Heat waves are causing damage and delays on commuter trains from New Jersey to Dallas.
Delays on Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) trains last week were potentially caused by heat, reports Zaeem Shaikh in The Dallas Morning News. “DART spokesman Gordon Shattles said that a damaged overhead catenary line near the station was to blame, and that it was harmed by the excessive heat.”
According to Shaikh, “The damaged line caused delays throughout the central business district, he said, and shuttle buses and a train shuttle are in place for passengers.” Service was back on track on Wednesday.
As Shaikh explains, “Catenary lines are a system of overhead wires used to supply electricity to the light rail vehicles, which are equipped with a pantograph. The pantograph, attached to the roof of the vehicle, presses against the underside of the lowest overhead wire, the contact wire, according to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.”
The implications for public transit as extreme heat becomes more common could be vast. In New Jersey, a similar problem has been affecting NJ Transit and Amtrak trains, stopping trains and delaying thousands of commuters.
FULL STORY: Heat may have played a role in DART rail delays in downtown Dallas, agency says
DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.
New DART Board Members Actually Ride Transit
Dallas rapid transit organization takes the rare step of bringing riders and transit advocates onto their board.
Texas State Bills to Defund Dallas Transit Die
DART would have seen a 30% service cut, $230M annual losses had the bills survived.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.
Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie