Rail-Related News, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Posted on August 21, 2018 by admin


Photo credit: AP via SF Chronicle

Los Angeles Metro to attempt screening passengers with airport style full body scanners

U.S. commuter rail systems making progress on positive train control

Transit goes to the dogs, again. This time, on busses

BART trying to build housing at its stations, getting resistance from local NIMBYs

BART ridership drops at nights and on weekends due to increasing crime and Uber/Lyft

Among other things, presumptive CA governor Gavin Newsom wants to increase spending on transit, but how its paid for is unclear

As We Predicted Dept: few people “want” self-driving cars

Gavin Newsom defends gas tax increase and high-speed rail, attacks Trump

Marin-Sonoma SMART celebrates first full year of rail service

Hey, lady, make it a folding seat! Woman brings own seat on NY Subway. Not suggested for BART

Southern California Metrolink commuter rail awarded grant to study capital improvements

BART may replace all of its 600 fare gates, though it won’t be cheap

Tour of “train box” under new Transbay Transit Terminal in San Francisco

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Rail-Related News, Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Posted on August 14, 2018 by admin

CA high-speed rail is 11 years behind schedule: lawmakers want to know when it will benefit Southern California

Trump accused of stalling Sacramento streetcar. Locals must prove more, his officials respond

San Francisco trying to figure out how to pay the new operating costs for the new Salesforce (Transbay) Transit Center, in light of other urgent transit needs

Late night service returns to Tucson Sun Link streetcar

Ex-S.F. Mayor, gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom gets more than a bus station, he gets a really expensive bus station

Hey, BART, is this an example of how to do it?? Crime declines on San Diego Trolley as staff exposure to passengers increases

San Francisco Muni closure of Twin Peaks Tunnel for repairs exacerbates driver shortage

Video of Congressional hearing on CA high-speed rail

Beverly Hills High School brats protest Purple Line Subway that would be used by their “lessers”

Proposed aerial tram to Dodgers Stadium moves ahead

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Rail-Related News, Saturday, August 11, 2018

Posted on August 11, 2018 by admin

New Transbay Terminal set to open Sunday, August 12th. But no rail until 2029 or 2030…

First domino in the self-driving vehicle grift cottage industry falls: Uber gives up on self-driving trucks

eBART extension to Antioch packs them in: ridership 40% above estimates with massive parking shortage

San Jose Mercury: Protect excessive downtown San Jose parking supply for big-time corporate welfare queen (Sharks) at all costs during BART construction

Tensions between Caltrain and Burlingame NIMBYs run high due to electrification project

Gondola from street level to garden level of new Transbay Transit Center will not be in service in time for the project’s opening

S.F. Chronicle: CA gas tax politics a sign of dishonest times

The high cost of parking: one source says $700 billion+ subsidy/year

“Meet the Valley Link”: Alameda Co. Supe Scott Haggerty’s vision connecting San Joaquin County to BART

Future of Ashby BART station parking lot uncertain

Toronto’s GO Transit commuter train carrying the dog[s?], literally

Legislative bill would allow BART to build affordable housing on its properties without undue interference from NIMBYs

BART cops arrest slasher only 4 days after rampage on the trains

Local residents notice proposal for Highway 101 Lexus Lanes, become opposed

The Iron Laws of Economic Geography: In Europe at least, modern-day roads follow 2,000 old Roman road corridors

Sun Rises in East Dept: robocars too stupid to stop for common obstacles in roadways

Inside Amtrak’s new Acela express trains

Bay Area gets $2.16 billion, mostly useless icon with new Transbay Transit Center

So when will trains get to new Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco?

BART plans for spying directly on passenger slows down adoption of proposed $28 million safety plan

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Saturday, August 11, 2018

Rail-Related News, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Posted on July 31, 2018 by admin

A raised section of Calfornia’s high-speed rail construction is seen from drone video at Cedar Avenue and Highway 99 just south of Fresno on November 28, 2018. New York Times.

Inglewood wants $600 million, 1.8 mile people mover costing $18.00/passenger, $10+ per passenger mile. We support rail, but wouldn’t shuttle buses make more sense in this case?

Is California high speed rail a boon or boondoggle? The Gray Lady (NYT) speaks

eBART extension to Antioch 36% over ridership estimates; parking is increasingly scarce at Antioch station

Editorial: BART’s recent crime wave

California high speed rail may not become a “bullet train” just a plain [relatively] “fast train”

The Northern California “Megaregion” e.g., the Bay Area spreads its tentacles into the Central Valley, Central Coast

Outgoing SPUR director unloads on what’s wrong with the Bay Area

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Executive Director Steve Heminger to retire

Replacing BART’s dummy cameras on its cars with real ones payed off

But BART still has a crime problem that it hasn’t been able to cope with yet

No gas tax funds for high speed rail

target=”_blank”When will Crenshaw Line reach West Hollywood?

About the $291 million downtown Los Angeles streetcar

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Rail-Related News, Monday, July 23, 2018

Posted on July 23, 2018 by admin

A proposed “Southern Crossing” would carry more than just cars in this architectural rendering of a proposed new bridge, just one of several transportation improvements imagined as part of a “mega” funding measure.

SMART Board of Directors approves plan for additional station in Downtown Novato

How Sacramento may get efficient transit to airport, short of proposed $1 billion light rail line

City of Novato to request proposals for re-use of its old Northwestern Pacific Railroad station

New BART cars spending excessive time in the shop for repairs

Self-driving car fanboys smoking bad weed: some want to destroy the New York Subway

Metropolitan Transportation Commission invites crackpot ideas for transportation—or at least some major ones will be advanced

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Monday, July 23, 2018

Rail-Related News, Friday, July 13, 2018

Posted on July 13, 2018 by admin

Aerial view of the area of Google’s proposed transit-oriented village near the Diridon Station, on the western edges of downtown San Jose, California on Saturday, November 11, 2017. (LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group)

LA Metro is phasing out its infamous subway fabric seats

San Jose Sharks favor automobiles, file federal lawsuit over parking at proposed BART station at the Diridon Station in San Jose

Billions of dollars at stake for transportation, including new rail projects, if California’s new gas tax is repealed by voters in November

Funding to complete downtown Novato SMART station found, project to proceed

Plans for a Marin-Sonoma SMART bike share program advance

BART plans to start service at 5:00 a.m., displacing 2,800 riders who use the system between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on weekdays

What happens if voters repeal Governor Brown’s 2017 gas tax increase?

Lawsuit filed to overturn Regional Measure 3, bridge toll increase recently approved by Bay Area voters

Posted in News | Comments Off on Rail-Related News, Friday, July 13, 2018