gildone

I'm wondering if Brightline came in and asked Ohio to help with some of the most expensive capital projects on whatever routing(s) they'd choose, but they wouldn't ask for any operating subsidies, if Ohio would go for it. Amtrak, by contrast, is going to want public funds for all infrastructure work, and they are going to want their high operating subsidies too.

Not sure Brightine would want to skip Sandusky and Toledo. Sandusky is a ridership generator from late spring through early fall. Still, it's a way to get both CLE-CHI and the northern part of the 3c at once.

@KJP you should propose this to Brightline.

I would add the increased tire dust in waterways and oceans. Tire dust is 70% of the microplastic in the oceans. It's pushing Coho Salmon to extinction in the Pacific NW EVs Can’t Fix a Global Epidemic of ‘Car Harm,’ Study Finds A staggering number of deaths, injuries and illnesses over many decades can be attributed to cars and auto infrastructure, researchers say. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/evs-can-t-fix-a-global-epidemic-of-car-harm-study-finds

Looks like Dreamstar Lines will have its LA-SF night train up and running next year, and STL-LAS-LAX in time for the 2028 Olympics: https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/03/28/passenger-railroads-are-coming-to-utah/

@OH_Really said: "Curious if any UO folks are going?" Would love to but can't get away. Plus, I don't relish the prospect of a 4-hr drive to get there.

A detailed, 5-year longitudinal study looks closely at reforms meant to encourage walking & biking in London. Health benefits outweighed costs by 10 to 1. For the most intensive interventions -- Low Traffic Neighborhoods -- it was 50:1 or even *200:1*. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140524000173

Was walking around Ohio City yesterday. Almost got hit in crosswalks twice--when I had the walk signal by drivers making left turns and driving too fast. The Cleveland's half-assed approach to Vision Zero has to end.

If the City chooses Tower City for an intercity passenger rail station this won't be possible. In fact most of the existing RLGW would have to be moved. I know their preference is to use the Lakefront, but that comes with a some logistical problems with the Cuyahoga River crossing, Collinwood Yard, and track capacity just east of Collinwood Yard. Using Tower City has some issues too, though not as many. The cost to build a station at either location will be about the same, however. The Lakeshore Rail Alliance recommended to the Mayor's office that they do an alternatives analysis. Whether they will or what their final decision will be remains to be seen. Please note the LRA has no preference about which location to use. It's the City's decision.

Most people don't understand how expensive it is to own a car. This vid breaks it down well. We need options to the car keys. Legalize Transportation Freedom!

Also seen on social media today. Los Angeles had an issue on the ballot to invest a significant amount of money in bike and bus lanes as well as pedestrian improvements. Despite an attempt by the local firefighters union to mislead the public by claiming it would affect response times, but not acknowledging that emergency vehicles would be able to use the bike and bus lanes, etc., it passed easily:

Saw on social media today. Further expansion of the Sandusky Bay Bikeway as well as pedestrian improvements. Go Sandusky!!

Another great video from Not Just Bikes. This one is about traveling Europe's railways to take his son to dinosaur museums. He talks about how even the EU spends more on roads than rail.

Thae way I read one article about the expansion is that the airlines' $175m share is going to come from restructuring landing fees is that correct?

High Speed Rail Association's latest blog post: The Way the Nation Plans and Funds Railroads Is Really Dumb https://www.hsrail.org/blog/plan-for-big-networks-implement-in-phases/

An analysis of 23 different studies showing increased business sales when ped/bike infrastructure is installed: Economic impacts on local businesses of investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure: a review of the evidence https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2021.1912849

And today... The Amtrak Office of Inspector General reports about how Amtrak is cannibalizing cars for parts. It's looking increasingly unlikely that the bi-level/Superliner fleet is going to last through the procurement period for new equipment: Amtrak Inspector General report shows how parts shortages impact service By Bob Johnston | February 27, 2024 Regular cannibalization of equipment necessary to get trains out of terminals https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-inspector-general-report-shows-how-parts-shortages-impact-service/

This piece raises important questions about the viability of Amtrak's long-distance fleet and the way Amtrak is handling the procurement of new LD equipment. It is unlikely that the current fleet of Superliners (the bi-level cars used by the western LD trains, Auto Train, and the Capitol Limited) is going to last through the procurement period required for new cars. Amtrak is also not trying to order as close to off-the-shelf as they can, further lengthening the process. What will happen to the long-distance routes if Amtrak doesn't have enough equipment to run them all in a few years? February 26, 2024 Amtrak L-D Fleet: Five Possible Contingencies Written by Jim Tilley, President, Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/amtrak-l-d-fleet-five-possible-contingencies/?RAchannel=passenger

"The Natural Resources Defense Council just released Act Locally, a resource document to help guide states to federal funding sources for infrastructure projects, and is asserting that there is nearly $3 trillion available, if you know where to look." https://chi.streetsblog.org/2024/02/15/new-nrdc-study-urges-states-to-get-creative-with-their-finances-and-invest-in-walking-biking-and-transit

Water Under the Bridge: Cleveland’s Abandoned Streetcar System The streetcar system that once represented radical accessibility now sits abandoned under the Detroit-Superior Bridge. The man who built it is immortalized in Cleveland’s Public Square with perhaps the toughest victory of his career forgotten. Cover graphic by Jason Mecchi for Midstory. February 3, 2024 https://www.midstory.org/water-under-the-bridge-clevelands-abandoned-streetcar-system/

The popularity of LD train strongly suggests that plenty of people do ride them. And, an overlay LD of LD service offers more 1-seat ride city pairs. No one is suggesting that we don't develop shorter corridors.

A bit of good news. I called the RTA comment line this morning to report a strong urine smell at the Brookpark Raipd station. When I came back a few hours later, they had cleaned it up. I suppose they are trying with some things.

You are generous. If they can't keep the stations secure (and don't they have the largest transit police force in the state?) How are do they expect people to want to ride RTA?

Regarding the long-distance study... I'm all for expanding LD routes at some point, but before we do that, we need to improve service on existing ones to achieve high reliability and faster travel times. All current LD routes should have 3 daily trains. A few, like the Lakeshore Ltd, should have 6. In addition, there should be an overlay of shorter distance trains like CHI-DEN, DEN-STL, STL-Vegas, New Orleans-Houston-San Antonio, NY-ATL., etc. on most routes. We should not be adding routes if they are going to be slow, unreliable, and infrequent like they are now.

All good points. Only criticism is they left out how too many consultants bleed off money.