Heineken wrote: We spew vast clouds of greenhouse gases just trying to fight global warming.
I know that some of the initiatives (like the sadly overdue fixup of the nation's wrecked passenger-rail system)
Michael Baker also was instrumental in SEPTA’s RailWorks Mainline Improvement Program that involved the complete reconstruction of 4.5 miles of SEPTA's four-track, elevated commuter rail corridor in North Philadelphia. Our team focused on the bridge rehabilitations, civil construction, and associated rail and catenary structure work, and included the replacement or rehabilitation of 25 street crossing bridges, replacement of all electrical and track components at interlockings; replacement of track with eight miles of new, continuous-welded rail, ties and ballast; complete construction of a new station at Temple University; replacement of four miles of overhead catenary wire and rehabilitation of catenary structures and installation of more than 10 miles of new signal cables to link trains with control centers at Wayne Junction and Market East.
Newfie wrote:Heineken wroteI know that some of the initiatives (like the sadly overdue fixup of the nation's wrecked passenger-rail system)
Unfortunately that is exactly the kind if Green Washing waste you note later in your post.
The wee bit I read of the proposal it merely extends passenger service over other companies rail lines to new towns. It also gives some money to the NEC. But not enough to fix anything substantial, just more of the idiotic “capital maintenance” program.
It would have been very moderately helpful if concentrated on the NEC.
Endless studies have shown that extending low capacity train ridership over existing lines is very energy INefficient. The ridership does not justify the investment, nor does it save any CO2.
It is the same with running a 40 passenger bus 10pm and with 3 passengers, very inefficient.
We need more agility.
What it effectively does is spread money to congressional districts. Plunder.
Alfred Tennyson wrote:We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Tanada wrote:I have taken the Amtrak round trip from Toledo twice, once to Boston and once to Washington D.C. On both trips the departure and arrival schedule was awful departing in OH Dark Thirty and arriving back in late evening. IMO one of the biggest reason for low ridership on passenger service is how things are run, Toledo has count them, 2 departures both in the early AM and two arrivals late in the evening. Well technically if you are headed west the two late evening trains are departures and the two very AM trains are arrivals but no matter which direction you travel the timing is bad and the costs are about the same as flying in many cases, for which you can get a more conveniently timed flight to boot.
Outcast_Searcher wrote:It reminds me of the bus service in my city. On the outskirts the buses run infrequently and are unreliable re being on time. And sometimes to save time the bus drivers cut X blocks off the route, screwing anyone waiting for the bus, randomly, where they take such shortcuts. And then you have needing to switch buses downtown for many routes, which can be quite slow, so it can easily take HOURS of hassle for an unreliable trip, vs. 15 to 30 minutes, very reliably and comfortably by car.
… In a big city, such a system can be pretty decent if there are LOTS of buses or subway trains or combinations, to make it a reasonable deal in terms of time and money. (And of course, some cities screw that up like NYC and the horrible subway system re both reliability and cost).
JuanP wrote:Ridership is up big time, though, mostly because a lot of people can't afford to own a car, particularly millennials and retirees.
Additionally, of the respondents who do not own a car, 42% responded it was due to financial reasons, but 58% said it was because they do not need to own one.
Outcast_Searcher wrote:Public transport is often depicted as reliable, clean, convenient, etc. in much of western Europe. Is this somewhat true, or just empty P.R. for folks living there with experience?
Newfie wrote:
So I am on a bus in St. Martin, the driver is a older gentleman. He is quiet, it would be easy to he dismissive of him. But as I sit there and listen to him interact with passengers, giving help and information, in a half hour he speaks: english, Spanish, french, dutch, and at least one creole dialect from Haiti.
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Ibon wrote:Newfie wrote:
So I am on a bus in St. Martin, the driver is a older gentleman. He is quiet, it would be easy to he dismissive of him. But as I sit there and listen to him interact with passengers, giving help and information, in a half hour he speaks: english, Spanish, french, dutch, and at least one creole dialect from Haiti.
.
Not to mention the glue this driver represents in the sense of community he instills. Self employed. Minimal bureaucracy. A drivers license approved for taxi service, a minivan, a small loan and presto, ready to go.
How many could you employ in the USA along those transportation nodes where Minivans would wait for passengers to depart from trains, metros, buses, monorails, etc?
You could employ millions.
Ibon wrote:How many could you employ in the USA along those transportation nodes where Minivans would wait for passengers to depart from trains, metros, buses, monorails, etc?
You could employ millions.
Ibon wrote:How many could you employ in the USA along those transportation nodes where Minivans would wait for passengers to depart from trains, metros, buses, monorails, etc?
You could employ millions.
Outcast_Searcher wrote:
Public transport is often depicted as reliable, clean, convenient, etc. in much of western Europe. Is this somewhat true, or just empty P.R. for folks living there with experience?
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