September 20, 201014 yr Secretary LaHood Announces $1 Million in High-Speed Rail Grants for Georgia, Kansas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm News DOT 173-10 Friday, September 17, 2010 News Digest U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $750,000 in grants for Georgia, and $250,000 in grants for Kansas, to further develop their high-speed rail programs. The Georgia grants, from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program, come in three portions: $250,000 to develop an interstate rail network compact with neighboring states; $250,000 for an Atlanta to Birmingham, AL feasibility study; and, $250,000 for a Macon, GA to Jacksonville, FL, feasibility study. The $250,000 grant to Kansas Department of Transportation is to develop a service development plan for interstate passenger rail service between Kansas City and Oklahoma City, OK, and a potential connection to Ft. Worth, TX. Kansas Department of Transportation will contribute an additional $450,000 for this planning. FRA has now released more than $648 million for the HSIPR program, the significant portion of which comes from the $8 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the development of high-speed rail corridors. Media Contact: Rob Kulat 202-493-6024.
September 21, 201014 yr Author High-speed trains save time and fuel Published Tue, Sep 21, 2010 02:00 AM PATRICK SIMMONS RALEIGH -- There has been a great deal of misinformation regarding high-speed rail lately. I'd like to set the record straight. A key point deals with train travel time. It's been suggested that rail travel would be no faster than interstate highway time by auto. That's not true. Today, trains take a little more than three hours to make the trip from Raleigh to Charlotte. Once the first round of improvements is made, that trip will be less than three hours. After all improvements are made and the trains run up to 90 mph, that trip will take about two hours. In addition, we are adding more trains - offering more options. And while some say "no one will ride the train," the facts tell a different story. Each year since 1990, ridership has increased an average of 6.5 percent. Last year over 700,000 people took the train and we expect this year's total to be nearly 800,000. Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/09/21/693098/high-speed-trains-save-time-and.html#ixzz10BmQIf9S "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 23, 201014 yr Ramsey County selects construction manager for St. Paul transit depot The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority approved a construction contract with M.A. Mortenson to serve as Phase II construction manager at risk for the depot renovation project in downtown St. Paul, Minn. Construction on the $243.4 million project is expected to begin in January 2011 and take two years to complete. "Construction manager at risk" is a construction method in which the project manager commits to delivering a project within a guaranteed maximum price. The guaranteed maximum price of the depot project is $148.8 million. The total project cost also includes money already spent for land acquisition and planning, as well as project contingencies, authority officials said in a prepared statement. Full story at: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=24452
September 25, 201014 yr Full Story at: http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2010/october/return-the-iron-horses Return of the Iron Horses Downeast / The Magazine of Maine By: Colin Woodard After several decades as an extinct species of transport, passenger rail has been making a serious comeback in Maine. Boston to Portland service was restored at the end of 2001 in the form of the Amtrak Downeaster, which has since become one of the most highly-rated trains in the country. This summer, workers began to rehabilitate long neglected tracks from Portland to Freeport and Brunswick, allowing Amtrak to reach the midcoast in 2012. Another company, Maine Eastern Railroad, will provide connecting service to Bath, Wiscasset, and Rockland. Augusta and Lewiston could expect passenger trains to start humming down their long deserted sidings not long thereafter. The iron horse, it seems, is back, and just in time to skirt travelers around the summer traffic jams at the Wiscasset bridge and York toll booths and the parking lots in downtown Freeport or at the Rockland ferry terminal. If things go as planned, commuters on the Portland to Augusta and Portland to Lewiston corridors might be able to leave their automobiles at home a few years hence.
September 26, 201014 yr taking shots at the massive nj arc tunnel project plan while its down: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100926/COLUMNISTS06/9260320/1005/OPINION/Tunnel-is-another-boondoggle
September 29, 201014 yr U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $50 Million Recovery Act Grant for Vermont High-Speed Rail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRA 18-10 Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Contact: Rob Kulat Tel.: (202) 493-6024 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $50 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars for the State of Vermont to begin construction to improve 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon on Amtrak’s Vermonter line. The improvements will result in increased speeds, reduced travel time and greater reliability. “President Obama’s bold vision for high-speed rail will transform transportation in Vermont and the United States,” said Secretary LaHood. “This undertaking will not only create good jobs and help reinvigorate our manufacturing base, it’s also going to relieve congestion on our roadways and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” The $50 million ARRA grant awarded under the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program, will be used to install continuously welded rail and other track improvements, new crossties, highway-rail grade crossing safety improvements on track owned by the New England Central Railroad, a RailAmerica Inc. (NYSE: RA) property. The improvements will also set the stage for more frequent service along this corridor and for extending the Vermonter service to Montreal, Quebec in the future. “This cooperation between Vermont and the New England Central Railroad will immediately put people to work and means long-term infrastructure improvements,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “Achieving faster travel times, greater speed and increased reliability are the primary goals of our program, which this project will accomplish.” Amtrak’s Vermonter service is an integral transportation link between Washington, D.C., New York City, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Within the limits of this project approximately 80,000 people traveled on the Vermonter in 2009, and more than 80,000 thus far in 2010 with the service showing an average 16.2% increase in ridership. “The number of passengers riding the Vermonter has been growing steadily,” said Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. “This project will put people to work constructing the improvements necessary to shorten the length of time it takes the train to travel through the state, which in turn will make our Amtrak service an even more attractive option for busy travelers.” FRA has released more than $648 million of the $8 billion down payment provided in the Recovery Act for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program.
September 30, 201014 yr New York allocates funds for freight & passenger-rail projects On Tuesday, New York Gov. David Paterson announced the state will provide more than $42 million for 34 rail and port capital improvement projects. The funds will be distributed as Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act grants or provided through the Governor's Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program. Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act grants include: See full list at: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/prdailynews/news.asp?id=24566
October 1, 201014 yr Mass. governor OKs grant for transit hubs Friday, October 01, 2010 Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has authorized a $320,000 technical assistance grant to pay for planning efforts in 15 cities and towns southeast of Boston to create mixed-used economic development projects, and to preserve open space, in conjunction with expanding regional rail service. Full story at: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/mass.-governor-oks-grant-for-transit-hubs.html
October 2, 201014 yr Full Story at: http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2010/october/return-the-iron-horses Return of the Iron Horses Downeast / The Magazine of Maine By: Colin Woodard ... The iron horse, it seems, is back, and just in time to skirt travelers around the summer traffic jams at the Wiscasset bridge and York toll booths and the parking lots in downtown Freeport or at the Rockland ferry terminal. If things go as planned, commuters on the Portland to Augusta and Portland to Lewiston corridors might be able to leave their automobiles at home a few years hence. "Iron Horse" perhaps was used appropriately in reference to primitive steam locomotives that replaced horses on early-19th century railways and tramways - machines like the 1831 John Bull: The original John Bull is owned by the Smithsonian Institution. The operable replica pictured above was built in 1939 by employees of the PRR Altoona Shops, and is on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg. Using the term "Iron Horse" in reference to modern passenger trains makes about as much sense as referring to electric trains "chugging." That sort of writing demonstrates and continues to feed the "choo-choo" mentality that is an impediment to bringing US rail passenger service into the 21st century. The article is typical of what happens with increasing frequency in all sorts of publications -- feature articles by writers who know nothing about their subject matter, and who don't bother to consult with anyone who does.
October 2, 201014 yr Right on Robert! It drives me up the wall to see in print or hear on a broadcast the word "chugging" in reference to any form of modern railroading. Chalk it up to journalistic laziness in most cases. But you're right that it also tends to minimize the development of passenger rail as something that is supported only by "foamers" and the nostalgic. The letter-to-the editor by a young professional I posted on the 3C thread flies in the face of this view: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2010/10/01/young-adults-find-3c-train-appealing.html?sid=101
October 2, 201014 yr Author I've written hundrends of headlines and helped fellow reporters write more -- even stopping some from using "chugging" or other cutesy words and phrases for railroad-related articles. And I've complained to editors about headlines they've put on my articles because they didn't read more than a couple sentences into my articles to get the gist of what the article was actually about. So sometimes it laziness. Sometimes it's having to write many headlines on a busy deadline day. And sometimes it's more about being cute or clever or playing with cliches. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 4, 201014 yr Author Press release from the Illinois governor's office...... http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=3&RecNum=8915 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2010 Governor Quinn Highlights Amtrak’s $40 Million Capital Investment in Chicago’s Union Station Expansion will Accommodate High-Speed Rail Passengers, Support 100 Construction Jobs CHICAGO – October 4, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Amtrak Board Chairman Tom Carper to announce a $40 million capital construction project to improve Amtrak’s Union Station in Chicago. The project will double the passenger waiting area, add new restrooms and install air conditioning in the Great Hall. The two-year project will be financed through Amtrak’s capital projects budget and is expected to support 100 construction jobs. “New high-speed and passenger rail service will bring thousands of visitors to downtown Chicago, boosting our tourism industry and supporting Illinois’ continued economic recovery,” said Governor Quinn. “This major construction project will put Illinoisians back to work and help Union Station give visitors to the city of Chicago a welcome befitting the Land of Lincoln.” In January, the state of Illinois received $1.2 billion in high-speed rail funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), most of which will fund a high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis. The following day, Governor Quinn announced new service to Rockford and the Quad Cities from Union Station through the Illinois Jobs Now! capital plan. Union Station serves as the hub for the Midwest network, which received $2.6 billion in ARRA funding in January, the most of any regional network. The network connects major cities and universities throughout the region to Chicago. Over the next several years, new and improved high-speed and passenger rail service is expected to drastically increase ridership throughout Illinois and the Midwest. Amtrak has seen record ridership in 2010. Major Midwest routes to and from Union Station have all posted impressive ridership increases since 2009, including the Chicago-St. Louis service, which boasts an 11 percent improvement. The Metropolitan Planning Council recently released a report citing the benefits to tourism of highspeed and expanded passenger rail service to Chicago. Projections show that over the next 10 years, an additional 800,000 tourists will visit Chicago because of the rail improvements, generating an additional $510 million in direct and indirect spending. “Improvements to Union Station are a top priority for Amtrak,” said Amtrak Chairman Carper. “Illinois is a national leader for passenger rail, and its commitment to work with other Midwestern states to build a robust service network from Union Station will allow us to bring more travelers to and from Downtown Chicago.” Designed by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, Union Station opened in May 1925. On average, 55 Amtrak trains arrive at or depart Union Station each day. The station serves six of Metra’s 11 lines. On an average weekday, close to 140,000 passengers pass through Union Station. The Great Hall serves as one of Illinois’ top tourist and special events destinations, and has been a frequent location for motion pictures such as The Untouchables. ### "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 5, 201014 yr Seems like this was the best location to place this. Focus of the article is on how certain republican candidates are trying to stop rail plans in their states. They look specifically at Ohio, Wisconsin and California. October 4, 2010 Rail Service Expansion Imperiled at State Level By MICHAEL COOPER Republicans running for governor in a handful of states could block, or significantly delay, one of President Obama’s signature initiatives: his plan to expand the passenger rail system and to develop the nation’s first bullet-train service. In his State of the Union address this year, the president called for building high-speed rail, and backed up his words with $8 billion in stimulus money, distributed to various states, for rail projects. But Republican candidates for governor in some of the states that won the biggest stimulus rail awards are reaching for the emergency brake. More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/us/05rail.html?_r=1
October 5, 201014 yr Indy- http://www.urbanindy.com/2010/10/05/how-indianapolis-can-learn-from-cincinnatis-rail-lessons/
