tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.comments2024-03-13T17:18:05.207-04:00"Talking Transportation"JIM CAMERONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07619138540116037421noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-10173672188619321182024-02-25T13:00:56.484-05:002024-02-25T13:00:56.484-05:00The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) aims t...The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) aims to combat climate change through increased mass transit use, electric vehicles, and reduced fossil fuel consumption. Their recent poll showed public support for cleaner air and improved transportation. However, TCI's proposal, involving a gas tax hike and oil company taxes (cap and trade), faces challenges in implementation. The social justice aspect, given auto emissions' impact on urban minorities and COVID vulnerabilities, underscores the urgency of transitioning to sustainable, affordable, and inclusive transportation solutions, such as <a href="https://qryde.com/microtransit/" rel="nofollow">Microtransit software</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Qrydebyhbsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823916343952003800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-80333256086033848842024-02-25T12:46:11.138-05:002024-02-25T12:46:11.138-05:00"Unlocking local mobility, 'Wheels2U'..."Unlocking local mobility, 'Wheels2U' in Norwalk epitomizes the rise of microtransit. Akin to Uber and Lyft, this free, on-demand rideshare, operated by Norwalk Transit District, redefines convenience. Soon expanding to Westport and neighboring towns, <a href="https://qryde.com/microtransit/" rel="nofollow">Microtransit software</a> offers a mass-friendly alternative, transforming the way we navigate our communities."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Qrydebyhbsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823916343952003800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-71210339163571530202023-06-20T12:28:24.448-04:002023-06-20T12:28:24.448-04:00"Although there are only about 200 US vessels..."Although there are only about 200 US vessels that meet those “Jones Act” criteria, they all need crews."<br /><br />There are only 93 Jones Act-compliant deep-draft, oceangoing *ships* but there are many *thousands* of Jones Act-compliant *vessels* including tugboats, ferries, Great Lakes freighters, etc. Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-74689546859286689302022-12-20T11:55:53.763-05:002022-12-20T11:55:53.763-05:00Another interesting perspective: (edited for lengt...Another interesting perspective: (edited for length)<br /><br />MTA LIRR EAST SIDE ACCESS TO GRAND CENTRAL MADISON by Larry Penner.<br /><br />Who knew that there were three sets of Metropolitan Transportation Authority books for Long Island Rail Road East Side Access To Grand Central Terminal now known as Grand Central Madison? (Source: Tunnel Of Deceit The Billion-Dollar Tunnel Shim Sham by Clayton Guse, New York Daily News - October 16). One, internal within the MTA, a second to the Federal Transit Administration and a third to the MTA Board. <br /><br />MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, never shy around a microphone or camera, have never held a press conference to acknowledge that debt service payments for the cost of borrowing brings the true project cost to $12.2 billion. Debt service costs are buried under a separate agency operating budget. <br /><br />There is another set of books that includes over $4 billion more for indirect costs for what is known as LIRR readiness projects to support ESA service to Grand Central Madison. They take place east of the Woodside Harold Interlockings and are carried off line from the official project budget. These include the $2.6 billion Main Line Third Track, $450 million Jamaica Capacity Improvements, $387 million Ronkonkoma Double Track, $120 million Ronkonkoma Yard Expansion, $44 million Great Neck Pocket Track, $423 million for rail car fleet expansion and others that are necessary for implementation for ESA. Without these projects, the LIRR would lack the expanded operational capabilities to support both promised 24 rush hour train service to Grand Central Madison along with a 40% increase in reverse peak rush hour service. Any honest transportation project cost allocation plan would include these expenditures. This would bring the full true cost of ESA to $16.2 billion. MTA 's inability to provide a specific date for start of service to Grand Central Madison other than by the end of 2022 is dishonest. <br /><br />Each time the project has been delayed since 2006 from the agreed upon FFGA completion date of 2013,. the MTA has to keep its own Construction Management firm, Independent Engineering Project Management Oversight firm, Office of Capital Construction, LIRR Force Account and other employees on the payroll assigned to ESA for nine more years than originally forecasted in 2006. How much has all of this cost the MTA during the life of this project?<br /><br />This weeks announcement that the LIRR will start shuttle service to Grand Central Madison Is putting Lipstick on a Pig. Once again, the MTA has left coal in the stockings of commuters. Every Christmas, since 2011 the MTA has failed to initiate the promised East Side Access to Grand Central Madison service. The original Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment New Starts Full Funding Grant Agreement to MTA was approved in 2006. <br /><br />When it comes to East Side Access, the LIRR 1960's motto "Line of the Dashing Dan" should be changed to "Line of the Slow Moving Sloth." There will still be outstanding work remaining, when service begins to Grand Central Madison. How many of the 72 ESA contracts have already been or will be closed out by December 2022? Many contracts will still the need completion of all contract punch list items (to insure the contractors built the asset to meet design and engineering contract specifications), receipt of all asset maintenance manuals for any project components worth $5,000 or more under each of the remaining open contracts, payments for outstanding bills, and release of contract retainage to contractors. <br /><br />Was investing $12.2 billion in direct costs for ESA worth it? The verdict is still out. Time will tell if commuters and taxpayers will see all of the benefits from this project promised by elected officials, MTA and LIRR Presidents.