Why the US sucks at building public transit
American cities are facing a transportation crisis. There’s terrible traffic. Public transit doesn’t work or go where people need it to. The cities are growing, but newcomers are faced with the prospects of paying high rents for reasonable commutes or lower rents for dreary, frustrating daily treks. Nearly all Americans, including those in cities, face a dire choice: spend thousands of dollars a year owning a car and sitting in traffic, or sacrifice hours every day on ramshackle public transit. [vice.com]
Trump administration deals another blow to Gateway Tunnel
The Trump administration has placed a new roadblock in front of the Gateway Tunnel project with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s announcement that a required environmental impact statement won’t be coming any time soon. The report already is more than two years past the Federal Railroad Administration’s self-imposed March 2018 deadline, and Chao said it won’t be completed as long as the new Hudson River tunnel fails to qualify for federal funding. [nj.com]
Alstom completes successful tests of hydrogen train in the Netherlands
Alstom has completed 10 days of testing with its iLint hydrogen-powered multiple unit on the 65km Groningen – Leeuwarden line in the Netherlands, with operation comparable with the regional DMUs currently used on the line. The trial followed an agreement signed in October 2019 between Alstom and the Groningen province, local operator Arriva, infrastructure manager ProRail and energy company Engie to test the vehicles in the Netherlands, the first such tests outside of Germany. [globalrailwayreview.com]
Commuting in the time of coronavirus in the nation’s largest subway system
New York’s MTA has never shut down due to health concerns. Crowded trains each weekday carry more than 5 million people hardened by terror threats, rats, assaults and water main breaks. COVID-19 is their latest worry. While assuring commuters that trains “remain safe” the MTA has urged people with health issues to use alternative transportation if possible. Meanwhile, train service operators across the country are responding to the virus. [cnn.com and progressiverailroading.com]