October 8, 201014 yr I heart Paul Krugman. The End of the Tunnel By PAUL KRUGMAN Published: October 7, 2010 The Erie Canal. Hoover Dam. The Interstate Highway System. Visionary public projects are part of the American tradition, and have been a major driver of our economic development. And right now, by any rational calculation, would be an especially good time to improve the nation’s infrastructure. We have the need: our roads, our rail lines, our water and sewer systems are antiquated and increasingly inadequate. We have the resources: a million-and-a-half construction workers are sitting idle, and putting them to work would help the economy as a whole recover from its slump. And the price is right: with interest rates on federal debt at near-record lows, there has never been a better time to borrow for long-term investment. ... But American politics these days is anything but rational. Republicans bitterly opposed even the modest infrastructure spending contained in the Obama stimulus plan. And, on Thursday, Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, canceled America’s most important current public works project, the long-planned and much-needed second rail tunnel under the Hudson River. So last year the project began. Of the $8.7 billion in planned funding, less than a third was to come from the State of New Jersey; the rest would come, in roughly equal amounts, from the independent Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and from the federal government. Even if costs were to rise substantially, as they often do on big projects, it was a very good deal for the state. ...read on to see where the governor would spend the money... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/opinion/08krugman.html?_r=1&hp
October 8, 201014 yr Just out from N.J. Senator Lautenberg's office - Christie backs off tunnel cancellation, for now: Contact: Lautenberg Press Office (202) 224-3224 Friday, October 8, 2010 NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) reacted to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s reversal of yesterday’s decision to kill the ARC tunnel project and news that he will restart negotiations for an additional two weeks. The reversal comes following a meeting between Governor Christie and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I expect the Governor to now work in good faith with the federal government to move this project forward,” Lautenberg said. “Governor Christie needs to put politics aside and work on behalf of New Jersey commuters to get this tunnel back on track.” The ARC Tunnel is slated to receive $3 billion in federal funds, the largest federal contribution to a mass transit project in the history of the nation, and $3 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Senator Lautenberg yesterday made it clear that the $3 billion in federal funding slated for the ARC project cannot be redirected to New Jersey projects and will go to other states if the project is halted. “The Secretary was clear with Governor Christie: if this tunnel doesn't get built, the three billion dollars will go to other states. We can’t allow that to happen,” Lautenberg said. Because New Jersey has already spent $300 million in federal funds on the tunnel project, canceling the project now would mean the state has to repay the federal government. If completed, the ARC Tunnel project would double commuter rail capacity by adding two new single-track tunnels – supplementing the existing, 100-year old rail tunnel that is now pushed to its functional limit each commuting day. Twice as many passengers would be accommodated, from 45,000 each morning peak period now to 90,000 in the future. This would get 22,000 cars off the roads every day and eliminate nearly 70,000 tons of harmful greenhouse gasses gases every year. The project has the potential to create 6,000 construction related jobs a year, and 44,000 permanent jobs once completed. In addition, the new tunnel has been projected to significantly increase h ome values for many New Jerseyans. Homes in Bergen County within two miles of a train station were projected to increase in value by $19,000, and homes within walking distance of a train station would increase by an average of $29,000. The cumulative increase in home values in the region would grow by $18 billion over eight years
October 9, 201014 yr Good story John....but can you move it over to the Amtrak news thread? Thanks ! :-)
October 9, 201014 yr Author The above story was moved from the 3C thread. I support its cancellation as it was a huge missed opportunity to improve access to region's core, as intended. Earlier variations of the plan would have built new tunnels under the Hudson that would have allowed Amtrak to use them too, move Penn Station next door to the historic Farley Post Office which would be converted into a grand train station, permit a through rail link to Grand Central, and permit a through rail link under the East River to Sunnyside Yards. That would have allowed the new tunnels to be used by New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, Long Island RR, and MetroNorth. Instead, New Jersey's ARC tunnel would have not been connected to Penn Station, been usuable by only NJT and cost $3 billion more than the above alternative. I'm glad this project was cancelled. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 9, 201014 yr KJP, are you referring to the " Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel"? (I doubt it, but it may be related. 92 percent of the region's goods are transported by truck versus an average of 60 percent in all other major metropolitan regions. In the east-of-the-Hudson region, less than 2 percent of freight travels by rail. Freight trains bound for the east-of Hudson region are forced to go 140 miles north to Selkirk, NY near Albany just to cross the river, a diversion the inhibits the competitiveness of rail as a mode of freight transport. The Current Situation Today, much of the freight destined for New York, Long Island and Connecticut is moved by train from the southern and western parts of the United States, but it gets only as far as Jersey City by rail, because there is no direct connection to railroads east of the Hudson. Instead, goods are transferred to trucks in New Jersey and then carried over our bridges and highways to their final destination. In other cases, the lack of a direct rail freight connection is so prohibitive to sustainable transport that long-haul trucks travel across many states, burdening both New Jersey and New York in the last legs of the journey. Less than 2 percent of freight moves by rail in the region east-of-the-Hudson. ...snip... Rail Freight Tunnel To address this problem, New York City conducted a two-year study on the benefits of connecting rail lines east and west of the Hudson by constructing a tunnel under New York Harbor. The Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel would provide a direct connection between existing active rail freight lines on the east and west sides of the Hudson River via a tunnel underneath New York Harbor. The alignment of the tunnel would connect the Greenville Yard in Jersey City to the 65th Street Yard in Brooklyn. Goods coming into the region would be able to move directly across the Hudson River from the west and continue by rail to points much closer to their final destination, whether in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester or Connecticut. To visualize how, see the map above. http://movenynj.org/index.php <= Broken link
October 9, 201014 yr Author No. That's a separate project. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 11, 201014 yr well all is not lost as farley/penn is still moving forward. slowly. the rest of the grand jersey tunnel plans are dead. as it stood arc needed to go too. a $3b balloon in costs is not an over-reaction and is certainly not chump change. otoh if they can put some of the pieces back together again it would be a different story, but dont hold your breath. arc map "A rail connection to the existing Penn Station had to be scrapped because unstable rock above the new terminal forced NJ Transit to lower the depth of the new station to 150 feet. A connection to Grand Central Station in Manhattan was scuttled because New York City would not allow digging near a 92-year-old water tunnel serving much of Manhattan" (though that could be revisited once the new water tunnel is completed). Fun fact: It was in 1910 when the last trans-Hudson tunnel was open. And according to the Mass Transit Tunnel website, "This year alone, NJ TRANSIT will provide 44 million passenger trips to Penn Station New York, a staggering 150-percent increase in just the last 10 years http://gothamist.com/2009/06/09/ground_broken_on_trans-hudson_trans.php?gallery0Pic=6
