Recently in Public Transportation Category

092309-pmk-1-bridgeLOW.jpgIt's a partnership of public and private forces bridging a gap. It's a path connecting city and country. It's a gas free commuter route to center city York; an oil free way to get out of town for the weekend to visit a bed & breakfast in Emigsville.

It's a new way of thinking.

092309-pmk-bridgeLOW.jpgThe Kinsley Education Center teamed up with the York County Rail Trail Authority to build a bridge across a small creek along the northern extension of the York County Heritage Rail Trail in Manchester Township.

The beefy bridge looks like a small model of a PennDot bridge because that's basically the specs that designed it. For the students, it's the chance for real world experience without the state road involved.

The public will enjoy crossing this educational bridge for years to come with a piece of mind knowing that one more thing didn't raise their taxes.

Rail trails are as much about recreation as much as they are about potential.

Strips of public land interconnected for moving people and whatever else the mind can dream of centuries from now.

Hard decisions to be made in the face of crunching budgets. Rail trail funding threatened by Amendment (greenmesh 9/15)

We can't cut bailouts to banks or a corporate health care system that has increased costs 9% (wsj.com) in a year when inflation for the rest of us has been flat.

Real median household income in the United States fell 3.6 percent between 2007 and 2008 (U.S. Census).

These are the sacred cows of capitalism and a type of blackmail that has grown out of combining greed with our respect of life.

This is also the thinking that railroads our ability to thrive by funding innovation.

A curved bridge in a small town frames a timeless stone church. A spark in my imagination turns a smile. I am looking at a castle on the Rhine River or am I in Venice.

pmkredlion.jpg

Forget that I am beneath a poorly drained, decaying concrete railroad bridge in Red Lion, Pennsylvania... for a moment I am dreaming.

This is the beauty of rail trails.

It's a moment of peace beyond the bustle of life. It's a new view on the world.

It's potential.

It's a preservation of history, a preservation of green space; a preservation of a corridor of land for common use now and for the future.

The Red Lion Mile rail trail will run from the railroad station and museum on Main Street in Red Lion through the borough west, through some current and former industrial sites into fields and woods near Springwood Road.

Your donation during a free, benefit concert this Saturday will help continue this dream.

The video is a tour of the trail with music by two of the artists who will be performing for the benefit concert. A map to the concert and the trail is included.

Amtrak and the state Department of Transportation are studying whether it would be more cost effective to upgrade Amtrak's Middletown station to make it handicapped accessible, or to close the station and move the stop elsewhere.

According to Amtrak's Web site, more than 51,000 people used the Middletown station in 2008. That's a 30 percent increase from 2007. The Elizabethtown station had a 22 percent increase in riders.

"It's cheaper than gas and parking," said Miranda Sandstrom, who lives in Middletown and takes the train into Harrisburg every day.

"It's faster. I don't have to worry about traffic or bad weather. It's much, much better," she said. pennlive.com

Would you ride the train from York to Harrisburg or from York to Baltimore?

I keep looking at the turnpike leasing deal in retrospect and try to envision where the deal would be if it had fallen into the Citi money machine.
(The process - greenmesh 6/2008-10/2008)

Our choice was a blind, one-track business model designed to make money or government inefficiency.

Even with tolls recently rising on the turnpike, the consumer got the better deal with keeping things status quo for now.

Tolls would have gone up anyway. Citi recently sent out interest rate increases to consumer card holders after receiving federal money designed to help ease credit. (greenmesh 12/14)

News on Citigroup, one of the investors courting the turnpike last fall...

Vikram Pandit may soon be forced to carve up Citi to plug the hole in its balance sheet from what could be as much as $150 billion in toxic assets.

The changes now afoot contradict what CEO Vikram Pandit has been telling the market for months--that he wouldn't split up Citi. But as the economic and credit climate has deteriorated, the government--Citi's largest shareholder, with a 7% stake--is likely nudging Pandit to shift his strategy and raise more capital. And the 52-year-old executive has little choice but to follow orders. businessweek.com (1/14)

Turning over the turnpike to private investment was supposed to turn profit potential into quick cash for government. How quickly did that turn around into government giving Citi taxpayer money after Citi failed to make sound long-term business decisions. We were then told that these banks owned so much that it sentenced the taxpayer to doom if they failed.

Citi has been told by government to raise cash by selling pieces of it's vast holdings.

