Chao: Fix Hudson River rail tunnel instead of building anew
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has told the U.S. House Appropriations Committee that a plan to fix the aging Hudson River railroad tunnel would be a “faster and more cost-effective method” than building a new tunnel. Chao, whose department has been criticized for holding up a proposal to build a new tunnel, said “beginning rehab work in the near term is the right move” as opposed to waiting years for construction of new tunnel tubes. [progressiverailroading.com]
Feds fund TEXRail expansion into Fort Worth medical district
TEXRail supporters who want the commuter trains to run to Fort Worth’s medical district are closer to their goal. TEXRail, which opened just over a year ago and runs a 27-mile route between DFW Airport and downtown Fort Worth, falls short of the city’s hospitals and Near Southside neighborhood. Now Fort Worth’s transit agency, Trinity Metro, has received federal authorization to extend the line by two-miles, using $38.9 million in federal grant money left over after construction of the original line. [star-telegram.com]
LA Metro moves to build train to Whittier before 2028 Olympics
Metro is moving forward with plans to bring light rail service from East Los Angeles to the Orange County-adjacent city of Whittier. The transit agency’s Board of Directors has voted to proceed with environmental review of the project, which would extend the existing L (formerly Gold) Line to the Gateway Cities. The nine-mile rail line would stop at seven stations ending about a mile from Whittier’s historic downtown area. The line is one of 28 projects Metro aims to finish in time for the 2028 Olympics. [la.curbed.com]
Could a Southeast corridor accelerate Amtrak Raleigh-Charlotte growth?
North Carolinians are beginning to ride trains for more efficient business and leisure travel. Amtrak saw a 30% increase in ridership between Raleigh and Charlotte from 2018 to 2019, with a 17% increase in ridership to and from the Raleigh station alone. Despite Amtrak’s push to refocus federal subsidies on the Boston-to-Washington corridor, plans are slowly materializing to expand and improve North Carolina’s Amtrak connections in-state and, via Virginia to DC. [journalnow.com]
Free transport in Luxembourg, but what’s the cost?
It has had months of hype and now finally Luxembourg’s free public transport has begun. Buses, trams and trains are now free to ride and you don’t need a ticket. One aim is to ease traffic congestion but critics see it as a PR stunt. Some 200,000 workers – almost half of Luxembourg’s workforce – commute from Belgium, France and Germany, attracted by high salaries and a wealthy economy. [bbc.com]
