December 13, 20213 yr Author I watched this press conference from a distance at: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 14, 20213 yr Our regular reminder that this is what 3C&D would be if Kasich hadn’t given away our federal tax dollars to other states. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
December 14, 20213 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 22, 20213 yr collaboration to get nw passenger rail going: Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation Senators seek study of potential Northwest passenger-rail service 12/22/2021 https://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/Senators-seek-study-of-potential-Northwest-passengerrail-service--65512#
December 28, 20213 yr On 12/13/2021 at 7:13 PM, Boomerang_Brian said: Our regular reminder that this is what 3C&D would be if Kasich hadn’t given away our federal tax dollars to other states. This is the result of the "incremental improvements" that are an essential feature to improved rail travel, something that Kasich and the Ohio Republican Party generally failed to grasp when they complained about slow starting speeds.
January 2, 20223 yr Maryland's nowhere-near-complete light rail Purple Line connecting DC suburban locations is showing signs of life. Comstruction is expected to resume in the spring after an eighteen month shut-own. The pricetag, which had been $1.8 billion (already spent), has grown by $400 million to $2.2 billion which isn't close to what is needed. There is hope the recently approved Infrastructure bill will fill some of the gap. The project should be a huge scandal but isn't. The Democrats managed the planning and the Republicans managed the execution. The blame is hopelessly bipartisan, so it's not being discussed. Also not being discussed is the tentative completion date - 2027. Edit: An auditor's report claimed that $800 million of expenses were attributable to change orders resulting from ADA and safety compliance. Edited January 2, 20223 yr by Dougal omission Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
January 3, 20223 yr Author Horrific. No wonder the world laughs at us. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 4, 20223 yr 4 round trip trains a day Raleigh to Charlotte. (8 total trains is a dumb way way to describe the service.) This could be 3C&D service if Kasich hadn’t given our tax money away to other states. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
January 10, 20223 yr congress hts station in dc is getting tod: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/news/WMATA-unveils-TOD-project-near-Congress-Heights-Station--65606
January 10, 20223 yr 19 minutes ago, mrnyc said: congress hts station in dc is getting tod: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/news/WMATA-unveils-TOD-project-near-Congress-Heights-Station--65606 Virginia and Maryland are strongly behind TOD. (How could you not be?) MoCo and Fairfax have very relax zoning restrictions on anything withih 1/2 mile of a rail station. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
January 13, 20223 yr The Utah legislature has set aside $200 million to double-track their commuter rail system (Frontrunner). The long-term plan is to electrify the system. https://kutv.com/news/local/2022-legislature-expect-a-tax-cut-and-cash-investment-in-frontrunner
January 13, 20223 yr 2 hours ago, JaceTheAce41 said: The Utah legislature has set aside $200 million to double-track their commuter rail system (Frontrunner). The long-term plan is to electrify the system. https://kutv.com/news/local/2022-legislature-expect-a-tax-cut-and-cash-investment-in-frontrunner Seems is not a clear red vs blue thing that is so often pushed on this forum. Utah, a red state spending $200 million.
January 13, 20223 yr Author 8 minutes ago, STRIVE2THRIVE said: Seems is not a clear red vs blue thing that is so often pushed on this forum. Utah, a red state spending $200 million. Indiana legislature also approved a similar amount for a branch of the South Shore regional rail line to Dyer and for double-track portions of the existing 86-mile line linking Chicago and South Bend. The only ones pushing the partisan narrative (at least those that matter) are those who gave back federal funds for passenger rail and voted against them in recent Congressional authorizations. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 13, 20223 yr 13 minutes ago, STRIVE2THRIVE said: Seems is not a clear red vs blue thing that is so often pushed on this forum. Utah, a red state spending $200 million. Utah started building out rail in preparation for the Olympics. The first line didn't even connect to the airport at the start. They've understood that rail is good for business and once Frontrunner is electrified, the trainsets that will most-likely be used will be the Stadler trainsets that CalTrain is using for CalMod. Those are manufactured in SLC.
