30 Oct 2009, 11:58am
Commuting History Passenger rail Railroads Safety Transit Travel
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Comments Off on No news = good news for railroads

No news = good news for railroads

UP locoI’m guessing you haven’t heard much about the railroads recently.  The more they fly under the radar the better they like it because these days, when it comes to railroads, only bad news is good news.  The Union Pacific is probably happy.  Sure beats 2004 and the torrent of bad news way back then.  These days they are regarded as just one step up from the water and sewage systems.  These only make the headlines when something goes wrong.  Certainly there are still far too many accidents at grade level road crossings but few blame the railroad for this anymore.  If drivers are willing to risk absolutely everything to beat the train, just to save a minute or two and not miss the beginning of “Jeopardy” or something equally banal, well, you cannot legislate away stupidity.

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9 Oct 2009, 10:00am
Bicycles Commuting History Oil and gas prices Safety Transit:
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Comments Off on Dude, where’s my bike rebate?

Dude, where’s my bike rebate?

bike kilmarnockI recently acquired, at surprising expense, a bicycle, a seven speed commuter bike with full mudguards and a wire basket that can hold two single gallons of milk. It is even more “green” inasmuch as it has a dynamo for its lights, with a neat little capacitor to keep them lit when stopped at traffic lights, not a good place to be unilluminated. My main goal, at the time of purchase, was to avoid yet another piece of garage art, well intentioned but ignored after the initial enthusiasm wore off.

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7 Oct 2009, 6:08pm
Railroads Roads Toll roads Transit:
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Comments Off on Sometimes “no” really does mean “no”

Sometimes “no” really does mean “no”

Click for larger map

Click for larger map

A few years ago, then Texas transportation czar Ric Williamson shrugged off a citizen revolt against grand plans to build cross-state toll lanes and rail lines along Interstate 35. At the time, tens of thousands of people were showing up at dozens of public hearings to lash out at the planned Trans Texas Corridor’s I-35 leg.

Williamson, who was the Texas Transportation Commission chairman, said public hearings aren’t a vote but rather an effort to find out WHY people oppose or support a proposal and then to address those concerns.

He said:

The purpose of public hearings is not to take a survey. It is not a matter of not having sympathy for those who will have their land lost. Somebody has got to do something about (Interstate) 35. Not 10 years from now and not 25 years from now but right now.

Well, today the Texas Department of Transportation said the best way to address those concerns is to do nothing, at least for now.

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