Jerusalem and Norfolk

[James Fujita]

The world sees the introduction of TWO light rail lines today:

The Atlantic port town of Norfolk, Virginia, opens the Tide.

And Jerusalem, Israel, also gets its first light rail line. The Holy City had some rather unique NIMBY problems to deal with... Orthodox Jews and Palestinians, oy vey...

[bobdavis]

And just as Norfolk finishes their light rail line, Hurricane Irene comes up the coast. Reminds me of ten years ago next month, when Portland MAX opened their Airport Line on Sept 10, and the next day there was no air traffic at PDX (or any other commercial airport). Not quite as serious, but only two months after the Pasadena Gold Line opened, a Metro strike made the shiny new rails rusty and stunted ridership growth. Sometimes I think there's a curse on electric railways that goes back to the days of carbarn fires, "cornfield meets" and other "bad trolley days".