Latest news with #lightrail
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Camden line expansion: Pitman residents to vote on Election Day train service initiative
Pitman Borough residents are to weigh in this Election Day on the idea of running a light rail passenger service through town on its way to its final stops in Glassboro. This is a ballot question that borough council members narrowly approved at their meeting July 28. The initiative went out this week to the Gloucester County Clerk's Office for processing. Aug. 8 is the last day under state law for municipal and county government officials to submit non-binding ballot questions ahead of a general election. More: 'Fill a transit gap': Glassboro-Camden Line pitched at Rowan University event The Glassboro-Camden Line would run approximately 18 miles between those communities, with Rowan University officials in Glassboro emphatically backing the idea. Transportation officials under Gov. Phil Murphy have promised that the line will be constructed, regardless of how it's been viewed by some in affected communities. Pitman's resolution authorizing the referendum, which is not binding, states that 'Pitman recognizes the potential impacts such a project may have on local quality of life, safety, traffic, noise levels, and overall character of the community.' As an example, officials noted that railroad safety rules require a train to sound its horn four times at any crossing. That pattern would mean 32 horn blasts here in 'peak commuting hours,' which it lists as between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. The resolution phrases the question as: 'Do you support the construction of the Glassboro-Camden Line through Pitman?' The possible responses are 'yes' or 'no.' Councilwoman Sarah Musto proposed the resolution, which was approved on a 3-2 vote. More: NJ governor election: What summer 2025 polls say about the Sherrill-Ciattarelli race. Republicans Musto and John Fitzpatrick were 'yes' votes, joined by Democrat Robert Uyehara. Council President Vanessa James and Councilwoman Debra Guarni, both Democrats, voted against the proposal. Councilman Adam Mazzola, a Democrat, was absent because of an illness. Mayor Michael Razze Jr., a Republican, also was not present. James said that she questioned whether a referendum was the best approach in dealing with state officials, adding that they all need to see more specifics about the project. 'There also was discussion about creating some form of subcommittee or appointing a member of the municipal government to be kind of more a liaison, take a more active role in getting information about the light rail and what its impact on Pitman is going to be,' James said this week. 'That was my big push.' Referendums previously held in Mantua, Woodbury Heights, Wenonah and Brooklawn all resulted in majorities of voters in those communities opposing the project. Glassboro residents, however, have voted in favor of it. In 2022, Pitman elected officials approved a non-binding resolution stating that they would oppose the project until they received satisfactory answers about potential negative impacts. The mayor cast a tie-breaking vote on the resolution after council members deadlocked. Election Day 2025 is Nov. 4. Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Glassboro-Camden light rail project going in front of Pitman voters Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Traffic congestion improvement plan for Halifax released
The PC government says they will start planning for long-term projects like bridges and light rail, but opposition parties say they don't see any urgency to help people now. Haley Ryan has the story.
CBS News
01-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
NYC Interborough Express enters design phase for Brooklyn-Queens light rail
The Interborough Express, New York City's first light rail system which would link Brooklyn and Queens, is another step closer to becoming a reality. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday the project to build the nation's busiest light rail system has entered the engineering and design phase. Renderings provide a glimpse into the future of transit between two of New York's most-populated, yet underserved communities. "A clean, fast, 14-mile light rail line. A connection between Brooklyn and Queens like never before. We're calling it the Interborough Express, IBX," Hochul said. The plan has been discussed for more than 30 years. But it's now moving into the next phase. "This means a lot of planning is going to occur. Looking at the stations, tracks, vehicles, signals, so we can get shovels in the ground and make this become a reality," the governor said. Hochul approved $2.75 billion in funding for the project back in April. It's aimed at reducing the travel time between Brooklyn and Queens to 32 minutes for more than 1 million New Yorkers and other commuters. "One of the things I love best about this project is that we get to get more transit out of the infrastructure we have," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. The IBX light rail would extend from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens, with a total of 19 new stations connecting to 17 subway lines. They would be the first new transit stations in Brooklyn since 1948 and Queens since 1988. The MTA is now coming up with an underground design for Metropolitan Avenue in Queens to, hopefully, make the area less prone to delays. "I think it would be great because the commute sometimes gets a little busy," Louisa Brenya, of Queens, said. Diana Arboleda, of Jackson Heights, is all too familiar with the current lengthy and inconvenient ways to get to Brooklyn from her home. "It's a hassle," she said. "This would help me a lot because the commute is time consuming," Kasheen Buckner, of Brooklyn, said. IBX is expected to become the busiest light rail system in the country, with 48 million riders annually.
