Planning director of the infrastructure in the us gao. And also jim dolinsky chief executive officer and executive director and with that implementation of positive train control ptc to meet the deadline of december 3t 2020 with Community Hearings have highlighted it is an Important Technology that has the ability to prevent accidents including derailments including the one in washington in 2017. Ptc enforcement and in 2015 however to apply for the extension if and only if that milestone i am pleased to say under secretary chao this is been faithfully implemented for all those of the deadline with that documentation to show the requirements go up with two additional years many real roads receive such an extension since the deadline they continue to make progress on ptc implementation. This provides an opportunity for updates on the current status across the Network Since the end of last year. Witnesses should discuss Passenger Railroads are implementing ptc and at which rate and then to talk about full implementation. Requires that they are interoperable in other words they must be able to operate seamlessly across the tracks owned by different railroads and to achieve interoperability requires coordination while industry have the faa of fail federal Railroad Administration and other stakeholders this undertaking is complex where multiple railroads interact. Witnesses will provide an update on interoperability testing with successes and challenges identified also invite our expert witnesses for any suggestions to facilitate interoperability through the network with the implementation a year and a half away to focus on any other issues and also related to vendors and somewhere in the early stages and with that availability to support ptc insulation to help identify any other challenges of implementation as the final deadline approaches on the progress of tpc implementation. But senator duckworth we will recognize her for a special introduction. Thank you mister chairman on the next step for positive train control implementation we look forward to hearing your perspective to fully implement ptc this lifesaving technology to make it clear in my state of washington when the amtrak derailed in washington and fell into the highway claiming three lives injuring 65. Ntsb investigation found ptc would have prevented this tragedy. But sadly this is just one of many preventable tragedies that since the ntsb first recommended positive train control implementation they could have prevented over 450 different crashes and other facilities and injuries so i am pleased the chairman shares my commitment that the full implementation deadline to take this with positive train control. It is unacceptable in 2019 we have not implemented even when it has been fully implemented there are still miles of tracks that will be exempted including 1400 miles used by amtrak. They expressed concerns about this during a Previous Committee hearing last month and thats to seek more information about the Safety Measures that should be in place this is speed limit action plans and equivalent technologies i want to thank administrator for the response to your commitment to ensure safety everywhere amtrak operates as will help to prevent another accident from happening again. Even with ptc in place we have to prioritize safety no technology is a cure all or well placement for that strong Safety Culture for track maintenance and the structurally sound Railroad Cars that are needed. Implementing ptc is more for safety and this is a Long Time Coming to get to where we are today. Railroads haves face many challenges i look forward to the opportunity to hear from the witnesses about the steps to have ptc fully implemented to make sure it is required on the National Rail system. We look forward to asking specific questions about the implementation and the 1400 of miles of track that will not be covered. Now to senator duckworth for special introduction. It is my pleasure to introduce ceo and executive director who has successfully led since 2017 metro operates nearly 700 trains transporting 290,000 passengers to provide service to and from out of chicago on 11 lines covering more than 1200 tracks. Has extensive experience and expertise enabled him to lead one of the most complex systems in the nation while squeezing every drop of value out of logistic resources. A few months ago he invited me to tour to watch the mechanics and electricians install, test and finetune ptc components he explained how they stretch every dollar just a little bit further to do the work in house it is a real and deep appreciation for the complexity of ptc spending 250 million on train control efforts but receiving less than 50 million of federal grants metro expected implementation 350,000,400,000,000 with an additional 15 or 20 million of increased operating cost while these are a challenge we are confident theyre getting the most bang for their buck welcome. Thank you for being here today we stand to learn a lot from you and i yield back. Thank you. We now will proceed to hearing summaries from each of our witnesses spent a good afternoon. Chairman, Ranking Member and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify about our highest priorities of full implementation of interoperable ptc systems as soon as possible by december 31t 2020. We commend the industry for its progress to date as of marct ptc was in operation on 83 percent of the 58000 miles subject to the mandate. Nevertheless the next 17 months has extensive work including activating