Pondering Amtrak while riding European high-speed trains
After seeing what dignified train travel looks like, my affection for Amtrak has diminished…or at least evolved.
high speed rail
Metro Council will hear plan for “ultra” high speed rail
250 mph on a train sounds pretty damn good to us.
Bikes, Bridges and Bullet Trains: Riding Japan’s Shimanami Kaido route
Robert Pickett, a former (and future!) Portland resident and member of the Portland Police Bureau Bicycle Patrol Unit, is currently serving as a U.S. diplomat stationed with his wife and two daughters in Sapporo, Japan. “Its the best ride in Japan—let me know if you end up doing it and want some company.” High praise … Read more
Transpo bill: Rail advocates say new tracks, not more lanes, will fix congestion
Umm, hello? Has anyone seen passenger rail?
How bikes might (or might not) fit into ODOT’s rail plans
ODOT’s Betsy Imholt.(Photo: Daniel Ronan) The Obama Administration recently green-lighted money for development of a rail corridor between Eugene and Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hosting a series of open houses to discuss the project. I recently spoke with ODOT’s rail program study director Betsy Imholt and attended the open house … Read more
How ’bout some trails with those high-speed rails?
Obama’s rail vision: Any room for bikes? With the Obama Administration’s announcement of $8 billion for high-speed rail projects across America, I wondered if any of that money might help bolster our country’s trail network. The Rails to Trails Conservancy seemed like a natural place to start, but it turns out that the development of … Read more
California says yes to high-speed rail
52% of California voters said yes to a proposition that helps fund a $45 billion “bullet train” between Orange County in the south to the San Francisco Bay Area. This was a closely watched vote by transportation advocates nationwide because, if built, it will be the first project of its kind in America. While driving … Read more