Canucks Don’t Do Light Rapid Transit
Certainly, Canada doesn’t do urban, interurban & regional rail based LRT, It used to be that the US was the most intransigent, obdurate & reactionary nation in the western world as far as transit, but the past ten years have seen a massive expansion of Light Rail, LRT, Tramways & Streetcar systems in America […]
TramTrain – A lesson in Urban, Interurban and regional transportation implementation
Quality integrated public transportation planning & implementation is an eminence which is in short supply in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley And BC as a whole, due in part to the narrow vision of Translink & the BC government. Translink & their advocates, exhibit a worrying arrogance; Vancouver-centric planning Blind determination to continue the expansion of […]
Myth: Viable public transport requires high population densities
Common Urban Myths About Transport Myth: Viable public transport requires high population densities Fact: Public transport runs successfully in many cities with similar or lower population densities than Melbourne. Any city with sufficient population density to cause traffic congestion has sufficient population to support a first-rate public transport alternative. This is probably the most widely […]
Some Facts To Counter The Myths About Higher Density
Ai?? Ai??Reconnecting America http://reconnectingamerica.org/ Development & Redevelopment, Economic Development And TOD, Research, Smart Growth & Sprawl, Transit Supportive Density, urban, Urban Form http://reconnectingamerica.org/news-center/half-mile-circles/2012/some-facts-to-counter-the-myths-about-higher-density/ A 2005 report “Some Facts To Counter The Myths About Higher Density,” authored by theAi??Urban Land Institute along with the National Multi Housing Council, Sierra Club and the American Institute of Architects, […]
More trams for Montpelier
The following happier transit news for Montpelier, is courtesy of David Cockle. As the SkyTrain lobby still dream a Luddites dream of the world being flat and everyone builds with SkyTrain, more light rail is being built in France. Why is France so important, you ask? Well France also has a proprietary light-metro system, called […]
Opening of Reims Light Rail/Tramway system
On April 16th the 11.2 kmAi??Ai?? Light Rail/tramway in the city of Reims, in the French region of Champagne-Ardenne was opened with much publicity. Reims is the twenty secondAi??Ai??of the new generationAi??Ai??of tramways to be opened in France since 1986 http://champagne-ardenne.france3.fr/evenements/Inauguration-tramway-reims/ Ai??Ai?? Details on the following sites: http://www.tramwaydereims.fr/start.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reims_tramway http://www.subways.net/france/reims.html Ai??Ai??
Pushing a wooden stake through the heart of darkness
I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky–seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." – Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness It has not been a very good […]
Comparing Light Rail, Bus and Subway Costs
Two reports on Canadian Light Rail systems The following link is to a report published in 2006 by Calagary Transit Light Rail Transit in Calgary http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Calgarys_LRT_1st_25Years_TRB_revised.pdf Currently, the average hourly operating cost of LRT is approximately $163, including operating, maintenance and utility costs. With an average of 600 boarding passengers per revenue operating hour, the […]
Allez le Tram, the Politics & Financing of the French Tram
The Cardinal has reported on the success of French Light Rail/Tramways, regularly on the Rail for the Valley blog. In this article the history, development, style, politics & importantly financing will be outlined. With a light rail renewal France has gone full steam ahead to become a leader in technological design and leading style. Howard […]
Light Rail Transit, LRT or Tram-Train
Tram and train used to be two entirely different public transport systems. Tram served shorter (read: urban) distances. Train served longer (read: regional) distances. But the difference between city and region has disappeared in much of Europe. The difference between tram and regional rail is blurring as well. A new generation of light rail transit […]




Recent Comments