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l Q&A NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL x FALL 2016 x sdnedc.org technologies such as positive train control, develop enhanced and detailed procedures, invest in robust training plans and pro- grams and develop specific plans to reduce the risks associ- ated with our operations. I be- lieve NCTD has been a leader by planning for, and/or implement- ing, many of these new require- ments ahead of regulatory requirements. • • • Have you noticed any trends as far as train use goes? COASTER and SPRINTER rid- ership both achieved record lev- els in 2015. Rail ridership increases were achieved through integration with BREEZE bus service via NCTD's Mobility Plan, and were also driven by re- gional and national economics such as the increase in the price of gas. Increases in COASTER rider- ship are attributed to a general increase in regional population and the implementation of the NCTD's Rail-2-Rail agreement with Amtrak, which added more train trips in the corridor with- out increasing train traffic. Preliminary findings from SANDAG's Transit On-Board survey indicate that over 70 per- cent of COASTER trips are be- tween home and work, and over 70 percent of the riders use the service four or more times a week, indicating that riders are largely commuters. Increases in ridership on the SPRINTER line are a result of the direct connections to Cal State University San Marcos and Palo- mar College, which continue to increase in enrollment, and timed connections with core, corridor, and local BREEZE bus services. Preliminary findings from SANDAG's Transit On-Board Survey indicate that over 36 per- cent of the trips on SPRINTER are between home and school, with over 70 percent of the riders using the service four our more times a week. Unlike the COASTER, the typical rider on the SPRINTER is more likely to rely on BREEZE bus service for all of their transportation needs. • • • What was the motivation be- hind launching the initiative to ramp up enforcement to halt track trespassing? There are three primary rea- sons. First, NCTD's system safety program requires it to take steps to reduce risks that can re- sult in fatalities, injuries and/or impacts to our operations. This requirement supports the re- quirements of the Federal Rail- road Administration's Risk Reduction Program. Second, NCTD has experienced nine fa- talities on our tracks in 2015 and four so far in 2016. Without re- gard to cause of these fatalities, NCTD believes that it is impor- tant to do all we can to prevent fatalities. Third, trespassing on the railroad can result in signifi- cant delays that impact the movement of goods and people. On average, it takes NCTD two- to-three hours to restore normal train operations when a trespass- ing incident results in an injury or fatality. The delay to the movement of trains is not just limited to the train that is di- rectly involved in the incident – the delay impacts all trains in The COASTER commuter train serves eight stations between Oceanside and downtown San Diego. QUICK LINKS >> CLICK HERE to learn more about the North County Transit District. >> CLICK HERE to learn more about railroad safety. >> CLICK HERE to visit the NCTD News Center. fi