Two bills would fund studies of expanded Maine passenger service
Maine legislators are considering two bills to study expanded passenger rail service in the state, while some residents would like to see state-owned rail corridors used for recreational trails. Currently, Maine’s only rail service, the Downeaster to Boston, terminates at Brunswick. WMTW-TV reports sponsors hope to have 90% of the state’s residents live within an hour of rail service. One of the two bills would study an extension about 20 miles northwest to Lewiston and Auburn; the other would provide analysis of an extension about 110 miles north and east to Augusta and Bangor. Lines exist on both routes but would require upgrades and the construction of stations and platforms. ““We have a secretary of transportation who is very enthusiastic about rail, and we have a lot of resources going to state and local government,” state Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) said during a Tuesday hearing. “We really have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make this happen.” The state purchased some 200 miles of rail corridors in 1989, but most are inactive, and Maine Public Radio reports that in addition to the passenger studies, the legislature’s transportation committee is also considering bills that would promote use of the rail corridors for other purposes.
TransLink tabs Maryland Transit Administration’s Quinn as new CEO
Kevin Quinn, CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration, will become the CEO of British Columbia’s TransLink, effective July 19, 2021, the transit agency announced. The Maryland agency’s mix of six transit modes, including light rail, subway, and commuter rail, provide strong parallels to the Vancouver-area operation, TransLink said in a press release. Quinn succeeds Kevin Desmond, who resigned in February. Gigi Chen-Kuo has served as TransLink’s interim CEO during the search for a successor. “We look forward to welcoming Kevin Quinn to the TransLink enterprise, which will benefit from his bold, innovative and customer-centered approach to leadership,” said Tony Gugliotta, chair of TransLink’s board of directors.
For first time, Metrolink to offer Saturday service on Ventura County Line
Southern California’s Metrolink will introduce Saturday service on its Ventura County Line between Moorpark and Los Angeles as of May 29, offering a single daily round trip. Inbound service will depart Moorpark at 8:52 a.m. and arrive at L.A. Union Station at 10:07 a.m.; the return trip will depart Union Station at 4:28 p.m. and arrive at Moorpark at 5:39. Full schedule information is available here. with a single round trip as of May 29. LA Metro and the Ventura County Transportation Commission are funding the service. “We are excited about Metrolink’s Saturday service which will open more opportunities for fun, safe and affordable rail travel for families,” Darren Kettle, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission., said in a press release. “We look forward to expanding it farther west in the near future.”
I’m most probably the only one to see the irony in the State of Maine article. “Live within an hour of rail service.” That means an hour’s drive. Which shows the truth in North America – in Canada and USA rail trips most often begin with a highway journey at one end, conclude with an automobile journey at the other end. Not much different for freight. In other words, rail in North America is a subset of freeway traffic.
In my two trips to Europe I was in a taxicab once, rental car never – everything else walk, rented bicycle, public transit bus or (mostly) rail. That’s not how we do things here in America and Canada.
Which is no different from people driving to airports. Sometimes 50-100 miles away.
The US will never be as densely populated as Europe and car ownership will always be higher here because it’s less expensive to have a car in North America and our patterns of development are set up for cars. Until that changes (and North Americans lose their fear of density) cars will be necessary.