Enhancing Public Transit with Innovation, Technology, and American Ingenuity

Jeffrey Wharton is being honored as a Champion of Change for his efforts as a leader in transportation.

It is a distinct honor for IMPulse NC LLC to be recognized as a White House Transportation Champion of Change among such an elite group of professionals and organizations who are making a difference in transportation technology solutions for the 21^st Century. Being in the public transportation industry for the last thirty-three years has provided me the opportunity to witness the growth, the transformation, and the engine for economic drive that public transit systems create for this great country.  

Transportation is the “backbone” of the economy and public transit is a vital aspect of our national surface transportation system. Furthermore, technology is the key to increasing global competiveness. Here at IMPulse we accomplish this by leveraging the time-tested lessons of “80/20” statistical analysis as part of a continual thinking process. We would rather lead than follow and set ourselves apart from the pack. It’s all about American ingenuity!

As a brief background, IMPulse NC LLC, a Marmon Group / Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading Overhead Contact System / Catenary hardware manufacturer located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Our company’s name brand is “Ohio Brass,” which dates to the construction of the first electric-powered streetcar system in Richmond, Virginia in 1888. Our products are used to support the aerial wires that feed power for Commuter and InterCity Trains, Light Rail Trains, Streetcars, Vintage Trolleys and Electric Trolleybuses. IMPulse products are made in America - meeting Federal Buy America requirements - and undergo strict adherence to ISO 9001:2008 Quality Standards. We are also a member of the American Public Transportation Association.

Located in a small rural community where southern hospitality and strong work ethics are the norm, we have a great group of dedicated and hardworking employees who contribute to the success of our organization. In addition, the local community network is second to none. This has allowed for greater opportunity to innovate, experiment and transform product solutions for customers all over the nation.

Through this process we have developed a new cutting edge technology for a patent-pending automated Catenary Safety Monitoring System, which improves reliability, security and safety of commuter and light rail transit systems while reducing maintenance costs. This automated system remotely and constantly monitors the overhead line (catenary) and its balance weight assemblies. It identifies actual and potential maintenance problems, thus increasing the safety and reliability of a transit line. Its solar power (“green” energy) eliminates utility connections which allows remote monitoring anywhere along a rail line. The system is designed to eliminate the need for daily visual inspections while providing transit agencies with real-time access to the overhead wire system 24/7 with wireless alerts.

IMPulse recently completed several months of successful on-site tests along Virginia’s light rail line for Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) - “The Tide.” The system even withstood the impact of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The industry response has been positive with another project in progress for Los Angeles.

I look forward to IMPulse’s continued innovative support of the public transit infrastructure and its benefit to our economy and quality of life. IMPulse is proud to be a preferred business partner for public transit systems throughout North America, and I have the distinct privilege of being its President.

Jeffrey Wharton has been a transit professional for the past 33 years and has been instrumental in manufacturing overhead catenary hardware supplying electrification systems for commuter, light rail, streetcar and electric trolleybus.