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
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
Talking Transportation: Trucks as Traffic Scapegoats
“Why don’t we just ban all trucks from our interstate highways in rush hour?” The question was asked of me by a small town mayor in Fairfield County who’d obviously given a lot of thought to solutions to our traffic woes. He’s a smart guy and thought he’d come up with “the answer” to our transportation crisis. He said he wasn’t in favor of tolls, but liked them as a traffic … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Trucks as Traffic Scapegoats
Talking Transportation: ‘Train Time is Your Own Time’ … True or False?
“Train time is your own time” was the old marketing slogan of Metro-North, encouraging commuters to kick back and enjoy the ride while reading, working or taking a snooze. But in reality, train time is shared time. They don’t call it “mass transit” for nothing as passengers much share their space with a hundred other commuters on each railcar. Assuming you get a seat, this … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: ‘Train Time is Your Own Time’ … True or False?
Talking Transportation: “The Automotive-Construction Complex”
How did Americans develop their love affair with driving? Visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington and the transportation exhibit, “America on the Move,” will sell you on the commonly-held theory that when Henry Ford made cars affordable, Americans loved them and demanded more and more highways. Of course, that exhibit is sponsored by General … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: “The Automotive-Construction Complex”
Talking Transportation: Federal Air Marshals? Worthwhile or Worthless?
Do you feel safe when you fly? Forget about exploding jet engines, cracked aircraft windows and clear-air turbulence. What about terrorists? We haven’t seen a domestic case of terrorists attacking jetliners in years, thanks to increased scrutiny of passengers by the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration. From the moment you book a flight, you are being … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Federal Air Marshals? Worthwhile or Worthless?
Talking Transportation: Connecticut: Love It or Leave It
The recent debate over tolling our highways should remind us of just how divided our state has become. Not red vs. blue and not even just upstate vs. downstate. The real divide is between those who commute by car vs. those who take mass transit. I’ve written for years about the fact that riders on Metro-North pay the highest commuter rail fares in the US, and those fares … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Connecticut: Love It or Leave It
Talking Transportation: Transport Cuts Will Hurt Us All
For weeks I’ve been writing about the CDOT’s impending bus and rail service cuts and fare hikes and their profound impact on commuters, local businesses and real estate values. But with just weeks to go, the folks who can prevent this pain… our legislature… seem to be doing nothing. The deadline is July 1 this year when proposed CDOT cuts will go into effect: A 10 percent … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Transport Cuts Will Hurt Us All
Talking Transportation: “Getting There” – Grabbing The Best Seat
It was the folks at Cunard who said “Getting there is half the fun”. And crossing the Atlantic in style on an ocean liner certainly was. But whatever your mode of transportation, getting the right seat can make for an enjoyable or miserable trip. On Metro-North, I usually go for a window seat. However, on crowded trains, any seat is better than none. But I can still get an … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: “Getting There” – Grabbing The Best Seat
Talking Transportation: Citizen Anger About Imminent Transport Funding Cuts Needs to be Directed at Legislature
In recent weeks I’ve been criss-crossing the state talking to folks about our transportation crisis: the proposed fare hikes on trains and buses coupled with service cuts on the branch lines, and the multi-billion spending cuts at CDOT. I call it the “Winter of our discontent” magical misery tour. From Woodbridge to New Canaan, from Old Lyme to West Haven, I’ve talked to … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Citizen Anger About Imminent Transport Funding Cuts Needs to be Directed at Legislature
Talking Transportation: Why I Support Malloy’s Plan for Tolls, Gas Taxes
Am I the only person in the state who thinks Gov Malloy’s plan for tolls and gas taxes makes sense? Probably. But let me try once again to overcome the usual objections and explain why Malloy’s plan is fair and necessary. TOLLS ARE TAXES: No, tolls are users fees. Train fares aren’t taxes, are they? If you don’t want to pay a few pennies a gallon more for gasoline, don’t … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why I Support Malloy’s Plan for Tolls, Gas Taxes
Talking Transportation: “Getting There” Malloy’s Transportation Cuts
Fare hikes, rail service cuts and a freeze on transportation projects. As he promised in December, Governor Malloy announced them all in January. Rail commuters and highway drivers are justifiably outraged, but they should direct their anger not at the Governor or CDOT but at the legislature. WHY NOW? This funding crisis has been years in the making, exacerbated 20 years … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: “Getting There” Malloy’s Transportation Cuts