October 11, 201014 yr Author FYI: the director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Thelma Drake, is a Republican from Elyria, Ohio...... Rail birthday: Amtraks new train gets one-year profit party by Hawes Spencer published 11:03am Thursday Oct 7, 2010 The new Amtrak train in Charlottesville celebrated its one-year anniversary with a Thursday morning party that brought together state and local officials and revealed sort of that what might have been a subsidized extension of the Northeast Regional train is actually making a profit. Theyve exceeded all our expectations, said Mayor Dave Norris at the October 7 event. Last October, the wheels began rolling with a promised three-year state subsidy as Amtrak brought one of its Boston-terminating trains though Charlottesville and as far south as Lynchburg. Read more here: http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/10/07/rail-birthday-amtrak-new-train-gets-one-year-profit-party/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 12, 201014 yr Rail critics have tired to make a big deal about a few California cities not wanting high-speed rail.... but that's not true elsewhere along the proposed right-of-way... High-speed rail station may come calling for Redwood City By Bonnie Eslinger Daily News Staff Writer Posted: 10/11/2010 07:27:11 PM PDT Updated: 10/12/2010 12:32:21 AM PDT After receiving a chilly reception from Palo Alto and Mountain View, the California High-Speed Rail Authority's bid to build a mid-Peninsula station for its trains may find a warmer welcome in Redwood City. On Wednesday, rail authority representatives are scheduled to give Redwood City officials and residents an overview of the possible design of a high-speed rail station. At a Sept. 27 meeting, several city council members indicated a station could benefit Redwood City. Full story at: http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_16313743?nclick_check=1
October 12, 201014 yr High speed rail project may be far off Created Oct 9 2010 - 9:35pm Fox 21 News / Duluth News Tribune John Lundy, Duluth News Tribune DULUTH - Train travel between Duluth and Minneapolis could be farther away than local backers hope, a state transportation official says. Supporters would like to see the proposed Northern Lights Express — or NLX — carrying passengers as early as in 2014. But Dan Krom, director of the rail passenger office for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, sees that as a long shot. “I think (2014) may be optimistic,” Krom said. “I think that’s the goal everybody’s shooting for, but it will be within a year or two of that. A lot of it depends on the availability of funds; what sort of engineering issues they find. … I’d love to have the train running by 2014, but I don’t know physically if you can even get trains bought by then.” http://www.fox21online.com/news/high-speed-rail-project-may-be-farFull story at:
October 13, 201014 yr California High Speed Rail Doesn’t Need to Make a Dime to Make a Difference by Chikodi Chima on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 3:23 PM .. There are a lot of good reasons to build California’s high speed rail system. Few of them are economic. A 100-page, pier reviewed study, “The Financial Risks of California’s High-Speed Rail Project,” concluded that without a massive and continued infusion of cash from the government, the California high speed rail network will never be able to make it on its own. The plan to connect San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles would cost $42.6 billion and so far Californians have come up with $9.95 billion the federal government has chipped in an additional $2.5 billion. That just leaves $30 billion or so to meet the projected costs. Full commenary at: http://alttransport.com/2010/10/california-high-speed-rail-doesnt-need-to-make-a-dime-to-make-a-difference/
October 18, 201014 yr North Carolina Amtrak ridership jumps 15 percent in FY10 Ridership on North Carolina’s state-sponsored Amtrak services spiked 15 percent in fiscal-year 2010, which ended Sept. 30. Ridership on the state’s Piedmont and Carolinian services rose from 688,595 in FY2009 to 791,157 in FY2010, and ticket revenue shot up 19 percent year over year. Nationwide, Amtrak’s FY2010 ridership increased 6 percent. Full story at: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=24799 North Carolina’s Amtrak has 15 Percent Increase in Ridership Friday, October 15, 2010 Piedmont has largest percentage increase in the nation RALEIGH - North Carolina’s Amtrak ridership grew 15 percent in FY 2010, while the Amtrak National riders grew about six percent. The state-owned Piedmont, which travels four times daily between Raleigh and Charlotte with stops in six other North Carolina cities, had the largest percentage increase in the nation, 46 percent. One reason for this increase is that mid-day service was added in June. North Carolina’s Amtrak ridership saw an increase of more than 100,000 riders in the last fiscal year. Ridership was up from 688,595 to 791,157. Ticket revenues were up more than 19 percent. Amtrak National ridership, which includes all trains that run throughout the country, grew by 5.7 percent over 2009 from just over 27 million to 28.7 million passengers in 2010. Revenues were up nearly nine percent in 2010. “We are pleased to see that more and more people are taking the train,” said State Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “We are confident that as we add more schedule options and increase travel speed, this trend will continue.” North Carolina’s Amtrak Piedmont and Carolinian trains are sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation and paid for through state funding and passenger fares. Amtrak is the state’s operating partner. Complete schedule and train information is available at bytrain.org or by calling 1-800-BYTRAIN. Reservations are required. Passengers should book early for best fares. **NCDOT**
October 18, 201014 yr a long way to go but for today -- very good! Officials Break Ground On Long-Anticipated Moynihan Station Project By: NY1 News "The mayor, governor, and other officials are breaking ground today on the long-anticipated Moynihan Station project. The project will transform the Farley Post Office and expand Penn Station, linking the subway system and Amtrak trains in a massive new facility. ...Train platforms will eventually be expanded to eliminate congestion at Penn Station, the busiest rail station in America... ...The project is funded with more than $83 million in federal stimulus money. In addition to today's groundbreaking, officials are expected to make an announcement on further funding... ...Developers say the first phase of the Moynihan Station project is on schedule to be completed by 2016." news video: http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/
October 19, 201014 yr Sad http://www.american-rails.com/pennsylvania-station.html In a monumental lapse of vision, one idea Saunders decided upon to improve the company’s bottom-line would be one unthinkable today, tear down the railroad’s prized symbol, Pennsylvania Station, to sell the Manhattan air rights above the building. Despite pleas and protests from several groups to save the historic building from demolition the plan was carried out and it took contractors three years to completely raze the above station, a testament to the station’s construction. In its place was built today’s Madison Square Garden, considered by many to be a visual and architectural nightmare. While the above building was razed the below station remains and continues to serve commuters and Amtrak passengers although, sadly, a stagnant facility now serves as their entrance into downtown New York. In recent years, however, an attempt has been made to improve the entrance into Manhattan for passengers and commuters using Pennsylvania Station. One idea floated was to redesign the Farley Post Office, which originally was constructed with Pennsylvania Station across the street so the two would match, into a magnificent waiting room.
October 20, 201014 yr Global bullet train makers gird for Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail bidding war By Robert Trigaux, Times Business Columnist In Print: Sunday, October 17, 2010 Like bees to honey, the world's major makers of bullet trains are converging on the planned Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail project to pitch their version of a really fast train service. State rail officials expect as many as eight bidders — foreign high-speed rail companies, often partnered with U.S. interests — to try to win the right to design, build, operate and maintain the Tampa-to-Orlando link as the country's first piece of a statewide, and eventually nationally linked, high-speed rail network. Read more at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/global-bullet-train-makers-gird-for-tampa-orlando-high-speed-rail-bidding/1128375
October 21, 201014 yr Streetcars to return to Washington, DC http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=7713
October 21, 201014 yr Politicians celebrate rail grant Thursday Thomas Geyer and Tory Brecht The Quad-City Times | Posted: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 With less than two weeks before the Nov. 2 general election, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and a contingent of federal, state, and local politicians will gather Thursday in Moline to announce the formal receipt of a $10 million grant to support passenger rail service between the Quad-Cities and Chicago. Approval of the state of Illinois' application for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or Tiger II, grant was first announced Friday by U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill. Full story at: http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_bec890b4-dcca-11df-a111-001cc4c002e0.html
October 21, 201014 yr Author I'm also hearing that we're days away from a Federal Rail Administration announcement on awarding up to $2.6 billion in Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act (PRIIA) grants to various federally eligible projects nationwide. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 21, 201014 yr Author Gracias. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 26, 201014 yr Posted: Oct. 26, 2010 State to get rail project grants By TODD SPANGLER FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF WASHINGTON -- The State of Michigan will receive more than $160 million for high-speed rail projects, including $150 million to develop a high-speed railway between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, officials announced Monday. The official announcement is not expected to come from the U.S. Department of Transportation until later this week. Read more at: http://www.freep.com/article/20101026/NEWS05/10260414/State-to-get-rail-project-grants
October 26, 201014 yr Press release from Senators Harkin & Durbin... http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=215976 U.S. Sen. Harkin: Harkin, Durbuin announce $230 million in funding for new rail service from Chicago to Iowa City through the Quad Cities 10/25/2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: October 25, 2010 Harkin: Kate Cyrul (202) 224-3254 Durbin: Christina Mulka (202) 557-8419 Project will create 588 jobs per year with service scheduled to begin in 2015 WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that $230 million in federal funding was awarded today by the Department of Transportation for a new Amtrak route between Chicago and Iowa City through the Quad Cities. The project – scheduled for completion in 2015 – will create 588 jobs per year for the first four years of design and construction. Once initiated, the new service is expected to increase business activity at $25 million per year. “I applaud the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing transportation opportunities in the Midwest, which will get a much-needed boost with this funding. I also commend Governor Culver, who has been a leader in our state on this effort working with Congressmen Boswell, Braley and Loebsack,” said Harkin. “Passenger rail from Iowa City to Chicago will create jobs now and, once it is a part of a broad intercity network to Des Moines and all around the Midwest, will help our economy in the long-term as well as add convenience for many Iowans. In order to be truly successful, this rail service must connect to a high-speed intercity network. Planning and building this network is already underway.” “Securing such a significant investment from the federal government wouldn’t have been possible without the coordinated efforts of state and local officials in Illinois and Iowa and the strong community support for expanding Amtrak service to the Quad Cities,” said Durbin. “And this is a project that will see a return on that investment. Not only will it create nearly 600 jobs per year and stimulate economic activity, but for every dollar spent, the public will see $1.70 returned in reduced costs for transportation, fuel and pollution. I thank Secretary LaHood, Senator Harkin, Governors Quinn and Culver and Congressman Hare for seeing the potential in this route becoming an integral part of the Midwest rail network.” The new Chicago – Quad Cities – Iowa City route will provide two daily round-trips and carry trains traveling at speeds up to 79 miles per hour (mph) with an expected trip time of less than 5 hours. The long-term vision for the line includes expanding the frequency of trains to offer more than two daily round-trip trains; extending the route; and making additional infrastructure investments to increase speeds from 79 mph to 90 mph, or even 110 mph. “The Green Line between Chicago to Iowa City—and, in the near future, on to Des Moines and to western Iowa—which has been funded today in an extraordinarily tough competition with passenger rail proposals across America, will set a new national standard for reliable, cost-effective, fuel-efficient passenger rail service in the United States,” said Iowa Governor Chet Culver. “This will not only create jobs and spur development, but work toward the Culver-Judge Administration’s goal of making Iowa the best-connected state in America. Iowa’s families and business travelers deserve world-class travel options—and passenger rail service needs to be one of those options. This new development in Iowa transportation history builds upon successful efforts by the Culver-Judge Administration to secure funding to improve and maintain passenger rail service through southern Iowa. Today’s announcement will also inspire efforts to establish new passenger rail from Chicago to Dubuque and points westward from there.” “Illinois is quickly becoming the rail hub of the Midwest, and this new route means that for the first time, passengers can travel from Chicago to the Quad Cities - and beyond - quickly and effortlessly,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “I would like to thank Senator Durbin and Secretary LaHood for their work to help us continue our economic recovery by putting hundreds of Illinoisans each year back to work expanding Illinois’ railway infrastructure.” Illinois and Iowa are part of a nine state regional effort in the Midwest to build an integrated high speed rail network. These states have already completed careful planning and made significant investments to modernize our existing passenger rail system. The Midwest rail system, with Chicago as its hub, could provide 3,000 miles of high speed rail service and serve 90 percent of the 60.3 million people living in its nine-state region. A significant federal investment into this region could create a rail system that could carry nearly as much traffic as regional air service. Last week, $10 million in funding was awarded by the Department of Transportation for the construction of an intermodal station which will serve as the Quad Cities stop for Amtrak service in downtown Moline. The proposed Intermodal Station located adjacent to the Centre Station transit facility will spur development in downtown Moline and throughout the Quad Cities region. Construction is expected to generate nearly 750 construction jobs and result in the retention or creation of 1,100 private sector jobs. An additional $47 million in private investment will come to the Quad Cities as a result of the transit oriented development centered on the Amtrak station. “This investment is a much-needed first step in bringing high-speed passenger rail through Des Moines and across the state of Iowa," said Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA), a senior Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "Not only will this grant create jobs, but it will lay the foundation for future growth in Iowa and the Midwest. Iowans deserve to have access to the same transportation options available on the coasts.” “Today’s announcement is great news for Iowa,” said Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA). “The Chicago to Iowa City route will create jobs and bring significant economic gains to Eastern Iowa. I’m proud of the work I’ve done with my colleagues in Iowa and Illinois to make this route possible. This is one more step to create jobs in the short term and putting Iowa’s economy back on track.” “This funding is critical as we work to rebuild our economy now and will lay the groundwork for Iowa’s future growth,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA). “Passenger rail will help connect our cities and towns and it will help Iowa businesses and communities compete and grow. It has been a collaborative public-private partnership and I was pleased to be able to work with local and state business and community leaders to move this project forward. I look forward to the good-paying jobs and continued economic development that passenger rail will bring to Iowa and will continue to work to ensure that service eventually reaches Des Moines and Omaha.” “The good news keeps pouring in for the Quad Cities. This funding will effectively complete the Quad Cities-Chicago Amtrak route,” said Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL). “This project is a winner for our entire community. It will create jobs, spur economic development, and provide a safe and convenient transportation alternative. I couldn’t be prouder to have played a role in making this a reality.” Today’s funding is part of the $2.5 billion Congress appropriated in Fiscal Year 2010 for high speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service (HSPIR Program). The Department of Transportation received 20 applications from 10 states totaling $7.8 billion for high-speed rail corridor development programs and 57 applications from 18 states totaling $700 million for smaller, individual projects within rail corridors that are ready to begin construction. There is $1 billion included for the HSPIR Program in the 2011 Senate Transportation Appropriations bill which was approved by the Appropriations Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate. The long-term goal of the HSIPR Program – created in June 2009 – is to build an efficient, high-speed and emerging high speed passenger rail network connecting major population centers 100 to 600 miles apart. In the short-term, the program aims to aid economic recovery efforts and lay the foundation for this high-speed passenger rail network through targeted investments. Earlier this year, $8 billion was awarded nationwide under this program including $1.1 billion to bring high speed rail to the Chicago-St. Louis corridor.
October 26, 201014 yr www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-high-speed-rail-1026-20101025,0,6075135.story chicagotribune.com Chicago-Iowa City rail project gets $230 million boost New higher-speed Amtrak route set for completion in 2010 By Jon Hilkevitch, Tribune reporter 8:18 PM CDT, October 25, 2010 Advertisement A long-sought plan for a new Amtrak route between Chicago and Iowa City with stops in the Quad Cities received a major funding boost on Monday, along with initiatives to run faster passenger trains on existing Midwest rail corridors from Chicago to Wisconsin and Michigan. But a request from Illinois for an $8 million federal grant to begin in-depth studies on developing 220-mph passenger service sometime in the future was denied by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which handed out the largest pots of money Monday to California and Florida's 220-mph high-speed rail programs.
