Light Rail, Tramway & Streetcar news from America

The Cardinal has posted a number of news articles on European Light Rail & Tramway developments in the past month; now from the US comes news of two new transit scheme initiatives and developments on a third. Washington DC Streetcars on track for return to D.C. Washington Post 15 February 2011 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/15/streetcars-on-track-for-return-to-dc/   Czech built Skoda Inekon […]

A city committed to tram-trains

Kassel’s tram-train system has transformed public transport in the region. With other cities starting to take an interest in the concept, it is no wonder people from around the world are making the journey to central Germany. Report from the Light Rail Transit Association [LRTA] published in the January 2010 edition of Tramways & Urban […]

Istanbul & Hafif Tram/Light Rail news

Low-floor trams in service as Istanbul extension testing begins Railway Gazette 20 February 2011 http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/low-floor-trams-in-service-as-istanbul-extension-testing-begins.html TURKEY: The Mayor of Istanbul attended a ceremony on February 3 marking the entry into service of the first 14 of 37 Citadis trams being supplied by Alstom Transport. The remainder will enter traffic in the coming weeks. The ai??i??73m […]

UK Government confirms local transport project funding

Railway Gazette  04 February 2011 http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/government-confirms-local-transport-project-funding.html UK: Following a review which has brought a 14% reduction in the total cost, on February 4 the Department for Transport confirmed the allocation of funding that will enable nine rail and other local transport projects to go ahead. Additional schemes have been invited to bid for funding which […]

Twin Cities’ light-rail project with Congress

Federal grant agreement sent to Congress for Twin Cities' light-rail project from ProgressiveRailroading.com 2 February 2011 http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article/Federal-grant-agreement-sent-to-Congress-for-Twin-Cities-lightrail-project–25683 The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has sent a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) to Congress for the proposed $957 million Central Corridor Light-Rail Transit Project that would link downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. A 60-day review will […]

Streetcars to roll back into New Orleans

From the Tyee.ca http://thetyee.ca/ http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Transportation/2011/02/01/Streetcars-roll-back-into-New-Orleans/index.html Vancouver canai??i??t hold a candle to New Orleans when it comes to food or music. And now the Terminal City is trailing the Big Easy in the Greenest City category as well. Buildings and transportation each account for roughly half of community greenhouse gas emissions. The Lower Ninth Ward is […]

Slowly New Orleans is growing back into a proper network.

Streetcar service along Rampart, St. Claude is getting a green light Tuesday, January 25, 2011 The Times – Picayune http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/streetcar_service_along_rampar.html More than 20 years after transit officials began exploring the idea of bringing streetcar service to Faubourg Marigny, Treme and St. Roch via the North Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue corridor, the project is […]

Hudson-Bergen extension opens in New Jersey

Railway Gazette 01 February 2011 http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/hudson-bergen-extension-opens-in-new-jersey.html Ai??USA: A 1Ai??6 km extension of the Hudson-Bergen light rail line south from the former terminus at 22nd Street to a new stop at Eighth Street in Bayonne opened on January 31. The ribbon-cutting was attended by US Senator Robert Menendez, Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith and New Jersey Transit […]

Alexandria Mitchell: The BC Transit Future

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTCw9hmwQD8 Well said!

Delta Politicians Mull Leaving TransLink

As predicted, the South Fraser municipality of Delta is mulling over the proposal to leave TransLink. Delta is the first, but if TransLink doesn't change its current very expensive metro only policy, then providing second rate transit services for customers, then more South Fraser municipalities will contemplate leaving. If TransLink stopped being devious and actually told […]