This feature provides an ongoing Weblog of particularly significant developments in public transportation and rail transit. More...

On Saturday, 12 September 2009, Portland, Oregon's TriMet transit agency began revenue service for the city's 15-mile (24-km) light rail transit (LRT) Green Line, running in the newly rebuilt Downtown Transit Mall, from Union Station south to Portland State University, then sharing tracks with the Red and Blue Lines to Gateway station, and finally running in a new alignment south to Clackamas Town Center...

The first major new light rail rail line to open in Dallas in more than a decade began revenue service on 14 September 2009, running from Victory Station, just west of downtown, through the CBD, and then southeast from downtown, serving four new stations – Deep Ellum, Baylor University Medical Center, Fair Park, and Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Boulevard...

Major developments in rail transit – including both expansion of light rail transit and the imminent launching of a new regional passenger rail system – in the Twin Cities urban area of Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minnesota) are summarized in this commentary by Roy Benedict....

In December 2008, the Rail Runner Express regional passenger rail transit service in New Mexico took a huge leap forward when service was extended to Santa Fe. And with thousands of daily passenger-trips now being attracted, the system's success has stimulated interest in expanding the line southeast to Las Cruces and even El Paso, and north toward Colorado....

Urban public transit, Amtrak, and hughspeed rail have all been allocated a major influx of desperately needed new funding in the economic stimulus package of the US Obama administration. However, mass transit has nevertheless been allowed only about 1% of the entire stimulus package. Still direly needed is an overhaul of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) policies to free up "shovel-ready" public transport projects for this and potentially future rounds of stimulus funding...

On 27 December 2008, Phoenix opened the USA's latest totally new rail transit system – its $1.4-billion, 20-mile light rail transit starter line, with 28 stations, connecting northern Phoenix with its eastern suburbs of Tempe and Mesa. So far, the new light rail seems to be on track to meet or beat its ridership projections for the year...

As Washington has fiddled, America's urban public transit systems have been besieged with passengers – and have struggled to match service to demand as financial conditions have worsened. Public transportation investment can play a major role in economic revival – and is increasingly being considered by the transition team of US President-elect Barack Obama and by key majority Democratic Party leaders in the US Congress....

This article provides a quick summary of the results of ten major rail passenger transportation ballot initiatives that we highlighted in our previous article, » USA: Ten - Count 'Em - 10 Rail Ballot Initiatives Facing Voters on Nov. 4th «. NOTE: Since original publication, this article has been subsequently revised to reflect passage of the BART funding initiative in San Jose and corrected information regarding the success of the SMART rail transit ballot initiative in Sonoma and Marin Counties, California. ...

With ridership (led by rail) soaring and public transport being hailed repeatedly as the potential savior of the nation, you'd think America's public transit systems would be reaping the fruits of success, rewarded with increased funding to enable upgrades and expansions and thus build on proven success. Well, you'd be wrong. As this article details, America's public transit systems are facing a deepening financial crisis, compounded by outright hostility from government policymakers – particularly the Bush administration's Department of Transportation. ...

With the USA having experienced of the most crucial nationwide election cycles (2008) in its history, the Light Rail Now Project provides a listing of articles on our website that address some of the most critical issues involved – including issues that many public transport advocates believe any new administration in Washington should address. ...

Several major rail transit ballot initiatives are receiving crucial support from the top echelons of their local civic leadership. Major newspaper and business publication endorsements are a key indicator of this support. This report provides a sampling of some of these endorsements for ballot initiatives that would fund large-scale rail projects in several of the largest cities: Seattle, St. Louis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. ...

America's 2008 election process is setting a record, not just because of the crucial and history-making presidential contest, but also because across the country there are more major rail public transport initiatives on the ballot than – as far as we can tell – at any time in US history. So far, we count no less than ten (10) major rail passenger transport projects that would be funded by measures on the ballot and up for a vote on November 4th. ...

Crucial transit measures, most of which would impact the prospects for rail transit development, will be on the ballot before voters in a number of states and communities this coming November. This report summarizes a number of key ballot measures of particular interest. ...

After 3 decades of planning and construction, the Sprinter diesel-powered light railway serving northern suburbs of the San Diego metro area has finally opened. The 22-mile east-west line, linking the towns of Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido, has been attracting passengers by the thousands...

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is working on major expansions that will significantly increase the reach of its light rail transit system over the next six years, in a growth program driven by the system's major success in encouraging new development and redevelopment of older districts. When the current expansion is completed in December 2013, the system will add new Green and Orange lines, and will grow to include 91 miles of line with 63 stations. ...

Norfolk, Virginia has emerged as America's latest New Start light rail transit project, as the city's planned 7.4-mile (11.9-km) system in early October 2007 received a strong green light and a contract for over 50% funding from the Federal Transit Administration. ...

In the worldwide race to re-install light rail transit in urban areas, France may be taking the lead, with three new light rail tramways – Marseille, Le Mans, and Nice – just opened in recent months...

Light rail transit development in Calgary, Alberta, Canada provides an excellent example of vigorous growth propelled by outstanding success in attracting ridership and reducing "greenhouse" gases through electric propulsion. The latest expansion, the system's Northeast extension, was opened on 17 December 2007...

America's newest electric light rail transit (LRT) line – Seattle's modern, 1.3-mile (2.1-km) South Lake Union Streetcar starter line – opened for service on 12 December 2007, representing the return of streetcars to the heart of the central city after more than 65 years...

Fresh from a resounding endorsement by 70% of voters, Charlotte's $462.7-million, 9.6-mile-long modern Lynx light rail transit project, serving 15 stations, opened to a crowd of thousands on 24 November 2007. This latest rail transit opening in Charlotte demonstrates that, contrary to critics' contentions, rail transit is being enthusiastically embraced by more and more communities across the country...

Results from the USA's two most contentious urban area campaigns involving rail transit programs – in Charlotte and Seattle – illustrate two very different outcomes: a big win in Charlotte, and a sad loss in Seattle...

Critical transit ballot measures that would impact the prospects for rail transit development – particularly light rail transit – in both Seattle, Washington and Charlotte, North Carolina, will come before voters on Tuesday, 6 November 2007...

Portland, Oregon's MAX light rail transit system has achieved another ridership record with 110,300 average weekday rider-trips. Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the successes of Portland's LRT system has led to further rail expansion projects across the urban area, including the 8.3-mile (13.4-km) Green Line project, now under way...

Especially in the western USA, electric light rail transit (LRT) systems in city after city have continued to experience phenomenal growth – clear evidence that LRT is both fulfilling its goals, and desired by local communities. This article summarizes three of the latest and most impressive American LRT expansions – in Denver, Sacramento, and San Francisco. ...

US transit's rate of growth surged in 2006, with Americans taking 10.1 billion trips on local public transportation in – a level not seen in 49 years. And once again, light rail transit produced the highest percentage increase among all modes, with a 5.6 percent ridership growth rate...

Evidence from public transit strikes in Los Angeles (2003) and San Francsico (1997), and from the 9/11 crisis in Washington, DC, demonstrates the significant role of public transit in alleviating traffic congestion compared to the level of congestion that would otherwise be experienced without it. ...

This report by journalist Tom Bogdon provides an excellent summary of current efforts to secure funding for the Kansas City light rail transit project approved by voters in November 2006.

Continuing its impressive comeback in response to supportive public policy and funding, America's public transportation ridership increased by nearly 3% in the first nine months of 2006. Light rail transit had the highest percentage of growth among all modes of urban public transportation, with an average increase of 5.4%.

Despite several setbacks, the net result of the USA's nationwide vote of 7 November 2006 has been a huge victory for public transport. Major funding measures were approved in California, Minnesota, Seattle, and Salt Lake City; a light rail transit plan was given the go-ahead in Kansas City; and, across the nation, many legislators and local political leaders more favorable to public transport assumed the reins of governmental power.

America's love affair with trains has continued to grow, with the new Cross-County line opening in St. Louis's MetroLink light rail transit system, and a completely new regional passenger rail ("commuter rail") transit service starting up in Nashville.

Using a rehabilitated portion of Newark's old Cedar Street Subway, light rail finally returned to the streets of downtown Newark on 17 July 2006 with the opening of the Broad St. extension, connecting Penn Station with another regional rail station.

On 14 July 2006, Albuquerque became the latest American city to provide rail transit service, as the Rail Runner Express regional passenger rail system launched its initial service, a 15-mile line to the exurb of Bernalillo – the first leg of a more than 100-mile line to Santa Fe.

France's amazing light rail transit revolution has just passed another milestone with the opening on 16 June of the new electric light rail tramway at Valenciennes – yet another demonstration that LRT tramway technology is applicable even in medium-sized and smaller communities.

