Obligated High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Funding by Region
Image Source: http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0554
"The Federal Railroad Administration and its 32 state partners are laying the foundation for a 21st century passenger rail network. With $10.1 billion in federal funding available through the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program, they are moving forward with 152 planning and construction projects.
To date, 50 construction projects in 19 states and the District of Columbia worth more than $3.2 billion are either complete, under construction, or set to begin construction within 6 months.
Implementing these corridor projects and programs will:
To date, 50 construction projects in 19 states and the District of Columbia worth more than $3.2 billion are either complete, under construction, or set to begin construction within 6 months.
Implementing these corridor projects and programs will:
- Serve as a catalyst for growth in regional economic productivity and expansion by stimulating domestic manufacturing, promoting local tourism, and driving commercial and residential development
- Increase mobility by creating new choices for travelers in addition to flying or driving
- Reduce national dependence on oil
- Foster livable urban and rural communities"
Population Density
Image Source: http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0060
"High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail program investments have targeted America's most densely populated regions, areas where demand for rail has been rising for years to today's all-time high."
For More information on Rail Transit Contact:
John D. Bell, PE
Passenger Rail Operations and Planning Section
Freight and Passenger Rail Bureau
New York State DOT
50 Wolf Road, POD 5-4
Albany, New York 12232
Work 518-457-4081
Cell 518-588-6750
John.Bell@dot.ny.gov
Friend of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition: Linked In Group
Friends of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition represents individuals interested in following and supporting the mission of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition (SPRC). SPRC is an alliance of state transportation entities from across the United States who work together to support the development and growth of intercity passenger rail service for America. Established in 2000, the SPRC advocates for passenger rail initiatives and federal funding, supports current and long range plans for passenger rail advancement, and facilitates cooperation and coordination among state officials and between the public and private sector at all levels.
Linked In Address (Open group): http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Friends-States-Passenger-Rail-Coalition-4110250?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
For More information on Rail Transit Contact:
John D. Bell, PE
Passenger Rail Operations and Planning Section
Freight and Passenger Rail Bureau
New York State DOT
50 Wolf Road, POD 5-4
Albany, New York 12232
Work 518-457-4081
Cell 518-588-6750
John.Bell@dot.ny.gov
Friend of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition: Linked In Group
Friends of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition represents individuals interested in following and supporting the mission of the States for Passenger Rail Coalition (SPRC). SPRC is an alliance of state transportation entities from across the United States who work together to support the development and growth of intercity passenger rail service for America. Established in 2000, the SPRC advocates for passenger rail initiatives and federal funding, supports current and long range plans for passenger rail advancement, and facilitates cooperation and coordination among state officials and between the public and private sector at all levels.
Linked In Address (Open group): http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Friends-States-Passenger-Rail-Coalition-4110250?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
TRANSIT AND THE “D”WORD
Photo Courtesy of Ryan Cole
"Without high patronage, new rail investments incur large deficits and fail to deliver promised environmental and social benefits. A system with few passengers and a high price tag is, by most accounting, a poor investment economically, environmentally, and socially. Comparing the costs and the number of passenger-miles traveled for 54 American rail transit investments since 1970, we found wide variation in cost-effectiveness. The worst-performing system costs nearly 50 times more per passenger-mile than the best-performing. What factors distinguish the most successful transit investments?
Dense concentrations of people and jobs around transit stations are particularly important. Outside of Manhattan, Chicago’s Loop, and a few other urban pockets, however, most Americans dislike density. Many loathe it. For them, the “D” word means traffic congestion, crowded sidewalks, packed schools, long lines at the grocery store, and high crime rates. Without density, however, high-capacity transit tends to attract too few trips to offset the high price tag. As a result, there is a great interest in the minimum densities needed to support transit.
We review the literature on transit success and density, establish a methodology for evaluating cost-effectiveness, and relate this back to the numbers of jobs and residents around transit stations. Many recent transit investments have fallen short of the mark. Continuing to invest in high-capacity transit in low-density areas will require large subsidies per passenger trip and produce few tangible benefits. Instead, we recommend prioritizing investments in areas that meet, or have credible plans to meet, minimum density thresholds."
Donald Shoup
Editor, ACCESS Magazine http://www.uctc.net/access/
Institute of Transportation Studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
Email: shoup@ucla.edu
Full research publication offered at: http://www.uctc.net/access/40/access40_transitanddensity.pdf
To learn more please visit: University of California Transportation Center (UCTC) http://www.uctc.net
Dense concentrations of people and jobs around transit stations are particularly important. Outside of Manhattan, Chicago’s Loop, and a few other urban pockets, however, most Americans dislike density. Many loathe it. For them, the “D” word means traffic congestion, crowded sidewalks, packed schools, long lines at the grocery store, and high crime rates. Without density, however, high-capacity transit tends to attract too few trips to offset the high price tag. As a result, there is a great interest in the minimum densities needed to support transit.
We review the literature on transit success and density, establish a methodology for evaluating cost-effectiveness, and relate this back to the numbers of jobs and residents around transit stations. Many recent transit investments have fallen short of the mark. Continuing to invest in high-capacity transit in low-density areas will require large subsidies per passenger trip and produce few tangible benefits. Instead, we recommend prioritizing investments in areas that meet, or have credible plans to meet, minimum density thresholds."
Donald Shoup
Editor, ACCESS Magazine http://www.uctc.net/access/
Institute of Transportation Studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
Email: shoup@ucla.edu
Full research publication offered at: http://www.uctc.net/access/40/access40_transitanddensity.pdf
To learn more please visit: University of California Transportation Center (UCTC) http://www.uctc.net
