KC Streetcar gets $174 million federal grant, fully funding Main Street Extension
The Kansas City Streetcar Authority has received a $174 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, giving the agency full funding for its Main Street Extension project. KMBC-TV reports the grant is covers half the cost of the 3½-mile extension, which will take the line from its current endpoint at Kansas City Union Station to the University of Missouri-Kansas City. With all funding in hand, construction will begin in 2021, with completion expected by 2025.
Citing coronavirus, STB extends comment period on Uinta Basin environmental report
The Surface Transportation Board is extending the comment period on the proposed Uinta Basin Railway’s draft environmental impact report by 45 days, from Dec. 14, 2020, to Jan. 28, 2021. In a letter to five members of Utah’s congressional delegation who had written to support the project, the STB says the extension is in response to requests from a number of parties, including the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, because of the impact of COVID-19. The board’s decision to extend the comment period, which lists eight environmental organizations that have also requested additional time to comment, is available here.
New study recommends creation of body to plan, build Northwest high speed rail system
A new study commissioned by the Washington State Department of Transportation recommends Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia create a body to plan and build a high speed rail system in the Pacific Northwest, as well as building support for the project and looking at potential financing. Northwest News Service reports the report by consultants WSP USA says if such a coordinating entity is created, its first job should be to choose the technology for the system with an envisioned top speed of 250 mph, faster than either California’s under-construction high speed system or the proposed Texas Central operation. The study is available here.
Seems like a typical government waste of money to spend $174 MILLION DOLLARS on a 3.5 mile rail extension. Money could be better used to line elite pockets