Americans would like to see a larger share of of both passenger and freight movement go by rail in the future, according to a recent Harris poll. Also, for most adults surveyed, transportation is a "public good" for which government is seen to have the primary responsibility.

The latest new French light rail tramway has opened in the relatively small city of Mulhouse, and it's been welcomed with overwhelming enthusiasm by the public.

Japan's small city of Toyama has opened a new light rail tramway aimed at helping revitalize neighborhoods in the city's port area. The line could well be a model for other Japanese cities considering light rail.

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit system in northern New Jersey is another huge light rail success story, with rapidly growing ridership and a boom in transit-oriented development near its stations.

it's streetcars for Tucson! Advocates of transit and urban livability have scored a major victory, with voters' approval on 16 May 2006 of a comprehensive bus transit/streetcar/roadway improvement plan, and its funding via a new half-cent sales tax increment.

As St. Louis hosted the Joint international Light Rail Conference in early April 2006, the city's exceptionally successful MetroLink light rail transit system became the star of of the show. With steadily growing ridership and superb economic performance, MetroLink continues to infuse the total transit system with renewed vitality.

With ridership growth of 8.8%, America's light rail transit systems continued their record of a remarkable growth rate in the third quarter of 2005; indeed, all US transit increased, while motor vehicle travel dropped. More...

Advocates of rail passenger service and rail transit have been greatly saddened by the death on 5 April 2006 of Dr. Dan Monaghan of Garland, Texas in suburban Dallas. Dan, one of the most knowledgeable, influential, and energetic rail advocates in the USA, was a giant in terms of his influence within the industry and the ongoing campaign to sustain and improve rail passenger service.

in its first major extension and new station in 14 years, on 3 January 2006 Edmonton's light rail system officially opened its new Health Sciences Station at the University of Alberta campus, the small first step in a much larger southward expansion program.

San Jose's "Comeback Kid" light rail transit system continued its expansion in both system size and ridership with the completion and opening on 1 October 2005 of the new Vasona extension connecting central San Jose with the new Winchester Station in the exurb of Campbell. More...

Providing adequate mobility for the vast swarms of people that attend a major international event such as the Olympics is a daunting challenge. With its network of light rail, light metro, buses, and regional passenger rail transit, Turin (Torino) provides a model of the inter-connectivity that an array of diverse, high-quality public transport can provide. More...

The success of Little Rock's new River Rail heritage streetcar system (a type of light rail transit) has led to expansion of the service, expansion of the fleet, and extension of the system's route by approximately half a mile. More...

A photo-report which details how Little Rock's River Rail heritage streetcar operation provides an excellent model for this type of light rail transit system. More...

Light rail transit in the Puget Sound region is on a roll. Not only is Sound Transit's south starter line to Tukwila and the Sea-Tac airport project well under way, but also the prospects for the agency's planned LRT extension north from downtown Seattle to the city's University District has been given a major boost with a "high" rating from the Federal Transit Administration. More...

We report the death of George Isaacs on Monday, 23 January 2006, at the age of 83. George, a colleague in rail transit advocacy over the past several decades, is widely recognized as the "father" of the light rail transit line in Minneapolis's Hiawatha corridor. More...

On Sunday, 18 December 2006, streetcars started clacking and clanking again down New Orleans streets, for the first time since Hurricane Katrina's brutal flooding. Return of the venerable symbol helps bring the devastated city "closer to normalcy". More...

Continuing a record of unrelenting growth, Portland's light rail transit system has hit new ridership records, with average weekday boardings on the Westside line above 32,700 – exceeding 2008 ridership projections. More...

San Jose's light rail system is making a major comeback – not only is the system's length being extended, but ridership is rebounding. The opening of the first link of the Vasona extension is proving a huge hit. More...

A comprehensive photo-report on Portland's new streetcar system, which has been generating excitement throughout North America's public transport industry as an example of contemporary light rail tramway technology operating successfully in a North American urban streetscape. More...

A photo-report on Pittsburgh's West Busway, the most recent addition to its "Bus Rapid Transit" busway system. More...

Melbourne, continuing to invest in upgrading and enlarging its light rail tramway network, on 24 July 2005 opened its new three-kilometer (1.9-mile) Vermont South tramway extension to a shopping center, with multimodal connection to Knox City. More...

