Title: US TRANSIT FUNDING. PART 5. LRT PLANS PROFILERATE (EASTERN PART OF THE USA, EXCEPT EAST COAST)
Abstract: Details are given of light rail schemes, planned and under construction, in various towns and cities of the eastern USA with full details of problems, financial and political. In St Louis disused railway alignments are being donated by the local authority as their required local share of the 'Metro Link' which will link East St Louis with the International Airport. Kansas City has a two-phase 'Metrorail' project consisting of a loop and two branch lines. In Maryland, a 44km LRT planned for Baltimore will link the international airport, new baseball ground, conference centre and other major destinations and is expected to carry 34000 passengers daily. Several community groups have raised objections and routes have been altered. A low cost light rail project in Virginia between Norfolk and Virginia Beach will use existing Norfolk Southern Railway tracks plus new street tracks. Problems have been experienced in operating Buffalo's 'Light Rail Rapid Transit' system and still exist in funding but it has a great deal of support and 4 further extensions are planned. In Washington 70 miles and 64 stations have been completed and another 19.5 miles and 12 stations are under construction. Described as the 'best transport system in North America' two further services are planned. Several LRT lines have been planned for Detroit but problems in financing them have not been resolved. In Chicago the USD 740 million 'Central Area Distributor Project' is planned to relieve congestion. In Minnesota LRT plans have recently received approval and funding for a 25 mile sector. Details are given of Pittsburgh's successful transport network and its earlier difficulties. (TRRL)
Publication Year: 1990
Publication Date: 1990-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
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