Dubai Ports World, an Arab Emirates-backed company, has been granted a $6.8 billion deal by British company P & O, to manage key ports in the U.S., including New York, Jew Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami.

U.S. lawmakers are concerned that a company linked to terrorist-based countries has been given such a large takeover, but analysts and port sources are less concerned, citing the multiple layers of screening and protection in global shipping.

The deal makes Dubai Ports World the world’s third largest ports group.

“Outsourcing the operations of our largest ports to a country with a dubious record on terrorism is a homeland security and commerce accident waiting to happen,” said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.

U. S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, former chairman of the freight rail company, CSX Corporation, which sold its port assets to Dubai in 2004, examined the transaction and was not concerned. Another top-level official in the Department of Homeland Security, Stewart Baker, expressed his confidence that Dubai has a solid security record.

“We could not find anything concrete that led us to believe that the transaction ought to be stopped for national security reasons,” Baker told Reuters.

Congress members are not satisfied. Money for the September 11 attacks was wired through the UAE banking system and two of the September 11 terrorists were UAE citizens. Seven lawmakers have signed a letter written to Snow expressing concern that the Bush administration was not giving the case appropriate attention and urging him to make the Committee on Foreign Investments undertake a full 45-day investigation.

The executive director of the Port of Baltimore, Brooks Royster, is not concerned. “These are businessmen. They’re not here to insert terrorists into the country. They’re about making a profit on their investment.”

The price of Amtrak’s discounted Smart Pass tickets is going up ten percent today.

Amtrak says about two thousand Smart Pass customers will be affected in the Northeast Corridor -- mostly between Pennsylvania and New York. The tickets are good for unlimited travel on designated Amtrak trains for a full month.

The monthly commuter passes had been discounted by 60 percent, but that discount is being adjusted to 50 percent. It’s the second fare increase since the fall when the tickets were discounted by 70 percent.

Amtrak says the increased fare is to cover rising expenses, including the cost of fuel.

BlastGard International awarded contract
to install blast mitigating trash receptacles

Amtrak Taps BlastGard, Producer of The World’s First Trash Receptacle That Captures All Fragmentation, Dramatically Reduces Blast Pressures and Quenches Fireballs, to Protect its Passengers

BlastGard International, Inc. (OTCBB:BLGA), the creator of blast-mitigation products and services, was awarded an $828,750 contract for its BlastGard MTR blast-mitigated trash receptacles from the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). The contract calls for delivery of more than 200 trash receptacles. BlastGard Models MTR 91 and MTR 101 blast-mitigated trash receptacles effectively deal with all the lethal threats of an improvised explosive device (IED).

“Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. Following a series of bombings in Spain in 2003 and recently (the attacks) in London, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has further heightened its security on public transportation systems, especially in and around major cities,” said BlastGard CEO and Chairman Jim Gordon. “The installation of these blast-mitigating trash receptacles is yet another example of Amtrak’s continual efforts to enhance the safety and security of the 25,000,000 people who travel on its rail service each year.”

About Amtrak

In fiscal year 2004, Amtrak served more than 25 million passengers, an all-time record. Each day, approximately 68,000 passengers travel on Amtrak. On weekdays, Amtrak operates up to 300 trains per day, excluding commuter trains Amtrak operates under contract. Amtrak operates over more than 22,000 route miles. It owns 650 route miles, primarily between Boston and Washington, DC, and in Michigan. In other parts of the country, Amtrak trains use tracks owned by freight railroads. Amtrak trains operate every minute of the entire year.

About BlastGard International, Inc.

State Supreme Court decision lets property be taken for rail station

TACOMA, WA --- Sound Transit will be allowed to seize a Tacoma couple’s property to build a commuter rail station.

A state Supreme Court ruled that a government agency can seize private property by eminent domain for a public use. It said that it is a “legislative judgment” and can be overturned by the courts only if there is proof of fraud or if the government clearly ignores the law.

Sound Transit is taking the South Tacoma property as part of its effort to extend Sounder commuter train service south from Tacoma to Lakewood.

The owners of the property, Ken and Barbara Miller, protested that they had not heard about the seizure, but the court ruled that it only had to be announced on the a agency’s web site. The court also ruled that a web site notice was adequate.

The Millers had been aware that theirs was one of the properties the state was considering for the rail station but argued that they should have been notified of the meeting where the selection was made.

They are insisting on trial by jury to decide the compensation they will receive for the property, which is about an acre in size and includes a vacant house.

Low-Car Diet participants getting around just fine

SAN DIEGO -- Fourteen San Diegans took up the challenge of giving up their personal automobiles for one month in exchange for 25 hours of free Flexcar use, a transit pass, two roundtrip Amtrak tickets to Los Angeles and free passes to Universal Studies. Two weeks into the experiment, the participants are finding out how relatively easy and pleasant it has been to get around, using a mix of bike, bus, feet and Flexcar.

