Was 2008 a good year for rail?

[spokker]

Seven of the 10 proposed transit ballot measures in states around the country passed on election day. Seattle voted to expand their light rail system. Albuquerque voted to provide funding, among other things, their new commuter train service. Honolulu passed something about a train. Does Hawaii even have trains? I don't know, but good for them.

There's also the Amtrak re-authorization bill that was signed into law earlier this year. And you already know about the triumphs in California. The point is, it appears that this was a good year for passenger rail.

It's difficult to say if this is a trend away from the personal automobile and toward trains. But I think it's clear that America, and especially California, have sent a clear message about the state of transportation in this country.

And lest we forget about our buses, from the humble locals to the lumbering rapids. They are like the skeletons of our transit networks, and the trains the circulatory system, or the internal organs, or something.

Bad analogies aside, did you think this was a good year for rail?

[masonite]

Nov 6, 2008 19:45:13 GMT -8 spokker said:

Seven of the 10 proposed transit ballot measures in states around the country passed on election day. Seattle voted to expand their light rail system. Albuquerque voted to provide funding, among other things, their new commuter train service. Honolulu passed something about a train. Does Hawaii even have trains? I don't know, but good for them.

There's also the Amtrak re-authorization bill that was signed into law earlier this year. And you already know about the triumphs in California. The point is, it appears that this was a good year for passenger rail.

It's difficult to say if this is a trend away from the personal automobile and toward trains. But I think it's clear that America, and especially California, have sent a clear message about the state of transportation in this country.

And lest we forget about our buses, from the humble locals to the lumbering rapids. They are like the skeletons of our transit networks, and the trains the circulatory system, or the internal organs, or something.

Bad analogies aside, did you think this was a good year for rail?

Good to see rail enjoying a revival. There is a light-rail proposal for Honolulu. I was surprised to read about it when I was there, as you don't think of rail there. It did seem pretty ambitious. I can't remember all the specifics.

I have some worries about all these rail proposals and us not receiving federal funds partially because of them. I am not sure about the whole reasoning that using federal dollars is so much more expensive. Wasn't that the original plan for Expo anyway as of last week? That doesn't make much sense and not including a request for the next five years because of the recession seems short-sighted to me as well. Maybe I don't have all the facts, but in 5 years we could have a Republican government again and be out of luck regardless of what is going on. It seems to me that we should be asking for federal funds for Expo or Crenshaw. If not, maybe we can start the connector early. In any regards we need to make sure we get a big-time match for the subway as that will give us our biggest bang for the buck.

Overall, we need to realize that Measure R will not in and of itself change everything. We need federal funds. We need to change our culture of drive first and make public transit and just as important the pedestrian the center piece of our transportation. Overall, we need to connect our system and reward transit and punish the drive alone mentality. Employers should try to encourage transit use and discourage driving through workplace incentives and parking cash outs and so forth. We need businesses and venues to give directions via public transportation and not just via street. Measure R will help achieve this, but it won't do it by itself. We need to keep the pressure up and my worry is people will sit back and say ah, we have Measure R, so no worries.

[spokker]

To me, Measure R is only the beginning.

You know, I figured this transit advocacy stuff was just a bunch of nonsense to be honest, and consisted mostly of people arguing about trains. I was very cautious about doing anything other than posting some dumb messages on forums.

But after seeing Measure R and 1A pass, I'm starting to think there's something to it and I'm considering getting more involved.

In any case, it's an exciting time to be a train nerd.

[kenalpern]

Or a transportation advocate that wants the mobility, economy and quality of life in our region to improve.

[whitmanlam]

Measure R and Prop 1A will be a huge boost, not only for the people of California, but also for business and the local economy.

We can create tens of thousands of much needed quality jobs. Transit Oriented development will create thousands of units of affordable and workforce housing, as well as new businesses to serve them. By voting YES on these ballot measures, we have the potential to jump start another building boom ... this time with Long Term benefits.

I think the record vote turnout helped a lot. 82% in LA County ... without the sheer numbers of average, everyday voters.... I don't think it could have passed.
Also give credit to the Labor Unions and Environmental groups who funded the much needed TV ads.

That being said, Measure M and Prop 1A is only a start ... not exactly the means to rebuild our economy.
The money will take several years to be implemented, possibly starting in 2010 or 2012 to be used.
And even with that funding $19 Billion won't be enough to build a high speed rail, with all the costly grade separations and ROW purchases involved. The Subway to the Sea will also have an astronomical price tag and leap through many hurdles.

We will need extra funding to get it done, whether from State, Federal, or Private sources, we're in a recession, these funds are scarce.

The optimistic should hope for Expo Santa Monica and the Foothill Goldline extension to be started ASAP (Which would be 2010 at the earliest).

But by far the most immediate and cost effective fix, would be for Metrolink. Some of the money should be used to equip Metrolink trains with safety equipment, positive train control, and better signal/switch/dispatch system.
Dangerous crossings should be upgraded with sealed crossing gates, cameras, and grade separation wherever possible (This will come eventually with the HSR).

I would also like to see Metrolink lines extended to Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Redlands, Hemet etc. With the right oversight, it will be very cost effective, and cost much less than light rail.

That being said, I am very proud that we as a region, understand the importance of Transit ... and leaving the automobile dictatorship. I just wish these ballot measures could have been approved in 2004, imagine where we would be now.

[bobdavis]

Trainorders.com (a website used by both railfans and professional railroaders) recently ran photos of test trains on the light rail line in Phoenix AZ. It appears to be ready for its scheduled opening in less than two months (week after Christmas). Today's Trainorders had an item about the Siemens LRV plant in Sacramento expanding facilities and hiring 200 workers!

[wad]

November 2008 was a banner election for transit.

Look at this tally of all the measures on the ballot nationwide. A lot of the measures are bus-only service upgrades, though, since smaller areas also put up ballot measures. Transit wins by a landslide.

[roadtrainer]

I was just thinking today how wonderful it is the Measure R won! ;D And that it means that when Metro wants to lay rails the criticizers of MTA can't say squat! The BRU can't say a word because they can't touch it! It is because the majority voted these projects into being and they can't even sue to divert the money for more buses and less trains! Everything has to be sent the way the voters say! Those politicians who voted against Measure R really are mad because they can't divert the money for their pet projects either! So all together the enemies of the MTA have their mouths tapes shut for the next thirty years and can't stop the Expo-Line II, the Gold-line Ext. to Azusa., and the TDC, or rail to the Airport!
It's just wonderful. Now if we can only get the same measure for the State transportation funds, that would be wonderful too!

[kenalpern]

The local fight is indeed over for now, and the federal fight is likely to be won next year as well. The state fight has yet to be won.

A bigger problem, current and ongoing, will be to ensure that funds are laid out appropriately and cost-effectively. Contractors' feet must be held firmly to the fire, and we need to make sure that concrete, metal, asphalt and building materials are acquired locally and inexpensively for us to get more for our tax dollars.

We need to find a way to get building materials to be cut in half.

[Jason Saunders]

When I worked for the city and Metro, I recall having conversations with engineers whom part of their job responsibilities involved estimating the cost of construction projects. They complained that the cost of concrete and steel in particular were skyrocketing so rapidly it made it near impossible to accurately predict the cost of a project.

City projects in particular were going over budget because of these increases. When I asked what was driving these increases they explained that concrete and steel are world commodities and that China and Dubai were building whole cities of skyscrappers. This veracious appetite had a very severe impact on the cost of materials back here at home.

Dubai

[jejozwik]

thats ok, the global financiapocalypse has shifted dubai into a lower gear, just in time for measure r!

[bobdavis]

There was a report on a railway preservation website regarding scrap steel prices--apparently scrap is fetching less than half of what it did a year ago (someone with a connection to the metals markets may be able to confirm or correct this), and this could foretell a drop in "rebar" and structural steel costs.

[whitmanlam]

This is actually a prime time for construction projects. The price for raw materials have dropped significantly along with the price of oil and commodities. The economic slowdown has also hit China, India, Brazil, and even Russia which claims to be immune to the "Western capitalist blunder".

Steel, concrete, and copper wire can be purchased now and "hedged" in case the price goes up again. In these times other countries like China, Russia, Japan, and Europe invest billions $$$ into their infrastructure projects .... unlike America who spends billions $$$ on tax breaks.

Economic stimulus doesn't come from tax breaks, it comes from putting the nation to work.

[kenalpern]

Frankly, we should procure and secure local quarries and flood the market with cheaper materials in order to get more for our tax dollar.

[metrocenter]

Yes, commodities have lost much of their overinflated value over the past few months. This should definitely help bring down, or at least stabilize, construction costs on our rail lines.

Another thing: Obama is promising a new stimulus package consisting of major public works projects to rebuild America's infrastructure. It will be important over the next few months for transit advocates to speak up, to ensure that transit is a major part of those plans.

And finally, as Ken wrote, it will be *very* important to have controls in place to prevent corruption and cost overruns, like that which turned the public against rail transit in L.A. a decade ago.

[LAofAnaheim]

2008 was a fantastic year for rail transit fans. Metrolink and Metro had ridership records broken. Measure R, San Jose's Measure B 1/8th sales tax increase, and Prop 1A all passed! Gas prices skyrocketed like crazy, which made some people give transit a try all over the United States. Watching over the summer, you can see the frustration on commuters of how inadequate the United States infrastructure of mass transit is; and how there is a renewed focus in Congress in transit funding. Amtrak got a significant boost in funding this year! Gold Line eastside and Expo Line continue construction in 2008!

Can't wait until FY2010, when Expo Phase II, Foothill Gold Line, and the Orange Line extensions can commence construction. Hopefully Metro can get some matching funds for the Purple Line extension, Crenshaw Corridor, and the Downtown Connector; and we can expand transit further beyond our wildest dreams over the next 30 years!!

Next plan of focus....let's start a reduction of parking requirements over the city, so we can start building dense around stations and promote walkability throughout the City!!!

[darrell]

The day after Thanksgiving Christmas music is playing all over.

You gotta see this YouTube music video "NO EL" that will forever corrupt your hearing "Noel" again.