Significant Rail News, September 10, 2014
Burbank Seeks Answers On Bullet Train’s Impacts
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11682322/burbank-seeks-answers-on-bullet-trains-impact?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140903002
US DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx Takes Crack At Transportation Predictions
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/anthony-foxx-department-of-transportation-110656.html#.VA4XFDERZ_c.twitter
Opinion: 2nd Transbay Tube Needed To Keep BART On Track
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/2nd-Transbay-Tube-needed-to-help-keep-BART-on-5737004.php
From The Dark Side Dept: US Highway Fix May Mean More Tolls
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/09/obama-infrastructure-summit/15325623/
San Jose: Will BART Make Berryessa District Traffic Even Worse?
http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_26474981/roadshow-more-major-work-coming-along-bart-extension
Amtrak Says Freight Delays Hurt Ridership
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/216728-amtrak-exec-freight-delays-hurt-ridership
California Legislature Passes Two Infrastructure Finance Bills
http://www.bondbuyer.com/news/regionalnews/california-legislature-passes-infrastructure-finance-bills-1065847-1.html
Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa To Obtain $8.2 Million Grant For Jennings Avenue Railroad Crossing
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2715536-181/santa-rosa-likely-to-get
From The Dark Side/So Much For 4th Caldecott Tunnel Dept: More Traffic As Bay Area Jobs Increase
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/bay-area-commuters-struggling-through-heavier-traf/nhJTq/
French Cities Discover Revolutionary Transit Fix: “European Street Trams”
http://bettercities.net/article/new-french-revolution-21276
Claim: Overall New US Streetcar Projects Not Meeting Standards Of Good Service
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/09/overall-us-streetcars-just-arent-meeting-the-standards-of-good-transit/379516/
Southern California: Metrolink Ridership Continues To Decline
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-metrolink-riders-20140908-story.html
From The Dark Side Dept: Illinois Gas Tax Crumbles As People “Go Green”
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11681497/gas-tax-woes-roads-may-crumble-as-people-go-green?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140902002
Rail To Redlands Project Draws Large Public Interest
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11681374/rail-to-redlands-project-draws-large-crowd?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140902002
From The Dark Side Dept: No, Americans Aren’t Driving More, Contrary To Some Reports
http://www.betterinstitutions.com/2014/09/vehicle-miles-traveled-VMT-still-not-increasing.html
Amtrak: Southwest Chief Panel to Convene
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11677852/southwest-chief-panel-to-convene?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140830002
Opinion: Transit Service, Not Infrastructure Triggers Ridership
http://www.humantransit.org/2014/08/does-transit-infrastructure-have-ridership.html
HSR Chief Dan Richard Defends His Enterprise
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/california-high-speed-rail-no-9the-chairmans-turn-again/379381/
Draft Designs For Downtown San Rafael SMART Station Called Ridiculous By Officials
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11677383/draft-designs-for-smart-stations-called-ridiculous-by-san-rafael-officials?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140830002
How San Antonio Streetcar Supporters Screwed Up and Let Streetcar Project Fall Apart Politically
http://www.texasobserver.org/julian-castro-desire-named-streetcar/
Estimated Cost Of Downtown LA Streetcar Cut By $55 Million
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11677411/downtown-la-streetcar-line-cost-estimate-is-shaved-by-55m?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140830002
We’ll See It When We Believe It Dept: Washington DC-Baltimore Maglev Backers Claim $5 Billion In Investor Support
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11677378/backers-of-high-speed-maglev-train-to-washington-claim-5b-in-funding?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140830002
Would Salt On Their Tails Work? Dept: Caltrans Tries To Chase Birds Off Old Bay Bridge Span
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/09/01/caltrans-takes-bids-to-lure-birds-from-bay-bridge-span-set-for-demolition/
Yeah, Sure It Will Work Dept: Gullible New Joisy Town Rolled By PRT Hucksters
http://www.fastcolabs.com/3034687/new-jersey-is-testing-solar-power-commuter-pods
BART Introduces Security App for Smartphones
http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2014/09/bart-introduces-security-app.aspx?utm_campaign=Rail-Transit-NEW-20140903&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter
Private Sector Intercity Rail In Indiana To Add Service Chicago-Indianapolis
http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/passenger-rail-manager-line-frequent-service-71285/