This is the first-ever San Diego Low-Car Diet, sponsored by Flexcar, the U.S. car-sharing industry which has car-sharing services in seven large metropolitan areas around the country. If the participants complete the month without driving their own car, they will be awarded free hours of Flexcar use each month for a year. And if they decide to sell their own car and continue to use Flexcar, they will enjoy savings of up to several hundred dollars per month over owning a personal vehicle.

Two weeks after giving up their cars in a month-long challenge, 14 San Diegans are surprised at how relatively easy it has been. Using a mix of bus, feet, bike and Flexcar, the participants in the first-ever San Diego Low-Car Diet are still in the game.

Participants are keeping journals of their experiences, a number of excerpts of which are included below.

• Robert Eichwald wins the award for the honorary Flexcar marketing employee with his journal entry, as follows: “I had my first effort using Flexcar. And I’m afraid to report that...it was no big deal! I felt like I was missing something. It has to be more complicated than this. I need to give some sort of iris scan or give a drop of blood or something. But, no, it was simpler than using an ATM machine, minus answering if I would like to give my responses in English or Spanish.”

• Janet Comer, a Broker Assistant for Burnham Real Estate learned one of the benefits of Flexcar -- a diverse fleet. She used one of Flexcar’s pickup trucks for a trip to Home Depot to purchase a number of large plants, a trip, she says “that would not have been possible with a car.”

• Sage Waetjen, a producer at NBC 7/39 experienced the freedom of skipping past the traffic by using the Honda Civic Hybrid to cruise in the HOV lanes. She plans to use “a couple more hours this week for school and errands. I am also planning to use the trolley and bus for a doctor’s appt later in the week.”

• Todd Ruth, a member of the only family taking part in the challenge, utilized transit, walking and another partner in reducing dependency on cars -- Amazon.com. He writes that on Monday, “Special chlorine-free diapers arrived at our door from Amazon.com: one less reason to drive to a store!”

• Dee Mason, an executive with Amtrak was impressed with how convenient it is to not drive at all, when she reported on a trolley trip to Mission Valley. “The entire trip was stress free and took about the same time if I had driven in my car there but would have had to search for a parking space.”

• Janet Fairbanks, who works for SANDAG, wrote that she thought it was “difficult to figure out exactly when a car will be needed and for how long on a non-structured day like a Saturday.” But she had a spontaneous need for a car at 5:15 one night, and the Flexcar in her building was available, so she used it to get to her running club.

New York State launches a Transit Clean Fuel Vehicle initiative

ALBANY, NY -- Through an innovative bond act approved by New York State voters in November, 2005, “The Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act, $2.9 billion will be available for clean fuel transit vehicles. Last Wednesday, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Thomas J. Madison, Jr. announced that public transportation agencies other than the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) may begin applying for this funding under the Transit Clean Fuel Vehicle Initiative.

“Thanks to Governor Pataki’s leadership, we have been able to provide New Yorkers with a safe, efficient and environmentally sound transportation system,” Commissioner Madison said. “Together, we will continue to improve the state’s transportation system with environmental enhancements that utilize the latest energy technologies and continue our nationally recognized context sensitive design program.”

Approximately $20 million in statewide transit capital grants will be available for the 2005-06 and 06-07 state fiscal years to help purchase clean-fueled hybrid-electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. A remaining $30 million in funding will be made available at a rate of $10 million annually from state fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

Funding will help subsidize the costs associated with mainstreaming approximately 250 hybrid-electric buses into public transit fleets. The program also will continue to support the use of CNG with funding available to transit systems that have previously demonstrated a commitment to using CNG and have invested in facility and infrastructure modifications required to support CNG.

Eligible public transportation participants will receive program information, guidelines and applications via mail, or may contact the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Assistance Program Delivery Bureau at (518) 457-8343. Applications must be received by NYSDOT no later than April 17, 2006.

Approximately $40 million will be allocated for specific clean-fuel projects during the first four years of the Transit Clean Fuel Initiative. The remaining $10 million will be apportioned during the final year of the program on a needs-based formula that takes into consideration local air quality attainment designation, the portion of existing system fleet eligible for replacement, and the availability of base vehicle funding, which is the cost of a standard diesel vehicle.