January 14, 20223 yr Isn't there a lot of geographic and political land use constraints in Utah that kind of make the inevitable happen faster there?
January 14, 20223 yr 39 minutes ago, Dev said: Isn't there a lot of geographic and political land use constraints in Utah that kind of make the inevitable happen faster there? In a way yes. Basically everyone in Utah lives in an 80 mile stretch along the Wasatch Front and there were DRGW rail lines that became redundant when UP and SP merged so the state was able to gobble them up. The fact that everyone lives in the same area made it easier to have a state-run transit agency (UTA) rather than many small municipal ones. Throw in the fact that big wigs in the Mormon church own construction companies that would make money from construction and voila.
January 18, 20223 yr Author Bill to explore passenger rail expansion to be heard on Indiana Senate floor https://fox59-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/fox59.com/indianapolitics/bill-to-explore-passenger-rail-expansion-to-be-heard-on-indiana-senate-floor/amp/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 19, 20223 yr Ohio isn't the only train-incompetent state -- Wisconsin-bought trains for high speed rail eventually sold to Nigeria instead. “It's kind of an absurd ending to an absurd tale,” [Milwaukee Alderman Robert] Bauman told Wisconsin Public Radio. In recounting the decade-long saga, Bauman wondered, “Who buys a set of train cars, refuses to complete the contract, ends up getting sued, settles, pays out another $50-some million in damages, and then you don't even get the cars?” https://www.wpr.org/trains-intended-unbuilt-milwaukee-madison-high-speed-rail-line-going-nigeria
January 20, 20223 yr 18 hours ago, Foraker said: Ohio isn't the only train-incompetent state -- Wisconsin-bought trains for high speed rail eventually sold to Nigeria instead. “It's kind of an absurd ending to an absurd tale,” [Milwaukee Alderman Robert] Bauman told Wisconsin Public Radio. In recounting the decade-long saga, Bauman wondered, “Who buys a set of train cars, refuses to complete the contract, ends up getting sued, settles, pays out another $50-some million in damages, and then you don't even get the cars?” https://www.wpr.org/trains-intended-unbuilt-milwaukee-madison-high-speed-rail-line-going-nigeria I was wondering what happened to those train sets. I’m curious why this article says Madison - Milwaukee. Wasn’t it Madison - Milwaukee - Chicago? Or perhaps it was a phased project. Any insight, @KJP? Milwaukee - Chicago was always the far more important part of that concept. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
January 20, 20223 yr Author Hyper-focus by the media outlet. Yes, they were to be used Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago but it was contingent on the Madison-Milwaukee section getting built. The funding for that also would have paid for the state acquiring the trains. I was never a fan of states acquiring rolling stock unless it was a state-owned transit agency. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 23, 20223 yr Author How's this for TOD? Cross-posted in the Miami developments thread.... Brightline complex cleared for 2,000 residential units in towers by Government Center https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article257550188.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 25, 20223 yr gateway keeps moving along: Gateway Tunnel gets good enough rating from feds to keep going By Kevin Duggan Posted on January 20, 2022 The federal government deemed the Gateway Tunnel project between New York and New Jersey worthy to move through the process of getting cash from Washington, officials announced last week. The $11 billion scheme to build two new rail tunnels beneath the Hudson while repairing century-old existing tubes got a “medium-high” rating from the Federal Transit Administration, the second-highest designation. “The Gateway Tunnel project has just secured a positive rating at the FTA, and it is just huge because it means the billions we secured for this project are that much closer to being put to work,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a statement on Jan. 20. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/gateway-tunnel-rating-feds-keep-going/
February 9, 20223 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 11, 20223 yr WSJ says California's high speed rail project will now cost $105 billion, and it's not clear exactly what that will produce. A 119-mile Central Valley road or the actual SF to LA promise? https://www.wsj.com/articles/californias-laughing-rail-stock-high-speed-rail-authority-105-billion-11644444340 It's easy to throw stones, but the US really needs a new way to undertake large scale public works. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 11, 20223 yr Author Indiana sucks almost as much as Ohio.... Here is the status of the Indiana Passenger Rail Commission as we know it: The bill establishing the Passenger Rail Commission (Senate Bill #13) is now in the Indiana House, and has been assigned to the Roads & Transportation Committee, Chairman Jim Pressel (R-20, Rolling Prairie). It is our understanding that Chairman Pressel does not intend to give the bill a hearing, thus effectively killing it. We are given to understand that the Chairman believes the state already has too many commissions, and does not need another one. We at IPRA believe that the stated objection is not a reasonable one, and that whatever the objective merits of the proposed Passenger Rail Commission, it should be presented to, and judged by, the full House. So, at this time, we are asking all those favorably disposed to the establishment of a passenger rail commission to contact their State Representative, and let them know how important it is to give the passenger rail commission bill a hearing, so that it might be presented to the full House. Let us know about your conversation! If you desire more information about the proposed Passenger Rail Commission (or if your state representative does), please contact us at [email protected]. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 22, 20223 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 1, 20223 yr California releases environmental impact statement on the last 90 miles of high speed rail to San Jose. California continues to make slow progress. https://hsr.ca.gov/2022/02/25/news-release-cahsra-releases-final-enviro-studies-to-connect-silicon-to-central-valley/
March 11, 20223 yr Author One of the few states that gave back federal rail stimulus funds a dozen years ago was Wisconsin (like Ohio). But now Wisconsin touts investment as a way to improve passenger AND freight efficiency with buy-in from the freight railroads.... Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago rail gets $31.8 million federal boost Improvements double available round trips for passengers, aid freight efficiency https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/newsroom/news-rel/030922TCMKErail.aspx "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 13, 20223 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 19, 20223 yr $150M approved for planning Vancouver-Seattle-Portland high speed rail When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 22, 20223 yr nj transit is working its was back toward scranton. the andover station is on deck to be restored. although the work is more complicated than you might expect. next would be blairstown and then delaware water gap at the state line. penn needs to up its game to bring it home to scranton: Work on century-old Roseville Tunnel in Andover to advance Sussex County rail service Bruce A. Scruton New Jersey Herald ANDOVER — The light at the end of the Roseville Tunnel just might be the reconstruction of the more-than-century-old passageway that has held up re-establishment of the Lackawanna Cut-off and commuter rail service to Sussex County. Rep. Josh Gottheimer visited the site of the long-proposed Andover station, just west of the tunnel on Monday to announce funds are now guaranteed for New Jersey Transit to move forward and take bids for the work to rebuild the tunnel. The funds to support the proposed service expansion of the Lackawanna Cut-off and bring passenger rail to Northwestern New Jersey come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, approved earlier this year and signed into law by President Joe Biden. With the guaranteed federal money to restore the tunnel, Andover and Sussex County can move forward with the associated project to buy land to rebuild and reroute a stream that flows under Roseville Road near the station. more: https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2022/03/21/andover-nj-roseville-tunnel-sussex-county-rail-service/7118364001/
March 30, 20223 yr east side access is now grand central madison. its scheduled to open by the end of the year: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-look-inside-the-new-east-side-access-terminal-grand-central-madison/ar-AAVDREo
March 31, 20223 yr My Buffalo-raised wife sent me this and I got a kick out of it. Here in Cleveland we may have an ancient car fleet that catches on fire, but at least the map is slightly more interesting! 🤣
April 17, 20223 yr Brightline please please please do Chicago-Detroit-Cleveland service. As good as it would be for CLE, it would be even more important for Toledo and Cedar Point. There HAS to be some type of business partnership that could make this happen. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 2, 20223 yr Author I've been reading about this really cool project for perhaps 20 years. It started getting some legs about 10 years ago and now it's received a significant boost of funding. In America's view of the transportation world, that's a pretty fast ascendancy from idea to a legit project. That's how things happen in states that actually want to accomplish something.... High speed rail to provide $423 million for LA Union Station project The California High-Speed Rail Authority will provide more than $400 million for the project to improve Los Angeles Union Station, a project which will see through tracks for commuter and intercity rail operations created at the current stub-ended station in downtown L.A. https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/high-speed-rail-to-provide-423-million-for-la-union-station-project/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 11, 20223 yr As I booked several CLE-MKE trips for this summer, dealing with the total pain in the a** that trip is, especially now that there’s no direct flight service, I continue to extremely envious of actual first world countries where CLE-MKE would take 3 hours on high speed rail and have at least hourly service. Anyway, next best thing would be to convince Brightline to service Chicago-Detroit-Cleveland with an upside-down T route. Here’s some video from their southern Florida service When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 31, 20223 yr looks like things are getting at least somewhat up to speed at penn moynihan lately -- so that is nice to see --
May 31, 20223 yr Author Still need some benches, seats, etc... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 1, 20223 yr 7 hours ago, KJP said: Still need some benches, seats, etc... it does have waiting room with seats.
June 1, 20223 yr east side access is now rebranded as grand central madison - and it will open in december: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-mta-east-side-access-grand-central-madison-hochul-rebrand-20220531-6tdxmdcrajgkffqifjc54uxd4y-story.html
June 1, 20223 yr Author The private sector filling the absence of state initiative in Florida. I wish Brightline would show more interest in Ohio..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 7, 20223 yr Good news for passenger rail in Chicago. Quality thread: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 7, 20223 yr Author If this is built and the Cardinal could switch over to the CP at Harvey, it would cut a significant chunk of time from the Cincinnati-Chicago trip. Maybe 20-40 minutes? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 7, 20223 yr 45 minutes ago, neony said: WHO is Roland Solinski??? The guy seems to have all the details! Yeah, that thread led to an immediate follow from me. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 8, 20223 yr Hey @Gramarye - building on our convo in the Car Dependency thread, here’s a detailed analysis on how Philly could upgrade its commuter rail to proper regional rail and the resulting benefits. https://whyy.org/articles/analysis-how-septa-can-turn-regional-rail-in-philly-into-high-frequency-rapid-transit/ When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 10, 20223 yr More information on Chicago area passenger rail infrastructure proposals. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 14, 20223 yr penn station upgrade and exapansion moves forward: Hochul launches bidding for design of $7 billion Penn Station overhaul By Kevin Duggan Posted on June 9, 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state will start soliciting designs for her $7 billion plan to beautify Penn Station Thursday. Architectural and engineering firms will have until July 28 to submit proposals to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to give the notoriously-cramped station a facelift, the governor said at the Moynihan Train Hall on June 9. “The glory days are coming back,” Hochul said during a press conference at the Midtown station. “We are taking an enormous step toward righting one of the wrongs of the past 60 years,” she added. “This time we’re going to get it right.” The MTA’s so-called request for proposals went live Thursday afternoon, and officials will choose a winning bid by late summer or early fall, Hochul said. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/hochul-launches-bidding-design-penn-station/ The plan calls for more light inside the notoriously dark station. Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
June 14, 20223 yr 8 minutes ago, mrnyc said: penn station upgrade and exapansion moves forward: Hochul launches bidding for design of $7 billion Penn Station overhaul By Kevin Duggan Posted on June 9, 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state will start soliciting designs for her $7 billion plan to beautify Penn Station Thursday. Architectural and engineering firms will have until July 28 to submit proposals to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to give the notoriously-cramped station a facelift, the governor said at the Moynihan Train Hall on June 9. “The glory days are coming back,” Hochul said during a press conference at the Midtown station. “We are taking an enormous step toward righting one of the wrongs of the past 60 years,” she added. “This time we’re going to get it right.” The MTA’s so-called request for proposals went live Thursday afternoon, and officials will choose a winning bid by late summer or early fall, Hochul said. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/hochul-launches-bidding-design-penn-station/ The plan calls for more light inside the notoriously dark station. Office of Governor Kathy Hochul Not a single place to sit in that rendering. Our country is so bad at transportation projects. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
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