October 26, 201014 yr Author A press release distributed yesterday by e-mail (still getting caught up on my e-mails since being in Pittsburgh yesterday).... October 25, 2010 Contact: Tim Fischer: 734-255-9206 www.michiganbyrail.org Michigan Environmental Council statement on $150 million in federal high speed rail funds announced today High speed railroad passenger service between Detroit and Chicago is one step closer after the announcement today of $150 million in federal grants awarded to Michigan for the project. The grant provides money to upgrade rail stations, purchase track, and rework congestion points to separate passenger and freight trains. The result would be a Detroit-Chicago trip in less than four hours – shaving 90 minutes off the existing travel time. “This is great news, a game changer,” said Chris Kolb, Michigan Environmental Council president. “It isn’t just about getting commuters and travelers there faster, it’s about job creation and business growth in communities along the route, reducing traffic congestion and cutting pollution with more efficient transportation options.” The grant application was endorsed by 61 Michigan state representatives who signed a letter of support that was delivered to the U.S. Department of Transportation by Congressman Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek. Kolb said the grant award from the Federal Rail Administration is contingent on $30 million in matching money from the state. That money will be provided with passage of legislation – HB 6484 introduced by Rep. Wayne Schmidt – that allows bonding to secure the matching funds. “We have strong bipartistan support for high speed rail, which is vital for Michigan’s economic rebound,” said Kolb. “So we expect the legislature to step up and take advantage of the opportunity to move Michigan forward.” ### "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 26, 201014 yr Author Below is more detail about the Michigan funding. Note that Norfolk Southern is contributing $38,534,645 to this project by reducing the sale price of its rail corridor from its appraised value (an idea that could have applications in Ohio too). Michigan proposes to match that amount with bond funding. The total of both amounts represents 20 percent of the total projected cost of $385,346,449. Read the details here... http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_HSIPR_Chic-Kzoo-Dearborn_330118_7.pdf NS has indicated to both Amtrak and MDOT that their freight business cannot justify the need to maintain track conditions for speeds greater than 25 mph. Beginning July 1, 2010 NS issued slow orders on 41.2 miles of this segment limiting passenger rail speeds to 60 mph. On January 29, 2010 Amtrak announced that it would perform a high-speed rail improvement study, with assistance from NS, focused on determining what infrastructure upgrades are needed to provide 110 mph train service on the NS owned rail corridor between Kalamazoo (MP 143.2) and Dearborn (MP 7.5 Townline). This study was completed in June 2010 and the results have been used in preparing the SDP and this application. Based on Amtrak's phased study, this SDP will initially bring long term stability to the Chicago Hub (Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac) High Speed Rail Corridor by completing an ownership arrangement with NS, subject to STB approval an in accordance with 49 CFR Part 24 and Federal Transit Administration's FTA C 5010.1D for trackage between Kalamazoo (MP 143.2) and Dearborn (MP 7.5 Townline). This will also include bringing the segment of the corridor to a state of good repair by making the necessary capital improvements to the infrastructure, renewing the existing signal system and adding positive train control to rail segments east of Kalamazoo that will sustain existing intercity passenger rail service frequencies and speeds (up to 79 mph) while positioning the corridor to expand on the high speed work that has been done on Amtrak's 98 miles of ownership from Porter, Indiana to Kalamazoo east to Dearborn including passenger speeds to 110 mph. Future increased frequencies will be developed in a multi-state planning study lead by MDOT for a Corridor Investment Plan over the next 12 to 18 months. The SDP will build on the work that is being accomplished on the western end of the corridor (Porter, Indiana to New Buffalo, MI). Expanding this work to the east (Kalamazoo to Dearborn) will position the corridor for passenger speeds up to 110 mph for 77% of the 304 mile corridor (Porter, Indiana to Dearborn, Michigan). The SDP is expected to realize an average train speed increase of 21 mph (from 64mph to 85 mph) over this segment which will result in 30 minutes in times savings. There is also the expectation that the improvements will provide an additional reduction in delay time by 12 minutes as reported by Amtrak. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 26, 201014 yr Author OBTW, the above funding will also greatly help the Ann Arbor - Detroit commuter rail project meet its goal of starting by the end of 2011. That was the "word" that was expected, per this article... Word on Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail expected next week By Bill Shea - Crain's Detroit Business October 22, 2010 Organizers of a Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail project expect to learn next week if $200 million in federal capital funding will be approved. The Federal Rail Administration money (via the second round of funding set aside for high-speed rail projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) would be used to build new sidings, signals and make other corridor improvements, said Carmine Palombo, director of transportation planning for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments regional planning agency. “It would eliminate the conflict between freight and passenger trains,” he said. The 48-mile rail project, which would start with four daily round trips, is a joint effort by SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation and could be operational — if it gets the money — by the end of 2011, Palombo said. READ MORE AT: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20101022/FREE/101029943/-1# Here's one of the rehabbed locomotives that's been leased for the commuter rail service, fresh out of the paint shop... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 28, 201014 yr October 27, 2010 A Hudson Tunnel That Goes One Way By MARY E. FORSBERG Trenton ON Wednesday, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey announced that he was canceling the proposed Hudson River rail tunnel known as Access to the Region’s Core, saying that his state is unable to pay its share of what he believes will be a $10 billion to $13 billion project after cost overruns. He had made the same declaration a few weeks ago, but was persuaded by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to give the proposal more thought. The region is in desperate need of the tunnel. Every day, about 275,000 New Jerseyans commute across the Hudson River to New York. During rush hour, Amtrak and regional trains are full and the two Hudson River tunnels are near or at capacity. The third tunnel would provide room for 70,000 more New Jerseyans to reach Manhattan each day. Full op-ed at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/opinion/28forsberg.html?_r=1&nl=&emc=a212