More green thumbs sought to maintain new rail medians

SCITUATE, MA - The arrival of new MBTA commuter rail in Scituate Harbor this spring will bring more than trains and passengers to this shore line town, if the beautification commission has its way, according to an article in the Scituate Mariner. Attractive flowering beds and vegetation are planned for the new traffic islands and medians which will be added to the rail right of way in the downtown area. The purpose of the raised curb sections, ranging in length approaching the grade crossings, is to help slow traffic and keep cars in their lanes, according to MBTA Ombudsman Susan Phippen. The commission already maintains more than 40 planted gardens, traffic islands and many of the colorful flower boxes outside businesses in Scituate Harbor and they say they’re going to need some new green thumbs to get the job done for the new landscaping plans. Over time, the Beautification Commission will be asked to take on the upkeep and maintenance of the medians, which will be planted with perennials and are all part of the town’s streetscapes project and Egypt neighborhood plans. All flowers and various vegetation are purchased locally and all planted areas are in place before Memorial Day. Beautification commission member Melissa Boynton, said she takes pride in making Scituate a nicer place to live. “We all enjoy our work and feel blessed to have such loyal and dedicated volunteers,” she said to the Mariner reporter. Photo Left: Scituate Mariner   Return to index

CPR unveils new Royal Canadian Pacific
building on company’s 125th Birthday

Developed by Calgary’s Centron Group of Companies, a new 9,000 square foot, two-story building is planned in the heart of downtown Calgary, at the corner of 9th Avenue and 1st Street SW, which will house the offices of all Royal Canadian Pacific operations. It is adjacent to the Centron Group of Companies’ redevelopment of the former post-office building.

“It was on February 16th, 1881, CPR was incorporated. Since that time the company has played a key role in our nation’s growth and development, contributing to our local and national economies by moving goods and people important to Canada,” said CPR President, Fred Green. “The exciting move to new service offices with its unique design strengthens Royal Canadian Pacific’s presence in Calgary as it provides an exciting physical anchor to promote our luxury rail service through the magnificent Rocky Mountains.”

“Our company views the redevelopment of this location as an opportunity to enhance the urban landscape and to build on the history of the city associated with Canadian Pacific Railway,” said Cole Harris, President of the Centron Group of Companies, co-developer of the site with the Homburg Group. “Our company recognized the importance of celebrating our heritage and combining it with the modern needs of businesses in of one of Canada’s great cities.”

“CPR and the City of Calgary have grown up together with the rail company being an important part of our city’s development,” said Calgary-area Alderman Druh Farrell. “CPR’s announcement that it is locating its office for Royal Canadian Pacific in Calgary is extremely good news as it strengthens our city’s reputation as a corporate centre and will dramatically add to Calgary’s downtown landscape.”

The location of Royal Canadian Pacific’s new offices is across from the historic Fairmont Palliser Hotel and is joined to the existing Canadian Pacific Pavilion, home to Royal Canadian Pacific’s fleet of luxury rail cars. Through the design work of Cohos Evamy - the lead architect and design firm - the inspiration for the headquarters is derived from an historic steel trestle bridge. The trestle sets up the primary public space - the Grand Foyer - which links directly to the existing CPR Pavilion. A highly transparent steel frame and glass wall provides a view through the Grand Foyer to a rusticated stone wall reflecting the solid character of the west wall of the Fairmont Palliser Hotel. Materials such as black plate steel, glass and stone are consistent with the existing train Pavilion, historic hotel and Grain Exchange building.

At an urban scale, the Royal Canadian Pacific offices make a number of gestures to the city’s architectural presence. The building is set back from the street to the benefit of the pedestrian condition at the corner. A new large size, pedestal mounted public clock, based on the design of a Canadian Pacific railway clock located in Montreal’s Windsor Station, will mark the corner of 9th Avenue and 1st Street. In addition, stylized bronze railway artifacts will set into the adjacent sidewalk to be discovered as found objects.

Mr. Green noted that Royal Canadian Pacific is entering its sixth season of operation. Once again, the Royal Canadian Pacific will host its classic, all-inclusive luxury tours. The 2006 theme tours include the signature ‘Royal Canadian Rockies Experience’, featuring a 650-mile train trip amid the majestic Rocky Mountains, including stops in Banff and Lake Louise, and through the scenic Columbia River Valley. This year’s schedule also includes a special excursion from Calgary to Vancouver, from June 26-29 inclusive, celebrating the inauguration of Canadian Pacific Railway’s first transcontinental train, ‘The Pacific Express,’ on June 28, 1886.

Store trip turns deadly for Summers County man

SUMMERS COUNTY, W. VA - An elderly man, driving back from picking up his newspaper Thursday morning, was hit by an Amtrak train at the grade crossing in Sandstone. Summers County Sheriff Garry Wheeler said the gates were down and the warning lights were flashing. But a CSX train was parked off to the right of the driver, and the sheriff assumed that the victim thought the gates were down for the parked train so he drove around the gate onto the tracks.

The Amtrak train, coming from the left, hit the car instantly. The train was going about60-miles an hour. It carried his car between a quarter of a mile to a half mile down the tracks before finally coming to a stop.