You have to wonder what kind of decisions Citi would have made concerning the turnpike's long-term lease... bridge repairs, safety concerns; retaining the value of the investment in the final years of the lease deal.

The irony of all this is that doing business like this has poisoned the trust of the same consumers (investors) who brought these businesses great wealth and is the fuel that will burn them away along with my 401-K.

VIDEO Restoring a city icon

| | Comments (0)

PMK3TROLLEY.jpg The kiosk that served York when trolleys ran the streets has been reconstructed by the Kinsley Education Center. Kinsley and the city are hoping to get some community support to get copper roof replaced.


York once had a county wide electric rail mass transit system.

York's street railway is a dream of tomorrow
(greenmesh 7/2006)


View Larger Map

I am sitting in Rome, New York.

Rome has seen better times. Property taxes here are about twice what I pay in Manchester Township. I am currently ten minutes from The New York State Thruway.

Abertis Infraestructuras SA of Spain and Citigroup Inc. withdrew their $12.8 billion offer to operate the 537-mile (864-kilometer) Pennsylvania Turnpike last week after state lawmakers delayed a decision on legislation needed to allow the transaction to go forward. bloomberg

Maybe Citi is busy now trying to scuttle a deal between Wachovia and Wells-Fargo (AP) who they claim jumped their deal. The deal Citi is trying to stop between Wells-Fargo and Wachovia would save taxpayers from paying billions from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to bail-out another bank.

New York is struggling with the same issues with roads and bridges as Pennsylvania and is looking for new ways of funding. Options include a new push to lease out The New York State Thruway and the Tappan Zee Bridge, golf courses, state parks and the lottery. watertowndailytimes.com

I like the idea of leasing when in the case of the Tappan Zee Bridge that is in need of replacement. In this scenario, a company must front the costs and will reap benefit over time.

In other scenarios, the inefficiency of government (our tax dollars) is transferred into private profit and long term uncertainty at the whim of private control.

The question remains. Can we trust the private sector with running our infrastructure any more than inefficient government. At least with government, I still have a vote.

We need to think long-term investment, pay cash up front for current expenses, take responsibility for use, and stop handling finances with smoke and mirrors.

After we are done hiding future costs in lease deals and creating special interest groups to defeat tolling we are left with one big problem - The infrastructure is crumbling and it needs not only money now, but a long-term investment solution so we don't have to panic and sell the back 50 acres of the farm every 10 years to get out of debt.

The trucker associations are cheering, the local residents who don't want a fee to get out of town are happy, and businesses who somehow think people will stop coming to the I-80 corridor are thrilled. I have never figured out the last one; when there are only two major east and west routes in Pennsylvania and one has already been tolled for the past 75 years.

Gov. Rendell is again pleading for a quick infusion of cash from the Abertis-Citi consortium in return for questionable long-term investment for Pennsylvanians.

The Feds rejected the plan to toll the turnpike because I-80 tolls "appear to have been predetermined by the Pennsylvania General Assembly based on considerations largely unrelated to the true costs" of operating and maintaining I-80. philly.com

It sounds like the The Federal Highway Administration needs to broaden their definition of what tolls can be used for and those who drew up the current toll plan need some better lawyers who understand the federal guidelines, unless they were just trying to push the evolution of the way tolls can be used and hoped for some creativity.

President Bush has suggested that agencies become more creative in coming up with ways to fund highways, making a political u-turn from veto mode to approve an $8-billion rescue plan for the federal highway fund. latimes.com

The reality is that our roads and bridges are crumbling. We need to come up with ways to finance public transportation. As everyone tries to grab a bit more of their share of the pie the cost of living spirals upward. Someone has to pay for the surfaces that transports and profits private enterprise.

Pennsylvania taxpayers need the best deal over the long-haul. I define long-haul as generational and not the next five years.

So here are our choices:


  • Lease out the turnpike and get the fat check in the mail NOW!!. Long term profit and control for the next century goes to global private business.

  • Raise taxes for everyone to pay for crumbling roads and public transportation.

  • Have a point of use charge, tolling, that narrows the "tax" to transportation for transportation needs and targets the true cost of long-haul trucking and driving millions of private vehicles on public roads.

