US Light Rail news
Summary from Trains News Wire:
Feds fund more streetcars and light rail
Published: January 21, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Federal Transit Authority, a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, announced that it had signed agreements to fund five rail transit projects on Friday. The grant includes funds for a unique light rail project in Detroit.
The projects include refinements and expansions of streetcar lines in Portland, Ore., and New Orleans; new modern streetcar services in Dallas and in Tucson, Ariz.; and a new light rail line for Detroit. Funds came from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) fund, part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The project in Detroit is unique for its public-private partnership. Local and regional businesses have formed a consortium called M1 Rail, Inc., which will help fund and construct the line. The route consists of an initial 3.4 mile line with twelve stations located along Woodward Avenue. The street is notable in transportation history, being the first to be paved in concrete and the first street to utilize modern traffic signals. Eventually, the line is planned to reach 9.3 miles in length, connecting downtown Detroit to the Michigan State Fairgrounds.
Detroit
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/15/smallbusiness/detroit_m1_light_rail/index.htm
http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_12292.html New Orleans
Tucson http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_12291.html
Dallas http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_12290.html
Portland http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_12289.html
Portland LRV