gildone

Not Just Bikes just dropped another great video. I love his sarcasm and appropriately blunt tone:

Key changes to ORDC enabling legislation in the state transportation bill. Thanks to @KJPfor passing this along: the Ohio transportation budget bill that was signed into law March 31 (and goes into effect in 12 days)? https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/solarapi/v1/general_assembly_135/bills/hb23/EN/06/hb23_06_EN?format=pdf It changes the makeup of the ORDC board (see Page 58). On the next page, it has this change that we've wanted for a long time and which helps interstate rail projects -- and removes an excuse by the ORDC to do nothing: The Ohio rail development commission shall prepare a plan for the construction and operation of an intercity conventional or high speed passenger transportation system in this state. The system shall be constructed and operated by the commission or its designees. The plan for construction and operation shall be based on existing studies, and shall state that the (system's initial route) system will connect (Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati and) any points in (between those cities) Ohio and nearby states as determined by the (authority) commission.

He does know what he's doing, but @KJPmakes a very sound argument for going all the way into Tower City. Yes, it would be more expensive, but the reward is unbeatable. KJP's alternative needs to be considered. Also, rail advocates need to get past the mindset of watering down proposals because a better alternative might be too expensive. We need to think big and have more vision. In the end we may have to settle for less, but you don't start the conversation by asking for less.

The High Speed Rail Alliance published @kjp 's NEOtrans blog on moving trains back into Tower City: https://www.hsrail.org/blog/its-time-to-move-amtrak-to-clevelands-tower-city/

Great satire from Jason Slaughter at Not Just Bikes:

Chessie Circle Yrail Opens in W. Toledo: https://www.toledoblade.com/gallery/Chessie-Circle-Trail-opens-in-W-Toledo

Interesting article that shows not only how night trains are proliferating across Europe while the US still lags behind even some developing nations, it also shows some of the challenges new entrants into the EU night train market face: From train guard to CEO: Meet the Dutchman who crowdfunded night train start-up European Sleeper https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/05/20/from-train-guard-to-ceo-meet-the-dutchman-who-crowdfunded-night-train-start-up-european-sl

I was actually more interested in his proposed passenger rail caucus in Congress.

Posted on Twitter just yesterday (5/16/23). The US High Speed Rail Association had a conference in DC:

I wonder if they will stop in Erie?

I'm seeing more and more articles about the cost of cars. This raises a question: Is automobile ownership regressing back to it's earliest years when cars were toys for the rich? Repelled by high car prices, Americans are holding on to their vehicles longer than ever ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — With new and used cars still painfully expensive, Ryan Holdsworth says he plans to keep his 9-year-old Chevy Cruze for at least four more years. Limiting his car payments and his overall debt is a bigger priority for him than having a new vehicle.... https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/business/2023/05/16/repelled-by-high-car-prices-americans-are-holding-on-to-their-vehicles-longer-than-ever/

Re: speed tables... I suppose you have to start somewhere, so it's a good thing. It follows Strong Towns' advice to do "the next smallest thing" to make a difference. I just hope it doesn't take too many years for the city to figure out that re-engineering streets when it's time for resurfacing is the way to go.

It seems to there could be a market for quality intercity bus service. Why Greyhound/Flixbus isn't intent on providing it is rather puzzling.

Quebec installs a traffic signal that turns green for those driving under the speed limit: https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/05/05/steal-this-idea-in-quebec-a-new-traffic-light-only-turns-green-for-safe-drivers/

Plans for a permanent ice skating rink at Franciscan Square: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/plans-unveiled-for-permanent-ice-skating-rink-at-franciscan-square/ar-AA1aBSYT

Think Americans don't like walkable neighborhoods and being car-free? Think again. Americans who have moved to Irsina, Italy are pleasantly surprised at what car-free living in a walkable village is really like: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/inside-the-italian-village-being-repopulated-by-americans/ar-AA1ajouy “My mother-in-law wasn’t excited at first about the idea of a village without cars, but now she has more fun here than in the US,” she says. “She walks, takes the bus to nearby Matera. Irsina has taught her how to lead an active lifestyle in her 70s. The sleepy vibe pushes us to live a slower life.” (Beth Ancona) ..... “I love how there are no cars in Irsina, I don’t have one. I just hire a driver from the airport and then it’s all on foot, long walks every day.” (Canadian Deborah Semeniuk)

From February, but still worth noting: MetroParks, trails group working on final local piece of coast-to-coast trail https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/metroparks-trails-group-working-on-final-local-piece-of-coast-to-coast-trail/NR5NFUZYJFCVZMRPKNAS6QEES4/

@kjp And neither of us know the future, and yours is an opinion too. That doesn't mean identifying potential road blocks is problematic somehow. I concede that passenger rail may be different as there may be potential for a suburban stop in Westlake or something or local rail service could be part of the mix, so there could be benefit to the local population. To change the subject to something more productive... perhaps you should suggest your routing idea to Brightline. And perhaps if future efforts to use that line are more proactive with communications with the local population, the potential for NIMBYism can be reduced.

@kjp Thanks for clarifying as a few things in your post weren't clear. My point about the cap on NS trains wasn't about whether Brightline would be a party to it as I know they wouldn't. My point was that Lakewood (and Bay Village) threw a fit when NS was proposing more traffic. Granted, it was 25 years ago, but NIMBYism is alive and well virtually everywhere in the US. I see nothing wrong with identifying potential road blocks. It keeps things realistic.

Take it over what to enter CLE? The Lakewood line? If so, I doubt Lakewood would stand for that. They made a deal with NS to keep that line to 8 trains/day. They are unlikely to be willing to tolerate 15+ more. My guess is that Lakewood would prefer to turn that line into a bike trail. Running through Detroit to Chicago adds population but lengthens the trip too much, I think. Also, 200 what of existing track? Miles? Between what locations?

I would suspect because of the expense of making the corridor suitable for passenger trains at the service level they would intend to provide. Unlike Amtrak, they understand that frequency matters. They operate, what, 17 rt's per day Miami-West Palm? And, they intend to keep that level up when the Orlando segment opens in a few months (Amtrak proposes anemic service levels for ConnectsUS and they don't have CLE-CHI in its plans, likely for the same reason). You know as well as anyone that we can't have anything close to that between CLE and CHI without some very expensive infrastructure improvements: South-of-the-Lake Bypass from CHI to Porter, IN, new Maumee River bridge, flyover at Vickers Crossing, a new Sandusky Bay bridge and causeway, new Cuyahoga River crossing (or going into Tower City) and adding two passenger tracks from CLE to Porter.

GCRTA is failing to recognize the obvious and come up with a real plan to adapt: that employment centers in the County have changed in addition to the pandemic changing commuting habits. GCRTA needs to stop embracing the status quo, get off its rear end, and come up with a vision for a transit system that will serve Cuyahoga County residents better. Part of this vision process should be a listening tour around Cleveland and Cuy. County. Then, take the vision to County and municipal eaders. Having vision is not rocket science. It just takes some folks who are willing to have some. Continuing to embrace the status quo only ensures their demise.

Think Americans don't like being car-free? Well, Americans are moving to Irsina, Italy. Here's what a two people think about being car-free there: “I love how there are no cars in Irsina" and “My mother-in-law wasn’t excited at first about the idea of a village without cars, but now she has more fun here than in the US,” https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/irsina-basilicata-italy-americans/index.html

Brightline is earning a profit on operations, and the Orlando segment isn't evenn open yet: https://www.thenextmiami.com/demand-for-brightline-so-high-that-it-just-earned-a-south-segment-profit-never-really-intended/

Chicago Union Station? It can be, but it's doable. Good luck on your trip.