With the opening of the Mission Valley East extension (Green Line), and its first subway station, the San Diego Trolley (San Diego's light rail transit system) has passed two new historic milestones. More...

in a dramatic shift, Adelaide's public transport emphasis is being refocused on light rail technology and the heritage Glenelg tramway, beneficiaries of a substantial upgrading and expansion program ... while enthusiasm for the city's distinctive O-Bahn guided-busway "BRT" system has apparently dampened. More...

A photo-report on the first incremental extension project of the longer-term program of extending the Portland Streetcar in a southerly direction along the Willamette River shore toward the suburban community of Lake Oswego. More...

A vigorous effort is under way to persuade the Oklahoma legislature to maintain funding for Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train route, which connects Oklahoma City with Ft. Worth as well as a number of smaller towns along the corridor ... More...

Nashville, Tennessee is installing a bare-bones regional "commuter" rail starter line which, at a projected cost of about $1.2 million per mile, shows what can be done to achieve rail transit on a very tight budget. More...

Since the beginning of 2004 alone, Europe has seen no less than four totally new LRT tramway startup systems go into public service (in Nottingham, Barcelona, Dublin, and Athens) – underscoring the continuing worldwide surge in the development of light rail transit. More...

Dallas's light rail transit system passed yet another milestone in its seemingly relentless expansion with the opening of a 1.25-mile extension to Victory Station, just west of downtown. More...

Across the USA, a record number of transit-supportive ballot initiatives were approved by voters this year in what seems like a massive mandate for more transit – particularly rail transit. More...

American rail transit virtually hit a political Trifecta on Tuesday, November 2nd with solid wins for three major ballot initiatives – two authorizing significant light rail system expansions (Denver, Phoenix), and a new-start regional "commuter" rail project in Austin, Texas. More...

Light rail transit systems in North America have continued to exhibit a spectacular pace of expansion in recent months, and the latest new LRT openings are highlighted in a series of articles. More...

The spectacular expansion of America's electric light rail transit (LRT) systems has continued throughout the spring of 2004 with the opening of several new lines across the country, with new extensions in Portland, Memphis, and New Orleans the latest examples. More...

The vigorous worldwide development of light rail transit has passed another milestone with the opening of Nottingham's brandnew tramway system in the UK ... More...

The historic decline of light rail in Northern New Jersey has been reversed, as both the Newark City Subway and the new Hudson-Bergen light rail transit system are demonstrating that light rail can fulfill critical mobility and urban development goals. More...

Southern New Jersey's recently opened River Line light railway – connecting Camden and Trenton with diesel-electric trains – has been a big hit with the public, reportedly attracting more riders than expected. The line also appears to be fulfilling the objective of linking employment centers and recreational venues, as retail businesses report a surge of customers. More...

With growing ridership, an apparent impact on corridor congestion, and stimulation of development, Houston's MetroRail light rail transit line seems on track to fulfill expectations in terms of both mobility and urban development ... More...

Recent events make clear that Houston has a traffic system out of control – a reality recently brought to the forefront of public attention by a spate of accidents involving motor vehicles colliding with trains on the city's new light rail transit system. More...

The vigorous expansion of light rail transit in cities west of the Mississippi continued in September 2003, as Salt Lake City's Utah Transit Authority opened an extension of its TRAX light rail system to the city's Medical Center. More...

On the whole, the election of Tuesday, 4 November 2003 was a major net victory for public transportation and rail transit in the USA. Huge victories in Houston and a Denver suburb more than compensated for setbacks in Tucson and Kansas City. More...

Vigorous expansion of light rail transit lines in the Western USA continues with the latest new line in Sacramento, where the 6.3-mile South Line, from downtown to Meadowview Road, opened on 26 September 2003. More...

On Friday, 22 August 2003, Tacoma, Washington became the latest North American city to join the growing ranks of urban areas adding light rail transit to their multi-modal public transport systems, as Sound Transit launched Tacoma's light rail streetcar – the first modern electric rail transit system Puget Sound has seen for some 65 years. More...

Austin Chronicle has named Light Rail Now! as the "Best Effort to improve Austin", based on a poll of Austin Chronicle readers. More...

Expansion of Amtrak, with its access straight into the heart of city centers, would provide a tremendous boost to all urban public transport, including light rail. Light Rail Now! is initiating this special Amtrak and intercity Public Transport section to present facts, reliable information, and well-supported arguments to enable planners, decisionmakers, and the public to make truly informed decisions on these issues. More...

