Latest news with #SilverLine
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
How San Antonio wants to catch up on mass transit
San Antonio is the largest U.S. city without a light rail system, but experts say two new rapid bus lines can offer similar transportation benefits with lower costs. Why it matters: As the city cements its status as one of the most populous in the U.S., it has lagged behind its peers in public transit efforts. Context: A decade ago this month, San Antonio voters passed a charter amendment that said the city would have to get voter approval for any light rail or streetcar systems. In 2000, voters rejected a light rail proposal; in 2014, a streetcar project died. State of play: Fast-forward 10 years, and VIA Metropolitan Transit leaders and transit experts say two coming bus rapid transit routes — the Green and Silver lines — will offer an experience similar to rail and move almost as many people. And officials are betting on it to increase public transit use. VIA's buses had nearly 27 million trips in 2024, up more than 11% from 2023, per American Public Transportation Association data. "People taking the Green Line are going to be able to get to their connections to other lines faster and more reliably than ever before," Rod Sanchez, VIA's senior vice president of planning and development, tells Axios. "We're definitely taking our service to an all-new level." The latest: The Green Line will run along San Pedro Avenue from San Antonio International Airport on the North Side through downtown to the Missions on the South Side. Construction is slated to begin in July. The Silver Line will run from the Frost Bank Center on the East Side through downtown to North General McMullen on the West Side. It's still undergoing design; construction could begin in 2027. How it works: A rapid bus runs in a dedicated lane, rather than sharing the street with cars. It's expected to arrive every 10 minutes, and riders can pay their fare before boarding to speed up the process. Construction of both rapid bus routes is largely funded with federal dollars. Despite threats to funding under the Trump administration, Sanchez says VIA feels confident the city will keep it. It's already secured $268 million for the Green Line. Maintenance and operation will fall to VIA. Follow the money: The Green Line is projected to cost a total of $480.8 million and the Silver Line $289.2 million. What they're saying: Frequency is what matters most to convince riders to take public transit over driving, Kelly Blume, associate research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, tells Axios. If San Antonio creates "a transit service that achieves high frequencies and fast speeds and can carry a lot of people, you could meet that need with bus rapid transit or with rail," Blume says. Zoom out: As San Antonio builds out its transit future, systems in major U.S. cities are faltering. Ridership and revenue tanked during the pandemic and has still not fully recovered. Federal funding is uncertain.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt's tall claims collapsing like NH: Oppn leader
K ottayam: The progress report of the state govt, which is a self-praising exercise, has in reality brought out the shortcomings of the govt, said opposition leader V D Satheesan. Speaking at a meet-the-press event at Kottayam Press Club on Saturday, Satheesan said that since the report was prepared before the collapse of the national highway (NH), the report takes the credit for constructing the NH in the state. However, later on, the CM put the onus on the Centre and said that the state has no role. Satheesan also said that cracks have appeared in around 100 spots on the NH. The tall claims put up by the LDF govt are collapsing like the NH, he said. More cracks are likely in the rains ahead. He also said that the constructions along the NH are unscientific. The state PWD is reiterating that everything is being examined and observed in detail. Those who claimed the credit for the NH are not to be seen after cracks appeared. In an apparent dig at PWD minister P A Mohamed Riyas, Satheesan said that it would be better if reels are shot from the places where cracks have appeared. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Satheesan also reminded that the proposed SilverLine project is an environmental disaster. He said that the UDF will not allow its implementation even if the LDF govt gets permission from the Centre. "UDF took such a decision based on a detailed study. The project was introduced even without a DPR. K-Rail will ruin the state financially as well as ecologically. During the rainy season, boats will have to be used along K-Rail," he said. Satheesan also alleged that what the CM said about the NH was all wrong. The CM said that the NHAI shut down during the UDF rule. The opinion since the time of V S Achuthanandan govt was that the road should be built in 30m. All parties were on strike at that time due to the difficulty in acquiring land. It was only after the UPA govt brought the Right to Fair Compensation Act in 2013 that land could be acquired by paying eight to 10 lakh for each cent. It was because of that law the govt was able to acquire land. In 2014, the UDF govt held an all-party meeting and issued an order allowing the Centre to build a road in 45m, he said. Another claim by the chief minister and others is that the Kerala govt has given Rs 5,000cr to acquire the land. State govts can help in acquiring the land according to the value capture finance model introduced by the central govt in 2021. According to the reply in Parliament, up to 100% of the land has been acquired by states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Himachal, and West Bengal. Despite this, the state govt is claiming the Rs 5,000cr given as credit. In this situation, has the Kerala govt signed a value capture finance agreement? If so, the govt should disclose its details, Satheesan said.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala SilverLine project under active consideration: Progress report
