Something like 1.73 million Americans board airplanes ever day. And each of them must go through a very necessary screening by the TSA, the Transportation Security Agency. But beginning in late January 2018, a lot of passengers will be denied boarding because they don’t have the right kind of ID. You can thank (or blame) the Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 after … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Will the Real ID Act Disrupt Travel?
Talking Transportation
Talking Transportation: Who Should Pay for Sound Barriers?
Building and maintaining our highways is expensive. But here’s a quiz question: on interstates 95 and 84, what costs a half-million dollars a mile to construct? The answer: sound barriers. Why are we spending that kind of money to enshroud our interstates simply to protect the peace and quiet of its neighbors? Didn’t they know that living that close to a highway came … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Who Should Pay for Sound Barriers?
Talking Transportation: Why Metro-North’s ‘Quiet Cars’ Aren’t Quiet
What happens when a good idea goes bad? Consider Metro-North’s 'Quiet Car' initiative. Sixteen years ago a group of regular commuters on Amtrak’s early morning train to DC had an idea: why not designate one car on the train as a 'Quiet Car', free from cell phone chatter and loud conversations. The railroad agreed and the experiment proved a great success. Now all … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why Metro-North’s ‘Quiet Cars’ Aren’t Quiet
Talking Transportation: All Tickets Please!
Imagine you’re in a store and you see somebody shoplifting. You’re embarrassed to say anything or to make a scene, but inside you’re pissed-off. You pay for your merchandise, so why should that guy get it for free? And if he’s ripping off the store, doesn’t the merchant actually make you pay more to make up for that loss? It’s morally wrong and it’s just not fair. Yet … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: All Tickets Please!
Talking Transportation: Don’t Blame Malloy for the Fare Hikes
Sure, it was sleazy of Governor Malloy and the CDOT to release news of a proposed five percent fare hike on Metro-North on a Friday afternoon in July, hoping nobody would notice. But the more I dig into the proposal, the more I realize the Governor and CDOT are not to blame. It’s the Connecticut legislature that’s really responsible for this fare hike. Lawmakers this session … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Don’t Blame Malloy for the Fare Hikes
Talking Transportation: Summer Daytrips To Ride Connecticut’s Rail History
If you’re looking for family fun this summer, consider visiting one of Connecticut’s many living museums celebrating our rail heritage. The Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven (www.shorelinetrolley.com) was founded in 1945 and now boasts more than 100 trolley cars in its collection. It still runs excursion trolleys for a short run on tracks once used by The Connecticut … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Summer Daytrips To Ride Connecticut’s Rail History
Talking Transportation: America’s Mass Transit Mecca
What’s the most mass-transit intensive city in the US? By the numbers, New York City. But for a glimpse of the real future of mass-transit, the winner is clearly Portland, Oregon. Portland has only 632,000 residents but 2.3 million in its metro area. Yet it has, per capita, what I think is the largest, most extensive and best integrated systems of light rail, streetcars … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: America’s Mass Transit Mecca
Talking Transportation: Why Ferries Aren’t the Answer for Commuting in Connecticut
Recently, NYC Mayor DeBlasio announced a $325 million plan to reintroduce ferry boat service to the five boroughs charging the same fare as subways. The mayor says these boats could carry 4.5 million passengers a year. So why don’t we have ferries in Connecticut? There are several reasons: SPEED: In open water, fast ferries on the Sound could make 30 knots (35 mph). … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why Ferries Aren’t the Answer for Commuting in Connecticut
Talking Transportation: Big Brother Comes Along for the Ride
Here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors. It’s the only way to live, in cars.* * Quote from Gary Numan, “Cars”, 1979 You may feel that your car is your last private refuge in this busy world. But there’s someone along for the ride: Big Brother. And you’d be surprised what he knows about you, thanks to modern technology. Cell Phones: Your cell … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Big Brother Comes Along for the Ride
Talking Transportation: Infrastructure – Dangling by a Thread
The recent fire under the Park Avenue viaduct in Harlem, which disrupted commutes of a quarter million Metro-North riders got me thinking: our aging, crumbling and vulnerable transportation infrastructure is close to collapse, and the effects of such failure could be catastrophic. Consider this track-record: June 1983: Inadequate inspections and repairs cause the collapse … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Infrastructure – Dangling by a Thread
Talking Transportation: The ‘Lock Box’ is Log-Jammed in Hartford
I hope you've been following CT-N to watch our dysfunctional legislature in recent weeks as they struggle to fill a $900 million budget gap. Not only could they not get a new budget together before adjourning (only to be summoned back mid-May for a special session), but the legislative logjam left several important measures in limbo. Among them, the long debated “lock box” for … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The ‘Lock Box’ is Log-Jammed in Hartford
Talking Transportation: Why There’s No Wi-Fi On Metro-North
A few weeks ago a friend was showing me his new Chevy Volt. Not only does the hybrid-electric car get 42 mpg, it has its own Wi-Fi hotspot. That's right. The car is a Wi-Fi device, so kids in the backseat can watch YouTube. Days later we were on a road-trip from the Maryland shore when we caught the Lewes – Cape May ferry. Onboard the vessel they offered passengers free … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Why There’s No Wi-Fi On Metro-North
Talking Transportation: Is Uber Really a Bargain?
In the almost two years since Uber rolled into Connecticut, the state's car/taxi service business has been rocked to its core. But is Uber competing on the same level as taxis and car service companies? Of course not, which is why it's so successful. I spoke with Uber's Connecticut Manager Matt Powers and Drivers Unlimited (a Darien car & limo company) owner Randy Klein … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Is Uber Really a Bargain?
Talking Transportation: Cross Country by Amtrak
A recent business trip took me to Dallas on a crowded, turbulent 3 ½ hour flight from LaGuardia. But the return trip was a real treat: two days and nights on Amtrak, for free. Riding a lot of Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor, I've built up a ton of Amtrak Guest Rewards points, augmented by their co-branded credit card. So when I checked my calendar and the Amtrak … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Cross Country by Amtrak
Talking Transportation: The Secrets of Riding Metro-North
Each week, dozens of people ride Metro-North for the first time. This week's column is to let both new and veteran commuters in on the secrets of a successful rail commute. PARKING: You can't take the train if you can't get to the station, so invest in your commuting future by getting your name on your town's (and neighboring towns') waiting lists for annual parking … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Secrets of Riding Metro-North