Amtrak
Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget
The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.
Amtrak’s Borealis Exceeds First Year Ridership Expectations
205,800 passengers have boarded the St. Paul to Chicago line, well above initial MDOT projections.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
How to Make US Trains Faster
Changes to boarding platforms and a switch to electric trains could improve U.S. passenger rail service without the added cost of high-speed rail.
SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line
Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.
Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record
The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.
What the US Intercity Rail System Could Look Like
An FRA study shows how new Amtrak lines could connect tens of millions more Americans to rail travel.
Amtrak Breaks Ridership Record in FY 2024
More Americans than ever rode the rails last year, also bringing the agency its highest ticket revenue.
NYC-to-Scranton Train Advocates Confident About Project’s Future
State transportation officials say the effort to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is moving full steam ahead despite remaining challenges.
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
NJ Transit Struggles, Leaving Riders Stranded
The troubled agency has been canceling roughly 100 trains per week.
Amtrak Borealis Line Celebrates 100,000 Passengers
The St. Paul-to-Chicago train served more than 22,000 passengers in August.
Opinion: Prioritize Amtrak, but Don’t Demonize Freight
A proposed bill would tighten enforcement of a 1973 law that gives passenger trains priority over freight shipments.
Thousands of Affordable Housing Units Planned Near New Haven Train Station
The proposal could breathe new life into a long-neglected area near a heavily trafficked Amtrak station.
Texas High-Speed Rail Awarded $63.9M Federal Grant
In August, Amtrak received a $63.9 million grant from the FRA to continue its work to identify a high-speed rail corridor between Dallas and Houston.
New Multimodal Regional Transportation Center Opens in Virginia
Amtrak, CSX, and local, state, and federal agencies partnered on a new $53 million multimodal transit center that connects Newport News and the regional bus system to Amtrak Virginia and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
Amtrak Gains Final Approvals for Return to the Gulf Coast
A vote by the Mobile city council secured three key agreements that will pave the way for bringing passenger rail service back to coastal regions east of New Orleans.
July’s Must Reads: Top 10 Articles from Last Month
In case you missed them, here were the biggest urban planning news items, features, and blogs from last month, including 15 new Amtrak routes, Florida’s EV law, California’s rail update, fare-free buses in Tucson, and more.
Proposed NYC-to-Boston HSR Would Cut Trip to Under Two Hours
The proposed project would use a mix of new and old rail lines and bypass some cities to speed up the trip.
New Chicago-to-St. Paul Amtrak Line Makes Profit in First Months
The Borealis line provided more than 18,500 rides since its first trips in May.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
