January 28, 200916 yr The MTA is the worst run agency in the country! Rail dumb, MTA! Platform at South Ferry station 1 inch too far from train BY PETE DONOHUE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Updated Wednesday, January 28th 2009, 10:25 AM A staggeringly basic blunder is delaying the grand opening of the MTA's first new subway station in 20 years, the Daily News has learned. The platform at the $530 million South Ferry station is a wee bit too far from the train tracks, officials confirmed Tuesday. http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/01/27/2009-01-27_rail_dumb_mta_platform_at_south_ferry_st.html
January 28, 200916 yr Haha but MTS, admit it, were you really shocked by this? MTA messing something up?
January 28, 200916 yr Haha but MTS, admit it, were you really shocked by this? MTA messing something up? NO. I even cut them some slack because the rebuilt & rerouted the tracks from Rector to S. Ferry. The station is gorgeous on the inside, but this is another notch in the MTA F-up log and another reason is why people don't trust the MTA!
February 3, 200916 yr I have no idea what the MTA is doing but there were huge flatbed trailers going down 125 Street with subway cars on them. I never realized how big the cars are. There were four or five flatbeds and they had a two car, front and back, police escort. The "blurs" are snow flakes. It started to snow.
February 3, 200916 yr Did they look brand new or were they being moved somewhere for service? Brand spanking new.
February 3, 200916 yr Hmmm, probably more cars for the N/R/Q/W or A/C/E. I think they are the new A/C train. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the front ends of the cars are white. I think the shop for those trains is up at 207 street so they are probably moving them there.
February 3, 200916 yr wow what a sight. good reporting catch. the white front is quite odd. kind of a throwback. i wonder what is new on the inside? i guess we'll find out soon enough.
February 3, 200916 yr wow what a sight. good reporting catch. the white front is quite odd. kind of a throwback. i wonder what is new on the inside? i guess we'll find out soon enough. I've been trying to carry a camera around, just for you and my nephew. I feel so "teen bopperish" / "tourist" whipping it out to take a picture of something. However, I did say I would "try" to take more pictures in 2009.
February 4, 200916 yr Worth noting that the host freight railroad, Genesee & Wyoming, is also the operator on the state-owned "Panhandle Line" between Columbus and the Ohio River. This is a line included as a future route for Ohio Hub trains between Columbus & Pittsburgh. TriMet's WES trains share track with Portland & Western trains When the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) began operating trains on Monday for the new WES (Westside Express Service) commuter-rail service, the agency started to access lines owned by the Portland & Western Railroad (P&W). http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=19591
February 5, 200916 yr Mag-lev must be served straight, no chaser http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2009/02/04/maglev_must_be_served_straight.html The Senate Transportation Committee this afternoon took up a resolution in support of a high-speed, mag-lev train between Atlanta and Chattanooga. S.R. 117 dubs the line “the Plane Train.”
February 6, 200916 yr FRA receives 'overwhelming' response to request for high-speed rail proposals So far, more than 80 companies and state departments of transportation have responded to the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) request for expressions of interest to develop high-speed rail corridors. read more at: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=19612
February 11, 200916 yr hoo hoo har har ha ha :laugh: MTA spellers way off-off Broadway in Brooklyn BY Veronika Belenkaya and Pete Donohue DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Tuesday, February 10th 2009, 7:46 AM There's Broadway in Manhattan and Brodaway in Brooklyn - at least in the subway system. A mosaic tile sign in a G train station misspells the stop's name as Brodaway instead of Broadway. http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/02/09/2009-02-09_mta_spellers_way_offoff_broadway_in_broo.html
February 11, 200916 yr hoo hoo har har ha ha :laugh: MTA spellers way off-off Broadway in Brooklyn BY Veronika Belenkaya and Pete Donohue DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Tuesday, February 10th 2009, 7:46 AM Varuni Tiruchelvam, of Williamsburg, is amused by the misspelling of "Broadway" inside the Queens-bound G train tunnel in Williamsburg. There's Broadway in Manhattan and Brodaway in Brooklyn - at least in the subway system. A mosaic tile sign in a G train station misspells the stop's name as Brodaway instead of Broadway. A NYC Transit spokesman said the agency would dispatch someone from the stations division to check out the spelling butchery. Several riders Monday said they didn't notice the mistake on a tile wall across from a platform at the station. "Oh my God, I've never noticed this before," high school teacher Varumi Tiruchlvam, 31, said. "My students could definitely do better than this, even though some of my students are struggling with learning English and spelling." Phillip I, 37, a ground traffic supervisor for a major airline at an area airport said he probably didn't notice it before because he commutes so early, "When I'm not really awake." "I guess somebody made this mistake. I guess this job was done pretty early when they didn't have their coffee yet, either." Teresa Toro of the "Save the G" committee, launched to lobby for improvements to the Brooklyn-Queens line, said she wasn't surprised by the misspelling. After all, at the Greenpoint Ave. station in Brooklyn, one of the signs for the India St. exit says Indian St. http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/02/09/2009-02-09_mta_spellers_way_offoff_broadway_in_broo.html that's even worse than how Bleecker St. is often misspelled without the "c" http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
February 11, 200916 yr i'd prefer to consider it all as part of the sideshow of being an immigrant town. i mean just look at the spellings on those mom&pop shop signs too :laugh:
