Seattle receives U.S. DOT funding for critical transit expansions
U.S. DOT will approve expanded financing assistance for Sound Transit that will create more than $500 million in savings for Seattle regional taxpayers. The upcoming action represents the largest-ever loan package in the history of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. The $3.84 billion will fund the Downtown Redmond Link Extension and refinance five previously approved loans. The TIFIA loans allow Sound Transit to borrow money at rates significantly lower than otherwise available. [rtands.com]
Poll finds strong support for Pacific NW high-speed rail
A recent poll has found that 67% of Washingtonians support connecting the major cities of the Cascadia region with high-speed rail, along with 60% of Oregonians. Only 27% of respondents across the two states expressed opposition to building high-speed rail, and residents of British Columbia, Canada were not included in the poll. The poll was compiled from 1,616 interviews and has a margin of error of 2.5%. High-speed rail advocates are pointing to these strong poll results to rally support at the federal and state levels for bringing high-speed rail to the Pacific Northwest. [theurbanist.org]
SF’s Muni Metro could expand to Fisherman’s Wharf and Richmond
By 2050, San Francisco’s Muni Metro light rail system could expand to Fisherman’s Wharf and the city’s west side neighborhoods — if the city finds the funds to make it happen. Recent proposals would expand the still-in-the-works Central Subway beyond Chinatown – to Fisherman’s Wharf; and add a new line along Geary Boulevard to Richmond and along 19th Avenue through the Sunset. But, with no funding secured and years of planning and design ahead, the city is unlikely to commit to the projects any time soon. Meanwhile, the Central Subway is scheduled to open in spring 2022. [sfchronicle.com]
England and Wales could see biggest fare rise since 2012
Rail fares in England and Wales are on track to rise at their fastest rate in a decade. Annual increases in rail fares are usually governed by the July retail prices index (RPI), plus another 1%. July’s RPI for was 3.8%, meaning prices could rise by 4.8% in January. That would be the steepest increase since 2012. However, the government has not yet revealed its plans for price rises as it considers the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on British transport and moves control of train services to a new arm’s-length body, Great British Railways. [theguardian.com]
