Friday, October 31, 2003

Light Rail News, 31 Oct 2003

Sims vows to forge ahead on light rail (Puget Sound Business Journal) - Sound Transit Chairman Ron Sims said Friday that the agency will break ground on the Link Light Rail system within two weeks despite the state Supreme Court's decision Thursday that the initiative lowering car-tax tabs to $30 is constitutional. Much of the local funding for the light-rail system comes from a 0.3 percent motor vehicle tax collected in King County. Though the initiative makes that collection illegal, the transportation agency sold bonds secured by that tax, and will continue to collect it until the bonds are paid off, Sims said.

Tucson, Houston, Kansas City to vote on light rail plans (Miami Herald) - Tucson isn't alone in asking voters next month to pave the way to a better transit system. Voters in Houston and Kansas City, Mo., will decide whether to approve funding for plans that include bolstering or building a light rail system.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Light Rail News, 29 Oct 2003

Light-rail money long-term issue (Honolulu Advertiser) - The $2.64 billion light rail system proposed for O'ahu would be the biggest public works project ever undertaken in the state. Finding and keeping money for it are likely to be among the biggest challenges for local lawmakers in the next decade, officials said yesterday.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Light Rail News, 28 Oct 2003

New rail plan offers options to METRO's light rail proposal (ABC 13 Houston) - Harris County has its own idea on how to relieve traffic. County Judge Robert Eckels released a preliminary study that claims to have a mobility solution for a lot less money in a lot less time. Monday he came out with a study that endorses larger commuter rail over an expanded form of light rail.

U.S. Senate OKs light-rail funding
(Charlotte Business Journal) - The U.S. Senate has approved $950 million for transportation projects in North Carolina, including $18 million for construction of Charlotte's south corridor light-rail project. Expected to become operational in 2006, the 10-mile rail line will connect uptown and Interstate 485 north of Pineville.