high speed rail

HSR and Airports

Autopia discusses the role of airlines in high-speed rail:
Airport congestion is a mounting problem exacerbated in part by all the short flights in and out of major airports.

These short hops should not exist. They’re short enough to take by train. It seems airlines keep the flights to attract more passengers by providing connecting service [...]

HSR Grants

HSR Grants

I’m excited to see Washington State receive $590 million in high-speed rail grants. It’s pretty remarkable that our state, with just 2% of the nation’s population, managed to snag 7% of the $8 billion in federal dollars.
As much as I adore Sen. Patty Murray, I’m not sure we can give her office the lion’s [...]

Reserving ROW With Zoning Powers

While visiting Spokane this weekend this story, City exerts zoning power in the Valley Voice caught my eye. The upshot is the City of Spokane Valley wants to set aside a 100′ wide corridor for future HCT. There’s an issue whether this is “taking” land without reimbursement or if as the city prefers to call it a setback. Apart from the legal issues which can be resolved this sort of planning for the future with respect to transit seems like a very wise idea.