on the remaining lines and achieving probability. Notably the alternative schedule with that mandate required and as of march 5th to approve all applicable alternative schedules with the 90 day deadline. After to monitor the railroad progress including those reports that are due today preliminary reports that ptc was in operation on 87 percent nationwide as of june 2019 with Revenue Systems on 37 percent a 12 percent increase and rate reporting ptc is in operation 90 percent of its required lines. And then holds Passenger Rail service. In operating the whole system in 2018 the other five are conducting field testing. And that focus mandated mainlines to have a high concentration and on july 12th i initiated executive Leadership Meetings with amtrak to operate on the northeast corridor. And that primary challenge of full implementation by a dect 2020 those operates that are mandated on those lines because they operate on multiple host railroads there are 227 relationships with interoperability must be achieved as of march 31st those that achieved interoperability 30 percent were conducting testing. Meeting with the leadership of 61 of those railroads to discuss the next steps for interoperability. That is why also post for additional collaborations over the next 17 months focusing on best practice sees practices with the deadline. Ptc suppliers and vendors in part due to increased demand with engagement after being confirmed as administrator a network of ten major vendor stress the Critical Role this year i have seen underscoring issues requiring suppliers immediate resolutions including the recall of equipment due to manufacturing defects and capacity limitations regarding interoperability and suppliers are integral to meet the deadline. Technical assistance dot has awarded billions of dollars to support the implementation representing 18 percent of those cost for implementation and specifically 42 percent of the four. 1 billion making full implementation of the Commuter Rails. Also the Operation Maintenance cost is substantial with hundreds of millions of additional dollars between 130 million per year. Thats why i appreciate the Congress Safety and continuing funding it provides for ptc hoping that it works with all stakeholders that they fully implement the systems quickly and safely as possible and if they fail to meet the deadline and the plans to enforce a statutory mandate with National Civil penalties offered by congress and im here to answer your questions. Thank you. Good afternoon mister chairman and members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on Passenger Railroad implementation and oversight of ptc which is one of the most Promising Technology logical advances in real safety in decades. Ptc has been a complex and lengthy process involving nate all major rail lines of all aspects and members of operations. Required to implement ptc by last december we could have extensions through december 2020 if they met specific requirements for go for railroads have fully implemented ptc others continue to work to achieve full implementation progressing of installing equipment and testing but also reaching back to interoperability to fully implement ptc today i will focus on implementation progress and remaining challenges and the approach to meet the 2020 deadline. Turning to the implementation update, since december we reported making progress of their own ptc systems those that reported implementing those territories only one is in the stage in december and testing is in an early stage of implementation 11 of the 31 host railroads does not have the interoperable systems reported they achieved interoperability collectively of those relationships only 17 percent so turning out implementation challenges in the response to the questionnaire that separate issue issues were still a significant problem because as the 2020 deadline nears less time remains to address these issues with associated delays and a limited supply of anger in high demand for Services Cause problems. With a interoperability with major challenge and to coordinate schedules for example and then to be implemented those liability issues interoperability challenges with those geographic areas particularly in dense urban areas like chicago or northeast where they are in various stages of implementation. Amtrak and most rates have a form of the system that a portion of their equipment and in some cases concurrently adding to the complexity of interoperability. And out to my second point to meet the 2020 deadline everybody continues to provide assistance on interoperability and the Testing Process with the agency and will continue to finance a subset advance a substantial workload with that implementation including lengthy safety plans. And then to prioritize those resources the extended 2020 deadline with this implementation and with substantial work with those challenges with that deadline and Going Forward to transition as a routine part of the 2020 deadline. Similarly with the implementation to maintain those systems therefore december 2020 represents not only the deadline for full implementation but also where railroads will have new operational oversight variant. This concludes my statement im pleased to answer any questions you may have. Thank you very much. Surrogate afternoon chairman, Ranking Member and all members of this committee. Thank you for holding this important hearing on next steps for ptc implementation. And Vice President of strategy and growth it is a privilege to represent and