tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post3982543266508271082..comments2024-01-12T00:32:20.149-08:00Comments on The Overhead Wire: The Transit Space RacePantograph Trolleypolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833159138533550544noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-7314350855859504742011-04-18T00:26:06.155-07:002011-04-18T00:26:06.155-07:00I think you need to revise your "big 5" ...I think you need to revise your "big 5" slightly. I suggest you use <b>SFBay+Capitol</b> instead of "<b>San Francisco</b>". This would reflect the connectivity between metro SF, metro SJ, and metro Sacramento.<br /><br /><b>San Francisco</b> :<br />Buses, ferries, 2 heritage, LRT, commuter line (Caltrain), regional (BART)<br /><br /><b>SFBay+Capitol</b> :<br />Buses, ferries, 3 (possibly 4 - CA RR Museum ?) heritage, 3 LRT, 4 commuter lines (Caltrain + 3 Amtrak), regional (BART)<br /><br /><i>Not included above</i> :<br />SMART (North Bay commuter - future), Roaring Camp (heritage), Skunk (heritage), Wine Train (tourist / charter), SFZoo (pocket RR)MB94128https://www.blogger.com/profile/04494572766051396972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-50982481004610495202008-11-07T07:17:00.000-08:002008-11-07T07:17:00.000-08:00Why is LA still in the Transit Space Race category...Why is LA still in the Transit Space Race category as if it just started building its transport system. Since 1990 the county has built 73 miles of an impressive mix of Heavy and Light Rail lines as well as a 400+ mile commuter rail (Metrolink) system. Also its bus service of locals, rapids, express and so on is truly second to none and I'm a former NYer. You can't sneeze at the systems ridership either. I personally think that you should take LA out of the Transit Space race and put it in with the other ordained transit cities though it is still developing its system. And now with the passage of Measure R that would possibly expand the system by another 50 to 60 miles (including commuter tracks) would make it as large as the CTA/Septa system and larger than the current BART/Muni system. Also along with the passage of Prop1A it will be connected with the rest of the state via HSR, even Chicago and NYC can't lay claim to that. So what is the holdup with ushering LA into the coveted transit city eschelon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6609536178570975752.post-43666492655062154972008-08-11T09:48:00.000-07:002008-08-11T09:48:00.000-07:00Maybe you could add Baltimore to the hopefuls list...Maybe you could add Baltimore to the hopefuls list. The local (state-run) transit authority is slowly, timidly, but steadily working through the planning and funding stages of a second light rail line and a modest extension of our one heavy rail starter line. Right now they're selecting rights-of-way and station sites with a lot of public meetings and comment, although with LRT/HRT as the locally-preferred alternative(s), the New Starts people trying to push BRT, and some semi-NIMBYs who want the line underground instead of on the street, the MTA is essentially planning contingencies for every mode until they can get one approved. The New Starts reviewers said LRT wouldn't meet the minimum standard under their economic benefit formulas, but the state hasn't given rolled over and rejected LRT and the local council of governments announced recently that $340 mil in transportation capital funding will be dedicated entirely to transit, with the Red Line and commuter rail upgrades both mentioned as possible recipients. In short, nothing's really certain but things are somehow moving anyway, which is normal for Baltimore. Check out the newsfeed at http://beyonddc.com for articles on the c.o.g. announcement and the Red Line, and http://www.baltimoreredline.com/pages/brrsp.html for the Rail Plan itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com