Although the details of the deal remain murky, Amtrak and the freight companies that share tracks in the region have agreed to restore passenger train service east of New Orleans.
The three railroads responsible for train service on the Gulf Coast have agreed to restore passenger rail service to the region, though a launch date remains uncertain. Amtrak stopped service east of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina damaged the tracks.
According to an article by Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive, Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Alabama State Port Authority, and Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks are working on an agreement to bring Amtrak trains back and have filed a motion with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to postpone hearings until the settlement is worked out. “According to the STB filing, ‘it will take several months’ to resolve all remaining issues and put the agreement into effect. The terms of the settlement are confidential, the filing states.”
In October, a deadline for mediation in the STB case passed, prompting disappointment among advocates of renewing Amtrak service.
FULL STORY: Amtrak, freight railroads agree to restore intercity passenger service to Gulf Coast
NYC-to-Scranton Train Advocates Confident About Project’s Future
State transportation officials say the effort to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is moving full steam ahead despite remaining challenges.
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
NJ Transit Struggles, Leaving Riders Stranded
The troubled agency has been canceling roughly 100 trains per week.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research