Rail News
February 16, 2009: MSNBC "Stimulus Could Give Calif. High-Speed Rail"
Submitted by VHSR on February 16, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsSuddenly, the state of California may have moved even closer to getting high-speed rail.
The California Public Interest Research group hailed news on Thursday that billions of dollars in President Barack Obama's recently passed stimulus plan could be used to pay for the state's new high-speed rail system.
Congress added $9.3 billion in the American Reinvestment and Economic Recovery Act for development of high-speed rail and other intercity rail throughout the U.S.
February 16, 2009: WSLS "VDOT finalizes revised 6-year transportation plan, after $2 billion in cuts"
Submitted by VHSR on February 16, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsThe Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) today approved an $8.9 billion Fiscal Years 2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program for public transportation, rail and highway projects and the revised Fiscal Year 2009 annual budgets. The program was approved during a special meeting held today.
The rare mid-year revision reflects significant reductions stemming from a $2.6 billion state and federal funding shortfall over the next six years. The approved program commits $6.0 billion for highway construction and $2.9 billion for public transportation and rail over the next six years.
February 15, 2009: Richmond Times-Dispatch "Why Amtrak Can’t—and Never Will—Make Money"
Submitted by VHSR on February 15, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsSome politicians, doctrinaire conservatives in particular, insist that passenger trains should be run with private capital, and government has no business subsidizing them. It's a strange concept since government helped the early railroads develop, providing land and even capital.
Since the days of the ancient Greeks, government has subsidized transportation, building lighthouses and roads, dredging rivers, and so on. Amtrak's critics ignore the hard fact that regularly scheduled passenger trains might have made money 100 years ago but can't today -- not just here, but almost anywhere in the world. The incredible passenger networks of Europe are government-subsidized.
February 15, 2009: The Daily Press "How the stimulus bill can realize a vision for Virginia"
Submitted by VHSR on February 15, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsNo issue is more pressing this year, either in Virginia or nationwide, than creating jobs and getting our economy back on track.
To generate economic growth and ensure that we provide opportunities for all Virginians, we need to invest in high- value, high-growth industries for the future, building the infrastructure and work force we need to attract them.
February 15, 2009: The Free Lance-Star "This VRE rider is not exactly a 'fat cat'"
Submitted by VHSR on February 15, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsThis VRE rider is not exactly a 'fat cat'
Not everyone who works up in Northern Virginia or Washington makes a huge salary ["Spotsy will help only 'fat cats' with VRE," Feb. 5].
Yes, I choose to work up in Alexandria and I don't expect any free rides, but to call me a "fat cat elite" is ridiculous.
February 12, 2009: The Washington Post "Bill on VRE Ticket Fraud Advances"
Submitted by VHSR on February 12, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsLegislation that targets the use of fraudulent tickets on the Virginia Railway Express passed the state Senate unanimously Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller (D-Fairfax), makes it illegal for people to produce and use a fraudulent or counterfeit ticket on the commuter train service. Violators of the law could be fined $500 to $1,000.
February 11, 2009: The Daily Press "Google Transit helps Va bus riders plan trips"
Submitted by VHSR on February 11, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsPublic transit systems across Virginia are using a new Internet tool to make it easier for bus riders to plan their trips.
February 9, 2009: WCAV-19 "Future of Route 29"
Submitted by VHSR on February 9, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsRoute 29 is a major part of the transportation network in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Transportation
is working on a blue print of what the road should look like in the future.
February 9, 2009: The Examiner "Panel suggests largest cuts to service in Metro history"
Submitted by VHSR on February 9, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsCuts to Metro service being suggested by a regional advisory panel are so drastic that commuters “will be asking for a fare increase,” a Metro spokeswoman said.
Metro board members are slated to begin discussing the largest proposed service cuts in the agency’s history Thursday as Metro grapples with rising costs amid an economic downturn.
Initial ideas from a regional advisory group include scrapping Metro’s 3 a.m. rail service on weekends and stopping its weekday trains at 10 p.m. Some rail station entrances could be closed and low-performing bus routes eliminated.
February 8, 2009: Richmond Times-Dispatch "Stimulus may be big fight in Va."
Submitted by VHSR on February 8, 2009 - 3:00am. Rail NewsEducation is in line for nearly $966 million. Another $230 million is available for public school construction. There's $745 million for highways. Child care could receive about $39 million. Toss in $124 million to insulate cold, drafty houses and $21 million for clean drinking water. And this extra-special goodie for our governor: $617 million of your money to spend as he pleases.
Virginia's heaping slice of President Obama's in-progress plan to jump-start the recession-stalled economy -- $4.1 billion to $5.8 billion, depending on the day and who's doing the arithmetic -- is supposed to be a godsend.
