tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85222037232156861782024-02-02T02:53:51.531-05:00PantographUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-57027638949366345992010-09-22T22:06:00.002-04:002010-09-22T22:13:35.907-04:00End of the lineSo I am way too swamped with school work, interning, Studio, and preparing to study at the Bauhaus next semester to make any attempt to update this blog anymore. I'm not adding any more posts this year unless a light rail bond issue miraculously appears on the ballot this November. Otherwise, I plan to get all this work done and then take lots of fun transit pics in Europe next year. See ya!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-49852199413307081032010-06-22T08:39:00.007-04:002010-07-16T11:45:11.021-04:00Cincinatti, parking mandates and transitThe Transport Politic yesterday reported that <a href="http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/06/21/readying-streetcar-plans-cincinnati-considers-reducing-parking-requirements/">the Cincinatti, OH planning commission has decided to reduce the number of required parking spaces</a> at residential and commercial buildings within 600 feet of the new streetcar line downtown. It isn't a done deal because their city council needs to vote on it in order to change the zoning code. Nonetheless this shows a solid commitment to making streetcar transit work rather than just being "a trophy piece to parade around."<br /><br />Minimum parking requirements are destructive to urban areas. They drive up the cost of construction because every new building requires a shadow building for car parking. Then they drive up the cost of living for people who have to pay for the shadow parking structures after construction. They reduce the city tax base because every parking garage replaces businesses or housing that isn't operating there and bringing tax revenue to city coffers. They stifle new business creation when locations that might otherwise work can't provide "X" number of spaces per 1,000 square feet. They destroy the very urban fabric that defines the city by creating vast dead spaces that are hostile to street life. <br /><br />Parking minimums also have a deleterious effect on transit by incentivizing car driving. Each new 400 space parking garage that goes up downtown represents 400 drivers who have no reason to take transit to work. Every new city housing unit is required to provide one off-street parking space so potential transit riders now have parking on both ends of their commute. Even grocery stores in urban areas are required to provide vast parking lagoons for their customers. Why would people take transit anywhere with so much "free" parking to be had?<br /><br />If we're going to revive our urban areas (and we will have to in coming decades) we have to make them dense again and that means utilizing all available space for humans- not cars and SUVs. The surface parking lots or "missing teeth" have to be filled in with human-scaled buildings. Maybe we will even be able to reconfigure some of our parking garages for living or work spaces. But we can't do this with our current regime of parking requirements. We also cannot support transit as long as we continue to subsidize car driving to the degree we have over the last 70-80 years. The Natti realizes this, I hope other American cities follow suit (ahem, Richmond.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-58583943283998616852010-06-04T12:38:00.004-04:002010-06-04T12:59:56.873-04:00Die Partybahn!I will be studying at the Bauhaus-University in Weimar, Germany next year so I am in the process of learning all I can about Germany. Weimar is in the state of Thuringia in central Germany, about 2.5 hours east of Frankfurt and 3 hours south of Berlin. Naturally the first thing I looked up about Weimar was if it has a tram- sadly it does not. But the next town east is called Jena, and it does have a tram. Not only a regular transit tram, but an older charter tram called <span style="font-weight:bold;">Die Partybahn!</span> I will be in Germany during the occurrence of my 32nd birthday, and I fully intend to spend it aboard <span style="font-weight:bold;">Die Partybahn!</span><br /><br />I ran some text from <a href="http://www.jenah.de/index.php?id=192">their website</a> through Google Translate:<br /><br />"The party can also train you for the pleasure of own party. Book Birthdays, stag parties, weddings, Semester parties, class reunions, school introductions, youth harriers and confirmations - the party has to train every occasion the very special atmosphere.<br /><br />You ask by mail (marketing@jenah.de) or by telephone at 03 641 41 41 29 to see if your preferred date is free and set start and destination stop and the duration of voyages. <br /><br />The hourly rates for the rental of the party train are:<br />1 hours: 152,00 EUR<br />1.5 hours: 218,00 EUR<br />2 hours: 285,00 EUR.<br /><br />Find out about the food and drinks."<br /><br />And here is <span style="font-weight:bold;">Die Partybahn!</span> in action:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.jenah.de/uploads/pics/partybahn_02.jpg"> <img src="http://www.jenah.de/uploads/pics/partybahn-von-aussen.jpg"><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9oDrmRsvxuE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9oDrmRsvxuE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Can't wait to get on the party train!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-87238517578593382472010-05-08T14:29:00.002-04:002010-05-08T14:51:03.412-04:00Video of Washington, D.C.'s new streetcar<object id="9149" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbcwashington.com/syndication?id=92919719&path=%2Fnews%2Flocal-beat"/><embed src="http://www.nbcwashington.com/syndication?id=92919719&path=%2Fnews%2Flocal-beat" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/video">http://www.nbcwashington.com/video</a>.</p></object><br /><br />It's strange that the overhead contact wires are so controversial. Tram opponents argue that they will ruin the viewscape of the city, and indeed DC's original trolley system collected power with a scoop from a trench. But overhead wires aside, I think there's a legitimate argument that the streetcar will still have a decluttering effect on the streetscape by way of taking cars off the congested city streets. Like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-33775899135467681162010-04-09T12:37:00.002-04:002010-04-09T12:55:19.924-04:0047 Bleicherweg, Zurich<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL95ndyEG6k43BE0ve_XE8iPni9RON6NtOhaQCP6qO9h0ZEadb-dvquH54XJfQ4IeOOfU8mmdGILAC_j6fS3pLvWZYuM1Gr3DGT1fzPI_ojK29fVASXo1xXJr1laZcC4YGEewF_MvqyE/s1600/Zurich+complete+street.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 116px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL95ndyEG6k43BE0ve_XE8iPni9RON6NtOhaQCP6qO9h0ZEadb-dvquH54XJfQ4IeOOfU8mmdGILAC_j6fS3pLvWZYuM1Gr3DGT1fzPI_ojK29fVASXo1xXJr1laZcC4YGEewF_MvqyE/s200/Zurich+complete+street.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458182327342909474" /></a><br />Take a look at this "complete street" in Zurich, Switzerland. Wide sidewalks are sheltered from the elements; a curbside bike lane set off with yellow paint; a single lane for vehicles; a sheltered platform island for tram passengers; a lane for the tram; another tram platform; then two tram lanes; then the opposite sidewalk. Can you think of an American street with three streetcar lanes, a bike lane, and only one lane for cars?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-63004015774963221482010-03-16T22:44:00.003-04:002010-03-17T00:28:40.249-04:00A couple bright spots in VA's new budgetIt's not all bad news for the Commonwealth under the new biennial budget passed by the General Assembly this week. As reported by the Times-Dispatch, there are a couple bright spots for transportation.<br /><br />-The budget allows the state transportation board to steer money from construction projects to mass transit funding.<br /><br />-Authorizes new funding for new rail service between Richmond and Norfolk, as well as funding for service between Lynchburg and Washington, D.C.<br /><br />At this time I can't find any more details about what the first item may mean for transit. I hope it means that money allocated for road construction could move to transit funding, because every transit system in the state is suffering. HRT needs more money for their light rail project, perhaps that is what negotiators had in mind. But that short bullet doesn't make clear if other transit funding is being reduced and this is supposed to cover the shortfall.<br /><br />Follow the link to a brief discussion of the budget at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.<br /><br /><a href="http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/about_the_budget/330385/">About the budget</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-87146217498960383762010-03-04T20:51:00.002-05:002010-03-04T20:54:23.400-05:00HRT's LRV security detail <embed type='application/x-shockwave-flash' salign='l' flashvars='&titleAvailable=true&playerAvailable=true&searchAvailable=false&shareFlag=N&singleURL=http://wtkr.vidcms.trb.com/alfresco/service/edge/content/c818cdf3-3f0d-4915-9871-c4ac0720830d&propName=wtkr.com&hostURL=http://www.wtkr.com&swfPath=http://wtkr.vid.trb.com/player/&omAccount=triblocaltvglobal&omnitureServer=wtkr.com' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' menu='true' name='PaperVideoTest' bgcolor='#ffffff' devicefont='false' wmode='transparent' scale='showall' loop='true' play='true' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' quality='high' src='http://wtkr.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf' align='middle' height='450' width='300'></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-2388091134583714092009-12-17T00:02:00.004-05:002009-12-17T00:14:11.894-05:00Baltimore MTA Light Rail picsMy buddy Will visited Baltimore, Maryland recently and sent me these pictures of their light rail system. It is a one-line operation with 33 stations and short spurs to Baltimore's Penn Station, BWI airport and Glenn Burnie. The LRV's were manufactured by ABB Traction circa 1991 with a capacity of 85 seated and 91 standing passengers. Also check out the cool bicycle shaped bike rack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgujEezDJ__SP_QnlVoMzXRQXAblkOB5y2BEbSdtGR9nxLl6FU5vYCYPN-0nB3b-lwM0gJLZtbV5q7O1XtynHVjIVxAekqXEJ21PpKVIPffhPkqo3GKvFJrQumytLbO7NbLP3Ro9FcqoQ/s1600-h/photo(5).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgujEezDJ__SP_QnlVoMzXRQXAblkOB5y2BEbSdtGR9nxLl6FU5vYCYPN-0nB3b-lwM0gJLZtbV5q7O1XtynHVjIVxAekqXEJ21PpKVIPffhPkqo3GKvFJrQumytLbO7NbLP3Ro9FcqoQ/s200/photo(5).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416068060331767330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHiqAjMrvFv_c8dDZVVyLLzYKuhVcsajS853r27FNjgff7B_ydr-DXqCSCNIhzVw1J5hQBXtFRKDuaCJGn6zMs1oExlD4WAeS_ojt-4Y2Ggc9FOZ28eRkOeCFZPS4iKjHWCxPqQzNJg/s1600-h/photo(4).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRHiqAjMrvFv_c8dDZVVyLLzYKuhVcsajS853r27FNjgff7B_ydr-DXqCSCNIhzVw1J5hQBXtFRKDuaCJGn6zMs1oExlD4WAeS_ojt-4Y2Ggc9FOZ28eRkOeCFZPS4iKjHWCxPqQzNJg/s200/photo(4).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416067900045489922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB7umW8mQvRn0oXugNW-teK8-i4WTYa-Ye7ta8aHLRYrEd_rGEzPdFrKU2kWeF_LIPzwAb0_0T3a8RlH1Cfiwdxm4hqADkmLOkCmHQHV8nt94B00TGdQF8zuwY2p8TfOGzDr-47lkTOE/s1600-h/photo(3).jpg"> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB7umW8mQvRn0oXugNW-teK8-i4WTYa-Ye7ta8aHLRYrEd_rGEzPdFrKU2kWeF_LIPzwAb0_0T3a8RlH1Cfiwdxm4hqADkmLOkCmHQHV8nt94B00TGdQF8zuwY2p8TfOGzDr-47lkTOE/s1600-h/photo(3).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB7umW8mQvRn0oXugNW-teK8-i4WTYa-Ye7ta8aHLRYrEd_rGEzPdFrKU2kWeF_LIPzwAb0_0T3a8RlH1Cfiwdxm4hqADkmLOkCmHQHV8nt94B00TGdQF8zuwY2p8TfOGzDr-47lkTOE/s200/photo(3).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416067895211124402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2PTScXVZBxvDI5lgQYr-6VP4aHfahxeerQePM4u_onFOb4wmxKkGBoyRZITPrcd0m1rtehHU2VSw2UrThyphenhyphen5l3E1WIMmL6ApVlyIu9gRl6aIn_2rC-CsLfTxn3HQp1F7av2Z_2A392Hk/s1600-h/photo(2).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2PTScXVZBxvDI5lgQYr-6VP4aHfahxeerQePM4u_onFOb4wmxKkGBoyRZITPrcd0m1rtehHU2VSw2UrThyphenhyphen5l3E1WIMmL6ApVlyIu9gRl6aIn_2rC-CsLfTxn3HQp1F7av2Z_2A392Hk/s200/photo(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416067891596088642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTrwWUMRr2xdXm-I0GZ2ifKwkTK8EKBraEaUEz7qtw4acyJ3saQx6CxU0jkZqDvyR7Qh3OdcvivPdGkjZVun30PvuwGnaRV_2jGSdxui9XqGnRe_IwmUynQCYZRpLAg1nI2Y2m7Al3GA/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTrwWUMRr2xdXm-I0GZ2ifKwkTK8EKBraEaUEz7qtw4acyJ3saQx6CxU0jkZqDvyR7Qh3OdcvivPdGkjZVun30PvuwGnaRV_2jGSdxui9XqGnRe_IwmUynQCYZRpLAg1nI2Y2m7Al3GA/s200/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416067885155705362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztlYNkL6MRpJcw3xE07xXIDUFSqYyb40xSLrOdWb4fm_ij80krYZ4nvN4nZNgH39h08cTxkcbAT_IJ2ZJPOB0VmPUuEMvvDd6hwGvThcw_0JuSl7x1NfPDMDPSANvGnfm9naE_mRVIyQ/s1600-h/photo(6).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztlYNkL6MRpJcw3xE07xXIDUFSqYyb40xSLrOdWb4fm_ij80krYZ4nvN4nZNgH39h08cTxkcbAT_IJ2ZJPOB0VmPUuEMvvDd6hwGvThcw_0JuSl7x1NfPDMDPSANvGnfm9naE_mRVIyQ/s200/photo(6).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416068065476164642" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-78288681192102810952009-12-02T10:45:00.001-05:002009-12-02T10:46:56.277-05:00USDOT announces $280 mil available for transit projects<p align="center"><strong>U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces $280 Million for Streetcars </strong><br /> <strong><em>First Funds for Administration's Livability Initiative Will Create Jobs</em></strong></p> <p> U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the availability of $280 million for urban circulator projects such as streetcars, buses, and bus facilities to support communities, expand business opportunities and improve people’s quality of life while also creating jobs. </p> <p> The money represents the first batch of funding by the Obama Administration for its Livability Initiative, a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). </p> <p>“This represents a significant effort to promote livable communities, improve the quality of life for more Americans and create more transportation choices that serve the needs of individual communities,” <strong>Secretary LaHood </strong>said. “Fostering the concept of livability in transportation projects will stimulate America’s neighborhoods to become safer, healthier and more vibrant.”</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/dot18509.htm">Press release continues at DOT site</a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-27622046013045670672009-11-24T10:34:00.001-05:002009-11-24T10:36:36.215-05:00Long Beach looking at streetcars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CYRf3etFiqwPPy2eArWFAxhAhQvkCCxn04Vtbei1izFgBfe8VKYpjrejFfcCcU1xhFed8cIV2f4Y1CA8rJJSmhGvAn7ewxhg3N9buTUfX1b-mD4BKd7bZqxj469Keh6QuGGQVWxwyqo/s1600/20091121_090135_PN22-TRANSITMAP_400.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CYRf3etFiqwPPy2eArWFAxhAhQvkCCxn04Vtbei1izFgBfe8VKYpjrejFfcCcU1xhFed8cIV2f4Y1CA8rJJSmhGvAn7ewxhg3N9buTUfX1b-mD4BKd7bZqxj469Keh6QuGGQVWxwyqo/s200/20091121_090135_PN22-TRANSITMAP_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407694178401741906" border="0" /></a><br />From the <a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_13842580">Long Beach Press-Telegram</a>:<br /><span id="RDS_article"><p>LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Second District City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal envisions a downtown crowded not with cars, but people - pedestrians who arrive by bicycle, bus and, perhaps, even streetcars.</p> <p>Electric-powered streetcars such as those used in San Francisco and Portland - connecting Long Beach's neighborhoods, fostering pedestrian movement and spurring development - are an integral part of Lowenthal's vision.</p> <p>Last week, the council heard a report on a feasibility study that had been commissioned in 2007 about installing streetcars in Long Beach, and other city officials seem to be warming up to the idea.</p> <p>"We are at a fantastic time in our city when more and more people want to leave their cars behind," Lowenthal said last week. "People are looking for ways to exercise their right to different modes of transportation."</p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-66228606848715231642009-11-22T16:43:00.002-05:002009-11-22T16:44:47.838-05:00making conservative arguments for transit<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.streetfilms.org/wp-content/plugins/flowplayer_wp/flowplayer/flowplayer.swf?g" height="339" width="560"><object width="440" height="264" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.streetfilms.org/wp-content/plugins/flowplayer_wp/flowplayer/flowplayer.swf?g"><param value="http://www.streetfilms.org/wp-content/plugins/flowplayer_wp/flowplayer/flowplayer.swf?g" name="movie"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="config=http://www.streetfilms.org/config.js?post_id=20681" name="flashvars"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"></object><param value="http://www.streetfilms.org/wp-content/plugins/flowplayer_wp/flowplayer/flowplayer.swf?g" name="movie"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="config=http://www.streetfilms.org/config.js?post_id=20681" name="flashvars"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-66049508516231264812009-11-19T14:33:00.003-05:002009-11-19T14:38:41.982-05:00DDOT's LRV's leave Czech Republic for USA!