During his dramatic presentation last April, President Barack Obama laid out a bold vision for high speed rail in America. Wielding a stylish red, white, and blue map (below) he presented the proposed corridors for new high speed trains. (Similar, if not identical, to plans long sitting on the shelf at the Federal Railway Administration.) He asked Americans to "Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination." In reality limited funds, our dysfunctional planning processes, and the historical lack of investment in rail will mean the U.S. will most likely end up with a diverse collection of regional rail systems that may not go that fast.
High Speed Rail
California Seeks Statewide Growth Strategy
The state of California is unveiling an effort to create a detailed strategy for how the state should grow. The ambitious plan is being kickstarted with a modest $2.5 million investment.
The San Francisco Chronicle
China's Rail Revolution
Extensive investments in rail are slashing travel times in China, and creating a vastly more connected and accessible country.
Newsweek
High Speed Rail: It's About Place
So says William Schroeer the State Policy Director at Smart Growth America, speaking at the High Speed Rail Conference in D.C. last weekend.
ASLA's The Dirt blog
The Challenge of Dividing High Speed Rail Funds
The federal government has dedicated $8 billion to high speed rail projects. But with $50 billion worth of proposals, the challenge lies in how best to divide the funds.
The New York Times
The Planetizen News Brief - 10/16/09
4:50 minutes (4.49 MB)
Saving money by housing the homeless, Western cities team up to lure high speed rail funds, and the work begins on Rio's Olympic preparations -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, download or listen.
An Empty Disney High Speed Rail Station for Orlando
The Disney Corporation has announced intentions to donate land for a high speed rail station in Orlando if a Florida project is approved. But some say it's unlikely the company will encourage anyone to use their station.
The Orlando Sentinel
Federal Mag-Lev Funding Reignites Debate in Las Vegas
Federal authorities recently announced $45 million in support of plans to construct a magnetic levitation train line between Las Vegas and Southern California, re-igniting a debate over two proposed rail connections.
The Las Vegas Sun
Judge Rules Against Efforts to Stall California's High Speed Rail
A judge has overruled challenges from two northern California cities over the siting of the state's proposed high speed rail line. Environmental studies can now move forward.
San Jose Business Journal
Tapping Outside Experience to Build U.S. High Speed Rail
As the race for high speed rail stimulus dollars gets underway, international firms stand to gain the most benefit as few if any U.S. firms are capable of building the rolling stock the new systems will need.
The Wall Street Journal
An Emerging High Speed Rail Hub
As California moves forward with its plans for a high speed rail network, one hub is coming into shape. This review looks at the new hub planned for the Southern California city of Anaheim.
Los Angeles Times
Plans for a High-Speed Rail Line Between London and Scotland
The proposed £34bn ($55bn) line, slated for completion by 2030, would reduce travel time between London and Glasgow to two-and-a-quarter hours.
BBC News
Would High-Speed Rail from Dallas to Houston Make Sense?
Edward Glaeser continues his series on cost-benefit analysis of high-speed rail in the US, imagining a mythical route between Dallas and Houston.
NY Times: Economix Blog
Developers Eye High-Density Opportunities in California's High Speed Rail Hubs
Southern California developers are gearing up to pounce on the areas surrounding proposed high speed rail hubs that will make up California's statewide high speed rail line.
San Diego Business Journal
The Cost of a Hypothetical High Speed Rail Line
Economist Edward L. Glaeser crunches the numbers on a hypothetical high speed rail line between Dallas and Houston and finds the costs prohibitive.
The New York Times
A Cost-Benefit Analysis for High Speed Rail
In the first of a series of posts to the NYTimes' Economix Blog, Edward Glaeser explores the value of high-speed rail in the US.
Economix Blog: NYTimes
Midwest Governors Coordinate to Seek High Speed Rail Funding
At the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit today in Chicago, an agreement was struck between eight states to work cooperatively to achieve Recovery Act funding to develop the Chicago Hub High Speed Rail Corridor - also called the Midwest corridor.
Environmental News Service
CA's High Speed Rail Hampered By Controversy
In this political column, Sac Bee columnist Dan Walters opines that the $.9 billion of CA's HSR $9.9 billion bond measure may be the only realistic accomplishment of Prop 1A due to budgetary and political hurdles the train may not be able to succumb.
The Sacramento Bee
Western States Trying to Get on the High Speed Rail Bandwagon
Officials in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas are pooling efforts to try to secure federal funding for a high speed rail link between their urban areas.
The Houston Chronicle
Las Vegas Included in California's Rail Plans
Las Vegas will now be included in plans for California's high speed rail network, according to the Department of Transportation.
Progressive Railroading
Contribute
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Wednesday, December 2, 11am PST/2pm EST
$49.95 (includes 30-day access to video recording)
Learn More:
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp - Modeling Buildings
- Friday Funny: Chicken Supports Chicken Ordinance
- Class Divide in NY Inclusive Buildings
- Alternative Fuels Won't Change the Expense of Driving
- Not Just About Jobs
- Suburbs See Rise in Kids in Poverty
- Judge Rules Army Corps Responsible for New Orleans Flooding
- BRT PDQ in DF
- Investing in Infrastructure
- The Bowery is Booming (For Better or Worse)
- Are Prefabricated Overpasses the Answer?
Learning from TTI -- Michael Lewyn
Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions -- Todd Litman
Somewhere Between Blight and Gentrification... -- Diana DeRubertis
The Future of American High Speed Rail: Regional and Slow -- Robert Goodspeed
Prisoners of The Village -- Nate Berg
Student Writing Competition - Deadline Extended!
APA Urban Design and Preservation Division
Nov 20, 2009
NEW NCI 2009 Best Practices Report
National Charrette Institute
Nov 19, 2009
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Request for Proposals
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
Nov 19, 2009
Build your expertise in sustainable planning, public participation, urban design or real estate
Rutgers University -- Professional Development Institute
Nov 18, 2009
www.flickr.com
|
