The final full week of 2014 was another winning one for U.S. freight rail traffic, and indeed for rail traffic throughout the three NAFTA nations, the Association of American Railroads reported Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014.
Fresno, Calif., will host groundbreaking ceremonies Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, marking the start of construction for California’s ambitious intrastate high speed rail system.
In New Orleans, Regional Transit Authority (RTA) officials say construction work will commence early in 2015 to extend streetcar service east from Canal Street through the famed French Quarter to St. Claude Avenue.
Washington, D.C.’s efforts to mimic Tucson, Ariz., and Atlanta by opening a new streetcar line during 2014 fell short as New Year’s Day approached.
Just beating a deadline vowed last April by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the 2.7-mile Atlanta Streetcar began passenger operations Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, fulfilling a pledge to begin service before the end of the year.
New Jersey interests, ranging from the mayors of Jersey City and Hoboken to the statewide rail passenger advocacy group, slammed a proposal slipped under the holiday weekend news radar by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PA) to consider several options downgrading PATH rapid transit service, which links New York and New Jersey urban points.
Seattle’s Sound Transit pre-emptively annulled train service Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, anticipating disruptions due to forecast heavy rain. Its action proved wise, as mudslides affected BNSF right-of-way, over which Sound Transit service runs.
The Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014 gave preliminary approval to Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to acquire “certain physical railroad assets” from Canaan, Conn.-based short line Housatonic Railroad Co., Inc.
Add Charleston, S.C., to the list of U.S. cities pondering reinstallation of streetcar service, at least on an unofficial level.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, that the 2.7-mile Atlanta streetcar line would be officially launched for service on Dec. 30, fulfilling a pledge by the mayor last April to open the line before the end of 2014.
