Jim Speaketh

RICHMOND, Va. – Yesterday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell ceremonially signed "Road to the Future," the state's first comprehensive transportation funding plan approved in 27 years. Following on the heels of nearly three decades of inaction on the critical challenges facing transportation funding in Virginia, this historic bi-partisan legislation supported by Republicans and Democrats from each chamber will provide more than $3.4 billion in additional statewide transportation funding, more than $1.5 billion in additional funding for northern Virginia, and more than $1 billion in additional funding for Hampton Roads, through the next five years.

"For 27 years our citizens have sat in traffic as congestion has increased and our bridges and roadways have deteriorated," Gov. McDonnell says. "Not only will this legislation address both the short and long-term funding needs of our transportation system, it will also annually sustain 13,058 new jobs, have more than $9.5 billion in economic impact, and improve Virginians' quality of life."

Through the first five years, the legislation will:

Increase funding for Virginia's transit providers by $509 million
Provide more than $256 million in funding for intercity passenger rail, the first dedicated state funding for this vital service
Generate additional revenue for Virginia's airports and seaports
Generate annually between $272 million to $335 million in Northern Virginia and $172 million to $226 million in Hampton Roads for regional transportation priorities

Additionally, the governor released the findings of recently completed economic impact analysis conducted by the firm Chmura Economics. The analyses determined that the additional funding provided to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation will have an economic impact of more than $1.4 billion and support 14,625 jobs between FY 2014 and FY 2018. The new dedicated intercity passenger rail funding will enable Virginia to extend passenger rail service to Roanoke within the next four years.

Virginia is already a strong supporter of rail transit, subsidizing new Amtrak service to Lynchburg and Norfolk and funding capacity improvements for freight and commuter service.

10. >From TRAINS Magazine: Maine Northern to operate two passenger excursions May 25

Published: May 17, 2013

PREQUE ISLE, Maine – Two passenger excursions will operate over the Maine Northern Railway over Memorial Day Weekend from Presque Isle to Scopan Lake, Maine. The trips will raise funds for children’s healthcare in the area.

Maine Northern, health care provider TAMC, and WAGM-TV are partnering to offer the special excursions on May 25 to benefit children’s healthcare. Trains will depart Presque Isle at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Three passenger cars will be brought in for the event from Maine Northern’s sister company, New Brunswick Southern Railway, and can seat 200 passengers on each run.

Tickets for the excursions are $20 per person. They can be purchased online at www.tamc.org or in person at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital on Academy Street in Presque Isle in the gift shop.

“On behalf of the 42 men and women at the Maine Northern Railway we are very pleased to help out with this event,” Maine Northern General Manager Ian Simpson says. “It is a great way to give back and support the good work of TAMC in providing health care service to Northern Maine.”

The New Brunswick Railway Co., a holding company, owns Maine Northern Railway and is part of “Irving Transportation Services,” a division within industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.

Maine Northern operates over tracks that were originally owned by the Bangor & Aroostook but were most recently owned and operated by the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway. About 233 miles of the railroad’s route is owned by the state of Maine, while an additional 25 miles is owned by Maine Northern outright, including track in Canada.

11. The next convert to Natural Gas Fueling: Railroads

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084235_another-convert-to-natural-gas-fueling-railroad-locomotives

12. Cape Cod Train Will Make Test Run Saturday
May 17th, 2013

Tomorrow, Saturday May 18, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's summer weekend CapeFlyr will make an introductory test run from Boston South Station to Hyannis, Mass. and return. The public may ride for a fare of $20 one way from South Station; $35 round trip. Fares from this inaugural trip will benefit Boston's One Fund.

Here's the schedule:

Outbound:

9:30 a.m. — leave Boston South Station
10:15 a.m. — arrive Middleboro
10:45 a.m. — arrive Buzzards Bay
11:45 a.m. — arrive Hyannis

Inbound:

2:30 p.m. — leave Hyannis
3:35 p.m. — arrive Buzzards Bay
4:15 p.m. — arrive Middleboro
5:30 p.m. — arrive South Station

Press conferences will be held in Hyannis at 11:50 and Buzzards Bay at 3:35.

The CapeFlyr will operate on weekends between May 24 and September 2, 2013. The first revenue run will leave South Station at 5:12 p.m. Friday May 24, with arrival at Hyannis at 7:50 p.m. The fare is $20 one way, $35 round trip. For complete schedules and fares, visit the CapeFlyr website.

— Railfan & Railroad, via Cape Cod RTA

13. Friday derailment on Metro-North's New Haven Line snarls evening rush and halts Amtrak Northeast Corridor service indefinitely

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-18/commuter-train-derailment-halts-amtrak-s-new-york-boston.html

14. Feds to help fund Merrimack River Bridge (Haverhill) repairs, speeds to increase significantly

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/news/Feds-to-help-fund-bridge-repairs-in-Massachusetts-Rep-Tsongas-says--36193

15. Sandy-devastated subway service returns to the Rockaways

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/MTA-to-reopen-ATrain-service-on-Rockaway-Line-continue-other-Hurricane-Sandy-recovery-efforts--36214

16. Amtrak expects to keep route between Chicago and St. Louis and Kansas City

http://www.emissourian.com/local_news/communities/washington/article_087d2a64-76b0-5b8e-a8a9-add3fe73fd91.html

17. >From NNEPRA’s web site: Photos from National Train Day event in Brunswick

http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/projects/events-and-miscellaneous/national-train-day

18. NARP May 17^th Hotline

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Make little things count. Teach midgets math!!

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