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVRouW4agelsoCG2n13P8Fx2oT6MbHMCPOHMLKCCQ8E7Dr4sEJ8DLLCCP5AXbd5ElHZEH9BOSu69HmXWoiQ2GO_5HXQh38agArsSRhsvX9N94glpIud91-NpRmFUmUWzRqojzMSTJbdM/s1600/dcstreetcarmoving.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVRouW4agelsoCG2n13P8Fx2oT6MbHMCPOHMLKCCQ8E7Dr4sEJ8DLLCCP5AXbd5ElHZEH9BOSu69HmXWoiQ2GO_5HXQh38agArsSRhsvX9N94glpIud91-NpRmFUmUWzRqojzMSTJbdM/s200/dcstreetcarmoving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405900538742312738" border="0" /></a><br />DC's three LRV's produced by Skoda in the Czech Republic in 2007 are officially on the way to the nation's capital! <br /><br />Read more at <a href="http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=1347">BeyondDC blog</a><br /><br />********<br /><br />As an administrative note, I apologize for blog inactivity this fall. My first semester of grad school has been very busy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-47400246281502386762009-10-08T09:21:00.004-04:002009-10-08T09:42:17.107-04:00Norfolk takes delivery of its first LRV's!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aRIUs21pK2UN60Wj7VYLi3S5eTzRyQmUSRwBz-af_y4S_45bxkTYUOVRy8UZtzMO_Z1A-d-WOq3HH7DZpFos26rzZGofwbbBJBB1Nz3BpsyeoDSFV29coRaTkJb87PU4WewPM0_zF0Y/s1600-h/365381000.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aRIUs21pK2UN60Wj7VYLi3S5eTzRyQmUSRwBz-af_y4S_45bxkTYUOVRy8UZtzMO_Z1A-d-WOq3HH7DZpFos26rzZGofwbbBJBB1Nz3BpsyeoDSFV29coRaTkJb87PU4WewPM0_zF0Y/s200/365381000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390219188448057090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWGqASkJ3gwNdt9bDH7ikzV9Kmc4duWNj8qzM0jV8VOrRz94NkAtx37Gcb0bm5SSCcBYaLRlE2IAROXqF7weAboo-N5Bo5SBMtn9BFUXQPHA1AMCJ3eZ1LYPAvmrJnt0_hDqFgV5w2Ho/s1600-h/365251000.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWGqASkJ3gwNdt9bDH7ikzV9Kmc4duWNj8qzM0jV8VOrRz94NkAtx37Gcb0bm5SSCcBYaLRlE2IAROXqF7weAboo-N5Bo5SBMtn9BFUXQPHA1AMCJ3eZ1LYPAvmrJnt0_hDqFgV5w2Ho/s200/365251000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390219187838870674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />from <a href="http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/node/525845">PilotOnline</a>:<br /><br />"Locals were introduced to The Tide light-rail cars today when the first two arrived in Norfolk. The cars traveled cross country by freight train from Siemens Transportation Systems Inc. in Sacramento, Calif."<br /><br />Follow the link to see video of the new vehicles arriving on location.<br /><br /><h1 style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><a href="http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/node/525845"><span style="font-size:100%;">VIDEO: Light-rail cars arrive in Norfolk</span></a></h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-23452106673028664962009-09-18T13:46:00.001-04:002009-09-18T13:46:08.544-04:00Va. lawmakers question ignoring local road fundingfrom Forbes.com:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/09/17/business-financial-impact-us-transportation-funding-virginia_6901127.html">Va. lawmakers question ignoring local road funding - Forbes.com</a><br /><br />RICHMOND, Va. -- Some members of the Virginia Senate's money committee questioned Thursday whether it's wise - or legal - to sacrifice the state's local roads in order to secure federal dollars to maintain and build highways.<br /><br />Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer told members of the Senate Finance Committee that revenue reductions of $4.6 billion over the next six years have forced the state to choose to go after federal highway funding instead of repairing and improving other roads and bridges.<br /><br />To qualify for federal funds that contribute $4 for every $1 the state pitches in, Virginia must meet minimum construction requirements. In order to get those, Virginia has reduced funding to maintain state and local roads by 25 percent.<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-21326797642474804072009-09-17T10:23:00.002-04:002009-09-17T10:24:37.858-04:00Tea Party Protesters Protest D.C. Metro ServiceFrom the Wall Street Journal-<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/09/16/tea-party-protesters-protest-dc-metro-service/">Tea Party Protesters Protest D.C. Metro Service - Washington Wire - WSJ</a><br /><br />Evidently the Teabag-Birfers feel their 9/12 unity protest was derailed by sub par service on Metrorail. Some complained that Metrorail didn't increase capacity beyond normal weekend levels to accommodate the tens of thousands of protesters who came out. They didn't plan on requiring such a high level of government service for their anti-government rally. Of course none of them will walk away from this thinking Metro deserves a dedicated funding mechanism. Because that is socialist.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-4387456001320033242009-09-09T09:01:00.006-04:002009-09-09T09:35:16.039-04:00Tide Light Rail begins station construction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/351881.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 379px;" src="http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/351881.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />from <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/norfolk-light-rail-stations-look-built-flexibility">PilotOnline</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Norfolk light rail stations' look is built on flexibility</span><br /><br /><p>"...City officials have decided on a neo classical style for the 11 light-rail station shelters that is designed to fit in historic neighborhoods, including Freemason, as well as more suburban settings, including Ingleside.</p> <p>"The shelters' appearances will vary, with heavier columns and finishes downtown and lighter, more airy features in the outlying neighborhoods, planning director Frank Duke said. Their size will vary as well, with larger shelters at stations that are projected to carry more passengers.