Interview with Bob Melbo, ODOT Rail Division (03/05/2009)
Summary:
Bobo Melbo, who works for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, spoke about the current state and the future of high-speed rail both nationally and locally. He is one of the most highly involved ODOT employees in passenger rail, and will be an integral part of any high-speed rail projects in the state of Oregon.
Topic:
Category:
citizen
What is it?
an interview
Publication Information:
Edward Stratton is the publisher of this interview. He published it on March 5, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon.
Author:
Bob Melbo
Location:
audio recording
Accessed:
March 5, 2009
Support:
Bob Melbo, a rail planner for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Rail Division
Robert Sanchez, a former engineer for a Metrolink train
Mitch Greenlick, a State Representative from Oregon
David Wu, a Democratic Representative of the House from Oregon
Ron Wyden, a Democratic Senator from Oregon
Patty Murray, a Democratic Senator from Washington
Bob Melbo first said that even the Acella express couldn’t reach over 110 miles per hour because of curves in the tracks. He explained that to even go over 80 miles per hour, a train needs an auto-override function to compensate for human errors. He then referenced Robert Sanchez. He said Sanchez was the engineer of a Metrolink train that crashed into a Union Pacific freight train, killing 25 people in California. Bob then explained that the crash created a requirement of an auto-override function on all trains that will be in place by 2014. He said that would Allow for 90 mile per hour trains, which would be good enough for the northwest.
Bob said that at-grade crossings would have to be eliminated for safety reasons. He explained that most people are worried about trains being on time then they are about them being faster. Bob then talked about cost and safety issues being the main impediments to high-speed rail.
Among the politicians Bob said were more involved in high-speed rail was Mitch Greenlich, a State Representative from Portland. He also said that David Wu was friendly to passenger rail, as well as Ron Wyden. Patty Murray, a Senator from Washington, was another regional politician he said was instrumental in raising funds for passenger rail in her state.
Audience and Agenda:
The audience for this interview was just Edward Stratton. He is a college student with extensive background knowledge about high-speed rail. He expected in-depth information on developments in the northwest corridor, and connections to national politicians. Other audiences Bob Melbo might be addressing are politicians, private rail companies, and rail advocates.
Bob Melbo is funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Rail Division. He is trying to provide accurate answers that reflect the reality of rail in Oregon.
Usefulness:
This interview was in both a national and local context. Bob spoke about national projects and developments in the northwest.
This interview was made by a student looking for more in-depth information from a person involved in planning potential rail lines. He was addressing a college student, so his answers weren’t very complicated. He didn’t know that the student had background knowledge about high-speed rail.
He is making the argument that slower high-speed trains would be fine for the northwest. My source question will have to deal with the question of how fast trains will be, which is directly related to how much money will have to be spent on the tracks.
He seemed reluctant to give me an estimate on Oregon’s investment in high-speed rail. At the end of the interview, he said that Oregon had invested about $30 million in high-speed rail. He was probably a little embarrassed, since Oregon is so far behind other states in investment.
Focusing on the northwest, this source relates to Source Notes Source Notes 25. Being an interview, this source relates to Source Notes 25 and Source Notes 27.
Works Cited:
“Staff Contacts.” ODOT Rail. <http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RAIL/staffcontacts.shtml>
ODOT Rail. <http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RAIL/index.shtml>
Filed under: Uncategorized
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