Amtrak runs Baton Rouge-NOLA inspection train
A decades-long effort to create a Louisiana passenger rail corridor between the state capital of Baton Rouge and New Orleans moved a step closer Wednesday when Gov. John Bel Edwards joined Amtrak, federal, and railroad officials on an inspection run along the route. The 12-car KCS consist reprises colors of the route’s last scheduled passenger train, the Southern Belle, which made its final run in 1969. The event was especially significant, because attempts to conduct passenger inspection trips on the 80-mile Baton Rouge-New Orleans route had been rebuffed for more than 20 years. [trains.com]
OKC endorses expanded Amtrak rail service
The Oklahoma City Council has unanimously approved support for the expansion of the Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas. The expansion project would require the construction of more stretches of double track and other upgrades, in part to ensure that passenger trains wouldn’t stall freight trains. Current service offers a daily round trip to Fort Worth, Texas, that departs in the morning and returns at night. Expansion plan includes adding two more round trips daily between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. [journalrecord.com]
Minneapolis eyes Blue Line light-rail extension route
The Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County officials in Minneapolis have announced the route recommendation for Metro Transit’s Blue Line light-rail extension. The recommended route would extend the existing Blue Line light-rail service from the Target Field station along West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, through Crystal and Robbinsdale, to Brooklyn Park. Public comments on the recommendation are due May 18. Council and county officials will consider public input and technical analyses before approving a final route. [progressiverailroading.com]
California voters (still) want their bullet train
Fifty six percent of voters support continuing to build the state’s high-speed rail system, with only 35 percent opposed, according to a new study from Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. “By a margin of 73 percent to 18 percent, Democrats support the project, with 54 percent of independent voters in support and 37 percent opposed. Registered Republicans oppose the project — 66 percent to 25 percent,” wrote the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition in a statement about the poll. [streetsblog.org]
US transit systems have removed mask mandates
As major U.S. airlines dropped their mask mandates in response to a federal judge’s ruling, public transit systems across the country scrambled to adapt on Tuesday. New York, San Francisco and Milwaukee kept requirements in place, while systems in Atlanta, Chicago, Washington and Philadelphia allowed riders to drop their masks, as did the nationwide Amtrak rail system. [nytimes.com]
