; he was also Mayor Pro-Tem in 2007. As a member of the Leavenworth City Council, Robert served on the finance, economic development, and parks sub-committees. He also served as chair of the City Council Parks Committee and the regional Recreation Area Board. During that time he began working with Amtrak and BNSF Railway to restore daily passenger service to Leavenworth. Many years of his tireless dedication and perseverance went into the restoration of train service to Leavenworth, a city that had not claimed passenger rail service in more than half a century. Due to his efforts, a station was built and the Empire Builder has been making daily stops in both directions at the small, yet popular Bavarian-themed tourist city since September 25, 2009. The Leavenworth stop, referred to as “Icicle Station,” consists of an ADA compliant platform and shelter. In August 2010, the new station was recognized by the Washington Department of Transportation for its positive impact on the community and as a prime example of what can result from the deft coordination of complex agreements between Amtrak, BNSF, and municipal government. Kevin Page Chief of Rail Transportation, Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Richmond, Va. Kevin Page, Chief of Rail Transportation for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), is the kind of person you want in your corner, whether that is the Commonwealth and its citizens, or Amtrak and its passengers. His energy, passion and knowledge of both the rail industry and the internal workings of the state were a key reason Amtrak received a grant for a three-year demonstration project to extend additional Northeast Regional services to Lynchburg and Richmond. He was instrumental and hands-on in the start of the newly branded service to Lynchburg, which has significantly exceeded the budgeted ridership and revenues. With a wealth of information, Kevin is an incredible resource on passenger rail service. He has dedicated his life to providing transportation choices for people in a safe and efficient manner. Kevin brought both energy and focus to the department, which have led to measurable advantages in bringing high-speed rail to Virginia. Kevin also takes a personal interest in his projects — he always goes the extra mile. Although the entire DRPT was incredibly supportive, the significant and direct involvement by Kevin Page to create and assure tremendous success with Amtrak’s newest state partnership was and remains astounding. It is with honor that we present Kevin Page with this State Partner award. Allan Paul Director, Operations and Facilities Branch, North Carolina Department of Transportation – Rail Division, Raleigh, N.C. Allan Paul is a catalyst for rail service improvement and expansion in North Carolina. Through his tireless efforts, Allan has been instrumental to the continued development of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR). This project, along with Allan’s other contributions in the areas of station restoration and development, and equipment procurement and maintenance have far-reaching benefits for North Carolinians by putting people to work while providing transportation, environmental, and energy benefits through reduced congestion and improved air quality. Instrumental in the development of train and station host programs, Allan’s pioneering work serves as a national model in which train and station hosts assist at stations and on trains. They respond to passenger questions and provide valuable route and trip information. In addition, under Allan’s leadership, the NCDOT Rail Division recently completed construction of a $17 million award-winning station in Durham that incorporates an historic tobacco warehouse. Allan Paul has made it his business to ensure that North Carolina’s stations are a key part of the future transportation network. Due to these efforts, the state’s station program and the rail division in general is considered one of the finest in the United States. Allan Paul inspires us all with his passion and dedication to passenger rail and we are honored to present him with this award and call him a state partner. Oklahoma and Texas Departments of Transportation The dedicated staff members of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have overseen the successful establishment and growth of passenger rail service linking the cities and towns of central Oklahoma and north central Texas. In 1999, through federal funding, ODOT provided financial backing for a passenger rail service later named the Heartland Flyer. By the mid-2000s, funding issues threatened a cancellation of the service. Since the disruption would ultimately affect passengers on the southern end of the route, TxDOT was asked to join its northern neighbor in backing the train. Subsequently, in 2006 ODOT and TxDOT mutually
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November 2010 - Amtrak

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