Author: Douglas John Bowen

San Antonio master plan eyes LRT, streetcars

San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit has adopted a master plan that includes adding both light rail transit and streetcar operations to its existing bus network. VIA Metro Transit’s Board unanimously approved the plan Tuesday, July 26, 2011.

DART submits streetcar plan to feds

Dallas Area Rapid Transit says it as submitted plans to the federal government updating Dallas’ proposed Oak Cliff streetcar line, linking downtown to the namesake neighborhood that, driven by citizen advocacy, has spearheaded the project.

Providence, R.I., next to ponder streetcar

Officials and planners in Providence, R.I., will seek $50 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding for an urban circulator, with streetcar the leading option at present.

Milwaukee doggedly pursues streetcar plan

Despite continuous opposition to rail transit of any kind from Milwaukee County and many state officials, the Milwaukee City Council’s steering committee July 14 approved a proposed $64.6 million streetcar route to serve the city’s downtown.

Blog report: Seattle streetcar ridership up

Seattle Transit Blog reports ridership on the 1.3-mile Seattle South Lake Union Streetcar (SLUS) continues to grow, despite criticism that the initial segment is too short and was doomed to struggle. The blog says ridership so far this month (July 1 through 9) has topped 3,000 per weekday.

21st century growth spurt for New York’s subways

Ongoing fiscal distress continues to roil New York’s subway operations, but system expansion literally is on a full bore. What does North America’s largest rapid transit property do for an encore? Get larger. After two decades of stagnation, New York City’s famed (and oft-maligned) subway system is adding underground mileage again.

New York looks to airport connections

NYC official: Newark Airport rail access is good for New York and the region!  It’s unlikely that New York City Transit will ever operate subway trains to or from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Metrolinx updates metro Toronto LRT plan

Officials from Greater Toronto’s Metrolinx Thursday provided an update of the planned Eglinton Avenue light rail line—now primarily to be placed in a subway tunnel—which includes renaming the route the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown.