The Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado, has been the means for freight and passenger transportation by rail for more than 50 years. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which owns the services and assets, noted that the services for more than half a century have “contributed enormously to dramatic innovations in transportation safety. “
The 52-square-mile facility moves to a new operating contractor after FRA awarded a $571 million contract to ENSCO, Inc. , in March 2021. ENSCO will be responsible for studies and development, testing, engineering and education at TTC. The transition from TTC to ENSCO began in April 2022.
EnSCO’s rail division chief, Matthew Dick, explains that the site is comparable to a small town and that much of the existing paintings are intended for transition elements such as utilities, floor transport vehicles, facilities such as firefighters and other administrative elements of the organization.
As the winner, ENSCO will leverage and maintain the U. S. Department of Transportation’s TTC. The U. S. Government (USDOT) to expand a dynamic, attractive and modern TTC that fosters innovation, fosters positive change and creates opportunities. ENSCO will also expand the use of the facility to help other government and commercial entities achieve the broader transportation safety and innovation project. The transition of the operations, maintenance and study systems from USDOT to ENSCO will be completed until October 2022.
“Another major initiative for the site is cyber security, on which ENSCO works extensively with our other departments. We have a giant in Colorado Springs with cybersecurity features and we’re already building those links between your department and our surface transportation departments to provide cybersecurity education. to the transportation industry,” Dick explained.
Exploring automation opportunities will also be included within the broader scope of TTC’s capabilities.
“A top priority for public transport and railways is to develop automation to improve operations to reduce prices and increase safety. I would invite the industry to the site as a wonderful position to verify advances in automation, whether it’s its next generation. “exercising the control systems, the rolling stock, the evaluation of the contract infrastructure, everything is on the table, and TTC is a wonderful position to do so without interfering with profit operations. “Dick explained.
ENSCO will be supported by a team of organizations that, in its opinion, is aimed at next-generation support transport infrastructure. universities and educational study centers created through ENSCO to provide experience in study spaces in all modes of surface transport. While Dick emphasizes the importance of C-STTAR taking care of studies, the consortium also provides the possibility of bringing academics into the transportation industry.
“There are many wonderful universities, in addition to my alma mater, the University of Nebraska, that care about intrusion reduction, cybersecurity, road crash tests, many engaging activities, and it’s great for surprise testing,” Dick explained.
ENSCO’s contract with FRA includes a five-year base era and 3 five-year option eras for a total of 20 years from the date of award. ENSCO’s priorities in the first five years are to continue vital rail studies taking up position at the centre and to increase the site’s capacities for other modes of transport. ENSCO also hopes to support the local economy in Pueblo, Colorado, partnering with local leaders, universities and businesses, attracting visitors to take part in the site’s activities, and recruiting the most productive technical skills in the region.
“I think what’s going to be the measure of good fortune is to see that the site is being used and organizations are coming in and doing their testing and research. you still want to make sure the rail industry is served through the site,” Dick said.
ENSCO is the duty entrusted to it to manage the facility and the role the facility has played and will continue to play in surface transportation.
“It’s a wonderful duty for the industry to be site managers, but we’re also excited to take it to the next generation and diversify beyond freight rail and into passenger rail and transit all modes. We’re going to have an exciting many years ahead of us here with the site,” Dick added.