</p> <p>"Each will have benches, trash cans, lighting and a ticket vending machine.</p> <p>"They're nice, considering we went at it with a bare-bones perspective," said City Councilman W. Randy Wright, who has championed the rail project.</p> <p>"The original design was very basic, but council members agreed to enhance the look at the city's expense. Hampton Roads Transit is now advertising for bids to build the stations."</p><p>********</p><p>I think this neoclassical station design is really unique. I'm not aware of any other US light rail systems that have tried to blend station design with surrounding historic buildings. Largely because existing light rail systems in the US are few and far between, but also because many are in the West where there isn't the same stock of antebellum neoclassical buildings we have in the East- particularly in Virginia. Also, many light rail systems have little to no infrastructure in the way of stations, rather they are simply signed areas on the street for boarding and deboarding.<br /></p><p>So it seems that Norfolk may soon have the world's only modern-neoclassical LRT system!</p><p>********</p><p>By the way- why did the sketch artist for the above illustration choose to draw an SUV in front of the train station?? I guess if they can use bikes to sell SUV commercials they can also use SUV's to sell light rail?<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-2102580978524633432009-08-27T21:26:00.001-04:002009-08-27T21:28:45.941-04:00"High-Speed Boondoggle" by Robert J. Samuelson: the Urban Workshop Re-mix"The <del>Obama</del> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Eisenhower and every subsequent</span> administration's enthusiasm for <del>high-speed rail</del> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">endless highway and road building</span> is a dispiriting example of government's inability to learn from past mistakes. Since 1971, the federal government has poured <del>almost $35 billion</del> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">$1.89 trillion</span> in subsidies into <del>Amtrak</del> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">air and highway funding</span> with <del>few public</del> benefits <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">that favor a few over many</span>."<br /><br />read on at <a href="http://www.stlurbanworkshop.com/2009/08/newsweeks-high-speed-boondoggle-by.html">St Louis Urban Workshop blog</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-44249258674155089992009-08-25T10:53:00.006-04:002009-08-25T11:11:20.846-04:00VA applies for $75mil for NoVa third trackfrom the Dispatch:<br /><br /><a href="http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/transportation/article/B-RAIL25_20090824-214607/288074/">Virginia seeks $75 million for high speed rail</a><br /><br />Virginia is seeking federal stimulus funding for a $74.8 million high-speed rail project in Prince William and Stafford counties. <p>Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced yesterday that Virginia has submitted an application for funding for a third set of tracks along an 11.4-mile section of the CSX Corp. rail line between Richmond and Washington.</p> <p>"The Federal Railroad Administration set very specific criteria for states to compete for this first round of historic federal investment in high-speed rail," Kaine said.</p> <p>"Virginia has submitted a strong project application and we are ready <span id="article_font">to begin construction as soon the federal funding is awarded," he said.</span></p><p><span id="article_font"><p>The application deadline yesterday was for "ready to go" projects fully supported by both the track owner, CSX in this case, and the service provider, Amtrak. The third set of tracks would stretch from Powell's Creek in Prince William to Arkendale in Stafford.</p> <p>Virginia intends to compete in October for a second round of high-speed rail projects funded by federal stimulus funds.</p><p>******************************</p><p>Sounds great! This is an interesting section of the route because there are at least three bridges and most of the track is along the Virginia bank of the Potomac River. The train passes some marinas, <a href="http://www.dom.com/about/stations/fossil/possum-point-power-station.jsp">Possum Point Power Station</a> and goes right through <a href="http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/">Marine Corps Base Quantico</a>. <a href="http://www.vre.org/">Virginia Railway Express</a> also uses this entire section of the track so this will increase VRE efficiency as well. </p><p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=cvCTSuCkO8eWlAfh4pi1DA&hl=en&msa=0&ll=38.521578,-77.246246&spn=0.191516,0.308647&t=h&z=12&msid=102894820578173203174.000471f7e5e76f0323aa0">Take a look at this Google map</a> of the proposed $74.8mil track work.<br /></p><p>Also, Transport Politic has <a href="http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/08/25/final-applications-submitted-for-phase-i-of-high-speed-rail-stimulus-dollars/">posted a complete list of the specific Phase I plans</a> the states have applied for.<br /></p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-5500451988217003692009-08-24T12:37:00.002-04:002009-08-24T16:09:04.581-04:00Bob Samuelson writes an ugly anti-rail piece in the Post<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302037.html?hpid=opinionsbox1">Robert J. Samuelson - High-Speed Rail Plans Defy Experience - washingtonpost.com</a><br /><br />"HSR won't work in the US because our population density is 86 people per square mile vs Japan's 880/mi2." Wow, if that's not the most stunningly dishonest factoid about density than it is surely the most naive or ignorant. Read the whole piece for a well-rounded array of strawmen, lies and distortions about passenger rail.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-8269979473794230992009-08-20T13:38:00.003-04:002009-08-20T13:50:34.329-04:00High floor, low floor, bus floor, tram floor!<a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=3216">Greater, Greater Washington</a> reported last week that DDOT and Metro planners have run into an interesting problem with DDOT's planned high streetcar platforms on their H Street corridor. They have planned 15-inch from top of rail platforms so that streetcar users will board level with the vehicle. This design improves accessibility for all streetcar riders. Meanwhile, Metro is operating low floor buses on the route with doors lower than the planned streetcar platforms. This would create a situation where riders exiting the bus have to step up onto the platform. Or if the bus gets too close to the platform, the doors would be damaged by hitting it; too far away and a dangerous gap is created. So Metro has asked DDOT to revise the design either by lowering the platform seven inches, or by changing the length of it so that buses can pull all the way past.<br /><br />The photo below shows a San Francisco Muni high platform to illustrate the design problem the two agencies face. Imagine riders climbing up on the platform from a low floor bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJNsuzjNLpxI1YTAksB75E6m8Mhiq7EGCin0fH2nT7OLfrAiR-MKujOfSGZ0Uluvr3WRg8poIDlAyg2txz1efsaa9PN2VXZePyyVLRxfkAN5uWKuVAvoHvDHW70DuoNhhX9lWFMXHJrM/s1600-h/SF+Muni+platform.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJNsuzjNLpxI1YTAksB75E6m8Mhiq7EGCin0fH2nT7OLfrAiR-MKujOfSGZ0Uluvr3WRg8poIDlAyg2txz1efsaa9PN2VXZePyyVLRxfkAN5uWKuVAvoHvDHW70DuoNhhX9lWFMXHJrM/s200/SF+Muni+platform.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372104458631931698" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-69276133360526201642009-08-11T15:49:00.006-04:002009-08-11T15:54:33.226-04:00R&CB Rwy Richmond terminal then and now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA0YMk9WZojVZHj7K4taTi1pKLgjelv39pCCXQaI4TJ8_au4XiV8cLa0-gGNsI8HFyytyodl_0owtYiEYsPJY-8qPXHYZEVieJ9zK0OdkRjNP-7ygLjRFH-dD2qE-PuAMvvgxtTtjWDQ/s1600-h/Original+terminal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA0YMk9WZojVZHj7K4taTi1pKLgjelv39pCCXQaI4TJ8_au4XiV8cLa0-gGNsI8HFyytyodl_0owtYiEYsPJY-8qPXHYZEVieJ9zK0OdkRjNP-7ygLjRFH-dD2qE-PuAMvvgxtTtjWDQ/s200/Original+terminal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368796077071520098" border="0" /></a><br />As the station originally appeared in 1907<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF5-v4hW4DgDQM-JD9nIgfl7dXfbcWQsx8MIhq1tUrrDUroWSiTs8_MtD3mXS2xT4d1P-RKqKe27zQ4q9kSARP6bv22wX-e_QExSbjO5AmCvV_XgavxS45H3m5Lg-2iPyzwrYer0QiZE/s1600-h/1970's.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF5-v4hW4DgDQM-JD9nIgfl7dXfbcWQsx8MIhq1tUrrDUroWSiTs8_MtD3mXS2xT4d1P-RKqKe27zQ4q9kSARP6bv22wX-e_QExSbjO5AmCvV_XgavxS45H3m5Lg-2iPyzwrYer0QiZE/s200/1970's.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368796640987885362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Appearance 1974-2009<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7upXxCce4D_8M_z8Qb6gqctiObBfeux51qsy-T7rgO1md9KfOsqJ4yCw_QemJk6k5G_tRRQaaIbGK9Kn-klVErPTqatNTbIQrpKJWW9MWG8vH9c2uCNQ8Tj5tn4DJ7Fy0f6pWg1Ta8-8/s1600-h/Today.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7upXxCce4D_8M_z8Qb6gqctiObBfeux51qsy-T7rgO1md9KfOsqJ4yCw_QemJk6k5G_tRRQaaIbGK9Kn-klVErPTqatNTbIQrpKJWW9MWG8vH9c2uCNQ8Tj5tn4DJ7Fy0f6pWg1Ta8-8/s200/Today.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368796910331489378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />August 10th, 2009Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-42532423859575172782009-08-11T15:10:00.002-04:002009-08-11T15:17:39.830-04:00Richmond and Chesapeake Bay RailwayThe fascinating story of this former passenger interurban that connected Richmond and Ashland. All that is left today is the former terminal at Laurel and Broad streets, and a car barn on Brook Road. A mile-long concrete trestle existed here, but was torn down in the 1950's and 1960's. <br /><br />It says here that the line was constructed for high speeds- up to 90mph!<br /><br />From the National Register of Historic Places:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Statement of Significance</span><br />The Richmond and Chesapeake Bay Railway car barn is significant because it is one of two surviving buildings associated with the independent electric railway that provided service between the City of Richmond and the Town of Ashland from 1907 to 1938. The only other surviving building, the terminal, has been heavily altered and is no longer recognizable as a terminal building. Utilitarian in nature, the car barn incorporates industrial materials of the time – steel structure and corrugated metal siding. A number of innovations incorporated into the line made it unique – the type of car, the current utilized, and the concrete and steel viaduct. The car barn is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under criteria A and C. It is eligible under criterion A because of its association with an interurban railroad that incorporated innovative technology. The car barn is eligible under criterion C because it is representative of early twentieth century industrial architecture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic Background</span><br />Frank Jay Gould, son of New York financier, Jay Gould, envisioned an electric railway from Norfolk to Fredericksburg that would pass through Petersburg and Richmond with branches to the Northern Neck. Gould wanted a high-speed electric railway with large comfortable cars – not the local trolley system the line would later become. Incorporated in 1905, the Richmond and Chesapeake Bay Railway integrated a number of innovations, many never before seen in the United States, namely the type of cars used, the voltage at which they were