LA transit officials found themselves with an unusual problem, as between 70,000 and 80,000 opening-day passengers "went for the Gold", overwhelming the new Gold Line light rail system connecting Pasadena with LA's Union Station. More...

With a Dixieland band playing for a crowd of hundreds waiting to ride, the historic Port of Los Angeles Waterfront Red Car Line in San Pedro opened for revenue operation on Saturday, 19 July 2003. And already there's enthusiasm for expansion. More...

Every time a new rail line (now, the Gold Line) is about to open in LA, at least one writer treats it like a funeral. But don't weep for rail in LA – it's alive and well, says Roger Christensen in this commentary. More...

Minneapolis is on track and getting ever closer to seeing electric rail transit service. in early June (2003), the first car began test running on the line. More...

Orange County, California's CenterLine light rail transit project got a new resurgence of life on 21 July 2003, when the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors voted 9-2 to support a shortened CenterLine light-rail route. More...

Businesses along key parts of the new Tampa heritage streetcar line are noting a definite increase in customer traffic, and the trolley line has also been astounding its planners and supporters by attracting far more ridership than initially forecast. More...

London's recently implemented road pricing policy is one of the most significant modern efforts toward solving urban mobility problems within the context of a market economy, as this commentary by Dave Dobbs relates. More...

Plans for the 14-mile-long Green Line monorail project of the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority have sparked concerns about the project's impact from neighborhoods and community residents and business owners along the route – demonstrating that monorails are no more immune from such issues than LRT and other major transit projects. More...

Pedestrian deaths on New Jersey's roads raise the issue of facilitating good pedestrian access and ensuring pedestrian safety, critical for any transit service, according to this commentary by Frank S. Miklos. More...

A new study suggests that the Victoria, BC capital region in western Canada would gain millions of dollars in economic and social benefits by installing a light rail transit system. More...

infodev, a major Canadian provider of counting systems for the public transport industry and other customers, have included the Light Rail Now website on their page of Transportation industry Links. More...

A wide spectrum of issues relevant to light rail – transportation policy, new developments, technical issues, operations, funding, finances – is on the table for discussion in the Light Rail_Now discussion group. More...

LRT success in Portland ... Charlotte residents urge LRT over busway ... Minneapolis LRT project on time, in budget ... Phoenix leaders back LRT in poll ... More...

in 2003, if everything stays on schedule, electric streetcars will once again rumble over tracks in the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas. Using historic replicas of original rolling stock, the Phase 1 River Rail has an amazingly low unit cost of about $7.6 million per mile. More...

On Monday, 9 December 2002, modern light rail transit opened regular service to the Dallas suburb of Plano, with new stations at Bush Turnpike in Richardson, and 15th Street (downtown) and Parker Road in Plano. The 3.2-mile, $62.8 million section to Plano, finished six months ahead of schedule, illustrates how cost-effectively and affordably LRT can be incremented to reach out to suburban areas. More...

Public transportation in the USA took quite a beating in the 2002 elections, and electoral results leaned more toward a victory for Road Warriors. While there were a few successes, there was an avalanche of setbacks. Can transit and light rail supporters learn lessons for future campaigns? More...

San Francisco's Market Street Railway is seeking donations to re-acquire one of San Francisco's historic electric streetcars to be placed in service on the F-Line (and, imminently, E-Line) of Muni (San Francisco Municipal Railway). More...

Some of the newest light rail transit systems have been overflowing with riders, and Denver's new system is just one of them. At the core of the dispute over who underpredicted ridership: ridership-forecasting modelling procedures mandated by the Federal Transit Administration, which unrealistically expect public behavior to be the same whether they're offered LRT or just a bus. More...

"Rail opponents often use bizarre arguments based on calculations that will not hold up in the marketplace of ideas" says Paul Weyrich. But, he adds, "Opponents can be blown away if they are tackled in time." The key: Light rail supporters must frame the issues and target their voters. More...

in an interview, APTA president Bill Millar focuses on the need for a "a high-quality public transit system" to attract "choice" riders in particular. "in this country, that has tended to be . . . either commuter rail or light rail." More...

This lists all the various LRT systems currently in operation, starting with the USA and then Canada. More...

This lists all the various LRT systems currently planned, in the USA and Canada. More...