Light Rail

Dublin May Opt for BRT Over Rail Expansion

An expansion of Dublin's light rail system (DART) has been put on hold by Ireland's Transport Minister, who is ditching the idea in favor of a bus rapid transit system.

September 29, 2011 - Irish Independent

Tea Party Rejects Light Rail Because of Potential Terrorism

Arguing against a regional transportation tax, the Georgia Tea Party says that we shouldn't build any more light rail because terrorists might see it as an attractive target.

September 15, 2011 - Treehugger

County Could Railroad Atlanta Region Transit Tax

Voters in the Atlanta region will vote on a 1-cent sales tax for new transit projects. But one major county could stand in the way if its own project is not included.

August 11, 2011 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Suburbs Clamor for Light Rail

Detroit's Oakland County suburbs are pushing to extend a light rail extension into their neighborhoods with such fervor that they may accomplish what the political system couldn't, says reporter Matt Helms.

August 8, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

New Transit Lines Open Early, Under Budget

New TRAX light rail lines in Salt Lake City opened a year early and 20% under budget.

August 4, 2011 - The Salt Lake Tribune

One Lane, One Way, $1 Billion

The weekend closure of the 405 freeway in L.A. highlights the city's limited mobility but also the skewed way transit and transportation projects are debated.

July 15, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Keeping Rail On Track

Rail projects throughout the U.S. are hard hit by the downturn in the economy. The agencies behind them are trying to find ways to keep the projects from falling apart.

July 12, 2011 - Architect Magazine

Detroit Finalizes Light Rail Route

The City of Detroit has finalized the route of a planned light rail line traveling down one the of the city's main corridors and linking to downtown.

July 1, 2011 - The Detroit News

The Bus and The Train Are Friends

Bus rapid transit has seen a recent spike in interest, and with that interest has come the analysis that BRT takes away from light rail projects and vice versa. But as this post points out, they need each other and work better when both are around.

May 27, 2011 - the transport politic

Light Rail Among Cuts in Proposed North Carolina Budget

A new budget proposal in North Carolina could pull all funding for a long-planned extension of Charlotte's light rail system.

May 26, 2011 - The Charlotte Observer

Billion Dollar Rail Proposed in Victoria

Planners in Victoria, British Columbia, are proposing a new light rail line for the city. Despite its $1 billion price tag, the transit line is expected to see wide support.

April 28, 2011 - CBC

Friday Funny: Detroit Light Rail in the House

Enjoy this detailed demonstration of Detroit's Light Rail Proposal, using rap and LEGOs to communicate the message that light rail in the center of the road is better than then on the sides.

March 11, 2011 - YouTube

Hawaii Gets Mass Transit

A rapid transit system gets closer to reality in Honolulu as officials conduct groundbreaking ceremony, while some still object to the project for aesthetic reasons.

February 25, 2011 - the transport politic

Transit Breaks Ground in Honolulu, But Will Development Follow?

Ground has broken on Honolulu's long-planned rail system, but locals still worry that the new transit won't lure new development to town.

February 24, 2011 - The Honolulu Star Advertiser

New TOD Residents Become Anti-Transit NIMBYs

King Farm, a 440-acre development in the D.C. suburbs, was designed to be the perfect transit-oriented development, with a light rail to be built later. Now, residents have decided they don't want the transit to ever be built.

February 6, 2011 - NRDC Blog

Staten Islanders Keep it in the Borough

The need to replace the Bayonne Bridge has inspired a discussion on Staten Island over including transit, and possibly light rail, over the new span. Yonah Freemark looks at the numbers, and isn't so sure.

January 23, 2011 - the transport politic

DC Streetcars to Be a Shot in the Arm

It was nearly 50 years ago, when streetcars were seen on the roadways of downtown Washington, DC. Dan Tangherlini, the former transportation director for the District discusses why streetcars matter in the United States capital.

January 16, 2011 - The City Fix

Slow Going for Light Rail in Dallas

A new 28-mile expansion makes the city's system is the largest in the nation, but is it actually changing travel habits? Yonah Freemark investigates.

December 7, 2010 - the transport politic

Ridership Predictions Lowered, But Subway Plans Move Ahead

Despite predictions of ridership that are lower than previously thought, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is still pushing ahead with plans to build a subway line in the center of the city.

December 3, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Dark Clouds Over L.A.'s Light Rail

Los Angeles is in the midst of expanding its light rail system. But a new idea to speed up the process has backfired and caused delays and major increases in estimated costs.

December 3, 2010 - LA Weekly

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