What drives my opinion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike leasing deal
(greenmesh 8/08)
Leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a bad idea - part 2
(greenmesh 8/08)
Why can't "WE" keep making a profit on the turnpike?
(greenmesh 6/08)

VIDEO A railway revival

| | Comments (0)
  • Moving freight is five times more efficient using a train rather than a tractor trailer.
  • Four miles of new railroad line can be built for the price of one mile of road.
  • Electrically powered trains can use domestic fuel sources. A century ago, York had an extensive electric trolley/inter-urban system. York's street railway is a dream of tomorrow. (greenmesh 8/06)
It's a very old method of transportation that can save oil and lighten the load on roadways. It's a method of transportation that has come full circle.

Innovative minds looking for new revenue streams killed the railroads.

Consider all the jobs, wealth and competition that was created by our car centered, personal transport society. Cars, dealerships, parts, the insurance industry. Thousands of truck drivers, shipping companies and owner operators traversing the roads using diesel and services. All of this a major feed for the oil industry.

And it all worked as long as oil was cheap.

The once cheap oil that brought us a uniquely American car centered transportation culture is now strangling our economy and future success competing in a world market.

Pennsylvania is fortunate to have many short-line rail corridors still intact like the one along the Heritage Rail Trail and the Stewartstown Railroad waiting for innovative minds and clean technology to move large volumes of freight and people more efficiently.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is part of my American heritage. Rolling into a toll booth, I look at it as the gateway to a national treasure of transportation history.

I have a vested interest in supporting and preserving it, whether that just means not throwing trash at it or becoming actively involved when it's threatened.

When I am empowered, I go the extra mile to care about things and look to preserve this treasure and practical function of this roadway for future generations.

It's public, non-profit status gives me a say in it's future and ensures that my toll is actually going to the generational preservation and enjoyment of it. Not to financing a capital investment group; someone else's dream or worse a shady future deal that I am inadvertently supporting with my toll.

When an investment group is pushing very hard to enguage me in a public debate they view it as a sales pitch, but the true beauty of this moment is that I still have control of the power to guide the turnpike's destiny.

Although I love free enterprise and the America dream of the freedom to grow a small business, the flow of money tends to flow faster in the direction of the most money.

Big business is rarely interested in the good of the whole, for this we have a democracy.

Interesting opinion article in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Hidden costs will make Turnpike deal a bad one
Summary:


  • Huge unseen financial incentives pull from the tax base during the deal

  • Costs associated with ensuring the contract gets inforced

  • With tax subsidies greatest in the first 15 years, the profit window will rapidly close, leaving the company with aging and expensive infrastructure and large debt remaining for the rest of a century.

  • This deal was negotiated in secret without public input and information. Pennsylvanians had less than a month to read and digest a 686-page contract and attempt to predict and value how its thousands of conditions might affect the commonwealth through 2084

I was walking around my village today and a couple neighbors were responding to my blog entry Why can't "WE" keep making a profit on the turnpike? (6/25)

One neighbor was blaming Gov. Ed Randell for siphoning the money off to Philadelphia under the current set-up. I drop off the mail for another neighbor who often is listening to Gary Sutton. She just plain asked my opinion on the merits. I have yet to hear anyone, except the governor, say they think it's a really good idea, "it's slam-dunk" he said.

I believe the heart of the matter is a difference in perspective that has widened between the ever increasing transience of business and what the great population hopes government's long-term commitment is to them.

When you privatize a public entity ownership is moved from government to the interest of a group of investors. Government is you and me because we elect and reject those who represent us.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was created in 1937 to build, finance, operate and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The commission is comprised of five members. Four members are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania. So ultimately the turnpike management is an arm of government, made of people we elect and reject.

Barcelona-based Abertis Infraestructuras, Abertis investor Criteria CaixaCorp of Spain and Citi Infrastructure Investors offered $12.8 billion to lease the turnpike. (AP) I will not be on a seat of the board of directors of a company in Spain or the equally nebulous Citi Infrastructure Investors group. What is my recourse if i had a concern about the business of the turnpike or what my tolls are financing.

Meanwhile, up north 80 percent Interstate 80 needs resurfacing to replace more than half of its pavement, which was applied between 1958 and 1970. Officials proposed replacing 60 bridges within the first 10 years. Sixteen of the interstate's bridges are structurally deficient and 13 are in worse condition, which the turnpike described as "fracture critical." pittsburghlive.com

The scramble is on to get tolls on I-80 because PennDOT cannot fund a complete rebuild. Any bids on I-80? Going once, going twice... hello, any takers? Mmmm, must not be such a good deal.

From personal experience over the past 28 years of driving on it, The Pennsylvania Turnpike have been a very well maintained road in road surface and snow removal. It

The turnpike is currently a non-profit meaning they have to put the revenue from tolls into the road.

