City of Bend road and traffic report for the week of July 19-25 ktvz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ktvz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Reinvigorated in its 50th anniversary year with an influx of federal funding and support from President Biden, Amtrak is on a roll. It recently released its ambitious Connects US plan to expand and enhance service throughout its national network, bringing train service to and through cities that are currently not meaningfully served.
This week, it also announced a major order to completely replace its aging fleet of railcars and locomotives on the East Coast, bringing along a host of #PaxEx and operational enhancements. By 2030, the Amtrak that passengers love, or love to hate, will look completely different on the East Coast and Pacific Northwest.
President Biden s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan calls for $80 billion in rail improvements, offering the best chance in decades to make passenger trains run faster and more reliably between Albany and Niagara Falls.Â
But an oft-delayed, 11-year high-speed rail study by the state Department of Transportation isn t due to be completed until spring 2022. Without the study, passenger train advocates fear New York State won t be able to take full advantage of the geyser of rail dollars expected later this year.Â
Their frustration comes as they watch Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo push along other projects.
âIf the Skyway had to get done, it got done. If the Exchange Street train station had to get done, it got done,â said Bruce Becker, the Empire State Passenger Association s communication director. I have no doubt that if the administration saw this was a priority and put political pressure to bear it could be wrapped up very quickly. Â