John Hennessy III,
P.E.
INFRA STORIES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS!
The Passengers Are Up and Running, But Are the Trains?
Move Over Venice, Kirkland Gets in the Gondola Game
South Carolina’s Legare Bridge Gets Pedestrian/Cyclist Friendly
Could Congress Find Common Ground On Complete Streets?
Coulda Wouda Shouda: The HSR Edition
Nashville is Growing, But is its Transit System?
Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 25, No. 2
Barely recovered from the damaging effects of the Sacramento Court ruling denying the California High Speed Rail Authority access to Prop 1A bond funding, the bullet train project has had to face fresh challenges.
Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 24, No. 17
The Sacramento Court’s November 25 decision denying the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) access to Proposition 1A bond funds (see our column of November 26) was the first in a series of setbacks suffered by the high speed rail project in recent days. The project was dealt another serious blow on November 26, when two influential members of Congress, Jeff Denham (R-CA), Chairman of the Railroads Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Tom Latham (R-IA), Chairman of the House Transportation Appropriation Subcommittee requested the General Accountability Office (GAO) to review the federal grant agreements with the Authority in light of the Court’s rulings.
Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 24, No. 16
The future of the California High Speed Rail project hangs in a precarious balance as a result of two rulings handed down by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny on November 25. “The Judge’s ruling will prevent the [California High-Speed Rail] Authority from spending bond measure funds for construction until the funding plan is brought into compliance,” said Michael Brady co- lead attorney on the case…The Authority’s Chairman, Dan Richard, tried to cast the Court decision in a more positive light. “The judge did not invalidate the bonds as approved by the voters,” he said. “Like all transformative projects, we understand that there will be many challenges that will be addressed as we go forward in building the nation’s first high-speed rail system.”
Joseph E. Shacter discusses the Illinois Department of Transportation’s work to improve rail service both in and around Illinois, as well as the challenges ahead in fostering public awareness of HSR benefits and overcoming cost barriers. Shacter also explains the significance of IDOT’s recently released “220-MPH High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study” that suggests that true high-speed rail could be on the horizon for the Midwest.
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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
In 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) unveiled a high speed rail vision for America that would complement existing transportation systems (e.g. highways, aviation, and regional and urban public transportation systems). These systems would span between 100 and 600 miles to safely, conveniently, and efficiently connect communities across America. They would create a foundation for economic growth in a more complex global economy, promote energy independence, improve safety and environmental quality, and foster livable communities. The U.S. DOT envisioned collaboration with the states to help plan and develop high speed rail in intercity passenger rail corridors.
California is one of the largest states in the US. It’s resident to more than 38 million people and as time forges ahead, it will continue to get bigger. Transport in California is already strained and with a growing population, the state faces a crisis in the coming decades. How can this transportation crisis within California be addressed? And how does High Speed Rail fit into this large, complex, equation? This documentary helps answers those questions and show how important High Speed Rail is to the future of California.
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Business and political leaders will come together with the world’s top experts to bring high speed rail to America. Construction is about to get underway on the first phase of the state-wide, 800-mile state-of-the-art transportation system set to revolutionize mobility. This new rail system will carry more than 100 million people each year once built out – saving time, money, energy, and lives daily for decades. Don’t miss it!
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UC BERKLEY: CENTER FOR LAW, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
UCLA: EMMETT CENTER ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
High speed rail could offer numerous benefits to California. According to proponents, the system can reduce the need for costly new highway and airport expansions in California’s congested short-haul air markets and crowded intercity freeways, which are some of the busiest and most delay-prone in the nation – potentially saving $170 billion over 20 years. High speed rail could also help the state’s economy by supporting more convenient and efficient travel as well as increasing traveler productivity.
Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 24, No. 12
The California High Speed Rail project was dealt a serious blow when Judge Michael P. Kenny of the Sacramento Superior Court ruled on August 16 that the California High-Speed Rail Authority “abused its discretion by approving a funding plan that did not comply with the requirements of the law.”
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