cartky.org

There has been a lot of confusion about Louisville's official status in the High Speed Rail push. When the President stands in front of a map showing a Louisville to Indy HSR link, people naturally ask why they haven't heard anything about it. CART president Ron Schneider made this post to the CART board, trying to clear up the confusion:

Folks:

Here are two maps, one from the midwest high speed rail associaton (MHSRA) and the other from the Federal Railroad Administration.  They show planned high speed rail corridors in the midwest and federally designated high speed rail corridors, respectively.  Both of these include a line from Indianapolis to Louisville, not for bus service, but for high speed rail service.  The service may not be as fast as the other lines in the MHSRA grid, but a speed of 90-110 mph cannot legally reached by a bus:

The press release, reproduced in full:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has approved a $250,000 grant to study the feasibility of high-speed passenger service on a rail corridor that includes Louisville.

Gov. Beshear joined with Govs. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee and Sonny Perdue of Georgia in supporting a study of the corridor that runs from Chicago to Atlanta, through Louisville and Nashville, Tenn.

“Our goal, ultimately, is to see the national high-speed rail system revised and enhanced to include this corridor,” Gov. Beshear said. “We believe this would correct an omission in the nationwide network – especially in terms of a continuous passenger rail corridor from Chicago to Florida.”

Sooooooooo......whaddya doing next Tuesday night?

You say you have a date with your television? With your couch? Need to paint your nails? You say the icky cold, dark, winter weather makes you unwilling to leave the house and the warmth of your bunny slippers and snuggly thing?

Wellllllll.......I have a something that will warm you through and through. Come on out to Car-Free Happy Hour! It's so hot, IT'S PRACTICALLY ON FIRE! The tasty food and bevs at Car-Free Happy Hour will WARM your mouth, large intestine, small intenstine, stomach, etc. The fascinating conversation and excellent presentations will HEAT UP the neural pathways in your noggin. The fab new frienships you will forge will SET YOUR HEART ON FIRE. The residual toastiness from Car-Free Happy Hour will keep you thoroughly thawed until Spring arrives.

Bring a friend or two. They like to be warm, too!

Tuesday January 12
5:30-8PM
@The Monkey Wrench
1025 Barret Avenue

Seeya there!

Minding the gap:

There is a consensus in the transportation activism community that Amtrak will be back in Louisville. We know how to do it - we did it a decade ago, and gained vital experience doing it. Generally the groupthink is that we'll restore service to Indy and Chicago, because that's what we had last time.

David Hodson turns that idea on its head:

While the construction of the Rapid Access Monorail would get top priority, the plan also calls for linking in the suburbs using existing freight rail tracks and Diesel Electric Multiple Unit trains - hereafter DEMUs.

DEMU Technology

These were referred to as "Hybrid Light Rail" cars during the presentation, and although this is technically accurate, nobody else calls 'em that. There was an effort to tie into the strong "Light Rail" branding that still lingers on here in the wake of "T2" Light Rail.

DEMUs are hybrids because they have a small diesel engine and a battery, both of which can power the wheels. And they're light rail because they're lightweight and efficient.

You are invited to:

"A 21st Century Public Transit System Serving Kentucky & the Louisville Region"

Presented by Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and candidate for U.S. Senate.

10am December 3rd, 2009
Louisville Union Station - 1000 West Broadway

This meeting is free and open to the public.
Please join us!

More below...

This is San Francisco's Market Street in 1905, the dawn of the automotive age. The interplay between pedestrians, streetcars, wagons, and cars is amazing. As foreign as anything you'll see in another country.

hat tip INFRASTRUCTURIST

I recommend Lind's book, Moving Minds, to everyone interested in public transportation.

Transportation For America is promoting a public discussion between Mr Lind and Sam Staley.

Branden and R. David over at Broken Sidewalk have this quality post up about Louisville's passenger rail. Its a must read for rail fans.