February 12, 200916 yr http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=768967&category=BUSINESS DOT plan revived to speed rail traffic Second track between Schenectady, Albany would ease bottleneck By CATHY WOODRUFF, Business writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 COLONIE — The state Department of Transportation wants to put a dormant plan to lay a second railroad track between Schenectady and Albany back on the region's transportation agenda and make it eligible for federal stimulus funding. An 18-mile stretch of Amtrak's Empire Corridor between rail stations in Schenectady and Rensselaer is a bottleneck that delays both passenger and freight trains at a critical point for travel in upstate New York. Read more at the link above:
February 14, 200916 yr vegas rolls the dice on light rail baby: Bill introduced to bring light rail system to Clark County By Cy Ryan Published Tue, Feb 3, 2009 (3:19 p.m.) Updated Wed, Feb 4, 2009 (11:33 a.m.) CARSON CITY – A light rail system connecting Henderson and the proposed new airport in Ivanpah, south of Las Vegas, could be a gold mine, says Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas. Schneider has introduced Senate Bill 115 to require local governments to work cooperatively to establish a fixed guideway corridor from Henderson to North Las Vegas. Local governments would determine the route and to the “extent practicable, acquire and use any rights-of-way necessary.” The light rail system could be fueled by solar power from Boulder City, he said. The bill would establish three interconnected corridors in Clark County along the Union Pacific Railroad. One would run between Nevada State College and the South Strip Intermodal Transportation Terminal off Sunset Road. Another would run from the South Strip terminal to the downtown Las Vegas transportation terminal, and the third would run between the downtown Las Vegas terminal and the proposed North Las Vegas regional campus of UNLV. The bill requires the corridor to include, to the extent possible, the Henderson branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. A proposal by the Regional Transportation Commission in 2007 to build a 33-mile light rail along that branch was strongly opposed by Green Valley residents who live along the right-of-way. The RTC board changed its priorities for mass transit in the Las Vegas Valley in light of the opposition. The bill does not mention the proposed Ivanpah airport, but Schneider suggested after he introduced the bill that it could extend that far. Clark County is struggling to meet federal air quality standards and the system could aid in that effort, as well as relieve traffic congestion, he said. The bill was referred to the Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee.
February 20, 200916 yr Author http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature6-2-20 February 19, 2009 Opponents quiet as Florida commuter rail bill advances Last year's must-see legislative battle can't even fill a room this year, as Florida House lawmakers methodically moved toward approving a controversial commuter rail system through greater Orlando, local newspapers report. The rail project ultimately will have the ripple effect of significantly increasing the number of freight trains that go through Ocala on their way to Jacksonville. Full story at link above: ..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 21, 200916 yr A rail-to-trail may become a trail-to-rail project... Study: Cheatham County rail travel may be 5-8 years away By Randy Moomaw, The Ashland City Times, February 18, 2009 Imagine boarding a train in Ashland City for either Clarksville or Nashville five days a week instead of fighting rush hour traffic to and from work. Click headline for link to story:
February 22, 200916 yr Author http://www.freep.com/article/20090220/OPINION01/902200336 Detroit Free Press EDITORIAL Get funding on board for Detroit-to-Chicago high-speed rail project February 20, 2009 There's a potential bonus for Michigan in the new federal stimulus bill: $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail across the nation. If the state's congressional delegation can get its act together quickly enough, Michigan could get a piece of that money to put high-speed rail service from Detroit to Chicago -- a project that has been stalled for a decade -- on the fast track. Service at more than 100 m.p.h. would cut travel time between Detroit and Chicago from six hours to less than four, making train travel competitive with airplanes and autos, and a lot less of a headache. High-speed rail linking cities and urban regions is as important to a balanced national transportation plan as good regional mass transit. ....full editorial at link above: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 25, 200916 yr Fast track for high speed? Milwaukee to Madison link, other Midwest projects could advance when transportation money from stimulus package is distributed By Larry Sandler of the Journal Sentinel Posted: Feb. 24, 2009 After years of being parked on a siding, plans for 110-mph passenger trains in Wisconsin and Illinois could be ready to roll, with the aid of the federal stimulus package. Rail advocates and state officials are optimistic that Midwestern projects will capture a significant chunk of the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail in the $787 billion legislation, despite heavy competition from other high-speed rail plans across the nation. Find this article at: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/40263842.html
February 26, 200916 yr Author Awesome graphic!! http://awesome.goodmagazine.com:80/transparency/web/trans0209takingthetrain.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 1, 200916 yr hamilton also factors in ses to justify light rail: Poverty should spur light rail: City Socio-economic factors should sway Metrolinx, officials believe February 20, 2009 ERIC McGUINNESS The Hamilton Spectator Hamilton believes light-rail transit across the lower city will benefit enough poor and old to give the project higher priority over affluent suburban areas across the Toronto area. The board of Metrolinx, the Greater Golden Horseshoe transportation planning agency, is meeting today to approve principles of a framework for deciding the order in which its first 15 priority projects will be built. Two are already approved, four had funding approved before Metrolinx came into being and the others are competing for first chance at some of the $11.5 billion promised through the MoveOntario 2020 allocation. City officials are happy to see the proposed Metrolinx criteria include such social factors as how many low-income and elderly residents would be served by the proposed transit routes. Other criteria include effects on the economy and environment.
March 1, 200916 yr As good as the interest in high speed rail is and as good as all that stimulus money is, I am concerned that we are talking about a series of unconnected or coincidentally connected corridors. yes, the Ohio Hub plan is a good regional system, as is the Midwest regional High speed rail plan, but we need a national system.
March 2, 200916 yr Louisiana to seek New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line from federal stimulus pot that Jindal called wasteful Posted by rscott February 28, 2009 08:00AM BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's transportation department plans to request federal dollars for a New Orleans to Baton Rouge passenger rail service from the same pot of railroad money in the president's economic stimulus package that Gov. Bobby Jindal criticized as unnecessary pork on national television Tuesday night. full story at: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/louisiana_to_seek_new_orleansb.html
March 2, 200916 yr As good as the interest in high speed rail is and as good as all that stimulus money is, I am concerned that we are talking about a series of unconnected or coincidentally connected corridors. yes, the Ohio Hub plan is a good regional system, as is the Midwest regional High speed rail plan, but we need a national system. It really surprises me that they don't make the connection from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and/or Buffalo, Jacksonville to Orlando, Tulsa to Kansas City, and Houston to Austin/Dallas/or San Antonio. Obviously, that's more money, but then the entire Eastern US is connected. The West might not make as much sense to connect, because of lower density and long distances.
March 2, 200916 yr Pittsburgh-Cleveland, Buffalo-Cleveland and others are missing because this was a locally driven process, even tho the feds designated them high speed corridors. To the best of my knowledge there was not any overarching thought of a national system. What you see is the result of that process and that needs to be corrected. The national Association of Railroad Passengers and others have called for such a national system, but it remains to be seen as to whether this will happen.
March 3, 200916 yr Northeast Indiana may finally be getting organized and active at a grass-roots level. I just received this announcement. I have a lot going on, but I'm going to try to make it to the announcement tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- N.I.P.R.A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY, March 3, 2009—2 PM BAKER STREET STATION, 221 W. BAKER ST.—FORT WAYNE TO ANNOUNCE: RALLY FOR RAIL AT BAKER STREET STATION FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD, 2009 @ 4:30 PM The purpose of the April 3rd RALLY FOR RAIL is to demonstrate to state, federal, and local officials that the citizens of northeast Indiana want rail service to return to the Fort Wayne area with connections to Ohio and Chicago. Speakers of national prominence will be featured and state, federal, and local officials from northeast Indiana will be invited to the RALLY FOR RAIL. For more information, please contact event organizers: Dr. Tom Hayhurst 433-0057 [email protected] Geoff Paddock 432-5700 Fred Lanahan 456-2590 Dr. Phil Wright 432-6690 [email protected] Dr. Harry Reith 486-6515
March 3, 200916 yr Author Glad to see it! Please give us a report, Rob. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 200916 yr Commuting on the Capital Corridor http://www.davislifemagazine.com/Content.aspx?m=3/1/2009&cId=2702 Well worth reading, especially how a younger generation is discovering train travel.
March 3, 200916 yr You'll note in the pic at the link there is a lot of bikes parked at this station. Davis has a real strong bike culture, using them to get around town (and the city has provided a lot of dedicated bike paths running in greenbelts throughout town. So its possible to ride a bike from your home to the station and then take the train. Carless commuting from home to work and back again.
