A Message from the Executive Director Automated ticket machines keep Tri-Rail on track Why does Tri-Rail use automated ticket machines at its stations to sell tickets to passengers, instead of using Tri-Rail employees for ticket sales? This is a question that is asked of us periodically and I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about the revenue side of our operation. Several years ago, automated ticket machines were placed at all Tri-Rail stations, following a national trend among mass transit organizations. Placing machines at station helped reduce administration costs by cutting the number of employees needed full time at stations. At Tri-Rail, the ticket vending machines are seen as an important way to help reach our goal of increasing ridership by improving reliability, convenience and efficiency in our operations. The machines are user friendly and have been readily accepted by Tri-Rail passengers. And they are a very effective way to monitor our performance by keeping track of just how many tickets we sell and where the tickets are sold. Tri-Rail currently has 11 ticket agents at five of its stations - Miami Airport, Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. If we did not utilize automated ticket machines, we would have to have a minimum of 40 agents to sell Tri-Rail tickets, which would significantly increase our administration costs and decrease our ability to provide train service. We are continuing to improve our ticket machines. Later this year, we plan to have a button on the automated ticket machines for our Employer Discount Program (EDP) participants that allows EDP employees to purchase their tickets at the machines rather than having to buy tickets by mail. Regular maintenance is an absolute necessity to keep the ticket machines operating efficiently. Tri-Rail contracts with a company called CAPtech Inc. to provide regular, preventive maintenance for the machines. The company also handles more in-depth repair work for the machines, on an as-needed basis. We at Tri-Rail are committed to ensuring that our riders are served effectively and reach their final destinations in a timely manner. Using our automated ticket machines is one way to accomplish these goals. See you on board! Linda Bohlinger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hollywood Station Gets A Facelift Built in the 1920s, Tri-Rail's Hollywood Station is sorely in need of a renovation. And that is just what it is getting with the assistance of a grant to the City of Hollywood from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The station, located at 3001 Hollywood Boulevard just west of Interstate 95, will undergo an extensive exterior refurbishing that will make it into a much more pleasant destination and a more beautiful gateway to the City of Hollywood. The extensive exterior refurbishing plan includes the installation of new Spanish-style barrel roof canopies the length of the train platform, tropical landscaping, improved lighting, reconfigured parking areas and new benches. The first phase of the Hollywood Station renovation is scheduled for completion at the end of this year. FDOT is paying the more-than $1 million cost of the project. Changes are also on tap this year for Tri-Rail's station on Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach and off Sample Road in Pompano Beach as double tracks are installed. Stay tuned for updates! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tri-Rail Offices Move North To Pompano Beach Tri-Rail administrative personnel are settled into their new offices at 800 NW 33rd Street, located adjacent to Tri-Rail's Pompano Beach Station at Sample Road just west of 1-95. Tri-Rail's office is in Suite 100 and our new telephone number is 954/942-7245. For customer service information, please continue to call 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245). This month, we plan to open a new, user-friendly customer service kiosk to be erected next to the Pompano Beach Station, where bike permits, student identification cards and tickets can be obtained. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clinton Endorses Tri-Rail Funding for Double-Tracking Tri-Rail's effort to add a second set of tracks to its rail corridor got a big boost from President Clinton last month, when he included $20 million for the project in his proposed spending for the fiscal year 2000 budget. The President also recommended that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) negotiate a new five-year agreement with Tri-Rail to commit federal funds to pay for half of the $338 million double tracking project. As a result, Tri-Rail can now start negotiations with the FTA. The Florida Department of Transportation would pay for the other half of the double tracking project over the next five years. Benefits expected from completion of the double tracking project along Tri-Rail's corridor include: a reduction in travel time by 14 minutes; increases in average daily ridership from 8,500 to 17,900 within five years; increased frequency of trains to 20 minute headways at peak hours; a reduction in South Florida traffic congestion, especially on 1-95; a reduction in cost per boarding from $8.81 to $5.06; and increased on-time performance of 95% or higher. The project calls for eleven phases of construction to double-track the 71-mile corridor between West Palm Beach and Miami. Tri-Rail will complete half of the double tracking by the year 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March Rider of the Month Rider Fernando Garcia of Coral Gables writes: My daughter lives in West Palm Beach and so we go there at least three times a month. Lately we have been riding the train and I became aware of Tri-Rail's ten years of service and your projects for 1999. Congratulations and let me now make this suggestion: Your marketing campaign must include non-English-speaking people. As you know, thousands of Latin Americans are moving to Palm Beach County. I think you should include non-English-speaking TV and radio stations in your campaign. There are thousands of potential customers who ignore the fact that Tri-Rail is right there, offering them good service. Tri-Rail's Executive Director responds: We are indeed trying to spread the word on the value of Tri-Rail to all South Florida residents and visitors alike. You are correct in saying that we must attract the attention of potential riders who do not speak English in order to reach all markets in diverse South Florida. Toward that end, our marketing plan does include running Spanish language advertisements in well-read newspapers like El Nuevo Herald and we are also looking into possible radio ads in Spanish. We feel that our current advertising and publicity campaigns are designed to appeal to a wide range of potential riders in South Florida and we will continue to adjust them to better serve the needs of our market here. Yo también hablo español y me gusta conversar en español con nuestros pasajeros hispanos y latino americanos cuando viajo por Tri-Rail. As always, our loyal riders provide our best marketing efforts. You can help us by spreading the word among friends and family members about the benefits of riding Tri-Rail and avoiding congestion on South Florida roadways. Gracias. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have a question or comment about Tri-Rail? Here's your opportunity! Simply mail your question to: Tri-Rail Marketing Department, Attn: Rider of the Month, at our new administrative office, 800 NW 33rd St., Suite 100, Pompano Beach, Fla., 33064, to be featured in an upcoming issue.

March 1999