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government's flagship project SilverLine, is under active consideration of the Railway Ministry. "The detailed project report (DPR) of SilverLine is now under the consideration of the Railway Ministry. The ministry is evaluating the DPR. The government has provided the additional information sought by the Railways. The government will move forward with the project after the state gets permission from the ministry,' the CM said in the progress report released on Friday in connection with the fourth anniversary of the state government. He said his government has given equal priority to infrastructure development and social welfare measures. Other achievements of the government are: The LDF government has unveiled the Vizhinjam International Seaport. The first ship arrived on July 11, 2024. Till now 189 ships have arrived. Under the Rebuild Kerala Project, out of the 1,003 works, 709 works were completed. Till now a total of Rs 5,396.93 crore was spent under the project.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Progress report indicates Kerala government's resolve to go ahead with SilverLine project
The State government will go ahead with further procedures related to the SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project once it gets the nod from the Railway Ministry, the progress report 2024-25 of the LDF government released here on Friday says. The report states the government's intention to launch the land acquisition process for the ₹60,000-crore project after environmental impact studies and securing the necessary clearances. A detailed project report of the SilverLine project is under the scrutiny of the Railway Board. The State government had furnished clarifications sought by the Railway Ministry. Discussions are also progressing with regard to the Central nod for the project, the report, released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the closing ceremony of the LDF government's fourth anniversary celebrations, notes. The report, which lists the government's sector-wise achievements, observes that the government has been able to free 59,707 families from extreme poverty. A total of 64,006 families have been listed as extremely poor in Kerala. The State government has set a goal of eradicating extreme poverty from the State by November 1 this year.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gerry Connolly: Gerry Connolly, a fiery Democrat and fixture of Virginia politics, dies after battling cancer: Key points
Here are key points in the story: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Rep. Gerald 'Gerry' Connolly, an outspoken and fiery Virginia Democrat, died Wednesday morning after a short battle with cancer, his family announced. He was sought key reforms in the federal government while bringing transformational development to his populous Virginia district. He died at home in the company of family members, his family said in a statement-Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia has died, his office announced Wednesday morning. He was 75 years old. Connolly announced in 2024 that he had esophageal cancer and said a few months later that he planned to retire from Congress, according to AP.-Connolly, who most recently held a prominent position as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, served in Congress for more than 16 years.-A fixture of Virginia politics for three decades, Connolly was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995. On the county board, he steered the transition of northern Virginia's Tysons Corner from a traffic-heavy mall area to a downtown business hub.-In 2003, Connolly was elected chairman of the board and renewed efforts to advance long-debated transportation investments. He championed securing billions in state and federal funding to develop the Silver Line, a regional rail project aimed at connecting the greater Washington, D.C. area to Tysons Corner.-His leadership in local government helped propel him to Congress. In 2008, he won a seat previously held by Republicans, flipping it by nearly 42,000 votes. In his victory speech, Connolly pledged to make the federal government 'a responsive, accountable instrument for the people we serve.'-At 75, Connolly was a well-known presence in the Capitol's corridors, recognized for his spirited defense of Washington's institutions—especially in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack—and for his strong advocacy on behalf of the numerous federal employees from his Northern Virginia district.-Connolly got his first taste of Congress while working as a staffer for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 1980s. Decades later, Connolly became a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He also served as a member of the House Oversight Committee and led Democrats on subcommittees on government innovation and information technology.-He also closely monitored the financial struggles of the slowing U.S. Postal Service, emerging as a leading critic who accused President Donald Trump and former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy of attempting to undermine the agency to suppress mail-in voting during the 2020 presidential election.-Connolly reached a significant milestone late last year when he was selected as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, defeating Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the role.-As ranking member, Connolly called on inspectors general to investigate the Department of Government Efficiency. He and other Democrats also introduced a pair of resolutions demanding the Trump administration turn over documents and information about billionaire adviser Elon Musk's potential conflicts of interest and the firings of federal workers.-He said in late April that after 'grueling treatments,' he learned that the cancer had returned and that he decided to step down from his post on the committee and would not seek reelection.(With inputs from AP)
