February 2007 - Posts

...and more Corridor Trains!

...and the trend continues. "Between October 2006 and January 2007, Acela Express ridership totaled more than 1 million, an increase of nearly 20 percent compared with the same FY2006 period." "Ridership between Chicago and St. Louis rose 29 percent to Read More
posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:05 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Corridor Trains...

Amtrak ridership on the rise in Michigan During fiscal-year 2007’s first four months, Amtrak’s three Michigan routes posted ridership gains. For the period ending Jan. 30, 142,185 passengers rode Amtrak’s Wolverine service between Pontiac/Detroit and Read More
posted Monday, February 26, 2007 3:57 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Pendolina Virgin Rails' Train Wreck

Another reason I love trains vs. airline flights.  There was a wreck on a Pendolino Trainset in England at 95 mph.  Only one fatality, and 80 year old woman.  The other hundreds where ok with a few injuries.  I'd dread the same wreck Read More
posted Monday, February 26, 2007 1:39 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Red Line To The Airport for Tickets!

Ok, I have a major gripe with the ticket machines Tri-met has.  These suckers really need replaced with something similar to the parking meters on the streets of downtown Portland.  The ticket machines that do exist are apalling, half aren't Read More
posted Sunday, February 25, 2007 9:32 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Beer Emporium Trip

So my Randy and I decided we ought to go check out John's Market out on Multnomah in south west Portland.  I did a quick Google Transit itenerary request a few days ago and knew that #44 would take us to within 1 block of the place.  While putzing Read More
posted Sunday, February 25, 2007 9:19 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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#17 & #75 at Rush Hour

So I decided to hit up #17 and #75 for band practice as I have done many times before.  The one difference, I decided to go at rush hour!  It was a blast, being one of the first to board I grabbed a seat ASAP and prepared for the crush of the Read More
posted Wednesday, February 21, 2007 5:26 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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NW to SE for Fireside

One good place I just wanted to tag as a great place to go... Fireside Coffee Lodge in Portland.  This place is open 24hrs a day and is super easy to hit up via the bus.  The #70, #17, #19, #9 and I think a few others go by this spot as Read More
posted Sunday, February 18, 2007 10:07 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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What People Know, What They Don't

The transcon lines the Freight & Railroad Companies in the late 19th century built where funded by loans and land grants that had to be paid back.  This amounted in the immediate need of gap funding that amounted to larger percentages than the Read More
posted Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:38 AM by adron | 10 Comments
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80's, 90's, and 21st Century Light Rail Vehicle Costs

So in the 80's, a MAX LRV cost about $900k.  They then went up to about $1.3-1.4 per LRV during the west side extension.  In the 21st century the newer, lighter, sleeker, and higher capacity LRVs are pushed all the way to an unbelievable $3.5 Read More
posted Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:08 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Nextbus Map, 6 Streetcars? Is it a first?

I was just watching the Nextbus tracking map of the Streetcars running around Portland.  I noticed 6 on the system, which means most likely one of the new cars is out and being tracked!  First I've seen 6 ever I believe. ...or I could just be Read More
posted Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:25 AM by adron | 2 Comments
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Transit Oriented Errands 101

With the advent and renaming of previous design methods utilized early in the free-market orientations of the American economic systems, I've decided to create a new acronym myself in parallel to Transit Oriented Development (TOD).  TOD has taken Read More
posted Monday, February 12, 2007 5:07 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Increasing Throughput

"Our photo this week shows passengers boarding a Sounder commuter train at the Puyallup Station. The latest numbers released this week shows that ridership on Sounder trains increased 34 percent in 2006. Because of the high ridership, Sound Transit is Read More
posted Friday, February 09, 2007 6:35 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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How Do You Get Around?

There are lots of arguments about why to drive, to take transit, to just not take either and walk or ride a bike. After a lot of thought I decided I'd write what my arguments are for doing what I do. I'd be much interested in hearing the ideas and reasons Read More
posted Wednesday, February 07, 2007 7:15 PM by adron | 6 Comments
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Amtrak Coast Starlight Service (and Amtrak Cascades #507 TAC-PDX)

It's amazing how many people I hear complaining about the lateness of the various Coast Starlight Trains.  Today I heard a real idiot spouting off about the more than 7 hour delay of southbound Coast Starlight #11.  In her spouting off she stated, Read More
posted Monday, February 05, 2007 3:20 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Traffic Rant Epiphany

I was reading a rant or two on Craig's List and I found this blurb, "6. Step on it. If traffic's going 60 in your lane, why aren't you keeping up with the guy ahead of you? Why do you feel the need to go 57? Again, you're part of a collective out there. Read More
posted Friday, February 02, 2007 1:51 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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Meebo

Ok, I'm not going to go into this.  But check out my main page at www.adronbhall.com.  I have a Meebo insert over at the right hand side of the page.  You can chat directly with me this way.  Very, very kewl. If you don't know about Read More
posted Thursday, February 01, 2007 5:22 PM by adron | 1 Comments