CIT WORLD 8 TEMPLATE - The Chartered Institute of Logistics and ...

Gov. Linda Lingle and the task force, made up of
elected and appointed state, city and federal
officials, announced plans in October 2003 to build
the light-rail transit system, which they said would
require a tax increase. The new rail line would run
22 miles from Kapolei to Iwilei, where riders would
board buses moving throughout urban Honolulu.
Councilman Gary Okino said the purpose of the
study was to pull together ideas and gain support
for fixed-rail. “We need to find a way to get this
implemented,” he said. “If not, within the next 10
to 20 years this island is going to be in big trouble.
There's going to be so much growth out there that
there's literally going to be gridlock.”
Cheryl Soon, the city Transportation Services
Director, said her department would build on a
1992 study of fixed rail, with changes reflecting the
recommendations of the governor's task force.
ILLINOIS – Another new commuter route under
active consideration is along the Union Pacific-CSX
rail line from Crete, north through South Chicago
Heights, Steger, Chicago Heights, Glenwood,
Thornton, South Holland and Dolton. Ultimately, it
would connect to the LaSalle Street Metra Station
in downtown Chicago. Metra has agreed to
include the line in its ‘priorities request’ for Federal
funding.
South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff said he looked
forward to developing the new commuter rail line.
“This important planning effort will assist us in
ensuring that transit supportive land development
stimulates economic growth for the area and
improves mobility and the quality of life,'' he said.
The Illinois Department of Transportation funds the
study,
GRAND CANYON – Grand Canyon Railway is
proposing the creation of a $186 million (£113m)
high-speed light rail line aimed at easing traffic
congestion along the South Rim of the Canyon.
The railway said that high-speed rail services could
begin in 2005 Grand Canyon Superintendent
Joseph Alston said the GCR’s proposal is one of six
that will be considered by the U.S. Park Service.
Main picture: new trams for
Nottingham Express Transit await
approval to start public service. Left:
Hiawatha tram on street trials in
Minneapolis. Right: Map of $500m
Salt Lake City line.
The aim to get visitors to leave their cars outside
the park's boundaries. The Park Service has been
mandated by the U.S. Congress to reduce noise at
the Grand Canyon, with the goal of restoring its
natural quiet. 80% of the project's costs would be
paid for with federal money,
ARIZONA – Hot debate has begun over plans,
rolled out in November 2003, by the Maricopa
Association of Governments (MAG) for 57 miles
of light-rail lines in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and
Glendale.
The light-rail projects would utilise an estimated
$17.1 billion of tax revenue between 2005-2025.
The $17.1 billion consists of both the $9 billion of
proposed sales tax for the next 20 years in
Maricopa County, plus an additional $8.1 million
accumulated through transportation taxes.
SACRAMENTO – One project that is not faring
well is the proposal to build a light-rail line from
downtown Sacramento through Natomas to
Sacramento International Airport. Only one
version of the local light-rail proposal – a rail
connection from downtown to Natomas Town
Centre – meets new Federal Transit
Administration cost-benefit guidelines.
Passengers would have to ride a bus from
Natomas to the airport
Sacramento Regional Transit said the estimated
cost for bus rapid transit to the airport is $250
million to $500 million (£150-£300m), depending
on the route. The light-rail cost estimates range
from $388 million to $739 million (£235-£445m).
Connie Miottel, executive director of
Sacramento’s Capitol Station District has
participated for two years in weighing the
benefits and costs of various routes for an airport
light-rail line. She has a story for those worried
about light rail affecting their property values.
Miottel grew up in the Rockridge area of Berkeley,
California, which she said was in decline until the Bay
Area Rapid Transit (BART) line was built in the 1970s.
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U.S. LIGHT RAIL REVILUTION
“It has become a beautiful area,” she said, and she
credits the rail service with prompting attractive
shopping for the area and its general renewal. “It's
a good example of how transit improves an area,”
she said.
MINNEAPOLIS – The first half of the Hiawatha lightrail
line in Minneapolis is expected to open in April
2004, after three years of construction.
The tracks of the Hiawatha line are down, 12 stations
are built and overhead power lines are ready. During
November, initial testing began with a single car
moving down Fifth Street in Minneapolis.
Final tests of the trains, tracks, power system,
warning signals and communication systems were
due to begin in December with six cars in
circulation on the track between downtown
Minneapolis and the park-and-ride lot at Fort
Snelling. And beginning in January 2004, eight
trains will make daily trips between downtown
Minneapolis and Fort Snelling.
The Hiawatha line is a $715 (£465m) million project.
COLORADO – Commuters will be riding light trail
into downtown Denver by early 2012 under
recently-announced plans.
All the “FasTracks” mass-transit improvements
would be built over a 12-year period beginning in
early 2005 if voters in the seven-county Denver area
approve a sales-tax increase in November, 2004.
The West Line would be the first new rail corridor
completed under “FasTracks,” according to the
Denver Regional Transportation District's schedule
for the $4.7 billion (£2.85bn) transit plan.
Next in line for completion are commuter-rail lines
to Denver International Airport, Boulder and
Longmont, which are scheduled for completion by
spring 2013.
The remaining “FasTracks” lines or rail extensions
would be built by late 2016 or early 2017.
POSTSCRIPT FROM U.K. – Introduction of
Nottingham Express Transit, one of the few new
light rail systems proceeding in the UK, has had to
be deferred again.
After three years of upheaval – and £200 million
($330m) construction work along the 14km (8.75
miles) line between Nottingham and Hucknall – it is
now likely to be spring 2004 before services begin.
Initially trams were due to start running in
November 2003 but this launch date was at first
put back until mid-January after a derailment
delayed driver training. Construction work on the
tram system was expected to be completed by the
end of 2003.
Now an early spring launch relies on successful
trials of the trams and acceptance by the public in
the city centre, as well as satisfying government rail
safety inspectors.