May « 2009 « The Transport Politic

New Orleans Rekindles Hopes for a Desire Streetcar

May 26th, 2009 |

» City to use FTA planning funds to consider new line downtown.

New Orleans is famous for its streetcars, but the fact is that the city has only a few lines in operation, and their service has been relatively limited since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Yet the RTA transit operator there is intent on moving ahead with increasing its offerings, and has launched a study of potential corridors in the still-vibrant French Quarter and Central Business District. The three lines under consideration — shown in the map above — are all quite short and provide service just a few blocks from

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PATCO Looks to Increase Service to Philadelphia with New Station

May 26th, 2009 |

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Franklin Square stop would reopen for first time since 1979.

In potentially excellent news for the future of transit service in Center City Philadelphia, PATCO announced last week that it would be reopening a station at Franklin Square last used in 1979, but which remains in adequate condition. Trains currently run stop-free past the platforms, which are located between existing stations at 8th and Market in Philadelphia and across the river at City Hall in downtown Camden. Though the region’s rapid transit network remains disorganized and requires significant upgrades to provide world-class service, the announcement is encouraging news for a quickly developing

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Competition for Rail Grants Heats Up as Illinois and Florida Articulate Proposals

May 25th, 2009 |

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Illinois Governor wants legislature to appropriate $400 million for effort; Florida simply demands money from Washington.

We all knew we’d have a fight on our hands after the Congress approved $8 billion in funds for high-speed rail back in February, and now the contest is entering prime time. California remains the nation’s biggest potential winner; its $30 billion project from San Francisco to Los Angeles already has $10 billion in funds approved by voters last November and the line itself is practically construction-ready. Illinois — wanting a line between Chicago and St. Louis — and Florida — envisioning fast connections between Orlando

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U.K. Transport Minister on HSR: It's Not If, It's When

May 22nd, 2009 |

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» Minister pinpoints new link between London and Birmingham as first step

Yesterday, the United Kingdom’s Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis made his most forceful defense yet of high-speed rail, arguing that the development of a new high-speed line connecting the country’s largest cities is a necessity. He made his speech after trips to Japan, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, where he examined those nations’ own experiences in implementing very fast train networks. Lord Adonis called for cross-party support for investing in U.K.’s rail system, arguing that it would reduce congestion on the most overcrowded segments of the

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