September « 2009 « The Transport Politic

Readying Atlanta for Its Bright Future

September 24th, 2009 |

» Resurgent city plans major transit expansion in the form of streetcar and light rail lines, but will they serve its growing population well?

When Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996, it had the chance to project itself as the epitome of progress in the New South. But the city was sick. Despite massive growth in its suburbs, Atlanta had been losing population since 1970. The Games were marred by poorly planned transit service and a bombing that killed two people and injured 100 others. The year before, the city had been rated the most dangerous in the United States.

Atlanta rebuilt itself

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Securing the Financial Health of New High-Speed Projects

September 22nd, 2009 |

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» The recent failure of Taiwan High-Speed Rail raises questions about the role of private investment in new trains systems.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority projects that it will need about 33 billion in 2008 dollars to complete its initial San Francisco-Anaheim link, a reasonable estimate considering the cost of peer systems. In addition to the $9 billion in state funds devoted to the project by last November’s referendum, the Authority is banking on $2-3 billion in local money and $12-16 billion in federal contributions. Because this aid won’t be enough to cover the full costs of the line, the state will

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After 10 Years, SEPTA Completes Renovations of Market Street El

September 21st, 2009 |

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» West Philadelphia’s century-old elevated heavy rail line is brand new again.

Over the past ten years, Philadelphia’s Market Street has been a complete mess between 46th and 69th Streets, where the ancient elevated transit line and its associated stations have been completely replaced with a new structure. Last week, after $740 million in work, the full corridor reopened to service with six new stations along two miles of renovated track.

The project, undertaken on the Market Street end of the Market-Frankford Elevated by Philadelphia’s SEPTA transit agency, was essential to ensure a state of good repair. It is complete six years after

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Breaking: SNCF Proposes Development of High-Speed Rail in Midwest, Texas, Florida, and California Corridors

September 19th, 2009 |

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» French organization submits detailed proposals for 220 mph train operation.

Last December, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Representative John Mica (R-FL) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration would begin accepting Expressions of Interest for the development of high-speed lines in the United States. By February, more than 80 groups, including a number of states, train operators, and train constructors, had sent letters describing their interest in being part of the development of American fast train travel. Final responses were due on September 14th.

I’ve obtained documents that show that SNCF, the French national railroad operator made famous by its

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