Philadelphia SEPTA is testing system-wide rebranding
In an effort to make Philadelphia’s public transit system easier to use, SEPTA plans to collectively rebrand its subways, trolley routes and light rail as “Metro.” Plans call for the system’s six routes to be identified by a color and a letter: Broad Street Line (B-orange); Market-Frankford Line (L-blue); Center City trolleys (T-green); Route 15 trolley (G-yellow); Norristown High Speed Line (M-purple); and Media-Sharon Hill Line (D-pink). Ahead of the rebranding, SEPTA will conduct a two-month feedback period with pop-ups at seven stations and an online portal. Full rebranding is expected to be implemented by late 2022 or 2023. [billypenn.com]
Hurricane Ida did not derail Amtrak Gulf Coast plan
Despite Hurricane Ida, Amtrak is still targeting a New Year’s Day return to the Gulf Coast line. The Category 4 storm brought powerful winds and flooding to coastal Louisiana and Mississippi but early indications are that the rail line didn’t suffer major damage. Preparations to resume passenger service between Mobile and New Orleans are continuing. Sixteen years ago, Hurricane Katrina’s strong winds and powerful storm surge damaged rail stations and infrastructure along the Gulf Coast rail line. As a result, passenger rail has not operated along it ever since. [al.com]
Kansas City Streetcar eyes crossing Missouri River
Bids are now being sought for a study to look at extending the The Kansas City Streetcar across the Missouri River into North Kansas City. Bids will be accepted until September 20 with completion of the study targeted for June 2022. That puts a potential northern expansion years down the line. KC’s starter streetcar line, which opened in 2016, runs from Union Station to the River Market. Currently funded projects will extend the streetcar to Country Club Plaza and the University of Missouri-Kansas City by 2025 and to the riverfront near Union Berkley Riverfront apartments by 2024. [kansascity.com]
Building Texas bullet train hinges on infrastructure bill
The bipartisan infrastructure bill in Congress, set to be voted on later this month, will be key to completing the Texas bullet train, according to its CEO. Texas Central, which maintains that it will be entirely privately funded, will not ask for a federal grant or any tax money to begin the project, according to Carlos Aguilar, the future railroad’s CEO. Instead, he explained, the bipartisan infrastructure bill is expected to create low-interest, long-term loans for major infrastructure projects like the high-speed train. [wfaa.com]
