More Monday morning rail news:
— In response to an increase in onboard crime, Amtrak is moving many of its police officers out of stations and onto trains. The Washington Post reports. Amtrak had reportedly planned to reduce its police force last year [see “Union official tells paper Amtrak plans 20-percent cut to police force,” Trains News Wire, May 6, 2019] but an appropriations bill signed in December prohibits a reduction of the police force. The passenger railroad is putting more officers on trains in response to an increase in assaults and petty crimes.
— New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney has outlined a plan to create dedicated funding for NJ Transit, which is currently funded year-to-year according to the budget proposed by the state’s governor. The $500 million plan would include a business tax surcharge, restoring a temporary charge that had ended in January, WKXW radio reports. The funding would also draw from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the state Clean Energy Fund, NJSpotlight.com reports. Sweeney outlined the plan after a sometimes contentious hearing on Friday in which NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett was the only executive from the agency to testify, despite a threat from Sweeney to compel six others to appear with subpoenas. Corbett said they would appear at a later hearing, northjersey.com reports.
— The Los Angeles City Council is asking the organization that runs L.A. International Airport to consider a plan giving public transit users priority at airport checkpoints. The website LAist reports the plan could give Metro rail and bus riders, as well as users of other bus and transit systems, preference in an effort to encourage traffic reductions around the airpot.
— BNSF service was disrupted Saturday by a fire on a wooden bridge near Kiowa, Kansas, on the railroad’s Panhandle Subdivision. KAKE-TV says the fire brok out about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, and that the railroad has determined the bridge will not need to be replaced, but will need repairs taking about a week. A second, parallel bridge is available to handle traffic during the repairs, KWCH-TV reports.
Ruppert fuel taxes haven’t come close to the needs for road construction in years. General taxes help pay for those roads whether you drive or not.
Ian Narita, road users in NJ and across the US pay for the roads through fuel taxes paid when they fill up their cars. So, Robert has a legitimate beef.
I thought all the protesters were north of the border……
If NJ Transit needs more money why not put a tax on ticket sales rather than make those who don’t use the system pay for it. Of course that makes too much sense for any government “wonk” to actually approve.
“The Los Angeles City Council is asking the organization that runs L.A. International Airport to consider a plan giving public transit users priority at airport checkpoints.”
Brilliant idea, and great type of social engineering, but I think it will go the other way.
Delta will provide free transit to premium milers.
Mr McGuire NJ Transit is an asset for the whole state of New Jersey. It is as much a public conveyance as the public roads paid with property taxes. In the case of NJ they have the density to make rail a useful way of moving people, that has a considerably lower cost them rubber tyres and asphalt.