Center for Transportation Research: Highlights

The Center for Transportation Research, at The University of Texas at Austin, is extremely pleased to have received a grant from the Canadian National Railway Company’s (CN) Community Investment Program “CN Stronger Communities Fund” in December 2012. The grant is intended to support further research into “Railroads and Incompatible Land Uses: Continuing Research Into Causes [...]

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AOL Travel has compiled a list of the 10 most ambitious transportation projects of the 21st century, an international review including proposed, actual, and in-progress initiatives. The list runs from Shanghai’s existing high-speed rail network to the entirely theoretical Bering Strait Crossing. Other projects are noteworthy for their practicality, such as the US Bicycle Route [...]

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The development of high-speed rail (passenger trains that can go up to 350 miles per hour) in the United States faces several impediments: the need for high-speed-specific safety standards, lack of funds at the state level, and a diminishing number of U.S. rail experts, due the the lack of stateside passenger rail investment. However, federal [...]

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Congress has approved $8 billion in funds for high-speed rail lines, but the “last mile” problem must be solved before high-speed trains can live up their potential to be chosen over cars by travelers. In North Carolina, leaders hope to upgrade existing tracks to allow trains to go more than 30 percent faster. But Pat [...]

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Article from DC.Streets. examines the reasons we build transportation infrastructure and what lies behind transportation mode decisions, using in part some research done in Texas. Available alternatives, as it turns out, are not all that attractive. Roads do not appear to pay for themselves any more than railways do. Receipts from the federal gas tax [...]

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Operation Lifesaver, a national, non-profit rail safety education group, launched its latest campaign this summer and is supporting the campaign with a media tour at television stations in 17 key markets. Also included in the Common Sense campaign is advertising on the internet and as subway dioramas. The website, www.CommonSenseUseIt.com, is designed to appeal to [...]

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State transit officials told U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday that without additional federal funds, rail systems nationwide will deteriorate further. The transit executives called on lawmakers to provide federal funds for ” significant capital investments,” such as expanding rail systems, purchasing additional rail cars and upgrading power and maintenance facilities. Read “US Rails Will Deteriorate Without [...]

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The Federal Railroad Administration announced it had received 278 pre-applications for high-speed rail grants. “The response has been tremendous and shows that the country is ready for high-speed rail,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “…it demonstrates a pent-up demand in America for the kind of fast, reliable, and sustainable transportation option people in Europe and Asia already experience [...]

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