Whereas the grand train stations of yesteryear were monuments to transportation with their soaring cathedral-like ceilings, huge open spaces, and rows of wooden benches – today’s transit hubs have both a new aesthetic and role in their communities. They often link multiple modes – heavy rail, light rail, buses, bikes, etc. – and act as central gathering spaces for their communities, with shops, restaurants, parks, space for performances, and public art. The changing role for transit stations was outlined in several recent articles.
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Productivity of trains as mobile offices a factor in mode selection
Although driving or flying may be faster door-to-door, trains offer something those modes do not: uninterrupted time to work. And this additional work time is starting to be a factor in transportation mode choice for many workers.
The bus stigma: Why it exists, and should we care?
Why are buses so maligned? And what can we do about it? How can we get “choice riders” – those that do not have to use transit, but choose to – to take the bus? And should we care whether people with transportation choices ride the bus?
SEPTA's new program generates electricity and excitement
As of the end of June, the SEPTA east-west subway line has started feeding electricity back into the power grid as well as using it to run its trains. With the installation of a battery bank next to the tracks, the energy generated by braking trains can be stored. The innovative pilot progam was installed at no cost to SEPTA and is generating excitement in both transit and alternative energy circles.
First quarter of 2012 shows more people are switching to transit
As per-capita VMT has begun to decline, an increasing number of people are riding the nation’s transit systems. According to APTA (American Public Transportation Association), transit ridership in the first quarter of 2012 increased 5 percent over 2011 levels.
A transportation engineer rethinks congestion pricing
Congestion pricing in New York City should be easy; there are only bridges and tunnels to get into the most congested areas of the city, and many already have tolls. Access is limited, and transit is plentiful once commuters arrive in congested Manhattan. But political pressures from the outer boroughs and anti-tax sentiments defeated efforts to implement congestion pricing in 2008. Now a veteran transportation engineer has offered a new plan that could be more popular in the suburbs and still provide incentives to find alternatives to driving into the central business district.
Prospering in Place: Linking Jobs, Development, and Transit to Spur Chicago’s Economy (Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2012)
This report presents a blueprint for revitalizing specific neighborhoods within the Chicago urban area by focusing on the transit and rail networks already in place. It calls for investment in the places with the best chance …
Prospering in Place: Linking Jobs, Development, and Transit to Spur Chicago’s Economy (Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2012)
This report presents a blueprint for revitalizing specific neighborhoods within the Chicago urban area by focusing on the transit and rail networks already in place. It calls for investment in the places with the best chance …
Congress is still wrestling with Positive Train Control requirements
The increased Amtrak speeds in Michigan and Indiana followed the Federal Railroad Administration’s approval after successful implementation of a Positive Train Control (PTC) system. PTC, first mandated by Congress in 2008, is a technology used in trains that is meant to avoid human error and prevent crashes. But now it is under attack from House Republicans.
The high speed rail quandry
The future of high speed rail in America continues to be uncertain. While California has suffered multiple setbacks in its efforts, high speed rail continues to be on the agenda in several other states.