|
|
|
 |
 Just how much do investments in public transportation return? The July 2015 Mineta Transportation Institute report, "The Benefits of Transit in the United States: A Review and Analysis of Benefit-Cost Studies" attempts to answer this question quantitatively through a review of literature on benefits-costs (b-c) estimates of existing U.S. transit systems. The study finds that transit pays for itself in congestion relief benefits alone for mid- to large-sized urban areas. Substantial transit benefits were also found in rural and small urban areas. Jobs and economic stimulus are among the largest benefit categories of transit. Transit improves health care access and outcomes while reducing costs. Although transit's positive effect on safety and security, greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, and other important benefits are not fully documented by traditional b-c analysis, these benefits can potentially be significant. All these findings suggest that appropriate transit investments make perfect economic sense for both large urban areas, and rural and small urban areas in the US.
For more details about the study, download the full report.
|
I grew up as the child of civil rights activists in Chicago in the 1960s. I also lived directly across the street from the El. So it isn't surprising that early on, I formed a theory about racial inequities in public transportation - specifically, that the Chicago Transit Authority seemed to build or extend train routes so that they always ended in white neighborhoods.
|
As Metro-North Railroad works to rebuild deteriorated infrastructure while posting record ridership aboard an unprecedented number of trains, President Joe Giulietti says the top goal is safety, followed by on-time performance. By comparison, achieving faster station-to-station travel times is further down the priority list - and not likely to happen in the next couple of years, he said.
|
A 90-day test program for a modern fare payment system at Metro train stations, buses, and parking lots has left the transit authority's leadership unimpressed and considering dumping it altogether, pending more testing and further review.
Full implementation of the $250 million system already is a projected $44 million over budget, and although 3,000 Metro riders signed up for the pilot program, only 400 participated.
|
President Barack Obama yesterday announced his intent to nominate Derek Kan and Anthony Coscia to serve on Amtrak's board. Kan is director of strategy at Genapsys. Previously, he served as a management consultant at Bain & Co. and as an adviser at Elliott Management.
|
As it recovers from one of its worst accidents on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak faces frequent management turnover and structural change, in addition to chronic financial and political challenges. Former Amtrak executives say the turmoil at the top in recent years has disrupted railroad management and distracted employees from their daily duties.
|
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking nominations for up to eight individuals to serve as members on the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). Nominees should be knowledgeable about trends and issues related to rail and bus transit safety, and will be evaluated on factors including leadership and organization skills, geographic representation, staff diversity and the overall balance of industry representation, FTA officials said in a news brief.
|
Less than a year after Citi Bike employees in New York City joined a union, they became the first bike-share workers in the country to reach an agreement for a union contract. The workers will receive substantial raises under the agreement announced on Thursday between the union, Transport Workers Union Local 100, and NYC Bike Share, the company that operates Citi Bike. The union represents about 200 bike mechanics, call center agents and other employees of Citi Bike.
|
With its gleaming classrooms, sports teams and even a pep squad, the Apprentice School that serves the enormous Navy shipyard here bears little resemblance to a traditional vocational education program. And that is exactly the point. While the cheerleaders may double as trainee pipe fitters, electricians and insulators, on weekends they're no different from college students anywhere as they shout for the Apprentice School Builders on the sidelines.
|
|
Building Transportation Infrastructure
|
For 50 years or more, even before I-285 was finished, metro Atlanta's orientation has been circular. There is Inside-the-Perimeter, Outside-the-Perimeter, and the rest of Georgia. That landscape may be about to change.
|
Later this month, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will kick off a $30 million track improvement project on Purple Line Express tracks between Lawrence and Jarvis stations. Slated to begin July 20, the project calls for replacing ties, restoring track alignment and replacing areas of running rail along the aging Purple Line Express tracks, CTA officials said in a press release.
|
Los Angeles may be considered the "world capital of car culture" - as L.A. Weekly declared it last year - but the transit agency serving Los Angeles County is pursuing one of the most aggressive light-rail expansion programs in the nation.
|
Illinois members of Congress joined Metra officials on Monday to call for additional federal funding for the implementation of positive train control (PTC) technology and other rail safety improvements.
|
Two issues have been consistent in the Capitol Hill career of retiring California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer: climate change and transportation. While Boxer's climate agenda has mostly been blocked, she's been able to bridge the partisan divide on transportation policy.
|
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday unveiled an $8.1 billion plan to fund highway and rail transit projects through the end of 2015, paid for by extending an airport security fee increase and various tax rule changes. Congress faces a July 31 deadline to renew federal transportation spending authority and avoid a major slowdown in road construction projects nationwide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
