Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Rail

White House Awards $2.3B for California High-Speed Rail

By Elana Schor | Jan 28, 2010 | 6 Comments

California’s bid for a federal high-speed rail network with top speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour is often called the "only true" bullet train proposal on the table — and the Obama administration agreed today, bestowing $2.34 billion on the Golden State to the delight of lawmakers and rail advocates. The largest share of the […]

Bus vs. Rail: Transit’s Quiet Culture Clash?

By Elana Schor | Dec 14, 2009 | 3 Comments

The question of running buses or building rail has preoccupied transit planners in many an American town, with Maryland’s Montgomery County being the latest locality to choose between trains and bus rapid transit (BRT), which tends to be the less expensive option. Bogota’s Transmilenio BRT has won praise for its roomy coaches and well-designed stations. […]

Conservative Tea Party Movement Targets Florida Rail Plan

By Elana Schor | Dec 4, 2009 | 2 Comments

The conservative "tea party" movement, last seen complaining about the government-funded local transit system that they took during an anti-government march in Washington D.C, is veering back to form in Florida with an organized protest against the state’s proposal for broad new investments in rail transit. The "Tea Party" is now a registered political party […]

Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express, and the Future of Privately Run Transit

By Elana Schor | Nov 4, 2009 | No Comments

Virginia Railway Express (VRE), the commuter network that links northwest Virginia to Washington D.C., today refused a challenge by Amtrak to its decision to switch operating providers to the U.S. arm of Keolis, a private French transit company. Chicago’s earliest rail transit line, pictured here, was run by a private company. (Photo: Franzosenbusch Project) Although […]

Buffett’s Bet on Burlington: What Does it Mean for Transport and Energy?

By Elana Schor | Nov 3, 2009 | 2 Comments

The financial world was riveted this morning by billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s move to take full ownership of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad, a $34 billion deal that ranks as the largest ever executed by Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett (Photo: Redfin) But what does Buffett’s purchase mean for the nation’s energy […]

Boxer Reminds Metrolink: Train Crew Members Shouldn’t Ride Solo

By Elana Schor | Sep 18, 2009 | 2 Comments

The transportation spending bill passed by the Senate this week includes $50 million in rail safety grants sought in June by environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) — but the bill may not become law for months, and today Boxer told California’s Metrolink commuter rail that interim safety protections would have to stay in place. Flickr photo: ProKelly This […]

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