March 3, 200916 yr There were several good "bikes on trains" photos in this story. But what also impressed me was the overall theme of how the trains have caused a major lifestyle change in what most other Americans view as car-centric California. I was particularly struck by the lady who was able to not give up her physical therapy practice in another city because the train gave her that option.
March 3, 200916 yr Author It's a wonderful article. It shows that the change is coming, and because our young people are leading it, it's going to be around for a long time. If more of our elected officials don't catch up with the people, they are going to lose their jobs. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 200916 yr Do you think that the increased exposure to other countries, specifically Western Europe, through study abroad programs has actually enabled a larger part of the population to have positive experiances on trains. I know that the wife did a three month study abroad in Germany and loved the abaility to leave Friday or Thursaday night, they only had classes 4 days, and be in another country in a few hours.
March 3, 200916 yr Put it this way.... if I had a dollar for every person I've met who has talked to me about the HSR trains in Europe and Asia.... (KJP included).... I'd be a wealthy man. I think you hit on a great observation, because I hear most often about how good the trains are overseas from younger people who have gone "over there" on student exchange programs or just for pleasure travel.
March 3, 200916 yr Author Whaddya talking about? I've never been to Europe, ridden their trains or even seen the trains there! :-D "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 4, 200916 yr Author That's me at the Bristol, England train station. Please don't judge me too harshly. I was up all night on a plane from America. This photo was taken about 11 a.m. We flew from Cleveland to Newark, then from Newark to Bristol, rode the bus from the airport to the train station, then took the 125 mph train to London's Paddington station, walked to our bed-n-breakfast, dumped our bags, went for dinner, came back and crashed for the night. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 5, 200916 yr speaking of express trains, there is a new acela, but i couldn't find it on youtube. but i did find this 'classic.' it's the very first commercial ad acela used when it went into service 12/11/00: *** tuscon is getting its streetcar: Plans for Tucson streetcar remains on track Reported by: Associated Press Last Update: 3/02 11:05 am Despite the state of the economy, Tucson's plan to launch a modern streetcar system is said to be on schedule. http://www.abc15.com/content/news/centralsouthernarizona/story/Plans-for-Tucson-streetcar-remains-on-track/a-eZjzchkkyVYMIUsLc7cg.cspx
March 5, 200916 yr TBARTA supports Tampa Rail Plan http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/02/23/daily62.html
March 6, 200916 yr California's Capitol Corridor to request $98 million in economic stimulus funds The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes billions of dollars in economic stimulus funding for high-speed and intercity passenger-rail projects. The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) wants $98 million of it. http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=19835
March 7, 200916 yr Alabama accused of blocking high-speed rail plan (Atlanta to N.O.) http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2009/03/09/story2.html
March 7, 200916 yr News update on South Shore's new bi-level cars: http://www.nictd.com/TempPDF/Status_of_New_Cars.pdf From the NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District) web site.
March 7, 200916 yr Alabama accused of blocking high-speed rail plan (Atlanta to N.O.) http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2009/03/09/story2.html Quote: "Birmingham’s Richard Finley is chairman of the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission. He calls the state’s decision to hold back rail funding ‘embarrassing.’ Gov. Bob Riley says the state can’t afford it." At least we now have a governor in Ohio that gets it.
March 7, 200916 yr Maine Bonds for Stimulus $$$ Governor John Baldacci (D) of Maine announced a $306 million bond package, which would trigger another $380 million in matching federal funds from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The proposed borrowing would contain $127.8 million for transportation infrastructure projects. Initial reports from Maine’s State House Reporter indicate the projects would include: • Investments for the improvement of passenger rail lines, which includes a $2 million initiative to purchase track that would fill in the connection between Auburn and downtown Portland, where there is currently a gap; • A study of Maine’s rail corridors for future freight use, and upgrades for state-owned rail-lines; • Infrastructure upgrades for park-and-ride system and rail facility enhancements for the Rockland branch to extend the Amtrak Downeaster; • $3.4 million for the second phase of the Acadia Gateway Intermodal Center, which would activate $9.6 million in federal funds; • $5.5 million for the maintenance and upgrade of the Maine Department of Transportation’s fleet of 400 buses and transit vehicles, which are leased to local service-providers across the state. The state legislature will study the proposal in the next few weeks, and there is expected to be pushback from Republicans on the size of the bill. Senate Minority Leader Kevin Rayer (R-Perrey) told reporters, “We need to carefully assess the size of the bond and make sure we’re not borrowing more money than the taxpayers can pay for.” Gov. Baldacci acknowledged the difficulty of asking taxpayers to take on additional burdens in hard times, but argued that these projects would create 4,500 jobs, on top of any jobs created by the federal stimulus package. http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/hotline/more/hotline_594/
Create an account or sign in to comment