The Federal Railroad Administration will soon update regulations regarding U.S. trains, this could have major impact on the industry and train travel.
American regulations have long been blamed for American trains being slower and more expensive than they are in other countries around the world. Angie Schmitt writes for Streetsblog that regulations are about to change and the Federal Railroad Administration, which "…expects the new rules will enable railroads to use trains that are safer, more energy efficient, and cheaper to operate." This is because U.S. Regulations are out of step with those of the other major train markets. "Building trains to unusual U.S. safety standards for the small American passenger rail market made rolling stock purchases needlessly expensive. Opening the door to standardized European train specifications will significantly lower prices," Schmitt reports.
These lower costs would translate to large savings, "Rail operators are expected to save hundreds of millions of dollars a year as a result," Schmitt writes. This leads some to hope that this cash infusion could go along way toward making passenger rail faster and less costly.
FULL STORY: Federal Regulators Will Let U.S. Railroads Run Faster, More Efficient Trains
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Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
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Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
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Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
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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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service