A Deeper Look at LAX Connection Proposals Let’s Go LA May 13, 2014 In short, it seems that the central question of an efficient connection between LAX ground side transport and LA Metro has still not been resolved acceptably. This is LAX’s idea of a good connection between their People Mover with LA Metrorail. LAX wants Merto to…

This is the RailPAC table for National Train Day at the Santa Barbara Train Station organized by Dennis and Peggy Story. In the picture visiting our table is Das Williams of the California State Assembly. Also visiting RailPAC in Santa Barbara last Saturday were State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson who also rode the train to…

Union Station celebrating its 75th anniversary Saturday San Bernardino Sun-Apr 29, 2014 “This is more than just a party,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Marc Littman said. “We’re showcasing Union Station as the hub of L.A. County’s expanding transit system.”Metro will hold a rededication ceremony at the station’s Old Ticket Concourse at 10 a.m. May 5, 2014 Part…

Metro Board approves contract for Union Station regional rail improvements The Source Apr 24, 2014 As part of the consent calendar, the Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved Item 21, a $31-million contract for engineering work to extend regional rail tracks south from Union Station — so that trains don’t all have to enter and exit the…

State Senate President Steinberg’s proposal might look like a setback for High Speed Rail since this proposes less direct funding from Cap and Trade than what the Governor was proposing. But the Cap and Trade funding  for High Speed Rail is “securitized” as propsed, that means the High Speed Rail Authority could leverage the Cap and…

Oregon, Washington Consider Alternative To Amtrak For Cascades …OPB News-Apr 10, 2014 Oregon and Washington might turn to a private company to operate its Cascades rail service. The two states are testing the waters to see if anyone other than Amtrak is interested in operating the route that includes Seattle, Portland and Eugene. Most commuter rail services today…

Parking Sanity: Right Price Good for Congestion, Transit, & Revenue  Atlantic Cities Apr 2, 2014  Costanza’s universal theory of parking states that drivers should never pay for a spot because, if they apply themselves, they’ll get it for free. Most U.S. cities do everything they can to abide the theory. They undervalue the price of street…

Public Policy Institute of California  PPIC Statewide Survey March 2014  SLIM MAJORITY OF ADULTS FAVOR HIGH SPEED RAIL In 2008, voters passed a $10 billion state bond for its planning and construction. Today, when read a description of the system and its $68 billion price tag, 53 percent favor it and 42 percent oppose it. Likely voters are…

Squirrel Blamed for San Jose Power Outage NBC Bay Area – Mar 19, 2014 One of the customers affected was Caltrain’s San Jose dispatching center, according to Tell. The outage caused the dispatching center to fail and led trains to stop, causing major system-wide delays. March 24, 2014 The above copy of this enewletter is on…

One of the changes coming to Union Station will be the end of Gates E and F at the mouth of the tunnel to the platforms.Amtrak passengers now wait in line behind these gates for their trains. Amtrak passengers will be encouraged to sit in the waiting room until their train is called. This will…