Freight Rail
Why are America's trains so slow?
A brief historical inquiry.
Who owns US railroad tracks?
Nearly three-quarters of Amtrak's trains operate on tracks owned by private companies. What does this mean for U.S. passenger rail?
Why the First 3 Months of 2026 Will Decide the Future of US Passenger Rail
Three events likely to occur in the first 90 days of the year will have major impacts on U.S. train travel.
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.
Port of Long Beach Begins Massive Rail Yard Expansion
The project, which will break ground this summer, is expected to dramatically curb emissions from trucking.
Revitalizing Texas: Sustainable Rail Solutions
An argument for why investing in trains is the key to sustainable growth and economic success in the Lone Star State.
Utah Oil Shale Extraction Dealt Major Setback
The Surface Transportation Board's approval in 2021 of a proposed 85-mile Uinta Basin Railway in Utah that would have enabled increased extraction of the world's largest source of oil shale was partially vacated by a federal appeals court last month.
Trails and Rails Battle in San Francisco Bay Shoreline Park
Can freight trains and a scenic shoreline park along San Francisco Bay coexist, or are they incompatible uses? The East Bay Regional Park District voted to remove old rail tracks that BNSF Railway wants to reactivate. A local court may decide.
New York City to Reduce Truck Emissions by Investing in Freight Rail Infrastructure
The Big Apple may claim the nation's highest public transit ridership, but it ranks well below average in its use of freight rail. Two small short line railroads are at the center of a $100 million investment to reduce truck reliance.
Walmart Getting Into the Freight Rail Business
Walmart will soon be seen side by side with CSX and BNSF.
A Proposal to Extend Rail Service to a Town in Pennsylvania Is Ambitious. Proponents Are Undeterred
A plan to get a SEPTA Regional Rail link to Phoenixville in record time has its skeptics, but advocates are convinced they can make it happen.
Senate Bans Procurements of Chinese Transit Vehicles
The temporary ban applies to bus and rail projects seeking funding from a number of FTA programs.
With No Plan for Brexit in Place, the Channel Tunnel Hangs in the Balance
About 20 million tons of freight moves through the Channel Tunnel between England and France every year. The process for moving that freight could vary depending on how Brexit goes down.
Port Industry Stresses Need for Rail Access
A new report by the American Association of Port Authorities makes the case for more funding toward port access infrastructure projects.
Air Quality and Environmental Justice Lead to Push for Zero-Emission Locomotives
The California Air Resources Board has petitioned the U.S. EPA to adopt more stringent emissions standards for locomotives in order to improve air quality at rail yards, many of which are located adjacent to disadvantaged communities.
Trains Now Connect the U.K. to China
China's "One Belt, One Road" program to create a network of trade routes across Eurasia took a major step forward this week when a freight train bearing export goods disembarked from the United Kingdom bound for China's Zhejiang province.
Civil Engineers Release U.S. Infrastructure Scorecard: D+
Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers issues a report on the state of America's infrastructure, extensively cited by the media. This year's report, released March 9, shows no improvement over 2013's, but do check the subcategories
$8 Billion 'Chicago Bypass' Freight Line Proposed
A private developer is pursuing a proposal that would invest $8 billion in a freight line in the Midwest.
First Rail Link in a Over a Century Now Connects U.S., Mexico
Instead of building a wall separating the United States and Mexico, officials from both countries celebrated the opening on Tuesday of the West Rail Bypass International Bridge.
The Exorbitant External Costs Caused by the Trucking Industry
A new report from the Congressional Budget Office places the spotlight on the trucking industry in terms of the social, health ,and environmental costs it imposes on society but does not pay for, i.e., externalities.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
