It was the railroad trip from hell: the hottest day of the year, stuck for five hours on a sold-out Amtrak train where only half the cars had air conditioning. The ride to Washington days earlier had been uneventful, almost on time and pleasantly cool, even though I’d made the mistake of taking a Northeast Corridor train, not Acela. Its older Amfleet cars, though recently … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Train Ride From Hell
Talking Transportation: Airlines That Are No More
Rail fans call them “fallen flags”… railroads that are no more, like the original New Haven and New York Central Railroads. But before I start getting all misty-eyed, let’s also pay homage to airlines that have flown away into history. Like PEOPLExpress, the domestic discount airline ,which flew out of Newark’s grungy old North Terminal starting in 1981. Fares were dirt … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Airlines That Are No More
Talking Transportation: Summer Vacation … Fly or Drive?
Going on vacation this summer? If so, the question is … how to travel: drive, take the train or fly? (I’m eliminating the bus option because, well, life is too short to endure that kind of misery. I have no problems with commuting by bus, but a 10-hour ride is not going to happen!) In most cases, the choice depends on how far you’re traveling and what your budget allows. For … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Summer Vacation … Fly or Drive?
Talking Transportation: Why the Scorn for Bus Riders?
Why do many people have such scorn for those who take the bus? Forty-one million trips are taken on 12,000 public buses each year in Connecticut in communities across the state (not counting school buses.) Yet, those riders are regarded as losers, not by the transit operators, but by those who drive by car. When Southington was recently considering restoring bus service for … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why the Scorn for Bus Riders?
Talking Transportation: The ‘Port Jeff’ Ferry – Mass Transit Making a Profit
Public transportation is a money-losing proposition. But Connecticut is home to one of the few profitable transit companies in the US. It’s not CT Transit or Metro-North, both of which are heavily subsidized. No, the operation that’s squarely in the black is the Bridgeport – Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a.k.a. “the ferry”. “If you tried to start this ferry company … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The ‘Port Jeff’ Ferry – Mass Transit Making a Profit
Talking Transportation: Tolls Are in Trouble
Governor Lamont’s tolling plan is in trouble. I knew it last weekend when I got a call from Dan Malloy. The former Governor and I know each other going back to his days as Mayor of Stamford, but he’s only called me once before (many years ago when he sought my endorsement in his run for a second term as Governor.) This time he was calling about my recent column about the … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Tolls Are in Trouble
Talking Transportation: State’s Transportation Strategy Solutions Are Remarkably ‘Déjà Vu’
When are we finally going to do something about our transportation crisis? That question has been asked for decades … but never answered, or more importantly, acted upon. I remember back in 2001 when then-Speaker of the Connecticut House Moira Lyons held a news conference about our state’s transportation mess. The six-term Stamford Democrat, who was long on power by … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: State’s Transportation Strategy Solutions Are Remarkably ‘Déjà Vu’
Talking Transportation: Connecticut’s Hometown Railroad
You might not realize it, but Connecticut is home to the world headquarters of a $5 billion international railroad company on whose trains you’ll never be able to ride. In a small office building across from the Darien railroad station sits the offices of Genesee and Wyoming Inc, a “short line” railroad conglomerate. The original railroad, founded in 1899, hauled salt on a … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Connecticut’s Hometown Railroad
Talking Transportation: Why 30-30-30 Doesn’t Add Up
How would you like a faster ride on Metro-North? Who wouldn’t?! How about a 30-minute ride from Hartford to New Haven, from New Haven to Stamford or from Stamford to Grand Central? That’s the vision announced by Governor Lamont in his inaugural address. It’s known as the 30-30-30 plan and sounds good compared to current running times (52 minutes, 55 minutes and 48 minutes … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why 30-30-30 Doesn’t Add Up
Talking Transportation: Global Warming vs. Northeast Travel — An Apology to Future Generations
What follows is a public apology. Not to you, dear reader, but to future generations. “To my grand children: I’m sorry we left you with this mess. We should have done more, when we still had time.” What am I referring to? Not the national debt. Not even global terrorism. No, this apology is about coastal flooding that threatens the Northeast Corridor’s rail … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Global Warming vs. Northeast Travel — An Apology to Future Generations
Talking Transportation: Trucker Shortage Takes Its Toll
As if crumbling bridges and pot-holed highways weren’t enough to worry about, now America’s transportation network is facing a new crisis: a shortage of truck drivers. According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), trucks carry more than 70 percent of all domestic freight, bringing in $719 billion in revenue. It’s trucks, not trains, that deliver … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Trucker Shortage Takes Its Toll
Talking Transportation: An Open Letter to Ned Lamont
Dear Ned: Well, you did it. Congratulations on your election. And my condolences. The easy part of politics is over: getting elected. Now comes the hard part: being Governor. I hope you and your transition team are already working on that budget that’s due in three months. There’s a lot of red ink ($4 billion) that needs to be mopped up. And don’t forget those $80 … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: An Open Letter to Ned Lamont
Talking Transportation: ‘Getting There’ – China’s Transportation Strategy
Quiz question #1: What country has the largest interstate highway system in the world? Hint: It’s not the United States. Quiz question #2: What country has the most miles of high-speed rail? Hint: It’s not France or Japan. The answer to both questions is … China! China’s superhighways, most of them built since 1984, now cover almost twice as many miles as the US … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: ‘Getting There’ – China’s Transportation Strategy
Talking Transportation: What Does ‘On Time’ Really Mean?
Last spring, Japanese railroad officials apologized for a huge mistake: one of their trains left a station 25 seconds early! This was the second time such an egregious error had been made and I imagine that the offenders were severely disciplined. Meanwhile back on Metro-North’s New Haven line, the railroad’s latest OTP (On Time Performance) statistics stand at about 82 … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: What Does ‘On Time’ Really Mean?
Talking Transportation: Secret “Hacks” of Grand Central
There is possibly no more beautiful railroad station in the world than New York City’s Grand Central Terminal (GCT). As the destination of over 55,000 daily rail commuters from Connecticut, it’s a place where many of us spend a fair amount of time. I’ve been riding in and out of Grand Central for over 50 years. So to help you maneuver the station’s labyrinth of tunnels, … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Secret “Hacks” of Grand Central