This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Mianus River Bridge collapse, which killed three people. That accident on I-95 in Greenwich was attributed to years of neglected inspections and maintenance, the inevitable result of penny-pinching in Hartford. Will the recent Metro-North crash (which injured 76 passengers) also be tied to long-postponed repairs? Last week, … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The July Gas Tax Increase
Talking Transportation
Talking Transportation: Metro-North in Crisis?
“Is it safe to ride Metro-North?” I’ve been asked that question by reporters and commuters alike dozens of times in recent weeks. My answer in a moment, after some background. Days ago the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its initial report on the cause of the May 17th derailment and subsequent collision of two trains, a report that seemed to fault … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Metro-North in Crisis?
Talking Transportation: High Speed Rail – Updates
Time for a quick update on the good and not-so good news about high-speed rail around the world: CHINA: The high-speed train between Beijing and Shanghai just passed the 100 million passenger ridership mark after less than 2 years of operations. The sleek trains depart every 15 minutes carrying 1,000+ passengers at 200+ mph, covering the 819 mile distance … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: High Speed Rail – Updates
Talking Transportation: Cruise Ships: The Devils on The Deep Blue Sea
In the eight years I’ve been writing this column I’ve never found a reason to write about cruise ships, one of my favorite ways to travel. Since my Dad took me as a passenger on freighters through the Caribbean when I was a kid right up to our now-annual cruises to the same area, I’ve always loved the high seas. There’s nothing easier than driving to the pier in New York … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Cruise Ships: The Devils on The Deep Blue Sea
Talking Transportation: TSA – The Toughest Job in Transportation
Who do you think has the toughest job in transportation? Airline pilots? Long-haul truck drivers? Metro-North conductors? To my thinking, the toughest job is being an airport TSA agent. Forget the recent furor over revised Transportation Security Administration rules soon to allow small knives in carry-on luggage. The plastic knives the flight attendants distribute in … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: TSA – The Toughest Job in Transportation
Talking Transportation: Malloy Seeks To Kill the Commuter Council
Shortly after he came to office, I wrote something critical of newly elected Governor Malloy. Nothing new there. I’d certainly questioned Republican governors in years past, usually to little response. But this time the reaction was different. A Malloy confidante, a senior State Senator from Fairfield County, took me aside and threatened me. Not physically, but … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Malloy Seeks To Kill the Commuter Council
Talking Transportation: The Great Train (Ticket) Robbery
If you had a contract with someone and paid them in advance to do a job, only to find they never provided that service, you should get your money back, right? Otherwise, by keeping the money and not delivering on the bargain, that person would be committing fraud. Well, that’s exactly what Metro-North does to weekly and monthly ticket holders when it sells those tickets, … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Great Train (Ticket) Robbery
Talking Transportation: Flight Attendants
Any regular reader of this column knows that I hate to fly. I’ll enjoy an overnight Amtrak sleeper ride to Chicago over a 3-hour flight, anyday (or night). But when I do have to fly, I really like seeing grey hair in the cockpit. The older and more experienced the pilots, the better (despite this crazy FAA rule that pilots must retire at age 65, regardless of their … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Flight Attendants
Talking Transportation: The Five Biggest Lies About Highway Tolls
Like it or not, get ready to pay tolls on our Interstates and Parkways. Transportation officials in Hartford say there’s just no other way to raise badly needed money for over-due infrastructure repairs. Tolls may not be popular, but neither are collapsing bridges. In the last decade’s debate on highway tolling, here are the five biggest lies that opponents have used to … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Five Biggest Lies About Highway Tolls
Metro North’s Huge Price Increase Stems from Malloy
The Malloy ‘Tax’ On Commuters If a mugger came up to you on the street and said “I’m going to poke your eyes out!”, but then he only kicked you in the groin, would you think better of him? That’s what Metro-North commuters are asking themselves now that CDOT has decided on 15.25% fare hike spread over the next three years instead of the 16.4% hike first proposed. Are we … [Read more...] about Metro North’s Huge Price Increase Stems from Malloy
Saving Money Going to NYC
Whether you’re a daily commuter, an occasional day-tripper or have friends visiting this summer, everyone can save money when you go into NYC by following this time-tested advice: TRANSITCHEK: For commuters, see if your employer subscribes to this fabulous service, which allows workers to buy up to $230 per month in mass transit using pre-tax dollars. If you’re in the … [Read more...] about Saving Money Going to NYC
Talking Transportation
The CT Rail Commuter Council’s “Winter Crisis – Commuter Summit” last week was a big success. Dozens of commuters turned out to share their horror stories about trying to ride Metro-North this winter… no heat, no information, no seats and in many cases, no trains! Metro-North and the CT Dept of Transportation made the usual excuses and apologies, which placated few… “we’re … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation