Smart Cities DiveAmtrak sets ridership, ticket revenue records in FY24Its board chair attributed the growth to strategic investments and "the need for train travel." Smart Cities DiveIs US high-speed rail finally on a roll?With two projects underway, business, labor and government leaders see the dawn of a new industry that “could be a very important part of the U.S. economy,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Smart Cities DiveHow the White House influences transportation grantmakingPriorities vary among administrations, an Urban Institute report found. “The president actually has substantial discretion over a lot of these programs,” one researcher said. TheTravel10 Affordable Yet Scenic Train Rides In The USEmbark on budget-friendly adventures with these 10 scenic US train rides that offer breathtaking landscapes. Explore the beauty on a dime. Smart Cities DiveUS high-speed rail projects: The latest newsSiemens Mobility will build Brightline West’s 220-mph train sets at a new facility in upstate New York, the companies announced Sept. 9. Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail could get $205B in proposed legislationHouse Democrats and rail advocates lined up behind the American High-Speed Rail Act, touting cleaner intercity transportation and economic development for cities served by these trains. Smart Cities DiveCalifornia’s Brightline West high-speed rail project gets $2.5B in bondsAs Brightline West's Las Vegas-Southern California project inches closer to construction, another high-speed rail project between LA and San Francisco is seeing a leadership change. Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail gains steam as Atlanta, Dallas aim to come aboardWith Texas and Georgia looking seriously into future bullet trains, high-speed rail could appear in states outside California. Smart Cities Dive10 passenger rail projects nab $8.2B from bipartisan infrastructure lawThe largest grants will go to Brightline West, California High-Speed Rail and a portion of the Raleigh to Richmond rail program on the East Coast. Smart Cities DiveHigh hopes for US high-speed railOnly 50 miles of high-speed track currently exist in the U.S., but an expansion could create thousands of jobs and slash greenhouse gas emissions, says a Mineta Transportation Institute study. Smart Cities Dive 3 pocketsAmtrak and Texas Central could partner on Dallas-Houston high-speed railThe proposal, which marks the start of Amtrak’s new high-speed rail push, could help restart the stalled Texas project. Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail efforts in the US: A historyHere’s the latest on three high-speed rail projects that are bringing new hope to advocates after six decades of frustrated plans and money lost. Smart Cities DiveFirst phase of Honolulu’s $9.9B rail line set to openAfter years of delays and massive cost overruns, the segment is slated to start carrying passengers ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. Smart Cities Dive$5B high-speed rail extension completed in Florida, offers lessons for other projectsThe 170-mile line from the Orlando Airport to West Palm Beach, Florida, will connect to the existing network run by private passenger rail company Brightline. Smart Cities DiveIntercity passenger rail expansion sought by 90-plus cities and states, Amtrak CEO tells House committeeSome lawmakers made the case for why Amtrak should add service to their regions, while others questioned the railroad’s commitment to passenger safety and security and its need for ongoing federal funding. Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail gains steam as Atlanta, Dallas aim to come aboardWith Texas and Georgia looking seriously into future bullet trains, high-speed rail could appear in states outside California. Fox News 59 pocketsCalifornia to pull plug on billion-dollar bullet train, cites ballooning costsCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday he is pulling the plug on the state's massive high-speed rail project from Los Angeles to San Francisco that was more than a decade behind schedule and billions in the red Smart Cities DiveShould Massachusetts build high-speed rail across the state?The state's plan for intercity passenger trains along an existing freight line are "19th-century" thinking, Rep. Seth Moulton said. He also called on the state to advance a long-needed north-south rail link in Boston. WIREDThe Filthy Truth About Subway AirLevels of particulate matter in the world’s metro systems far exceed recommended limits—and the deeper you go, the worse it gets. Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail projects vie for scant federal dollarsThere’s not enough money available in the current round of grant funding to meet the needs of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Brightline West. Smart Cities DiveCalifornia high-speed rail cost jumps to $128BThe completion date for the first segment, from Merced to Bakersfield, has also been pushed out to 2030-2033. Fifty Grande 54 pocketsMost Scenic Trains in the Country - Fifty GrandeFrom long routes that snake down the West Coast to shorter trips through celebrated regions, here are America's most scenic trains. Smart Cities DiveCost of proposed San Francisco commuter, high-speed rail tunnel grows to $6.7BThe 1.3-mile tunnel would bring commuter trains to the downtown transit center, but pre-pandemic ridership hasn't returned along the line. Smart Cities DiveFederal agencies share ‘blueprint’ for transportation decarbonizationEnergy, environment, housing and transportation regulators teamed up on strategies to realize a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with nods to micromobility, zoning reform and more. Smart Cities DiveHyperloop momentum has stalled. Here are the challenges facing the high-speed tech.Some transit experts and officials say high-speed hyperloops still have promise. But the challenges to deploying the technology to transport humans are immense. Vox 255 pocketsTrain travel in America isn’t great — but it’s still worth it anywayLong-distance trains in the US are very slow, but it’s much more environmentally friendly and rewarding. www.nytimes.comIs the Hyperloop Doomed?Though some efforts continue, the once-promising technology has run up against significant challenges — most notably creating an entirely new transit infrastructure. Smart Cities DiveTogether, EVs, AVs and multimodal transportation will create more vibrant citiesGas stations, subway stations, parking garages and roads are among the city features we can reimagine as new mobility technologies change how we get from point A to point B, writes a leading exec at Gensler. Condé Nast Traveler 57 pocketsThe Orient Express Is Resuming Its Legendary Journeys From Paris—and It’s More Glamorous Than EverThe iconic train is coming back to life in 2024, replete with Art Deco details and opulent suites. Architectural Digest 1287 pocketsThe 37 Most Beautiful Train Stations in the WorldTake time to enjoy the journey at these awe-inspiring stations Smart Cities DiveHigh-speed rail efforts in the US: A historyHere’s the latest on three high-speed rail projects that are bringing new hope to advocates after six decades of frustrated plans and money lost. Smart Cities Dive$84B in transportation law grants awarded so far: Buttigieg says during House hearingAmtrak expansion plans, high-speed rail projects, and the nation’s readiness for anticipated EV sales growth were among the topics on which Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faced questioning. Smart Cities DiveTraffic fatalities hit 16-year high in 2021, with pedestrian deaths up 13%While 2020's increases were shocking, 2021's numbers are worse, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Communities can now apply for $1 billion from the infrastructure law for greater transportation safety efforts. www.cbsnews.comScooter rider dies after hitting high-speed train in Florida linked to 62 other deathsThe Brightline train has the worst per-mile fatality rate in the nation, according to an AP analysis that began in 2019. Los Angeles TimesCosts of California's troubled bullet train rise again, by an estimated $5 billionIn a new draft business plan, the California High-Speed Rail Authority acknowledged that costs have risen roughly $5 billion. Smart Cities DiveHow Keolis North America CEO sees the state of public transportation todayAs public transit agencies struggle with labor challenges and changing ridership, the head of a large private sector contractor that operates bus and rail systems across North America seeks to help cities adapt. Wisconsin Public RadioTrains intended for unbuilt Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail line going to NigeriaTwo trains originally intended for a high-speed rail line to connect Madison and Milwaukee are headed for Nigeria. The governor of that country's Lagos State was in Milwaukee on Tuesday to purchase the unused trains. The Mercury NewsGov. Newsom doubles down on high-speed rail funding, pledges $4.2 billion to finish Central Valley segmentVoters were promised a bullet train connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes. Instead, billions in bond money will finish a 119-mile segment in Fresno, Kern, Madera, and … Smart Cities DiveTraffic is Boring: Tracking Elon Musk's tunneling proposalsSome projects for The Boring Co. have gotten off — or rather under — the ground, as others peter out. Here's where the ambitious plans stand today. Smart Cities Dive 2 pocketsFlying taxis, hyperloops and driverless cars: Is it too early to start planning for future mobility?Miami, Orlando and Pittsburgh are planning for air mobility and other novel modes of transport decades ahead. Critics say focusing on flashy, futuristic technologies distracts from simpler solutions for today. San Antonio Express-NewsTomlinson: Houston-to-Dallas bullet train would bring millions of jobs to TexasThe Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail could become a major industry if Texas moves...