J.J. Eden

U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveils roadmap with guidance on how to launch high-speed rail project June 17, 2024 The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions. The U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveiled a roadmap with guidance on how to launch a high-speed rail project. The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions.  “High-speed rail lines are complex megaprojects with unique challenges,” said Bernard Cohen, senior advisor for planning and operations at Alternate Concepts Inc., as well as former Massachusetts Department of Transportation secretary and the principal author of the roadmap. “We’ve created a practical guide that demystifies what’s involved in launching a new high-speed rail project.”  The report, “High-Speed Rail Projection Initiation: A Roadmap for Advocates”, focuses on five key building blocks of success:   Organization   Technical planning   Strategic engagement   Project funding   Compelling communications  The report argues that long-term, strategic advocacy campaigns are required to launch new high-speed projects. When designing campaigns, advocates must be fully aware of potential pitfalls, as well as likely sources of support and opposition.    The roadmap notes that a recent survey by Public Policy Polling for the Coalition found that 72 percent of U.S. registered voters support the creation of a nationwide high-speed rail network in the U.S. According to Ezra Silk, political director of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition, a major goal of the report is to help build a grassroots movement for a national high-speed rail network.  “Launching high-speed rail involves technical experts but you don’t need to be a transportation planner to take the lead in bringing high-speed rail to your community,” Silk said. “Millions of Americans want high-speed rail and this report will help give them the tools they need to turn their bullet train dreams into reality.”  The roadmap was designed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In May, the 600,000-member union announced a voluntary recognition agreement with Siemens Mobility to represent workers who will build the trainsets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas, Nev., to southern California by 2028. 

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The AAR Policy and Economics Department has released Rail Industry Overview, a new complimentary monthly report that offers “quick insights into what rail traffic says about today’s economy and where the data suggest it could be headed”: https://lnkd.in/etQRTmf5

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Over the past 20 years, the adoption of CBTC in urban transit has accelerated significantly. Today, the debate is no longer about whether to implement CBTC or conventional signaling, but rather which type of CBTC to choose. But first, what exactly is CBTC? I wrote this article to provide the IEEE definition of CBTC.

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A milestone in H2 bus deployment: JIVE 1 project concludes with crucial advances Read More: https://ow.ly/Rurb50SQAl4 #transportation #hydrogen #fuelcells

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"Governance" is a wonky word, but what it really raises are values like "responsiveness," "customer service," "accountability, "and "efficiency," as well as issues like "who decides" and "who gets served." Those are the real stakes Chicagoland and the SF Bay Area need to address as they work to finally remedy the governance fragmentation that has inhibited improvement of public transit for their residents. Outright "consolidation" may or may not be the right answer - the right answer needs to be identified not in terms of form, but in terms of optimized outcomes for the public. https://lnkd.in/esmZ34e4

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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. DOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center have released the "Strategic Transit Automation Research Plan 2.0: 2023-2028," outlining the future of transit bus automation. This report highlights the significant advancements and ongoing efforts in driving automation systems for public transportation. Read the full report here: FTA Report No. 0264 - https://lnkd.in/gvPF5-VF We are proud to see Perrone Robotics referenced in the report, reflecting our active role in various innovative projects aimed at enhancing transit services with automated vehicle technologies. #TransitAutomation #AutonomousVehicles #PublicTransportation #Innovation

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Here’s an interesting article on the complexities of funding transit systems in the US. I often get asked by international colleagues about how transit systems are funded in the US. Capital transit projects are mostly funded by grants from the Federal Transit Administration , which is mostly from ‘fuel tax’. The operational cost of running transit systems are funded locally from passenger revenue , and local taxes. The exception to this are a handful of small cities, who still receive grants from the Feds for operating their transit systems. Since the cost recovery on public transit systems are quite low in the US, many cities rely heavily on local taxes, an example of which could be sales tax. To put into perspective, cost recovery can be as low as 10% in some agencies. So when cost of operations is so heavily subsidized, one could argue why not make the system ‘free’? But that’s a discussion for another day. Following the outbreak of the pandemic which resulted in decline in ridership and by extension, pax revenues, the FTA provided funds to support local transit agencies. This funding has since stopped, but yet, pax ridership is yet to recover. Inevitably, agencies have had to cut services due to inadequate funding and revenue. The challenge with this sort of institutional arrangement, as highlighted in this article, is that we could be faced with the situation whereby agencies receive federal funding to build infrastructure that they wouldn’t be able to operate or maintain because there are no federal funds to support operations/maintenance of local transit systems. Also, as the transition to zero-emission vehicles increases, less taxes will be collected by the federal govt from ‘fuel’. And this will further impact how much money is available to fund public transit infrastructure; and of course put more pressure on states/local authorities to be more creative in how they raise revenue. #publictransport

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🌉 Discover the ripple effects of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore and the critical role of traffic data analytics in managing urban mobility challenges. From analyzing shifts in traffic patterns to exploring alternative routes, this article delves into the complexities of navigating unforeseen traffic disruptions. Gain insights into how data analytics can inform strategic decision-making and help shape the future of transportation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7DbTSv9

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"The US is experiencing a critical influx of capital into public transit... the industry is now racing to catch up. However, this urgency has led to inefficiencies and waste in the procurement of rolling stock and infrastructure development." — Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, President of Icomera North America In the US, many agencies have deferred asset renewal for decades, and now face significant gaps in current knowledge and experience for procuring new products and technologies. At the American Public Transportation Association Rail Conference, we sat down with Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, President of Icomera North America, to explore strategies for maximizing the impact of modern-day investments in rail. Read the interview here: https://lnkd.in/e4Eae4Hp #Rail #USA #APTA #Icomera #Investment

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In hot weather, monitoring rail temperature alone is not sufficient to ensure railway safety! Make sure to explore our new "TempTrac" system. https://lnkd.in/e-6Dt52v. Network Rail, TRACCS Transit & Rail Association, Rail Live. This week, we began the process of bringing our customers on board to our new “FTS Cloud Connect” System. It provides real-time data and alerts accessible from any desktop or smartphone, no matter where you are. So what are the key features of our patented system? ✅ Rail Temp Monitoring ✅ Track Bed Temp Monitoring ✅ Ambient Temp Monitoring ✅ Rail Creep/Buckle/Kink (with direction) ✅ Key inputs-Rail size, RNT, tie & track type. ✅ Cloud - Dashboard ✅ Real-Time Data with Alerts What implications does this have for rail and transit? ✳️ The most precise and forward-looking analytics in real-time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Peter M. Bartek, GMP, FTS Tools

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Ridership is returning to pre-pandemic levels and it’s important to remember safety first. As developers build and expand, it’s cost effective to consider the implications of working near rail lines and having to coordinate with the railroads. There are 7 major railroads in the U.S. and more than 500 short lines, which means over 150,000 miles of track with approximately 210,000 at-grade crossings. UNICUS Consulting can save you time and money when planning your next project or if problems have developed during current operations. We coordinate between the government, railroads, and developers to streamline the complicated and often confusing process of permitting, diagnostics, and project management. We are eager to make your lives easier!

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Check out useful resources on how to get started with Vissim and the more advanced how-to videos and webinars.

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Agree or Disagree? FREQUENCY is better than FREE to drive increased #transit use, and low income ticket programs are a better way to make transit more accessible and to create mobility and opportunity without the unwanted secondary issues from #FareFreeTransit, such as social problems moving onto the vehicle making travel unwelcoming and the reduction of revenue making higher frequency service unaffordable. https://lnkd.in/eqAvHGXD

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