appear before you today with two partners. Going back to the origins of 1869 safety has been and remains a core mission for lab tech and then supporting freight and customer commitments to meet the december 31st, 2020 deadline for ptc implementation is our foremost priority. At the outset i thought it might be helpful to note is currently approved ptc functions as a safety overlay, that is designed to be the first existing implementation that means it serves as a supplement insurance measure with the Safety Practices and procedures. And then to build on the interoperable Management System with freight and Passenger Railroad operating outside the northeast corridor door. Lab tech is a hardware and Software Supply under one supplier and also serving as a system integrator for a number of Passenger Railroads. Those that implement the 2018 Requirements Lab tech manufactured 20000 onboard systems. It also develop new Customized Software applications for the back office that would interface and replace existing backoffice systems our follow focus to enable our customers with the ptc deadline is twofold first are railroad customer requirements for interoperability and specifically the Software Updates that will look at the file size and also with another update to double the onboard capacity these and other Software Upgrades to have closer stakeholder collaboration are intended to continue their plans for interoperability to enable more efficient operations. Second committed to delivering for our customers where lab tech has the majority of a major System Integration. Building on our experience including the early work in california the first Passenger Railroad to complete interoperability receive certification to support customer agencies for one Revenue Service and to achieve the safety plans and the interoperability. And in summary lab tech is dedicated to fulfill his commitments to enable full interoperability across the rail system we are achieving closely with our customers to continue the improve performance and working directly with Passenger Railroad customers where we have a leaning System Integration role. Into the future ptc is an ongoing commitment for all stakeholders and the work and investment going past 2020 that Digital Technologies lead to even greater safety of numbers and benefits and partnering with customers and other Rail Industry stakeholders to advance the mission into the future thank you for the invitation to testify we are pleased to answer any questions you have. Thank you mister matthew. Afternoon chairman, Ranking Member and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting me for an update on implementation of ptc and it is an important component of overall Risk Reduction program resulting in meaningful progress to our vision of zero accidents and injuries. Most important thing we do at the railroads safety the ongoing risk production efforts have a Robust Program training that reinforces safe operating practices and strong employee Safety Culture also employment of new technology. Investing 65 billion of private capital into the railroad since 2000 with more than three. 5 billion in 2019 its in the best condition and its history. An important Safety Development when the most significant, costly and complex technologies the Rail Industry has ever employed. The Capital Investment will receive 2 billion as it deploys other important technological advances working closely with the fra to put toward a regulatory paradigm to allow for leveraging our investment to support future innovation go today we are operating on all 88 subdivisions 5000 route miles have also equipped on nine non mandated subdivisions additional 2000 miles of protection running more than 1000 trainings daily with more than two and a half million trips since decembe december 2012 training more than 21000 employees to take training with technology and changes for the Operation Team and other departments those trains running on the network demonstrates people how to operate and support the system. Moving forward we have main focus areas to have Continuous Improvement with reliability, fully integrated into trade operations and achieving full interoperability closely engage with our vendors and with lab tech who is the supplier of our onboard hardware and software with the conformance to make sure they have necessary capacity, longevity and reliability to support operations. Youre actively working on interoperability with suppliers in each railroad to need to be interoperable to identify the needs to provide technical and operational assistance such as backoffice hosting is needed now achieving interoperability ten out of 20 railroads operating ptc that includes all the roads along with several short line last month those trainings are the largest interchange partner with which we have cheney line achieved interoperability to be fully tested with the completion of ongoing efforts to remain a Class One Railroad this is a time labor intensive process involving weeks or months of preparation and testing. Ptc interoperability relies on flow of Accurate Information the data to be transmitted between railroads and with the system it is significant. With that upcoming data release for full comparability and testing to approve that is outgoing. There is significant work to do in the coming months a highly reliable system then to meet the needs of our customers. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to implement the interoperable system that congress envisioned thank you for the oppor