It's hard to imagine all the energy, fossil and human, that are spent on campaigning. You have the vehicles (and planes) that drive them around, their support vehicles and the local support vehicles that support the support vehicles, the vehicles that drive the support people and all the people who drive to see the candidates. And of course the media (me), who follow along for the ride driving our own vehicles.

One could argue that all these humans would be burning up fuel doing something else during a campaign stop and that campaign funds generated by voters actually pour back into communities for support services.

pmkloungcar.jpeg(AP Photo)
The Obama campaign used a vintage 1930's Georgia lounge train car today for a sweep up the Amtrak line from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. Not that it saved a whole lot of energy today, but it was an interesting highlight of public transportation that once was a standard for moving candidates.

Consider all the support people, security people, reporters and photographers that were swiftly moved to multiple locations, using an electric vehicle not fueled by oil along a route not challenged by cars. And as an added bonus, one large group arrives at the same time and needs no parking.

President Harry S. Truman speaking from a train on the campaign trail in 1948 (Harry S. Truman Library and Museum)
trumantrain.jpg

The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday that marine and locomotive engines must meet tougher pollution controls, hoping for dramatic cuts in the amount of smog-causing chemicals and soot coming from trains, cargo ships, tugboats and passenger ferries.

A study by Environmental Defense two years ago found that ships at three of the nation's largest ports — Los Angeles, Houston and New York-New Jersey — together produced as much smog causing chemicals as 1 million cars. The group also found the nation's locomotives produced fine soot, or particulate, equal to 70 coal burning power plants and as much smog causing nitrogen oxide as 120 coal plants. (AP)

Martin Library will host an environmental panel discussion on February 21 featuring:

Bob Astor – Shipley Fuels Marketing
Benjamin Caire – United Biofuels
Eugene DePasquale – PA Representative
Michael Helfrich – Lower Susquehanna River Keeper
Elizabeth Kepley – Gifford Pinchot State Park
Mark Platts – Lancaster – York Heritage Region
Liz Winand – Shank’s Mare.

I was interviewed, via keybord of course, since I will be one of the moderators. Below is the text of the interview:

5. In your opinion, how does the level of environmental awareness in York County compare to that of other similar-sized communities?

York is a land of plenty. We have enjoyed low population congestion and are blessed with resources. California is tuned into air pollution because congestion and climate patterns demanded action. The desert southwest is tuned into water supply because of the lack of it. Other than the Codorus Creek, a stray landfill and an occasional bad ozone day, York County generally has not been confronted in the face with major environmental issues. High oil prices, wars and global cries that we need to act have brought these concerns home to York.

6. What do you believe the typical Yorker can do to improve the environment?

Use less to do more. Nothing will lower pollution, lower oil prices, and stretch resources more than choosing to use less through product choice and lifestyle. This concept runs contrary to our financial model that, up until now, has promoted and thrived on people using more energy.

7. As editor of Greenmesh.com, what do you see as the most promising alternative to oil-based energy?

Experimenting with many alternatives is the best was to transition away from an oil based economy. It takes time to understand the repercussions of any form of energy production. Solar collection is the lowest impacting source of alternative energy, but in places like Pennsylvania, solar isn’t practical most of the time. We have already experienced the implications of diving head first into corn-based ethanol by higher food and feed prices.

All methods of energy production have environmental implications and placing all our eggs in one basket gives power to a new monopoly and will accentuate any negative effects of pushing a single solution of energy production....

Cruzin Cooler Train

| | Comments (0)

Here is a U.S. innovation that combines mass transit, small displacement engines and beer. It's the Cruzin Cooler!
train1.jpg
A 33cc 2 cycle Motor can go up to 15mph. The electric version has a range of 15 miles. Cargo capacity 24-12oz cans with 8# ice. cruzincooler.com

pmkI83.jpgYou really can't fault someone from Baltimore for seeking a better quality of life by buying a house here in York and commuting to Baltimore. Real estate prices, taxes and a high cost for life that come with high population densities in urban areas like Baltimore has pushed people into their cars and up Interstate 83.

Unfortunately, this consumes a massive amount of gasoline, clogs roads and creates bedroom communities that rob both Baltimore, York and in the end the commuter of a fully functioning life as they seek to survive in an never ending spiral of costs.

