Two months ago we reported on the railroad industry’s reaction to the FRA’s directive setting forth the terms of the so-called “Stakeholder Agreements.” Those are the agreements between state authorities and Class I railroads that will govern the shared-use freight-passenger rail service in rail corridors receiving federal aid under the Administration’s high-speed rail (HSR) program. The FRA directive stunned and angered railroad executives by what they regarded as unreasonable demands, and burdensome requirements…We are happy to report that reason and good sense have prevailed. In a press conference on August 20, FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo announced that the agency has withdrawn the controversial directive.
View this complete post...Archive for the ‘Rail’ Category
Congratulations to FRA on a Sensible Decision
Thursday, August 26th, 2010NY/NJ/CT/MD train problems force more infrastructure discussion on The Brian Lehrer Show
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010According to InfrastructureUSA’s Steve Anderson, “We need a new pair of shoes and we’ve got to put the money in. We’ve got to recognize what our priorities are, and we have to demand that those people who we have entrusted with the management of these assets come up with plans that we will then agree to fund.”
View this complete post...Video: High-Speed Rail in the United States
Thursday, August 19th, 2010@Brookings Podcast
The U.S. lags far behind Europe and Asia in the development of high-speed rail. This week @Brookings, expert Robert Puentes examines the Obama administration’s effort to build high-speed rail networks.
Video: Friday at Grand Central Station
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Music from Star Wars
I think the song name is “Cocktails in the Cantina”
-surflliner453 on YouTube
Join the Fight for High-Speed Rail
Thursday, August 12th, 2010The American High-Speed Rail Alliance has launched Action for American High-Speed Rail, a grassroots advocacy center with the goal of unifying “all advocacy efforts that promote a comprehensive national high speed rail network.”
View this complete post...Guest on The Infra Blog: James Corless, Director, Transportation For America
Monday, August 2nd, 2010James Corless is the Director of Transportation for America, a coalition of over 400 organizations working to promote a new national transportation policy that’s smarter, safer, cleaner and provides more choice. Prior to Transportation for America, Mr. Corless was a senior planner for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the San Francisco Bay Area where he managed the agency’s efforts to promote smarter growth, transit-oriented development and mobility options for low-income communities. Mr. Corless was the author of California’s groundbreaking Safe Routes to School law and legislation that paved the way for smart growth “blueprints” to become part of the regional transportation planning process throughout the state.
View this complete post...State Transportation Reform: How Advocates Are Winning
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010TRI-STATE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN
As long as states are responsible for building and maintaining our country’s surface transportation system, they remain the central actors in transportation decision making and are the lynchpin for any lasting reform. The ability to influence policies, projects and spending decisions at the state level matters.
View this complete post...Transit Report: National State of Good Repair Assessment
Monday, July 26th, 2010FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
Roughly one-third of the nation’s transit assets (weighted by replacement value) are in either marginal or poor condition, implying that these assets are near or have already exceeded their expected useful life.
High-Speed Rail: Are We Going Fast Enough?
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010High-speed rail could be the most exciting development in transportation since the construction of our national highway system. America 2050, AASHTO, the United States Conference of Mayors and, of course, the Obama Administration are just a few of HSR’s many advocates. Construction is beginning soon in Florida, and other states and regions already have plans in the works. A national high-speed rail system is more attainable than ever, but will it come fast enough?
View this complete post...Follow InfrastructureUSA
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Dear Friends,
It is encouraging to finally see clear signs of federal action to support a comprehensive US infrastructure investment plan.
Now more than ever, our advocacy is needed to keep stakeholders informed and connected, and to hold politicians to their promises to finally fix our nation’s ailing infrastructure.
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Steve Anderson
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SteveAnderson@InfrastructureUSA.org
917-940-7125