transit news stories on Newser

Americans' Growing Ride of Choice: Public Transit

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:30:01 CDT

If you think the subway has felt extra crowded lately, you likely aren't imagining things: Americans are hopping on public transportation more often, according to a new report out today, with the number of bus and train passengers last year reaching its second highest level since 1957. Nationwide, transit ridership...

Obama Gets Rail Rolling With $8B Stimulus

Gabriel Winant — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:31:31 CST

America's railways are about to get a huge handout: At today's signing of the stimulus package, $8 billion will be allocated to high-speed rail. Though the money will be divvied up according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's master plan, the expansion is truly President Obama's pet project, reports Politico. "The...

Is Metrolink Up to the Job? Train Crash Raises Doubts

Rob Quinn — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:05:44 CDT

The country's deadliest train crash in decades has focused attention on mass transit carrier Metrolink, which operates on a shoestring budget and has many wondering whether it's up to the job, the Los Angeles Times reports. Five Southern California counties chip in to run the system, set up with relatively...

States Consider Leasing Roads as Upkeep Takes Toll

Clay Dillow — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:15:01 CDT

With Pennsylvania legislators set to vote next month on a $12.8 billion deal that would put the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike under private operation, such public-private partnerships are accelerating across the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Often bankrolled by infrastructure funds—which have $160 billion under management—the projects...

Desire Named Streetcar Grips Cities

Rob Quinn — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:56:26 CDT

Most American cities dismantled their streetcar lines over 50 years ago but a major comeback is gathering speed, the New York Times reports. Cincinnati, Houston, Denver, Salt Lake City and Charlotte have streetcar systems in the works to revive sagging downtown areas. A dozen cities already have streetcars and at...

Washington Wants You to Guzzle Gas

Kevin Spak — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:28:28 CDT

As gas prices rise, Americans are driving less—and fewer dollars are flowing into the gas-tax-fueled Federal Highway Trust Fund. President Bush’s illogical response? To take money out of public transportation and put it in the highway fund—the latest bizarre example of officials intent on promoting and subsidizing the...

High Gas Prices Fuel Transit Boom

Rob Quinn — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:10:58 CDT

The soaring price of gas is driving people across America out of their cars and onto mass transit, the New York Times reports. Buses and trains are up 5% or more in cities like Boston and New York, where mass transit is already a popular alternative, but the biggest leap...

$4 Gas Driving San Franciscans From Cars

Rob Quinn — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:25:00 CDT

The Bay Area is used to being on the cutting edge, but becoming the first to pay $4 for a gallon of gas is a milestone San Francisco could do without, the Chronicle reports. Prices are expected to nudge past the mark next week—but many Bay Area residents have...

Bullet Train to Take On the Plane in Spain

Jane Yager — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:34:21 CST

An ambitious plan to make Spain the leader in high-speed train travel could provide a model for the rest of Europe, offering a greener, more relaxing alternative to short-haul flights. A major link between Madrid and Barcelona is slated to open this month with trains described in the Guardian as...