“The train was just right there. It mean, it was right on him. I mean, the train didn’t havetime to react or nothing. I mean, he just pulled out in front of it so fast that, it just, it smashed his car. I mean, everything just went up in the air,” said Reba Grimmett, an eyewitness.

No one on the train was injured.

Train hits propane truck; homes evacuated

WAYCROSS, GA - A CSX train struck a propane truck at a railroad crossing in Waycross, Georgia, Wednesday morning, prompting evacuations of about 50 homes around the crash.

Steve Kiser of Ware County Emergency Management said the accident occurred in the Jamestown community in northwest Waycross just before 10:30 a.m.

Neither the truck driver or CSX engineer was hurt.

The truck was loaded with 2,000 gallons of propane which meant that firefighters were forced to vent fumes in preparation for transferring the propane.

All homes within one and a half miles of the crash were evacuated for at least twelve hours.

Hazardous materials teams from both CSX and the Department of Homeland Defense were on the scene.

“Their plan is to do what’s called a burn-off -- to burn the actual vapor -- and then transfer what’s left of the liquid propane to another propane truck,” Kiser told Channel 4’s Dan Leveton. “Liquid propane will expand about 270 times its normal size if ignited, so an explosion, obviously, was the biggest concern.”

Jurors award $1.86M in 2002 Canadian Pacific derailment

The case against Canadian Pacific Railway has been decided by a jury. The railroad must pay four people nearly $1.86 million for injuries they suffered as a result of a 2002 derailment near Minot, N.D., that spilled a cloud of anhydrous ammonia, a jury decided Wednesday.

The railroad had admitted fault so it was the jury’s job to decide how much money the plaintiffs would receive.

The derailment caused five tank cars to rupture, releasing almost 221,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, a common farm fertilizer. One man was killed and hundreds injured from the toxic cloud that hung over the city. Victims suffered burns, breathing problems, dry eyes, post traumatic stress disorder and other emotional problems.

Awards ranged from $938,482 to about $168,000 depending on the extent of the injuries and future wages lost.

The trial was held in Minneapolis, where Canadian Pacific Railway has its U.S. headquarters. The railroad is based in Calgary, Alberta.

Jurors began deliberations Monday morning and reached their decision around midday Wednesday. The trial lasted about three weeks.

Metropolitan Transit Authority might have
an answer to crowded subway platforms

New York- February 15-- Worried about standing shoulder to shoulder on a crowded subway platform? The MTA is taking steps to control those crowds.

The transit authority is planning to put about 100 workers known as “platform conductors” on the job.

They are targeting some of the city’s most crowded stations. New station conductors are expected to help riders in the event of any emergency.

The price tag for the program, nearly seven million dollars.

MassBike victory! Indoor bike racks
restored at Back Bay station

BOSTON - In late 2001, the well-located and heavily-utilized indoor bike racks at the Back Bay T station were removed, with the MBTA citing security concerns. Cyclists were left to park outside, without weather protection and with fewer eyes ensuring the safety of their bicycles. MassBike has aggressively stayed on top of the issue, and continued to work with the MBTA.

Last month, the agency installed two indoor bike racks. We commend General Manager Dan Grabauskas for his assistance in this matter and his recognition that indoor bike racks belong at the Back Bay T stop. Steps like these help ensure that the MBTA is accessible to bicyclists and all users.

Living in Maine, working in Boston

Sound Transit’s Light Rail gaining momentum

SEATTLE - Hundreds of construction workers outside Union Station are a sure sign that progress on the Central Link Light Rail line is now real. The support structures are up, and the rails are being laid.

“‘We’ve been talking about this for a long. long time,’ says Rick Ilgenfritz, communications director for Sound Transit. ‘It’s finally real’.”

“Light rail brought Sound Transit to the brink just a few years ago, with critics crying foul over lack of planning and overspending. New leadership was brought in, and today, the agency boasts it’s on a winning track,” writes Brian Calvert for KOMO News.

“‘We’re a little more than 40 percent complete,’ says Sound Transit’s Lee Somerstein, who arrived as the agency was faltering. ‘We are where we are because of the difficult times this agency went through.’”

The initial line will cost just under $3 billion. The core is being built, and now Sound Transit is considering future needs.

Phase 2 may include light rail across the I-90 floating bridge, connecting the Eastside to the line. It may also include light rail projects in Everett, and an extension to the Central line from downtown Seattle to Northgate.

For these plans, Sound Transit will once again go to the voters.

“The main lesson we’ve learned is to make sure we’re delivering what we promise,” Ilgenfritz says. His proof they’re on the right track? The agency has helped build new “left exits” to bigger park-and-ride lots, put more busses on the roads with fewer stops, and will have light rail trains beginning service in 2009.