March « 2010 « The Transport Politic

Light Rail Along Road Rights-of-Way: a Cheap Solution to an Expensive Proposition

March 25th, 2010 |

» Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn proposes to build a new transit line to West Seattle and Ballard along the street.

The dividing line between what Americans reference as a streetcar and what they call light rail is not nearly as defined as one might assume considering the frequent use of the two terminologies in opposition. According to popular understanding, streetcars share their rights-of-way with automobiles and light rail has its own, reserved right-of-way.

But the truth is that the two modes use very similar vehicles and their corridors frequently fall somewhere between the respective stereotypes of each technology. Even the prototypical

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Oklahoma City Readies Modern Streetcar as Centerpiece of Major Redevelopment Plan

March 24th, 2010 |

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» Five-to-six mile system would connect downtown redevelopment areas to other inner-city neighborhoods.

Few American cities have as ambitious an urban reconstruction plan as Oklahoma City, which intends not only to reroute the primary highway through town but then also to rebuild the area adjacent to the Oklahoma River, doubling the size of the downtown core. The project, called Core to Shore, is notable in the degree to which it prioritizes the construction of dense, walkable neighborhoods through the use of government funds to spur private investment.

Until late last year, however, it lacked a significant public transportation element, unsurprising since

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Amtrak Planning Major Push to Operate True High-Speed Lines

March 23rd, 2010 |

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» U.S. national rail company hopes to prevent the invasion of foreign operators and will focus on improvements for the Northeast Corridor.

Suddenly forced to reckon with the prospect of serious competition from foreign companies, Amtrak has announced an internal reorganization that prioritizes the development and implementation of high-speed rail service in the United States. In addition, the publicly-owned train operator has announced for the first time that it will perform serious feasibility studies about implementing 220 mph service between Washington and Boston.

The creation of Amtrak’s new High-Speed Rail Department is designed to publicize the company’s experience in existing U.S.

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With Modest Expectations, Austin Opens Rail Line After Years of Delays

March 22nd, 2010 |

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» Diesel Multiple Unit vehicles will make trip between downtown and Leander just a few times a day, with the goal of attracting more than 1,000 daily riders.

For a city that is noted for its progressivism, especially as compared to the state that surrounds it, Austin’s transit politics are notoriously backwards. Unlike Houston and especially Dallas, which have pushed forward with light rail systems at a rapid pace over the past few decades, the capital of Texas is getting modern rail service for the first time only today, despite its large and growing population. And with a cost of $105

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