Once in a land long, long ago. cities like York were built up around factories. People walked to work, or took electric trolleys. They went to churches, pubs and stores in their community and were able to invest the time spent commuting into their children and neighborhoods. When your whole life is your community, you have an intense interest in preserving it's whole.

Baltimore City will contribute $1,000 per employee, which will be matched by over 85 participating employers. Employees will be required to contribute a minimum of $1,000 cash toward the purchase of their home. It's the idea of getting people back to living where they work.

livebaltimore.com/hb/inc/lnyw/

Fuel economy = less highway funds

| | Comments (0)

I was listening to President Bush talk at a rotary luncheon this week and he brought up a time-of-day highway access charge. He cited raising fuel economy standards would cause less tax revenue at the pump.

There is this impending fear in government that increased fuel economy will reduce consumption based tax dollars, so new revenue streams are needed to build highways.

I find this difficult to comprehend as an impending issue when efficiency standards are years away and the current U.S. budget debt as of today is $9,148,076,623,766.32 more than the balanced budget of eleven years ago. To put it in perspective, it's like each citizen of the U.S. owes $30,000.

Raising fuel economy standards in itself grates against a spend and grow model of economic growth. "Economic growth" doesn't always translate into a sustainable quality of life for the masses in the future.

It is more likely that the petroleum market will burn itself out with high fuel prices triggering a self imposed fuel efficiency standard by consumers. People might be inspired to take public transportation, or maybe just walk; resulting in fewer highway dollars needed and more demand for public transportation.

On campus hourly car rentals

| | Comments (0)

Zipcar, a car-sharing company that offers self-service on-demand cars by the hour or day, is offering cars on several college campuses.
pmkzipcar.jpg
The idea is that people who have most of their needs in a centrally located area (like an urban center) don't need cars most of the time. In the case of college towns, they are often rural towns where students need a car to get to college, carry stuff maybe get to a store once a week, but they don't need one to commute or for daily activities. Good public transportation isn't always available in small college towns.

"Stored" cars on and around a college campus is often a parking nightmare for local communities. York City issues permits for the streets in neighborhoods around York College to help keep peace with residents. The colleges involved are asking for lower impact car like a Prius, which might also take a few oil burning/dripping, duct tape and bailing wire college cars out of the equation.

Bates College is the first Maine location for Zipcar. Starting this week, it’s offering a pair of Toyota Prius automobiles for $7 an hour.


Assistant Dean of Students Keith Tannenbaum predicts the cars will ease parking problems and cut down on pollution, in addition to helping students get around.

Students, faculty or community members can become a member for $35, reserve a car online and use their magnetized membership card to unlock the vehicle. Gas, insurance and a prime parking spot on the campus are included. news.bostonherald.com

Another program:Middlebury College

Zipcar will provide cars on campus to more than 50 Universities prnewswire.com

I have just one question about the program's profit model:

New rental cars...college students?

Congestion Charge Part II

| | Comments (0)

Two months ago, I posted 'Congestion Charge' saying that New York City was toying with the idea of charging cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan's business district, other U.S. cities are also interested in the idea.

This week, the federal government stepped in with $354m in federal aid to launch what would be the first congestion pricing plan in the US. Such a system is in use in London and Singapore.

The federal dollars are more aimed at building up public transportation to give people a reason to want to get out of their cars. New York City has to come up with additional funding to implement the fees for driving downtown during prime time. I am curious to see how they will implement a fee system without creating congestion.

Consumers hate taxes and fees, however money is the primary motivation in a free market economy. It is why people save gas when it is expensive and use more the following week when the price goes down. Personally, I would rather take the train to Manhattan any day.

Commuters spend an average of 49 hours a year stuck in traffic in lower Manhattan, up from 18 hours in 1982. msnbc.com

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. announced the delivery of Quantum's hydrogen hybrid Priuses to and their participation in this week’s opening of Norsk Hydro's first hydrogen refuelling station in Norway. The new facility is part of a planned "Hydrogen Highway" (Greenmesh 05/2006) between Oslo and Stavanger that will use renewable resources like solar and garbage to create hydrogen.

In Switzerland, a 21 mile long tunnel through the Alps was opened today that will cut down travel times between Germany and Italy from 3 1/2 hours to just under two using a 150 mph train. A 36 mile long tunnel under the Alps is expected to open 2017. The tunnels and high-speed trains are expected to reduce traffic on congested highways.

Congestion Charge

| | Comments (0)

Change behavior by taking your money

New York City is toying with the idea of charging cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan's business district, other U.S. cities are also toying with the idea.

Other ideas include dropping subway bus/fares, odd/even license plates, increasing other tolls into the city and lowering fees for energy efficient trucks. wcbs/tv

Voluntary conservation measures have a long standing history of not working in the United States. It usually takes financial penalty to change behavior Even in the case of high gas prices, the consumption rate continues to climb.

It is the nature of Americans to strive to "profit" against each other and nature - size and level of consumption are the marks of success. The independence of stretching out in our own automobile has become part of our identity. At some point the penalty, either by shortage or cost will change behavior.

The average American motorist is driving substantially fewer miles for the first time in 26 years because of high gas prices and demographic shifts, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal highway data.

--high gas prices are working to promote conservation
--increased traffic congestion
--improved use of public transportation
--there is a demographic shift deemphasizing the need to drive

Trains conserve energy by moving many people with a pooled power source instead of many individual cars with combined inefficiency. Add 20% to the efficiency of one train and hundreds of people in the train are moving along 20% more efficiently as one group effort.

Hitachi Europe unveiled 'Hayabusa', which it says is Europe's first battery-assisted diesel-electric power car. The drive system has been installed in a British train car for real world testing. See the video below.

The train accelerates from a stand still on battery power from lithium ion battery modules blending power with a diesel at about 18mph. Hitachi believes that 80% of the braking power can be recovered for the next acceleration cycle.


A quote from W. Bruce Ruby during Emigsville, Pa. Story Night last Tuesday:

Now the traffic through town was pretty minimal in the 20’s and not every family owned an automobile most of them road the street car. full story

pmk1TROLLEY.jpgRuby and his dad would enjoy a hot summer evening by jumping on the street car in Emigsville riding it around the county for a round trip back to Emigsville.

The total cost for two riders for three hours of joyriding was 30 cents. The Energy used was electric propulsion. Emissions on the street in Emigsville from street cars was zero.

More about the York Street Railway

The Harford Community College's Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Expo will be held April 13-14 from 9 AM - 4 PM.

Exhibits will include Energy Efficient Vehicles - Fuel Cell, Biodiesel & Hybrid; Energy Efficiency and Green Building Design; Solar Hot Water, Thermal, and Lighting Systems; Remanufactured/Recycled Products; Straw Bale Construction; Photovoltaic Panels; Wind Power Systems; and Geothermal Heating & Cooling. Workshops on Global Warming, Passive Solar Energy, and Sustainable Design.

Rabbittransit started using ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) in September as the nationwide distribution system switched over to the cleaner fuel.

pmkblograb.jpg

As of today, the bus system serving the greater York area is running 16 buses on a 20 percent (B20) blend of bio/petrol diesel and a 5 percent blend (B5) fleetwide, says Richard Farr, executive director of rabbittransit.

pmkmono.jpgI was in Seattle this past weekend and checked out the mass transit. When I am Googling creative mass transit ideas, my searches often land at the left coast because that’s where the innovation seems to be in mass transit.

Seattle went through much of the same evolution as many U.S. cities: horse-drawn trolleys, electric trolleys, buses, inter-urban trains, some cable car activity on the steep east-west grades and, of course, a push for highways as cars became king in the 1960s. http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=2707

I was excited to see how this has all evolved.
Some of my green-eyed observations of their current fleet include:

Fifteen years ago, the Amtrak railroad line between Harrisburg and Philadelphia was almost dead. I recall talk of shutting it down. Govenment funds had been infused into Amtrak for years with the hope that there might be a use for rail transport again in the future.

pmkPRR.jpgThe former Pennsylvania Railroad track has been in operation in one form or another since 1834 and until recently has gone 70 years without a major overhaul. At one time,

The PRR was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the US throughout its 20th century history ... For a long time the PRR called itself the Standard Railroad of the World, meaning that it was the standard to which all other railroads aspired, the "gold standard"...For a long time that was literally true; the railroad had an impressive lists of firsts, greatests, biggests, and longests.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Railroad

Rabbittransit is expanding the use of biodiesel to its entire fleet.

The York County Parks Department has made the switch to using a combination of diesel and vegetable-based fuel in its tractors, mowers and service trucks.http://www.ydr.com/search/ci_4101770

Powered by Movable Type 4.25

About this Archive

This page is a archive of recent entries in the Public Transportation category.

MPG is the previous category.

Solar is the next category.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.