Things Are Bigger There Even If They Really Aren’t Dept: Private Sector Texas HSR Moves Forward
http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/27/6072469/high-speed-rail-gaining-steam.html?rh=1
Medellin, Columbia Metrocable Improves Mobility For Low Income Residents
http://thecityfix.com/blog/medellin-metrocable-improves-mobility-informal-settlements-low-income-accessibililty-equity-development-coby-joseph/
Opinion: Streetcars Are Just A Tool
http://brandondonnelly.com/post/95776831128/streetcars-are-just-a-tool
HSR Opponents File Appeal At California Supreme Court
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_26454234/california-bullet-train-foes-ask-states-highest-court
How BART Knew About Napa Earthquake Before Anyone Else
http://www.thetransitwire.com/2014/08/27/bart-knew-sundays-earthquake-anyone-else/
BART Stations Cleaner Thanks to Special Cleaners, Crackdown On Loitering
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Clean-team-loitering-crackdown-help-make-BART-5727214.php
Hey, You! Behave In The Transit Station Dept: MARTA To Test Computer Software That Scans For “Suspicious” Behavior
http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/Eyesight-Software-Scans-Surveillance-Video.html
Hey, You Spend A Billion On LRT Fix The Traffic Lights Dept: MN Inventor Claims Fix To Help Trains Meet Green Lights
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11676261/green-line-inventor-proposes-using-timing-speed-to-improve-travel-time?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140828002
From The Dark Side Dept: California Gas Prices Could Jump 30 Cents Per Gallon In 2015
http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_26433419/roadshow-state-gas-tax-could-jump-30-cents
Hey Let’s Run Commuter Trains To Heart Of Downtowns Dept: Florida Tri-Rail Moving Ahead With Coastal Rail Expansion
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-08-23/news/fl-tri-rail-coastal-link-20140816_1_tri-rail-service-coastal-tracks-second-track
Gee A Radical Concept Dept: Requiring Steering Wheels And Brake Pedals In Would-Be Robocars
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/215746-calif-rules-hamper-steering-wheel-less-google-cars
Caltrain Ridership Continues To Surge
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2014/09/02/caltrain-grapples-with-ridership-surge-peninsula.html
No. 10 On CA HSR Arguments: Modesty In Your Claims, Please
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/california-high-speed-rail-no-10-palate-cleanser/379422/
Will Eastern Europe Trains Be Better Than US Dept: Chinese Propose HSR Line In Romania
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11675116/romania-china-governments-considering-bucharest-iasi-chisinau-hsr-project?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140827002
Will Seattle Catch Up To Portland in LRT Dept?
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11675108/seattle-catching-up-to-portland-in-light-rail-department-with-line-to-northgate?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140827002
Opinion: Alameda County Should Reject Proposed Transportation Sales Tax Doubling
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_26424725/oakland-tribune-editorial-voters-should-reject-doubling-county
BART Gets Rid Of Free Lifetime Rides For Board Members
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_26429813/bart-does-away-free-lifetime-rides-board-members
From The Dark Side Dept: GOP Senators Predict Highway Funding Will Change
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/215632-gop-senators-predict-new-transportation-funding-source
San Rafael Residents Want To Move Forward With SMART Quiet Zones
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11671232/san-rafael-residents-urge-city-to-move-forward-with-smart-quiet-zones?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140822003
Why Portland Is Building Multimodal Bridge That Excludes Cars
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/08/why-portland-is-building-a-multi-modal-bridge-that-bans-cars/378665/
BART Produces More Readable Strategic Plan Document
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/bart-opens-doors-to-what-it-takes-to-operate/Content?oid=2886094
Transit’s No Joke Dept: Late Night Comic Takes LA Subway To TV’s Emmy Awards
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11668889/jimmy-kimmel-takes-the-subway-to-emmy-awards-in-downtown-la?utm_source=MASS+NewsViews+Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MASS140820002
We’ll See It When We Believe It Dept: Company Claims Process Can Turn Natural Gas Into Gasoline For $1.00
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Natural-gas-to-1-gasoline-5701521.php
10-Mile BART Extension To San Jose Moves Forward
http://www.insidebayarea.com/bay-area-news/ci_26377795/10-mile-bart-extension-san-jose-clears-hurdle
Commuter Rail Sooner Would Be Nice Dept: Regional Oklahoma System Possible Soon?
http://okgazette.com/2014/08/18/regional-rail-based-transit-system-plan-could-reach-voters-in-a-few-years/
Dallas LRT Extended to DFW Airport
http://www.metro-magazine.com/news/story/2014/08/dart-orange-line-to-airport-opens.aspx?utm_campaign=Rail-Transit-NEW-20140820&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter