South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro Elected Chair
Of SFRTA’S Governing Board

Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs Elected Vice Chair

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno A. Barreiro was elected chair of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority Governing Board at the June meeting. At the same meeting, Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs was elected vice chair of the SFRTA Governing Board. Both terms begin on July 1, 2010 and last for one year.

This is Commissioner Barreiro’s fourth time serving as chair of the SFRTA Governing Board. First elected to serve on the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners in 1998, he represents District 5 and serves constituents in parts of Miami, Miami Beach, Little Havana, Downtown Miami and South Beach.

Commissioner Barreiro has long been a proponent of public transportation. In 1999, he sponsored a resolution for the creation of the Golden Passport to provide free transportation for senior citizens in Miami-Dade County. In 2002, he chaired the Transportation, Infrastructure and Environment Committee and sponsored resolution for a half-cent sales tax to improve mass transit services as outlined in the People’s Transportation Plan.

As commissioner, he has served as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, chairman of the Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Committee and the Office of Public Transportation Management Subcommittee, and as chairman and vice chairman of the Internal Management and Fiscal Responsibility Committee.

Commissioner Kristin Jacobs was elected to represent District 2 on the Broward County Commission in 1998. One of her top priorities involves being a top advocate for protecting the quality of life of the visitors and residents of Broward County; believing that the welfare of our community is dependent on a healthy environment. While “going green” is a popular practice now, it was several years ago that she championed the NatureScape Broward and Water Matters initiatives.

Her preservation efforts have earned her the James D. Webb Public Service Award from the Everglades Coalition, as well as recognition from the Florida Environmental Resource Agency, the Southeast Society of Environmental Engineers and the Broward County Audubon Society.

She has always been an ardent supporter of mass transit as a means of easing traffic congestion and pollution in Broward County. She spearheaded the Community Bus Transport Network, which connects neighborhoods to Broward County Transit in more than 20 cities. She was instrumental in obtaining Broward cities’ support through the dedication of gas funds to establish this service. In 2005, she presented a successful resolution to the Board of County Commissioners opposing the Florida Department of Transportation’s increase in HOV lane travel restrictions by four hours a day.

36 Locker Spaces Now Available At Tri-Rail’s West Palm Beach Station

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority launched their first-ever Bicycle Locker Program at Tri-Rail’s West Palm Beach Station on June 14. There are 18 perforated-sheet, steel lockers that are now available at the station, designed to accommodate two bicycles per modular unit, with a diagonal divider and separate door entries on either end (providing 36 individual spaces available for use).

The program will be phased in at all other Tri-Rail stations within the next several months (due to ongoing construction projects, lockers will be installed at a later date for the Pompano Beach Station, Cypress Creek Station, Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport Station at Dania Beach Station and Miami Airport Station). Once the project is completed, there will be bicycle lockers available at all of Tri-Rail’s 18 train stations. The fourth largest bicycle program launched by a public transportation agency within the United States, the SFRTA/Tri-Rail will be offering approximately 600 lockers for bicycle and bicycle accessory storage.

Registration fees for one locker are $37 for six months and $64 for a year. Users may also register for a second locker for half the price, should they want to store a bicycle at both their origin and destination station. There is also a refundable $30 security deposit to cover the price of one lock and two keys.

“More and more commuters are turning to bicycles for their commute to and from our train stations,” said SFRTA Executive Director Joseph Giulietti. “It’s a healthy, economical and environmentally responsible choice, and one that we want to support however we can.”

Bicycles have become more popular as a means of getting to or from Tri-Rail stations due to the high cost of gas and a growing concern for the environment. The installation of bicycle lockers at many Tri-Rail stations will provide commuters with a safe place to store their bicycles and will free up additional space onboard the train for passengers and luggage.

Click here to submit your Application and Agreement and reserve your spot today! You can also visit the West Palm Beach Station Ticket Kiosk for an Application and Agreement. The website will be updated accordingly, as lockers become available at additional stations. For additional information, please call Customer Service at 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245).

Georgiana Rodriguez (center) presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to SFRTA Executive Director Joseph Giulietti (left), Chair Commissioner Jeff Koons, and members of the finance department team Ed Woods, Laura Thezine and Joe Khouzami

The Finance Department of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) has won a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The Certificate is awarded to government units and public employee retirement systems whose comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFRs) achieve the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting.

“The fact that the Accounting Department has won this award every year since 1992 is a tribute to them for the transparency and accuracy of the records they keep,” said SFRTA Executive Director Joseph Giulietti. “I am very proud of what they have accomplished over these many years.”

The SFRTA's award winning procurement team includes Brian Kohlberg (left), Chris Bross, Ben Guida, Debra Lehrhaupt, Paula Accorto, Bobby Becker, Charmaine Davis-Matthei, and Vivian Kelly.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority received The Award of Excellence in Public Procurement for 2010 from the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers, Inc. The Authority is one of only 12 in the entire state to receive the award this year. This is the third year that the SFRTA has achieved this award.

“I am very proud of our Procurement Department for winning this award. It is a testament to them that they have been recognized for upholding the state’s highest standards for purchasing,” said Joseph Giulietti, SFRTA Executive Director.

The award recognizes agencies that meet or exceed benchmarks and best practices in the Procurement Profession and is achieved by those organizations that obtain a high score on a rating of standardized criteria. The program is designed to measure innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership attributes of the procurement function.

Dump the Pump. Save Money. Ride Transit.

With the economic recession and high gas prices still in effect, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced today that it will join with more than 100 other public transportation systems nationwide to participate in the Fifth Annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 17. The slogan of this year’s National Dump the Pump Day is, “Dump the Pump. Save Money. Ride Transit.”

Helping commuters to save money, the SFRTA/Tri-Rail will be offering people the chance to win a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket. Upon mailing in their name, address and telephone contact number, five people will be selected at random to receive a free ticket for the month of August. For more information on the ticket giveaway and requirements, people can visit www.tri-rail.com.

Members of the SFRTA staff will also be out riding Tri-Rail trains in the afternoon and will hold a Meet and Greet at Tri-Rail’s Boca Raton Station from 4 to 6 p.m. Joining them will be representatives from McDonald’s, one of Tri-Rail’s “Rail Reward” partners, and Sunny 104.3 WEAT-FM team members, as they broadcast from the train station with plenty of giveaways and prizes for Tri-Rail riders.

A videographer will also be on-hand to interview passengers and capture their stories about what public transportation means to them and what impact it has on their lives. These stories will be catalogued along with others gathered from across the country and delivered to legislators in Washington, D.C. in September to underscore the importance of funding for transit systems.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, the 2010 National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation and save money, instead of driving a car. Started in June 2006 when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this national day emphasizes that public transportation is a great travel option that also helps people save money, while also protecting the environment.

In this economic climate, saving money is on everyone’s minds and public transportation is the quickest way to beat gas prices. According to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person-household can save an average of more than $9,000 annually by downsizing to one car.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has once again declared the third week in April “Train Safety Awareness Week.” Set for April 18 through 24, volunteers from the railroad industry, as well as law-enforcement personnel and emergency responders, will stage an information blitz to educate the public about the laws and rules governing activity around train tracks and grade crossings.

The recent statistics surrounding highway/rail grade crossing incidents are grim and chilling; in 2009, there were 48 incidents in Florida, resulting in 10 fatalities and 19 injuries. In addition, there were 27 trespass incidents, with 19 fatalities and 8 injuries. Approximately every two hours, either a vehicle, pedestrian, trespasser or some form of debris is struck by a train in the United States.

During the week-long “blitz,” law-enforcement personnel will be positioned at various grade crossings, where they will be issuing warnings and citations to drivers and pedestrians who do not adhere to the laws relating to trains and railroad tracks. An additional effort this year will be focused on trespasser prevention, especially between Tri-Rail’s West Palm Beach and Mangonia Park stations, along the South Florida Rail Corridor, where trespasser fatalities have been numerous.

Operation Lifesaver and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority are partnering in TSAW, along with Amtrak, Bombardier, CSX Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation, Veolia and Wackenhut Corporation, as well as various law-enforcement agencies and first-responder teams throughout the tri-county area.

For more information, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL or log onto www.tri-rail.com.

TRI-RAIL RIDERS GET EVEN MORE FOR THEIR MONEY WITH NEW “RAIL REWARDS” PROGRAM

Attractions, restaurants and retailers offer special discounts

Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 18, 2010) -- Tri-Rail is already a great value for thousands of people who ride the train to get to work, school and some of South Florida’s most popular attractions and special events. Now, Tri-Rail riders who purchase a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket will get even more for their money with “Rail Rewards,” a new program providing value-added, special offers and coupons from South Florida attractions, restaurants and retailers.

Getting started with Tri-Rail’s “Rail Rewards” is easy. Consumers can purchase a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket and will be eligible to download coupons for some of South Florida’s popular eateries, sporting events and attractions. The special offers may vary in order to provide new and exciting opportunities, so consumers must be sure to purchase a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket, and register each month to keep saving with “Rail Rewards.”

“Rail Rewards” will kick off in late March, just in time for consumers to purchase a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket for April 2010. Participating partners include, but are not limited to, Art & Culture Center of Hollywood, Billie Swamp Safari, Boomers, Butterfly World, Cold Stone Creamery, Discovery Cruise Line, Flamingo Gardens, Florida Marlins, International Game and Fish Association, Xtreme Indoor Karting, Jungle Island, McDonald’s, Miami Metro Zoo, Miami Subs Pizza & Grill, Monkey Jungle, Museum of Discovery and Science, Muvico Theaters, Palm Beach Zoo, Pizza Fusion and Pollo Tropical.

For people looking to save even more money, passengers can register for Tri-Rail’s Employer Discount Program, which offers a 25 percent savings on Tri-Rail’s already-low fares. The program is free and easy to join, plus members can purchase a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket for just $75 and enjoy unlimited monthly service along with the benefits of “Rail Rewards.”

To learn more about Tri-Rail’s “Rail Rewards,” visit www.tri-rail.com. For train schedules and more information, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL.

“Phantom of the Opera” cast members D.C. Anderson (black hat) and Bruce Winant (brown jacket), who play the managers of the Paris Opera House, sign autographs for an enthusiastic audience.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) collected 3,286 pounds of food from Tri-Rail passengers as part of its “Food Train” effort to benefit the not-for-profit organization, Feeding South Florida. Formerly known as the Daily Bread Food Bank, and now part of the national program called Feeding America, the program distributes food and other essentials to 800 non-profit organizations in the region. The collection took place Tuesday, January 12, 2010 with a kick-off at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station At Dania Beach and was followed up with collections at all Tri-Rail stations during the morning rush hour on January 14, 2010.

“All of us at Feeding South Florida are so grateful for the food drive that Tri-Rail has held here today,” said Anthea Pennant, Director of Development for Feeding South Florida. “It is important that the community understands that public transportation is not just about moving people, but it’s about supporting the community and helping the community.“

Tri-Rail mascot Conductor George Green thanks four “Phantom” fans for making their contribution to the “Food Train.”

Feeding South Florida’s mission is to provide food and other grocery products to communities, while educating and engaging communities to fight hunger and poverty. Their mission to improve lives is carried out with compassion, integrity, stewardship of resources and dedication, while they also empower other South Florida not-for-profit organizations to join forces and make a difference.

“We are grateful not only to our passengers for their incredible generosity during these difficult times, but also to the members of the SFRTA staff who volunteered their time and to our contractors, all of whom contributed to the success of this important effort,” said Joseph Giulietti, SFRTA Executive Director. Among the contractors who volunteered their assistance were Bombardier, Veolia, Wackenhut, Meridian, and Bitner Goodman. An additional partner was Broadway Across America, which provided vouchers for $20 tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” to anyone who made a contribution at the January 12 kick-off collection.

Collected items ranged from cases of canned tuna, fruits, and vegetables; to box-after-box of cereal and crackers, to jar-after-jar of peanut butter, and to even a 25-pound bag of dog food.

For more information about Feeding South Florida, log onto www.feedingsouthflorida.org.

Statement from Commissioner Jeff Koons on Passage of Rail Bill Chair, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

I want to thank everyone who has worked diligently to bring this bill to fruition. Passage of this legislation would not have been possible without the support of the leadership in the House and the Senate, especially that of Senate President Jeff Atwater. Our gratitude also goes out to our three county commissions, our partners around the state, and the SFRTA Governing Board. This bill benefits the thousands of riders who depend on Tri-Rail, the 320 employees who keep the system running each and every day, and the people of Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, who are that much closer to making passenger rail a reality in their communities.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, in partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, is announcing a call for projects in the Miami Urbanized Area for Job Access & Reverse Commute and New Freedom program funds for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. These Federal Transit Administration program funds are available for projects that improve transportation for individuals with low incomes, recipients of welfare and / or persons with disabilities.

The amount of funds available for fiscal year 2008 includes $3,195,924 for JARC projects and $1,812,295 for New Freedom projects. The amount of funds available for fiscal year 2009 includes $3,751,178 for JARC projects and $2,088,998 for New Freedom projects. Funds can be used for capital, operating and administrative expenses. Eligible applicants include private, non-profit organizations; state or local governmental authorities and operators of public transportation services, including private, for-profit operators of public transportation services. The solicitation will be limited to projects that have been derived from an adopted Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan.

The funds can be used to support up to 80 percent (an 80 / 20 match) for capital projects and not more than 50 percent (a 50 / 50 match) of project costs for operating assistance.

The application form, as well as details concerning specific eligibility requirements, local- share requirements and allowable activities, can be found in the Miami Urbanized Area JARC & New Freedom Application Package, available online the week of December 7, 2009 at www.sfrta.fl.gov/grants.html.

