"The top three things that travelers can do to assist with a seamless screening experience are to be prepared, be attentive, and follow the direction of the officer providing assistance."
"This recognition is a testament to the talent, dedication, and 'can-do' spirit of the professional staff on the NYS Department of Transportation's team," Commissioner Dominguez said. "From bridge strikes in the capital region to catastrophic flooding in the Adirondacks, our team members work tirelessly to restore traffic and critical infrastructure-safely and quickly-with modern and resilient structures along these vital corridors within New York State."
"Caltrain and BART would very likely be looking at shutting down passenger service," Deputy Director of Policy Development Melissa Jones said. "In that case, the agencies would be focused on maintenance, trying to secure our assets, keep everything safe while we regroup for the future."
While dozens of other countries have delivered fast, modern train networks, we are stuck with a skeletal system built largely on slow, 19th-century alignments. Even developing nations are passing us by. There is growing recognition at the federal level that things need to change, but substantial and comprehensive reform would require an act of Congress.
Let's start with the biggest issue on the horizon: the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Yes, the ultimate decision is about a year away. But sides are lining up for and against, and right now, the Surface Transportation Board, which is colloquially known as STB -- the railroads' economic regulator -- is considering the details of how the rules governing that decision will be applied.
The agency is facing an annual deficit of nearly $400 million, with ridership levels decreasing since the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work trends. The agency presented the worst-case scenarios. Phase 1 in Jan of 2027 would include closing the 10 stations with the lowest ridership. During Phase 2 in July of 2027, up to 15 stations could shut down with a 50% fare increase. Train service would stop altogether under Phase 3.
A vote six years in the making that would decimate the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system might soon be called off, potentially averting a major funding crisis for the agency - though advocates say there's more work to be done to make sure every DFW resident has the mass mobility options they deserve. Since the beginning of the decade, a handful of wealthy, sprawling suburban cities in the greater Dallas metro have been fighting