Amtrak

Amtrak Acela Express train passing through Harrison station in Newark, New Jersey

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts

Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

March 28, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

"Fort Worth Central Station" sign on platform at train station

Amtrak To Study New York-to-Dallas Service

A proposal to extend the Crescent line would bring rail service through Mississippi and Louisiana to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

March 14, 2023 - Mass Transit

Rendering of blue Amtrak Airo train speeding past blurry trees

Amtrak Reveals New, Faster Airo Trains

Trains on at least 14 intercity routes will be replaced with a fuel-efficient model with top speeds of 125 mph.

December 20, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

View of snowy Union Station building in Cincinnati, Ohio

Ohio Debates Expanded Rail Service

The state has the chance to apply for a piece of $2.3 billion in federal funding to improve and expand Amtrak service.

December 11, 2022 - Governing

Amtrak Sunset Limited train viewed from the side passing low desert hills in West Texas

$4.3 Billion for Amtrak Expected to Modernize Stations and Trains

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 has provided funding for Amtrak to make some sorely needed improvements throughout the system.

December 5, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Amtrak Sunset Limited train viewed from the side passing low desert hills in West Texas

Passenger Rail Could Return to the Gulf Coast

Although the details of the deal remain murky, Amtrak and the freight companies that share tracks in the region have agreed to restore passenger train service east of New Orleans.

November 29, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Empty subterranean train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey

Hudson Tunnel Project To Move Forward

After facing a series of setbacks, the plan to rehabilitate and expand train tunnels under the Hudson River is moving forward thanks to new federal support.

November 16, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Intercity Rail

Virginia Amtrak Ridership Soars Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The four state-managed Amtrak lines are seeing increases of as much as 65 percent in ridership.

November 15, 2022 - WRIC

Amtrak Sunset Limited train passing by forested area in Cade, Louisiana

More Delays for Restoring Gulf Coast Amtrak Service

Conflicts over freight rail and funding are holding up the restoration of New Orleans-to-Orlando service on Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line.

October 30, 2022 - Governing

Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train on California coast

Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train

A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.

October 28, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Amtrak train on track by the beach in Souhern California

Opinion: California Needs an Overnight SoCal-to-Bay Area Train

A red-eye between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area could make train travel a viable options for millions of Californians.

August 16, 2022 - SF Gate

Jersey City, NJ - November 13, 2016: Train passing through the Exchange Place PATH station located at Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey, adjacent to the Hudson River at Paulus Hook.

New York and New Jersey Agree To Fund Gateway Hudson Tunnel

The two governors signed an agreement to fund the construction of two new rail tunnels to improve service between the two states.

July 10, 2022 - CBS New York

Union Station, Burlington, Vermont

After Seven Decades, Burlington-to-New York City Train Returns

Starting in July, Amtrak will begin running a daily passenger train between Vermont and New York City.

June 22, 2022 - Travel + Leisure

An Amtrak passenger train is shown on a spring day, rolling through a rural area in Missouri.

Amtrak Seeks $200 Million for Chicago Improvements

The agency wants to upgrade infrastructure and fix ‘long-standing deficiencies’ in its Chicago-area operations.

June 13, 2022 - Trains.Com

Amtrak Connects US

Political Support for Amtrak’s All Aboard Ohio Plans Follows Federal Infrastructure Funding

Gov. Mike DeWine’s sudden interest in working with Amtrak might have something to do with $66 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding recently announced by the Federal Railroad Administration.

May 18, 2022 - Cleveland.com

Amtrak Train

Railroad Merger Would Add Service Between Detroit and Toronto

An agreement between two rail companies would create a connection between Michigan and Ontario, improve passenger rail service in the Midwest, and add new lines in Louisiana and Texas.

January 11, 2022 - WXYZ

Joe Biden sits in a chair holding a microphone in front of a screen that reads Wall Street Journal and Infrastructure

Year in Review: The Stories That Defined Urban Planning in 2021

Part two (of two) of Planetizen's review of 2021 collects the biggest stories and storylines of the year from the wide world of planning.

December 30, 2021 - James Brasuell

An Amtrak passenger train is shown on a spring day, rolling through a rural area in Missouri.

Amtrak Hits New Top Speeds Between St. Louis and Chicago

A project that won funding from federal stimulus programs during the Obama administration is finally paying off on the Amtrak route between Chicago and St. Louis.

December 24, 2021 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Downeaster train in Maine

What States Can Learn From the Success of Maine's Downeaster Train

As Amtrak gears up to plan expansion projects supported by new federal funding, states can take some advocacy lessons from Maine's popular Downeaster train.

December 20, 2021 - Governing

NYC Subway Construction

Why Big Infrastructure Projects Go Over Budget

Most major infrastructure projects fail to meet projected timelines or budgets. Some experts say this is a structural flaw built into "systematically deceptive" estimate practices.

December 2, 2021 - The New York Times

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HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

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