US Fed Funding Policy Heavily Favors Roads Over Transit – From the Light Rail Now Folks

Tipping the Playing Field: How America’s Federal Funding Policy Heavily Favors Roads Over Transit Susan Pantell with Light Rail Now Project Team Ai??Ai?? May 2009 It should come as no great surprise that the federal government gives substantially more financial support to roads than to transit. However, what’s really disturbing Ai??Ai?? especially in a new […]

Nordhausen – TramTrains for small towns

Nordhausen is a German cityAi??Ai??at the southern edge of the Harz Ai??Ai??mountains, in the state of Thuringia.Ai??Ai?? Nordhausen’s population is a very modest 44,272 andAi??Ai??with a population density of 421 /kmAi??A?, one would think that the town is just too small for light-rail butAi??Ai??has a metric gauge tramway networkAi??Ai??with 2 lines (7 km long, built […]

Lawned rights-of-ways = non-user friendly & green transit

In stark contrast to SkyTrain’s and RAV/Canada Line’s (in Richmond) ugly elevated concrete viaducts, Europe is greening their tram-lines. European transit authorities are lawning their tram routes, creating a park like atmosphere, which is further enhanced by trees, shrubbery and statuary. Tram lines, either ballast and tie on the ground or elevated on a viaduct […]

Brouhaha over bridge (Abbotsford Times)

This article in the Abbotsford Times today by Rafe Arnott (excerpt): Rail For The Valley spokesman John Buker said, “This is a seriously flawed project – with or without a private partner. “It seems the government has been hypnotized by this project, and wishes to plow ahead regardless of rapidly changing circumstances.” Buker said people […]

Premier Campbell & Kevin Falcon ‘flips the bird’ to the valley

Gordon Campbell, like all politicians, likes to monument build and with good ‘polling’ numbers has promised a ‘monumental’ 10 lane bridge with all the whistles and bangs to target the car driver in May’s provincial election.Ai??Ai?? The $3 billion plus mega bridge and highways project has nothing to do about good transportation or planning, rather […]

Abbotsford wants light rail

The Abbotsford public wants light rail! (didn’t we already know this?) And according to newspaper feedback, clearly there is a clamouring for the return of the interurban – AND WHY NOT – we could have an initial regular service, inexpensively, within 2 years. I think the public understands that the Interurban track is not “the […]

Friends of Rail for the Valley meeting in Chilliwack last night

Last night was great. There were about 20 of us, which could have made it a bit unwieldy and more difficult to get things done, but everyone was on the same page, people were focused and determined, and it was a great meeting. Most people who came were from Chilliwack, as well as a few […]

Rail for the Valley on CTV

John Vissers and Abbotsford councillor Lynne Harris did great on CTV. Check out the video here: