- MRG,
Inc./DownEast Rail (Non-profit Organization):
- Printed Railroad maps of Northern and Southern New England
(separate maps). Purchasing information on the Fundraising
page of their Web Site.
(These maps have not been reviewed by the NERCC-Rail
Task Force)
- Reconnecting
America (Non-profit Organization)
- Financing Intermodal Transportation:
In this report from Reconnecting America,
transportation finance expert William J. Ankner, Ph.D., analyzes the
nation’s transportation financing policies and sources to determine what
resources can be used to connect our separately functioning
transportation modes into a more integrated and efficient transportation
system. Dr. Ankner argues that current financing mechanisms, which
generate funds dedicated to particular modes of travel, promote a system
that is fragmented, inconsistent and unnecessarily competitive.
Competition exists among modes, states, regions, local governments, the
public and private sectors, with the result that modes do not connect,
and few sources of funding exist to correct this. Additionally, he
writes, the motor fuel tax, which is a major source of revenue, is
inconsistent with our other national energy and environmental goals.
This is a flawed public policy, he concludes, that wastes financial
resources, time and energy and has negative environmental outcomes. In
response, Ankner explores and recommends new and innovative funding
approaches.
(This report has not been reviewed by the NERCC-Rail
Task Force)
- Bikes on Transit (at the Steve
Spindler Cartography Web Site)
Since
1996, we (Steve Spindler and John Boyle), have had a common
interest of using our bikes and transit to get places. It's
fun and practical, and we want to share with you the
opportunities that exist. Please contact us if you know of a
transit system anywhere in the world that we have missed.
- [New York] Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project
The New York/Northern New Jersey
metropolitan area is the largest consuming region in the country, and
host to the largest port and rail infrastructure on the East Coast. Yet
despite the presence of these facilities, less than three (3) percent of
goods shipped across the Hudson River move by rail. There is no active
rail freight crossing of the Hudson River south of Albany, NY. Freight
must travel a circuitous route using the crossing at Selkirk
(approximately 140 miles to the north), or travel by limited car float
service across the Hudson in New York City.
Currently, more than 30,000 tractor-trailers cross New York Harbor each
day on the George Washington and Verrazano-Narrows bridges. Such
freight traffic is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2025. For this
reason, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
commissioned a Major Investment Study (MIS), completed in May 2000, that
recommended alternatives, including construction of a tunnel that would
be dedicated for rail freight, to be further refined and evaluated in an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The proposal for a cross harbor
freight tunnel preceded the MIS recommendations, and has a history
dating back to the 1890's.
(This report has not been reviewed by the NERCC-Rail Task Force)
- New
York Cross Harbor Railroad
This railroad's business is primarily moving and interchanging freight
cars from New Jersey via carfloats. Although there were once dozens of
carfloat bridges along the Brooklyn coast, today only one remains in
service. Once tugged over, cars are interchange with either the New York
City Transit Authority via the South Brooklyn Railway or the Long Island
Railroad freight division (now the New York and Atlantic RR). The
NYCH also moves a good percentage of the nation's cocoa by floating it
from the Brooklyn shipping ports to the mainland. The Cross Harbor also
delivers carfloats to various docks around the Brooklyn port area.
In times past, the New York Dock
Railway interchanged freight with the New Haven which were responsible
for the former electrification of the Bay Ridge freight line.
(This report has not
been reviewed by the NERCC-Rail Task Force)
- North
South Rail Link (Sierra
Club - Massachusetts Chapter Web Site)
The
North/South Rail Link project (NSRL) is the backbone for a modern,
efficient, convenient rail service that offers an attractive
transportation option for residents and tourists traveling throughout
New England and the entire Northeast.
-
Silver Line: Washington Street Corridor (Sierra Club - Massachusetts
Chapter Web Site)
Why is the
MBTA spending millions of dollars on an inefficient replacement bus
service for Washington Street [in Boston] when light rail would attract
more riders and cost less money?
- Rhode
Island Sierra Club Transportation Positions (Sierra Club - Rhode Island Chapter Web Site)
- Maine
2003 Transportation Bond Issue (On this Web Site)
A
summary of the transportation projects that will be funded by a bond
issue to be voted by the citizens of Maine on election day in November 2003.
- Sierra Club Challenge
to Sprawl Campaign (Sierra Club National Web Site)
Poorly
planned development is threatening our environment, our health, and our
quality of life. In communities across America "sprawl" - scattered
development that increases traffic, saps local resources and destroys
open space - is taking a serious toll. But runaway growth is not
inevitable. Hundreds of urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods are
choosing to manage sprawl with smart growth solutions.
- Sierra
Club Conservation Policies - Transportation (Sierra Club National Web Site)
The
Sierra Club favors the most energy and land conserving, and least
polluting systems and vehicles.
Walking and bicycling are best, along with electronic communications to
reduce trips. Next are buses, minibuses, light rail and heavy rail (as
corridor trips increase); electrified wherever feasible. Rail systems
are most effective in stimulating compact development patterns,
increasing public transit patronage and reducing motor vehicle use.
Station access should be provided by foot, bicycle and public transit,
with minimal, but full-priced, public parking. Accommodation of
pedestrians, bicycles and public transit should be given priority over
private automobiles.
Freight railroads, especially electrified, are preferred over highway
or air freight to save energy and land, and cut noise and pollutant
emissions. Amtrak and high speed intercity rail which afford comparable
city center to city center access times, or which offer comparable
overnight convenience, are preferred to air travel because they save
energy, use less land, cut noise and pollutant emissions, and allow some
airports to be closed. Therefore, new or improved rail facilities, and
electronic communications, are preferred to new or expanded airports.
