As a mass transit passenger away from home (having ridden on various systems like Mexico City, Berlin, Bay area, etc.), I've a keen interest in upcoming and potential systems.
Recently, a few things caught my attention:
A couple days ago, I received a CD-ROM that I'd requested from the BW Maglev office. It's their DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement). 2-binder copies had been available at various public libraries near the proposed route for public review and comment, but they were picked up at the end of January. (I'd found that out when I visited the Linthicum library, a cozy neighborhood branch of the Anne Arundel system near BWI airport.)
I'm not sure whether magnetic levitation is affordable, but I've been interested in researching this technology. I've indulged my curiousity by visiting maglev publicity exhibits when I've traveled to Germany. Maybe I oughta visit Shanghai and ride the first and only public transit line operating in the world. (There's a test track in NW Germany, that the public could ride. (About $20+ for 10 minutes.) It's currently closed for maintenance and upgrade.)
This past week there've been reports about proposals for the state and nation about highway and mass transit budgets and funding. In Maryland, they might raise title fees and fines. (Gov. Ehrlich's proposal did not suggest raising the gas tax, which some legislators say would be fairer, since that would affect out-of-state drivers who use Maryland roads.)
At the national level, there's a certain amount of bipartisan support for an increased budget for this line item since legislators see road repair as a jobs program.
In the latest issue of Radio World, there's an article about a privately funded monorail in Las Vegas, that will open in March. It's an extension of a much shorter line that shuttles between 2 hotels. There's not much of an apparent relevance to broadcasting matters (as far as I can remember from the article), except that the expanded line will open in time for a broadcasting industry conference in Vegas.
Finally, in the Taiwan Journal, there's an article about the unveiling of a train for the Taiwan high-speed railway. 30 trains are being made in Japan and the railway is slated to open in Oct. 2005. Not sure what the top speed will be, but the 345 km route between Taipei and Kaohsiung should only take 90 minutes, instead of the current 4 hours.
[Ironically, despite all this interest in mass transit, I've never ridden the light rail nor subway in Baltimore. (Nor the light rail in Los Angeles, where I've visited many times.)]
Posted by raacluse at February 14, 2004 04:45 PM