January 2007 - Posts

Seattle, Finally Serious about Transit Projects

North Corridor Projects N02: Link LRT--Planning Study from Lynwood Transit Center to Everett Station N06: Link LRT--Extension from University of Washington Station to Northgate (Seattle) N07a: Enhanced Transit--Streetcar or Bus Connection between Downtown Read More
posted Wednesday, January 31, 2007 11:30 AM by adron | 1 Comments
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My First Ride Through Through The Temporary Mall Maze (MFR-TTTTMM)

Ya like that acronym?  MFR-TTTTMM.  Monstrous! Today for band practice I decided I would take the #17 from 21st & Lovejoy down through the mall to catch the #75 at 39th & Holgate. I boarded and the ride took a little longer than normal Read More
posted Monday, January 29, 2007 6:00 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Portland Expanse & the Aerial Tram

Aerial Tram & Development Expanse As I jump aboard the Streetcar for another ride about town I look out and see the development continuing at every end of the city.  In the Pearl there are three new towers that have finished groundbreaking, in Read More
posted Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:58 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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New Category for Transit Ramblings

So I'm starting a new category "Random, Ramblings, of Rounds in the City" to put all of my documented transit trip adventures in.  This category will be for the trips I take to explore, expound, and extrapolate ideas and observations about various Read More
posted Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:46 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Blue Line vs. Yellow Line

While riding the Blue Line out to Gresham and thinking about how much more land is traversed vs. the Yellow Line I started thinking.  Did Tri-Met and Portland not learn from the Blue Line?  The millions of dollars spent on the yellow line to Read More
posted Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:20 PM by adron | 3 Comments
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Rail Runner Running!

The final leg of the Rail Runner commuter train is opening on February 2nd! Not sure if anyone has heard of this commuter rail line but I personally find it to be one of the most tasteful, beautifully colored train & station infrastructure in the Read More
posted Friday, January 26, 2007 10:05 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Czech's Streetcars vs. US Nawlins' Streetcars

US (NOLA) Czech (PDX) Employs US Citizens Directly. Employs someone at far below minimum wages. Manufacturing is superior. Manufacturing is adequate. 800,000 ADA Compliant per car. 2,400,000,000 ADA Compliant per car. Silent Running.  * Read More
posted Thursday, January 25, 2007 3:22 PM by adron | 4 Comments
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I'm really happy that Oregon Iron Works will produce Streetcars, BUT...

United Streetcar, LLC, a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, Inc. (OIW), has been selected to produce the nation’s first modern, domestically-produced streetcar. OIW has signed an exclusive technology transfer agreement with a well-known European manufacturer Read More
posted Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:47 PM by adron | 4 Comments
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Where Service is Needed

I've always said, trains would have no problem making profits, yes profits, if they could base their prices on actual comparison to auto travel usage prices.  If people where to tack in that other 20-65% of subsidy they receive for "free" roads then Read More
posted Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:07 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Amtrak Funding?!?!?!?!?! Holy Bannanas!

As pointed out the proposition of 6 years and $19.2 Billion dollars has been floated.  This I cannot believe, partially support at this point (unless the goals ARE truly acheived), but am unbelievably happy to see forward movement on the matter.  Read More
posted Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:17 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Real Trains and Streetcars

Amid all the problems, funding issues, profit issues, blagh, blagh, blagh of those skinny two rails one thing remains.  They can be ridiculously reliable with almost no maintenance.  Today I went to board the north bound #500 Amtrak Cascades Read More
posted Tuesday, January 16, 2007 9:14 AM by adron | 7 Comments
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Blog Diving

Ok, so the play on dumpster diving might not be obvious, but that's what I'm going for.  Anyway, after a bit of diving, I found the following blogs that are worth reading if you dig keeping up with transit issues. Just Wondering - A blog on development Read More
posted Monday, January 15, 2007 10:06 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Transportation & Related Acronyms

Per a discussion over at Portland Transport about the treasure trove of acronyms used in the transportation industry I have (with the help of Chris and Ray from Portland Transport) posted the list of acronyms below.  In the near future this Read More
posted Sunday, January 14, 2007 2:10 PM by adron | 1 Comments
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Gas Taxes for Roads?

So with a total spent on roads over the last years averaging in today's dollars about $100,000,000,000,000, or simply about 100 Billion dollars I wondered what the calculation would come out to if all those costs where recouped via fuel taxes. Currently Read More
posted Sunday, January 14, 2007 1:50 PM by adron | 3 Comments
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Mid Week Snowy Rail Run TAC-PDX

So middle of the week here, Wednesday the 10th.  I've boarded #507 south bound and the train has made good headway.  The skies are beautiful and clear with a spotty cloud cover here and there.  The sky is perfect blue and the sun is slowly Read More
posted Wednesday, January 10, 2007 4:53 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Reason America Works!

It's not because of our Government (they help sometimes, but usually do as much harm than good).  It's not because of the "average" American.  It's not because we're this or that curlture or that religion or in that group or this group.  Read More
posted Tuesday, January 09, 2007 5:41 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Sound Transit Chooses Light Rail, Again!

So the intention to expand is now to the east.  This I wasn't sure they would do or not, but Seattle is definately trying hard to catch up to Portland in regards to transit choices.  Tax fairness and all that aside, the general populace did Read More
posted Thursday, January 04, 2007 1:56 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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