New York Times
26-07-2025
- New York Times
New York Is Planning a Train Line to Connect Its Transit Deserts. We Walked All 14 Miles of It.
Subways, buses and highways were meant to make movement faster and more convenient, but, in this country, it's often incredibly difficult to travel by public transit. Even those major cities thought of as interconnected webs of subway lines and bus stops can possess vast transit deserts that can keep communities segregated. Without easy connections, two parts of the same place can feel more like distant planets than neighborhoods just a handful of miles apart. In New York City, outer Brooklyn and outer Queens might as well be in different universes from each other. The city has a plan to change that: a light rail line that would repurpose freight tracks to make travel from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens, take about 40 minutes and connect 17 different subway lines. Whether the train will even be built at all depends in part on revenue from the city's embattled congestion pricing plan. But, if realized, the Interborough Express, IBX for short, has the potential to bring together people who might otherwise never come in contact with one another. The possibility of connecting all these places, though, feels more like an abstraction. For people like me and the photographer Tom Wilson, who live at opposite ends of the proposed route, the space that separates us feels especially unnavigable. So we set out to walk the entirety of the future line, all 14 miles of it, to see the neighborhoods it would link and meet the people who live in them. If the IBX ever arrives, what would happen to the space that keeps us apart? We met in a parking lot behind the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, and set off east with the sun in our eyes, beginning a 20-mile walk that would trace the rails as closely as possible while sticking to surface roads. By 8:37 a.m., we had already reached Eighth Avenue — one of the 19 proposed IBX stops and the heart of Sunset Park's Chinatown. Food carts lining the sidewalks offered grilled meat and noodles. We waded through slow-moving passers-by and workers unloading crates of vegetables. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hitachi Rail, SYMCA partner on Supertram modernisation initiative
Hitachi Rail has entered into a 15-year technology partner framework agreement with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to advance the South Yorkshire Supertram network in the UK. This agreement designates Hitachi Rail as the strategic technology partner for SYMCA, focusing on modernising the light rail infrastructure in the region. The initiative is part of SYMCA's strategy to enhance public transport services, improve connectivity among communities, and contribute to economic growth in South Yorkshire. SYMCA Transport Development and Capital Delivery director Tom Howard said: 'This strategic partnership with Hitachi will ensure we can work collaboratively to harness the latest technology from an internationally experienced supplier in the Light Rail sector, delivering real benefits for our passengers over the lifetime of the framework. 'We look forward to starting work together, which over the first couple of years will initially focus on systems to improve the reliability of timetable delivery alongside enhanced real-time information, making journeys smoother and more predictable for passengers.' The framework will enable Hitachi Rail to implement modern, digitally driven solutions that aim to improve both operational efficiency and the passenger experience on the Supertram system. This partnership is aligned with SYMCA's objective to develop a comprehensive public transport network that promotes sustainability. Hitachi Rail, which employs over 200 staff in Doncaster, is expected to generate additional local employment opportunities and foster skills development and supply chain involvement in the North of England, through the new agreement. Hitachi Rail UK GTS managing director and vice president Andy Bell said: 'This 15-year partnership represents more than a contract, it's a long-term commitment to South Yorkshire. 'We're bringing together our globally proven technologies, transformational delivery expertise, and local presence in the South Yorkshire region to help deliver a stronger, smarter Supertram network for the future.' In June, Hitachi Rail won a contract from Kolin Insaat Turizm Sanayi Ve Ticaret to design, supply, and oversee the installation of signalling systems at Kapıkule Station in Türkiye. The contract covers the conventional line sections from Edirne West to Kapıkule East and from Kapıkule East to Kapıkule West. "Hitachi Rail, SYMCA partner on Supertram modernisation initiative" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