October 28, 201014 yr Author U.S.Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOT 192-10 Thursday, October 28, 2010 Contact: Olivia Alair Tel.: 202-366-4570 Public Demand for High-Speed Rail Continues to Exceed Available Dollars in Latest Round of Awards WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that 54 high-speed rail projects in 23 states will share in $2.4 billion to continue developing America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service The Department's Federal Railroad Administration received 132 applications from 32 states totaling $8.8 billion, more than three times the $2.4 billion available. During the first round of awards in the fall of 2009, applicants submitted more than $55 billion in project proposals for the initial $8 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “Demand for high-speed rail dollars is intense and it demonstrates just how important this historic initiative is,” said Secretary LaHood. “States understand that high-speed rail represents a unique opportunity to create jobs, revitalize our manufacturing base, spur economic development and provide people with an environmentally friendly transportation option.” More than 30 rail manufacturers and suppliers, both domestic and foreign, have agreed to establish or expand their bases of operations in the United States if they are hired to build America's next generation high-speed lines, a commitment the Obama Administration secured to help ensure new jobs are created here at home. Some award examples include: California received more than $901 million, including $715 million for the construction of new high-speed rail lines in the Central Valley. The state has made significant investments in passenger rail that have led to remarkable ridership growth; Florida received $800 million for the Tampa to Orlando high-speed rail corridor. The state's long-term vision is for a high-speed rail line that connects Tampa, Orlando, Miami and other communities; Iowa received $230 million to create a new intercity passenger rail service between Iowa City and Chicago through the Quad Cities. When completed, the service will form an integral part of the existing efforts to develop the Chicago Hub intercity rail system in the Midwest; and Michigan received $161 million for a high-speed rail corridor connecting Detroit and Chicago, the two largest cities in the Midwest. The long-term vision for this corridor includes doubling the number of daily round trips between Detroit and Chicago. The money is being awarded for a range of activities, such as construction of track and stations, purchase of new passenger equipment, and planning studies to develop new high-speed rail service. “In the 20th century, our vision led to the interstate highway system,” said FRA Administrator Joe Szabo. “In the 21st century, our vision will give us a world-class network of high-speed passenger rail corridors.” In addition to the $8 billion down payment from the Recovery Act, additional funding for high-speed rail has come from several sources. These include $95 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's FY 2009 appropriations and remaining money from a related FY 2008 appropriations program, and from the Department's FY 2010 appropriations, which included at least $2.125 billion for high-speed rail service development programs, $245 million for individual projects and $50 million for planning and multi-state proposal activities. A complete project list can be viewed at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/2243.shtml #### "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 29, 201014 yr http://www.joc.com/rail-intermodal/union-pacific-confident-rail-agreement Union Pacific Confident of Rail Agreement Young says contract terms "complicated" but framework in place John D. Boyd | Oct 27, 2010 The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story While a number of planned high-speed passenger rail corridors are still waiting for implementing contracts with freight railroads to use designated federal funds, Union Pacific Railroad CEO James R. Young says he is "confident" that UP, Illinois and federal officials will nail theirs down soon. "We don't have an agreement yet, but we've got the framework for an agreement" to put a fast, 110-mph Amtrak passenger service on UP tracks between Chicago and St. Louis, Young told The Journal of Commerce.
October 29, 201014 yr The subject of this editorial sounds similar to the congestion in and around Queensgate yard in Cincinnati.... Fort Worth has had a good month on rail projects Posted Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010 People who support rail transportation, both freight and passenger, must feel like they've been on a roll this month -- finally. They've worked long and hard, and they deserve some good news. There are almost too many backs to pat for the biggest of the recent success stories, the announcement of a $34 million federal grant to improve the Tower 55 rail intersection southeast of downtown Fort Worth. From the state's current congressional delegation to former House Speaker Jim Wright, from state and local officials to executives of the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, dozens of people have pushed for this project. For good reason. Freight trains at times have been backed up for miles waiting to go though the intersection, which has two north-south and two east-west tracks. Children in some parts of Fort Worth have crawled under and between rail cars to get to and from school. Full story at: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/28/2585900/fort-worth-has-had-a-good-month.html
October 30, 201014 yr Why didn't Strickland make rail happen if he is such a supporter of it? Racing to Build Midwest Rail Line By AMY MERRICK MADISON, Wis.—Officials in this city of 235,000 are pushing to lay the groundwork for a new high-speed rail line funded under the federal stimulus program, amid expectations that the state's next governor could kill the project. more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304248704575574633862261608.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook
October 30, 201014 yr Why didn't Strickland make rail happen if he is such a supporter of it? Racing to Build Midwest Rail Line By AMY MERRICK MADISON, Wis.Officials in this city of 235,000 are pushing to lay the groundwork for a new high-speed rail line funded under the federal stimulus program, amid expectations that the state's next governor could kill the project. more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304248704575574633862261608.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook Scrabble, you need to think this one thru. You know as well as anyone else that the Republicans have been doing everything they can to stop this and that if it were up to Strickland, the trains would be well on their way. I don't think you are dumb enough to really mean what you are asking but I do think you are trying to take a poke at those who do support the trains. Why don't you wise up and try to resist the urge to antagonize others?
October 31, 201014 yr Why didn't Strickland make rail happen if he is such a supporter of it? Racing to Build Midwest Rail Line By AMY MERRICK MADISON, Wis.Officials in this city of 235,000 are pushing to lay the groundwork for a new high-speed rail line funded under the federal stimulus program, amid expectations that the state's next governor could kill the project. more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304248704575574633862261608.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook I don't think you are dumb enough to really mean what you are asking but I do think you are trying to take a poke at those who do support the trains. I support the trains.
October 31, 201014 yr Why has this commuter rail line in Boston failed to attract the ridership that was expected? Greenbush ridership chugs way behind goal Dismaying results after first 3 years By Eric Moskowitz Globe Staff / October 31, 2010 SCITUATE — Three years after the Greenbush train made its inaugural run, ridership on the $534 million commuter rail extension is far below the MBTA’s projections, and those who do take it are more likely to be former passengers of the T’s own commuter boats than motorists lured away from the South Shore’s congested highways. Last week, according to the T, an average of 2,133 weekday customers rode the line toward Boston, about half the 4,200 riders the transit agency had expected within three to five years of opening Greenbush. Even more sobering for the T is the fact that ridership in each month from October 2009 to June 2010 — the most recent month for which complete statistics are available — had dropped below the levels in the same month a year earlier. more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/10/31/after_3_years_greenbush_ridership_below_projections/
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