Commuter Trains

Purple Line Extension

Coalition Fights Displacement Along Purple Line

Community advocates are warning that Maryland’s new light rail line could cause displacement without concerted efforts to preserve affordable housing and legacy businesses.

October 6, 2022 - The Washington Post

Fairview Heights K Line station, Los Angeles

K Line to South L.A. To Open October 7

The line, part of L.A.'s effort to expand its public transit system ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, was originally scheduled to open in 2019.

September 26, 2022 - The Source (Metro)

Washington DC Metro

Washington Metro Faces Budget Deficit, Safety Issues

The capital’s public transit system, the country’s third-largest, has been plagued by a series of problems ranging from a looming fiscal deficit to train crashes and track fires.

July 5, 2022 - Governing

The eastern portal of Roseville Tunnel on the Lackawanna Cut-Off looking west on March 10, 2012.

NJ Transit Board Approves Tunnel and Resilience Projects

The agency plans to restore service along the Lackawanna Cutoff and develop a storage yard to protect rail equipment during extreme weather.

April 19, 2022 - Mass Transit

Virgin Trains USA

Tampa Bay Moves Forward With High-Speed Rail Plans

The Brightline will connect Orlando to Tampa and reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.

March 17, 2022 - St. Pete Catalyst

Dallas Transit

Houston Transit Barely Beats Out Dallas for Ridership

Out of the top five U.S. metro areas, Houston's transit ridership is second-lowest only to Dallas.

January 26, 2022 - The Houston Chronicle

Governor Hogan Signs Agreement With U.S. DOT for the Purple Line by Steve Kwak at 4800 Veterans Pkwy. Hyattsville MD 20784

Beleaguered Purple Line Continues to Stoke Gentrification Fears in Maryland

Affordable housing advocates and other community groups in Maryland are calling for early and robust mitigation efforts to prevent displacement of longtime residents and businesses along the new Purple Line corridor.

January 5, 2022 - The Washington Post

 A Richmond-bound (Red Line) train at Downtown Berkeley station in June 2019

Planning Commission Calls for More Density at Berkeley BART Stations

Berkeley planning commissioners recommend taller buildings, more density as the city evaluates zoning changes near BART stations.

November 9, 2021 - Berkeleyside

Penn Station Interior

Post-Cuomo Penn Station Updates Could Move Project Forward

The controversial renovation of Penn Station could move forward with a scaled-back plan.

November 8, 2021 - Curbed

Miami Bus

To Fight Climate Change, Support Public Transit

Electric cars may garner a lot of attention these days, but significantly reducing carbon emissions and urban congestion means investing in high-quality mass transit.

November 5, 2021 - The Verge

Amtrak Cascaded

Revised Amtrak Mandate Could Allow for 'Paradigm-Shifting' Changes

Language in the new infrastructure bill calls for the agency to prioritize ridership and service levels over profitability.

August 22, 2021 - Governing

Vermont BRT

To Regain Transit Ridership, Policymakers Must Address Land Use and Housing

More buses and trains alone won't bring back riders; other incentives are needed to boost ridership and encourage new users.

August 20, 2021 - Governing

Alstom Train

The High Cost of Adapting Commuter Rail for the Post-COVID Future

U.S. commuter rail systems, primarily designed to bring workers to and from central business districts, must adapt to serve a broader population as the traditional workday changes.

May 25, 2021 - Governing

Chicago El

Chicago Elevated Train Funding Passes with Unanimous Support

The Chicago City Council has authorized a billion dollars in funding for upgrades and maintenance for the city's Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains; the city hopes to get additional federal funds before Obama leaves office.

December 2, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Accepting a Deadly Daily Commute

Responding to the New York train crash that killed six this month, Sam Tanenhaus reflects on how commuting got so dangerous and why we don't demand better.

February 21, 2015 - The New Yorker

FLV California train

California High Speed Rail Update

The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Center offers good news about California's slow-to-start high speed rail.

May 28, 2014 - SPUR Blog

Copenhagen's Bikes on Rails

Jonna McKone of TheCityFix looks at Copenhagen's recently added rail cars that are specifically for bicyclists and other passengers with special needs.

January 7, 2011 - TheCityFix

"Library-Quiet" Train Cars For Commuters Who Want Peace

Northeast Corridor NJ Transit has announced that beginning in September they will feature "quiet cars" on their trains for passengers who prefer peace and quiet over cell phones and chatter.

July 19, 2010 - Gothamist

Metrolink: Understaffed and Underfunded

The Sept. 12 crash of a Metrolink commuter train with a U.P. freight train resulting in 25 deaths has brought attention to Southern California's regional rail system, revealing that it is a weak 'stepchild' to the larger, better funded LA MTA.

September 22, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

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