Recognition: Alabama, San Diego

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has awarded two of its prestigious President’s Awards to the Alabama State Port Authority’s Terminal Railway – Alabama State Docks (TASD). The award is presented at the association’s annual regional meeting to recognize outstanding achievements in safety within the short line railroad industry.

James K. Lyons, director and chief executive officer of the Port Authority, commended the railroad’s personnel noting, "Receipt of the President’s Award reflects the hard work and the safety culture prevalent within the Terminal Railway. Our railroad’s management’s and employees’ are commended for this achievement amongst their peers."

The ASLRRA President’s Award recognizes either a railroad’s 0.0 accident frequency rate (zero accidents) achievement or the best safety rate as measured by the lowest accident frequency rate per man-hour below the national average. The Terminal Railway (TASD) achieved both benchmarks earning the Authority’s short line two President’s Awards for Most Hours of Injury-Free Operation (zero accidents in a calendar year) and Best Safety Rate for 150,000 – 250,000 Man Hours worked in Calendar Year 2016.

"To be awarded two President’s Awards speaks to the safety culture developed and embraced by every member of the Terminal Railway," said Cliff Melton, General Manager of the Terminal Railway (TASD). "I am extremely proud of the prevailing good attitude found everywhere on our system and the hard work our people put forth every day."

Staff of the Alabama State Port Authority and the Alabama State Port Authority / Terminal Railway receive ASLRRA's 2016 Jake Award
Photo credit/Alabama State Port Authority

To qualify for the ASLRRA President’s Award, a short line must have earned the Jake Award. The Jake Award recognizes outstanding safety achievements in the short line railroad industry and is presented to the ASLRRA member railroad that performs better than the Class II or Class III industry average injury frequency rate as reported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the prior year. The Terminal Railway TASD has earned five Jake Awards since 2007. The Terminal Railway’s (TASD) 2016 Jake Award was earned with Distinction as the railroad had both zero reportable injuries and zero reportable rail accidents.

The Port of San Diego was recently honored with three prestigious environmental awards from the Association of Environmental Professionals San Diego Chapter.

In the category of Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document, the Port brought home the top award for the San Diego Bay and Imperial Beach Oceanfront Fireworks Display Events Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR summarizes the project, identifies each significant effect, with proposed mitigation measures and alternatives that would reduce or avoid that effect. It also identifies the areas of controversy, including issues raised by the public and summarizes the issues to be resolved, including the choice alternatives and how to mitigate the significant effects. This project will allow for the continuation of fireworks display shows in and around San Diego Bay and Imperial Beach, thereby activating District tidelands.

An EIR for another Port project, the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Redevelopment Plan and Demolition and Initial Rail Component, earned a Meritorious Award in the category of Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document. This project will remove two underutilized warehouses at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, which will increase dock space for large project cargo and improve logistics for moving cargo from vessels to other parts of the terminal. It will also help modernize the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, attract new cargo business and increase local jobs.

The Portside Pier Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was recognized with a Meritorious Award in the Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document MND/ND category. A Mitigated Negative Declaration is prepared for a project when there is no substantial evidence that the project or any of its aspects could result in significant adverse environmental impacts.

The Portside Pier project entails replacing an existing restaurant site with a multi-venue dining concept with a long term lease. The project location is in the North Embarcadero area of San Diego Bay. Public access will be increased through a substantially larger public boat docking area. A second level for the restaurant will be constructed, nearly doubling the square footage for dining and viewing San Diego Bay. There will also be a dedicated public viewing deck and public perimeter walkway on the second level.

"The Port is honored to receive these environmental awards from the Association of Environmental Professionals San Diego Chapter," said Robert "Dukie" Valderrama, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "This is another example of how the Port strives to be an environmental champion of San Diego Bay and the waterfront."