operated, and the concrete viaduct. Gould wanted cars that were fast and comfortable. The four, thirty-nine ton, fifty-five foot cars, manufactured by the St. Louis Car Company, resembled Pullman parlor cars with mahogany paneling, high backed seats, frescoed ceilings, smoking compartments, and vestibule doors.3 The original rail cars were an oddity– “they were built in two sections, divided with a large transformer in the center. These cars, the only ones of their kind, were designed to absorb only as much power as was required and return the excess to the overhead wire. In this manner, enough power was left in the line to sell to customers along the right of way.”4 The cars used 6,600 volts at twenty-five cycles per second instead of the customary 600-volt direct current used by trolleys. Further, no other interurban railway up to this time had used voltages higher than 3,300. A pantograph extended from the center of the car transferred power from the overhead wire to the motor. Because of high speeds envisioned for the railway, up to 90 miles and hour, the overhead wire could not be strung in the traditional manner from pole to pole. A suspended centenary system was chosen, because the slightest sag in the wire could result in the pantograph losing contact with the wire and arching. For these reasons, too, the rail line needed to be level and straight. To maintain Gould’s high standard for a straight and level rail line it was necessary to construct a half-mile long bridge that would cross Bacon’s Quarter Branch, the double tracks of the Seaboard Air Line Railway, and a number of well traveled roads. A wood trestle with steel spans over the streets and railroads was planned, but while traveling in France, Gould saw aconcrete viaduct. Gould halted construction on the wood trestle and ordered a concrete viaduct be built. The viaduct was designed by the Trussed Concrete Steel Company of New York and was the largest bridge of its type in the United States at the time.<br />Intent upon building an interurban railroad, Frank Jay Gould purchased the Brook Turnpike in 1902. Chartered in 1812, the Brook Turnpike improved travel between Richmond and northern portions of the state, and for a long time it was the only road leading north from the City of Richmond. In the 1830s, a trip north to Washington still required a thirty-eight hour stagecoach journey along the turnpike. A special act of the General Assembly chartered the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad in 1834. The charter contained a number of unique features, including a statute prohibiting the construction of a railroad between Richmond and Washington or any portion thereof. Based on this statute, the State Corporation Commission was unwilling to grant Gould a charter for is new railroad. After a Virginia Supreme Court decision and no objection from RF&P Railroad, the charter was granted in 1905. The Richmond to Ashland section was the first to be built. Railway management was anxious to begin service and opened the 5.2-mile section between Richmond and Lakeside on 27 July 1907, months before the rest of the line was ready for operation. The single-track railroad could not accommodate the scheduled runs while managing the ongoing construction required to complete the line to Ashland. As a result, business was suspended six days later, until 28 October 1907, when the 14.8 miles between Richmond and Ashland finally opened for business. Construction costs totaled $994,000. Gould had plans to begin immediate construction on the line to Tappahannock, but the stock market panic of 21 October 1907 made investors nervous. The Virginia Passenger and Power Company and the Richmond Passenger and Power Company, both controlled by Frank Gould, were in receivership. As a result of these events, the line was never completed. The railroad continued to operate until 20 December 1917, but the short section of track was never profitable. The heavy Pullman-style cars showed abnormal wear because they weren’t designed for frequent local stops. The line was put up for auction in August 1918 and the highest bidder offered $90,000 and wanted to scrap the assets. The trustees rejected the bid because the tracks and real estate alone were worth $140,000.<br /><br />In 1919, Oliver J. Sands and Jonathan Bryan bought the franchise for $135,000 and the Richmond-Ashland Railway was chartered on 15 April 1919. A bond issue of $200,000 helped finance the purchase price and start-up costs. The new railway would operate as an interurban streetcar line between Richmond and Ashland. The line was converted to cheaper to operate 600-volt D.C. current instead of the 6,600-volt current originally used and four streetcars were acquired second-hand. There were a number of grade crossing accidents and on 16 July 1922 there was a head on collision between two trolleys that injured six people. “Expenses incurred due to the collision and several crossing accidents strained the financial resources of the company.”5 In 1936 when the original thirty-year franchise expired, the company’s deficit had reached $171,619 and their bond indebtedness was $161,500. The bond interest had been in default for six years. On Tuesday, 22 March 1938 the lasttrolley left Ashland and the copper wire and rails were sold for scrap. Virginia Electric and Power Company purchased the railroad’s right of way to run electric transmission lines in 1937. The City of Richmond purchased the Brook Road right of way lying within the corporate limits. “When Brook Road has been improved, as we plan to improve it, real estate values, both along Brook Road and on Chamberlayne Avenue, are bound to be enhanced, and we will have a new and badly needed outlet to Route 1.”6<br /><br />Frank Jay Gould was the youngest of six children born to Jay Gould and his wife, Helen Day Miller. Jay Gould was an American financier and railroad speculator – a prototypical robber