The application deadline is *Friday, February 19, 2010 at 12 p.m. Applications must be received by this time to be eligible for consideration. Applications found to be incomplete or received after 12 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010 will not be considered for funding. Completed applications must be submitted to the SFRTA at 800 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach, Florida 33064.

For additional information, or to request the application in another format, please contact Natalie Yesbeck at 954-788-7957 or at JARC-NF@sfrta.fl.gov.

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has appointed Commissioner Kristin Jacobs to the Governing Board for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, effective October 6, 2009. Commissioner Jacobs replaces former commissioner Josephus Eggelletion.

Commissioner Jacobs was elected to represent the people of District 2 on the County Commission in 1998. During her tenure on the County Commission, she served as Broward County mayor in 2005 and as vice-mayor in 2004.

Her first priority continues to be her work as an outspoken advocate for protecting Broward’s quality of life. Whether fighting for a common sense approach to growth-management planning, protecting our environment, securing fair wages for workers, creating attainable housing or creating a public transportation system that moves people, not cars, it is Broward County’s homes, families and neighborhoods she is working to sustain.

She has always been an ardent supporter of mass transportation as a means to ease traffic congestion in Broward County. She spearheaded the Community Bus Transportation Network, which connects neighborhoods to Broward County Mass Transit in more than 20 cities and was instrumental in obtaining support through the dedication of gas tax funds to establish this service. In 2005, Commissioner Jacobs presented a successful resolution to the Board of County Commissioners opposing the Florida Department of Transportation’s increase in high-occupancy vehicle lane travel restrictions by four hours a day.

Commissioner Jacobs believes that the welfare of our community is dependent on a healthy environment. While “going green” is a popular practice now, it was several years ago that she championed the NatureScape Broward and Water Matters initiatives. Each volunteer program promotes water conservation, wildlife habitat creation and pollution prevention through the use of Florida-friendly landscape practices. Her preservation efforts have earned her the James D. Webb Public Service Award from the Everglades Coalition for her outstanding contribution to the protection of the Everglades ecosystem. Commissioner Jacobs’ environmental leadership has also been recognized by the Florida Environmental Resource Agency, the Southeast Society of Environmental Engineers and the Broward County Audubon Society.

Commissioner Jacobs lives with her husband Stuart and their three children, Rick, Lauren and Mitchell in Pompano Beach.

Local property management to the east of the Cypress Creek Station has requested that we ask passengers to please not use the parking garage as a short cut.

Sidewalks located on the east side of the station are available to passengers to use in exiting the station and in getting to their final destinations.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation!

ALL baggage must be placed in the luggage racks available on all northernmost cars.

Customers must limit baggage to no more than three (3) pieces of standard-sized luggage which they can carry onboard in one trip.

For the purpose of passenger seating and safety, baggage is NOT to be placed on the seats or in the aisles at anytime.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Effective December 1, 2007: ticket kiosks will no longer accept bills greater than $20.

REMINDER: Ticket Vending Machines do not accept bills greater than $20, and will dispense change in coins.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA/Tri-Rail) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its transit program or activity on the basis of race, color or national origin as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination under Title VI, you may file a written complaint with the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Administration Department, 800 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach, FL, 33064; telephone number 954-942-7245.

La Autoridad Regional de Transporte del Sur de la Florida (SFRTA/Tri-Rail) se compromete a asegurar que ninguna persona sea excluida de participar en sus programas o actividades de tránsito, o de otra manera se le deniegue los beneficios de los mismos, en base a su raza, color u origen nacional, conforme las protecciones dispuestas en el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964. Si usted cree que ha sufrido discriminación según dispone el Título VI, puede presentar una reclamación al respecto a la Autoridad Regional de Transporte del Sur de la Florida, Departamento Administrativo, 800 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach, FL, 33064; teléfono 954-942-7245.

Ajans Transpò Rejyonal nan Sid Eta Florid (South Florida Regional Transportation Authority – SFRTA/Tri-Rail) angaje li tout bon vre pou asire tout moun kapab patisipe oswa kapab resevwa avantaj pwogram transpò oswa aktivite li ofri yo, san gade sou ras, koulè oswa kote yo fèt, jan Tit VI Lwa 1964 sou Dwa Moun pwoteje dwa moun. Si ou panse ou te viktim yon zak diskriminasyon anba Tit VI, ou kapab depoze yon plent alekri ba Ajan Transpò Rejyonal Sid Eta Florid nan adrès sa a: South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Administration Department, 800 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach, FL, 33064; nimewo telefòn 954-942-7245.

For additional information call the Customer Service Department at
1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245) or 1-888-GO-SFRTA (467-3782).