<br /><br />(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. <br /><br />lwpenner@aol.comJim Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994650946406370975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-17071816748392624812022-12-20T11:34:32.697-05:002022-12-20T11:34:32.697-05:00Won’t Penn Station access require specifically out...Won’t Penn Station access require specifically outfitted Metro-North cars because of ‘third rail’ issues ?<br />My understanding is that Metro-North contacts the underside of the third rail, while LIRR contacts the top of the third rail.<br />How will that work for this routing ?<br /><br />Also, will this new interface allow Long Island residents to commute to CT stations directly, or via a train change @ New Rochelle ?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05866643883803355645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-23730089632765810262022-10-20T15:05:50.042-04:002022-10-20T15:05:50.042-04:00Fully agree about the speeds needing improvement. ...Fully agree about the speeds needing improvement. My commute to Stratford is about 15 minutes longer than it used to be. As I understand on time performance, it is based on arrival at the last stop of the run, and ignores the intermediate stops. A lot of the scheduled trains have buffers in the schedule between the 2nd to last stop and the last stop in particular look at the late. night trains to new haven. 20 minutes scheduled between west haven and new haven1Brian Munroehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09584461388850568621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-57891780894109798622022-08-15T16:00:02.537-04:002022-08-15T16:00:02.537-04:00Excellent but one question: what the toll crossing...Excellent but one question: what the toll crossing the Tappan Zee back then?<br /><br />Bill VitkaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12170045375412780226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-19062529936089082932022-01-17T13:55:10.933-05:002022-01-17T13:55:10.933-05:00I saw some in Japan. They looked FABULOUS!I saw some in Japan. They looked FABULOUS!beatricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08609807201164501609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-59033638874924082142022-01-17T12:03:19.187-05:002022-01-17T12:03:19.187-05:00William Malone of New Canaan writes:
The night sl...William Malone of New Canaan writes:<br /><br />The night sleepers from Washington to Boston were significant contributions<br />to our government, in that they permitted John Dunlap and other professors from<br />Harvard to commute from Boston to Washington. I used to make weekly trips from <br />Washington to New York, although in later years crime on the track level at Penn Station<br />meant that sleeper passengers had to check in with the station master, who walked them to <br />the locked sleeper car. The Mountaineers enable passengers to ride between Montreal<br />and Vancouver on equipment bought from the Canadian National, and then passengers<br />are put up in the grand railroad hotels en route so as to benefit from the scenery in daylight.<br /><br />Several days a week the Mountaineer was extended south to Seattle, where it <br />connected with an AMTRAK sleeper to Sacramento and then to Chicago and then the <br />Lake Shore Limited to Boston and Penn Station. One of the more interesting sleeper<br />runs was the three-days-a-week Cardinal from Penn Station to Chicago via the late<br />Harley Staggers’ district in West Virginia. In June reservations were hard to get because<br />every little mountain town it stopped at had a college which brought back alumni for<br />commencement. AMTRAK’s lack of marketing sense was demonstrated by their<br />substitution of boxed meals for chefs and cloth tablecloths in the dining cars east of<br />the Mississippi. I can’t speak to the Florida runs, although my neighbors minimized their<br />exposure to Covid by taking a sleeper to and from Florida. A few years ago I bicycled <br />between Miami and Key West along the Flagler scenic right-of-way, which would have been<br />a great way to travel until the hurricane of 1935.<br /><br /><br />malone@alum.mit.eduJim Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994650946406370975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-475809411211794632022-01-11T12:16:50.686-05:002022-01-11T12:16:50.686-05:00Bravo JIm. Common sense raises its ugly head! The ...Bravo JIm. Common sense raises its ugly head! The Japanese knew this 50-70 years ago,,,their most desirable houses and property are nearest the train stations.Rebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164285960157275523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-81143916253631661012021-12-21T09:53:11.714-05:002021-12-21T09:53:11.714-05:00Dense bamboo forests along our our highways would ...Dense bamboo forests along our our highways would not cost much, would mitigate the<br />noise, would clean up the carbon dioxide, and would add beauty to our environment.beatricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08609807201164501609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-22835663499488376112021-10-11T17:54:35.327-04:002021-10-11T17:54:35.327-04:00For me, it comes down to how I use my time. Do I ...For me, it comes down to how I use my time. Do I stare at tail-lights? Or do I relax and get work done. I know I'll arrive refreshed if I take the train, and while it takes longer than driving, the amount of time I throw away is a lot, lot less. Christopher Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16947034888487890485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-44805696622057328702015-12-15T12:17:33.285-05:002015-12-15T12:17:33.285-05:00Subject: re: "It's all about transportati...Subject: re: "It's all about transportation"<br /> <br />Mr. Cameron-<br /> <br />I have been for some time an engaged reader of your Commentary in The Darien Times and more recently in CTMirror, finding them informative and suitably cynical about apparent and undeniable gross mismanagement from Hartford. Your effort of December 10, however, was truly misguided and way off base. I do get and agree with your basic theme that transportation failures negatively affect both the local economy and quality of life. But you then, for some reason, conflate matters of effective provision of a fundamental and universally available public service with very fuzzy and highly arguable questions of social policy — food justice (whatever that means) and affordable housing. These are “problems” with many variables, of which transportation is likely among the lowest order.<br /> <br />Consider the following “reactions” to the content of your latest Commentary:<br /> <br />— It’s actually pretty amazing that 33% of Greenwich public employees live in Greenwich. As early as 1980, I recognized that likely I would never be able to afford to live in Greenwich (where my wife grew up), even though we both possessed a graduate degree and a very desirable job. That said, like Fairfield County taken as a whole, Greenwich does offer a wide range of housing options. <br /> <br />— Is there any logical reason why a town employee should live in the town in which they work? Should each and every town offer (be required to offer?) the complete vertical slice of housing options? Should some residents subsidize the housing choices of others? As recently as the 1980s and 1990s, Darien among others was a so-called bedroom community. The vast majority of wage earning residents worked somewhere else, esp. New York City. Despite the fact that there are more office workers in Darien and neighboring towns today, I submit that most all residents still work somewhere other than where they live.<br /> <br />— What is an appropriate commute time? and who should decide? Obviously, anyone doing the Darien-GCT train run is putting in 2x one hour every day, Greenwich-GCT is 2x 40 minutes at best. And maybe add on up to 2x 1/2 hour if that commuter goes down town or cross town. How does this compare with your “even worse” case of the Greenwich EMT worker?<br /> <br />— Isn’t housing a personal choice? based on the tradeoff between cost, community, distance? People make all kinds of sacrifices to live where they want/can given their career opportunities. Should those choosing to accept long commutes in order to best provide for their families be asked to subsidize others so that that other might cut,say, 15 minutes off his commute?<br /> <br />This is just the way life is, and it’s not unique to Fairfield County or dysfunctional Connecticut. For 30 years I philosophically endured an each way train+subway commute of 1-3/4 hours; my wife continues with an each way train+walking of 1-1/4 hours. In Northern Virginia my daughter drives 1 to 1-1/2 hours each way, depending on traffic. Like I said, it’s just the way it is, balancing variables to do what’s necessary. <br /> <br />For the future, I strongly recommend that you stick to transportation, a subject upon which you have an excellent vantage point and lengthy experience. Leave the social policy questions and arguments to the disingenuous politicians, do-gooders, and subsidy seekers.<br /> <br />Sincerely,<br /> <br />John S. Neff<br />DarienAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725208587095228012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-81951660464601184882015-11-10T16:02:39.240-05:002015-11-10T16:02:39.240-05:00The McClutchy (sp) donations to the Democratic par...<br />The McClutchy (sp) donations to the Democratic party are really quite stunning - pay to play. Unbelievable. There are a lot of constitutional issues with the State's grab to control all development within a quarter mile of the station. That is legally absurd. This goes to show the mendacity of our elected officials. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-81825681795435034942015-11-10T07:33:14.440-05:002015-11-10T07:33:14.440-05:00Yesterday, upon return with luggage from overseas,...Yesterday, upon return with luggage from overseas, I found all entrances to the normal west end elevators blocked with plastic fences, and the only way to my car, a few yards away at the west end of the garage fourth floor, was to go to the farthest east end, take that elevator and walk back west up the ramps... ridiculous, and with minimal information, no way to treat paying monthly parkers...but we are now used to it... by the way, you cant do it now because of the fences, but if you went to the fourth floor crossing spot from the new garage to the old one, as you turn left onto the old fourth level, heading towards the bridge to the concourse, and you look down at your feet, there is a small 1 1/2" hole through which you can see the floor below.. what is amazing is the extraordinary thin-ness of the concrete on which you are standing! not very encouraging given the wear and tear so visible around you...<br />this is a horrible example of municipal incompetence and low grade construction threatening citizen welfare... and who is held responsible?lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345015457200289565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-31345479184317702342015-11-09T21:25:46.104-05:002015-11-09T21:25:46.104-05:00The Stamford RR Garage Saga is completely on Stamf...The Stamford RR Garage Saga is completely on Stamford Mayor, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy's watch (and those that voted for Malloy to serve as Mayor and Governor.) That includes the $165,000 contributed to the State Democratic Central Committee.Richard Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088194526801862926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-53371199870173944812015-09-24T18:06:59.899-04:002015-09-24T18:06:59.899-04:00I agree with Mr. Senserrich. I fail to see how tra...I agree with Mr. Senserrich. I fail to see how train horns help stop grade crossing accidents when there are flashing lights and gates in action. The big secret is that the majority of "accidents" are suicides and the train horn blaring away at all hours wouldn't have made a difference. It does however lower people's property values, wake children from their naps, and prevent some adults from ever getting a good night's sleep. But hey, they should have moved somewhere else, right?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545576863573649253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-74310655182248713832015-08-17T22:18:33.603-04:002015-08-17T22:18:33.603-04:00Your boy Malloy, or "asphalt man" has a ...Your boy Malloy, or "asphalt man" has a plan; add highway and bus highway lanes everywhere in a state with 0.23% population growth (or 5,000 people per year) as well as a multi-use trail along the Merritt Parkway. It's not a question of how to fund Malloy's road building mania, it's a question of how to deal a death blow to Malloy's 1960's style highway plan.Richard Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088194526801862926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-54829781146377961632015-07-20T10:50:50.170-04:002015-07-20T10:50:50.170-04:00Do you remember the guy who rigged his EZPass to a...Do you remember the guy who rigged his EZPass to a cow toy, so every time it was read the cow would make a mooing noise?<br />http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/E-ZPass-Tracking-Cow-Midtown-NYC--224402051.htmlmtaHarlemLinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439374985165395928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-87714290495765838092015-04-23T12:31:35.401-04:002015-04-23T12:31:35.401-04:00Here's an update from Time Magazine:
http://t...Here's an update from Time Magazine:<br /><br />http://time.com/money/3829564/jetblue-mint/<br />JIM CAMERONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619138540116037421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-28279271350975959782015-04-17T11:14:31.847-04:002015-04-17T11:14:31.847-04:00I've just been reading the last three comments...I've just been reading the last three comments on your blog and am struck by how they relate.<br /><br />Your previous post had you saying you would happily pay a bit more than $500 for a lovely transcontinental flight. I'm struck by how similar that amount is to the annual bill for Governor Molloy's transportation plan. Would you happily pay that amount for a really measurable boost in your local transportation experience? <br /><br />Of course it all comes down to the value of what you get under the Governor's plan, but I can't help being struck by the parallel here between the two posts. It seems that - for you - this is an amount of money worth paying *when the benefit is real*. <br /><br />In the post before that one you write about transit oriented development. In this post you ask where the money is coming from for this plan . . . I think you have one answer in the transit oriented development post. In some places, transit is paid entirely by adjunct development.Christopher Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16947034888487890485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-27619334141176674372015-04-13T16:04:42.198-04:002015-04-13T16:04:42.198-04:00That was, of course, supposed to say "checked...That was, of course, supposed to say "checked bag" and not "checked back." Though I did forget that Southwest also allows one free bag... at least for now.mtaHarlemLinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439374985165395928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-37754866105292152642015-04-13T16:03:40.095-04:002015-04-13T16:03:40.095-04:00He must have a money tree on his lawn. I'd lik...He must have a money tree on his lawn. I'd like one too.mtaHarlemLinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439374985165395928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-84950170918183489992015-04-01T11:45:32.011-04:002015-04-01T11:45:32.011-04:00Sadly, Jet Blue is going the way of everyone else....Sadly, Jet Blue is going the way of everyone else... they were the only airline letting you still fly with one free checked back. They announced back in December that sometime mid this year that would end.mtaHarlemLinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439374985165395928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12900368.post-76840587217749618082015-03-16T21:50:24.160-04:002015-03-16T21:50:24.160-04:00"The Little Pink House" coming to a CT p..."The Little Pink House" coming to a CT property near YOU! Revenge is very important to politicians...Dennziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00726033664902104274noreply@blogger.com