baron. Along with James Fisk and Daniel Drew, he wrested control of the Erie Railroad from Cornelius Vanderbilt and in 1869 he precipitated a financial panic, when he and Fisk attempted to corner the gold market. When Jay Gould died in 1892, at the age of 57, he left an estate valued at seventy-seven million to his children. In 1909, Frank Jay Gould incorporated the Virginia Railway and Power Company. The goal was to acquire Richmond and Tidewater Railways and related companies, and provide light and power, operate street railways, and distribute manufactured gas. Among the Richmond acquisitions were the Richmond Railroad and Viaduct Company, the Richmond and Petersburg Electric Railway Company, the Richmond Traction Company, the Virginia Passenger and Power Company, and the Richmond Passenger and Power Company. The Richmond Passenger and Power Company, established in 1887 by Frank Sprague as the Richmond Union Passenger, was the first commercially successful electric street railway system in the world. In 1913, the Virginia Railway and Power Company built its head quarters building at 702 East Franklin Street -- twelve-story “skyscraper” designed by Alfred C. Bossom. In 1925, Gould sold his controlling interest in the Virginia Railway and Power Company to Stone and Webster and the name was changed to the Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO). Gould died in Paris in 1956.<br /><br />With the exception of the car barn and the terminal little remains of the Richmond and Chesapeake Bay Railway. The Richmond terminal at 814 West Broad Street is still standing and occupied by the Richmond Glass Company. However, the exterior has been sheathed with a metal cladding that completely obscures the classical facade designed by the architectural firm of Noland and Baskervill. The former terminal building is listed as a contributing building to the Broad Street Commercial Historic District Boundary Increase. The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority removed part of the viaduct in 1958 as part of a slum clearance project and to build Carver School. Another portion was taken down to make way for the Richmond Petersburg Turnpike (Interstate 95). The remainder was demolished by the City of Richmond in 1965. The north abutment was still visible from Sledd Street in 1983. The Virginia Dominion Power Company’s, formerly VEPCO, power transmission line has preserved the character of the cuts and fills with little alteration since they purchased the right of way in 1937. The Ashland Depot, at the corner of Maple and England streets was replaced with the Ashland Post Office in 1940.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-73284934899327464182009-08-10T15:43:00.002-04:002009-08-10T15:49:28.375-04:00Monroe Park in 1896<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKib4YJFZc8t_t5mC916lm84gNmWSuvOKwL-UoqUlvivGuRFEsVAX799jsZos1oP-_uc21Fp5YGSfyU3WA9kQcWp8XgyfX6ODGQ9B-vCMdXbjrlXZZmlBbofB8IY3DWEgxBBppF_IBjA/s1600-h/monroe+park+1896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKib4YJFZc8t_t5mC916lm84gNmWSuvOKwL-UoqUlvivGuRFEsVAX799jsZos1oP-_uc21Fp5YGSfyU3WA9kQcWp8XgyfX6ODGQ9B-vCMdXbjrlXZZmlBbofB8IY3DWEgxBBppF_IBjA/s200/monroe+park+1896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368424622613366978" border="0" /></a><br />Monroe Park is Richmond's oldest park, laid out in 1855. It has endured changes in use but remains about the same as when it was first designed. I think it is a beautiful park, especially the amazing fountain in the center, but I'm not sure why it has been so difficult to clean up. It's usually full of bums and it is dangerous to visit at night. There is a master plan for the park, so I think its future is bright.<br /><br />Here is a depiction of it from The Dispatch in 1896. Notice the trolley lines on Main St (also on Laurel, but not pictured) and the heavy rail running on Belvidere.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-65248631201551707902009-08-07T16:34:00.001-04:002009-08-07T16:37:09.776-04:00DDOT making progress on Benning Ave streetcar line<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs154.snc1/5732_226464485022_175133555022_8060582_669914_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs154.snc1/5732_226464485022_175133555022_8060582_669914_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=289162&id=175133555022&ref=mf">These photos show how the work is progressing on Benning where the tracks are in the ground from Oklahoma Avenue moving west.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522203723215686178.post-21044189128406556172009-08-04T13:43:00.003-04:002009-08-04T13:49:10.237-04:00Portion of Ft Collins, CO streetcar tracks unearthed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cmsimg.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=G2&Date=20090731&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=90731002&Ref=AR&MaxW=318"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 188px;" src="http://cmsimg.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=G2&Date=20090731&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=90731002&Ref=AR&MaxW=318" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm curious to know how much of Richmond's trolley tracks remain buried under the streets. You can see a portion of rail poking out of the asphalt at the corner of Laurel and Cumberland streets.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990731002">Road crew unearths long-gone trolley tracks</a><br /><br />Encased in concrete, the tracks were paved over after the city shut down its streetcar system in 1951. Keeton said she has no record of maintenance on the street and said her crews had no idea they were there.<span class="aa"></span><p><span class="pp"></span>“We tried to salvage all the rail, but we have had to take it out in pieces,” she said of the corroded and rusted metal.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0