Gov. Rick Scott said on Wednesday that he’s turning down $2 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando because he didn’t feel it was a sound investment of taxpayer money. Here’s the story from the St. Petersburg Times. It doesn’t sound like the news [continue reading]
As many of you know, the location of the eventual Century City station is one of the key remaining questions for the Westside Subway Extension. When the Metro Board adopted a route last fall – the “Locally Preferred Alternative” — they authorized Metro staff to continue studying two options. One [continue reading]
President Barack Obama on Monday released his 2012 budget, which included his priorities for transportation spending. One area of particular concern for Metro is New Starts funding — the program run by the Federal Transit Administration to help local areas pay for big, pricey transit projects. The good news is [continue reading]
The statement below was released today by the American Public Transportation Assn., a Washington-based nonprofit which represents transit agencies (including Metro) and private firms involved in building and operating transit: APTA Applauds President Obama’s Proposed FY 2012 Budget Investments in Public Transportation and High-Speed Rail Will Create American Jobs and [continue reading]
President Barack Obama on Monday released his budget for the next fiscal year, including his vision for transportation spending. Of course, this is only the start of the budget story because Congress also has a pretty big say on what dollars do — and do not — go out the [continue reading]
Over the past year, Metro’s 30/10 Initiative has gained traction locally and in Washington. There seems to be sentiment in many quarters — including the Obama Administration — that using federal loans and other financing to accelerate construction of Measure R projects is a good idea that should be enshrined [continue reading]
On Feb. 15, Amtrak will be trying something new: a morning express train from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station that will make the journey in two hours and 28 minutes — about 12 to 17 minutes faster than regular travel times that typically take two hours, 40 minutes. [continue reading]
Here’s the news from Metro CEO Art Leahy’s email to staff: The U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Representative John Mica (R-FL), will be holding a field hearing later this month in Los Angeles [continue reading]
In this relatively new feature for The Source, I express actual opinions while working for government. Members of the media: please take any of these ideas and run with them — we could use the coverage! 1. It’s kind of a mixed message to say you’re against a bus lane [continue reading]
In early 2010, President Obama announced a plan to help build a national network of high-speed rail and began doling out federal funds to projects across the United States — with California, to date, the largest recipient. The plan received a mention in the President’s State of the Union speech [continue reading]
