Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Transportation

Naked Emperor
"Clang, clang, clang, went the trolley ..." The words of that old familiar song bring memories, to me, of the wartime 1940s in Yonkers, N.Y. That city, more hilly than the "city by the bay," boasted trolley cars until the early '50s when buses (all in one day) took their place.

So Why Not Ride Free?
Want to create a thriving, popular bus service for a community? Almost anyone can tell you how: Operate lots of clean, efficient buses throughout the district over a wide range of routes on a schedule that cuts waiting time to a minimum with well-paid and happy bus drivers.

Railroads Trying for Comeback

The heyday of our nation's passenger trains, when railroad travelers were treated like royalty, may be a distant memory to many of us, but Amtrak has been making a valiant effort to make a comeback -- despite a constant battle over routes and budgets.

One Vote for Taking the Train
It's only an illusion that flying gets you "there and back" in no time. It takes hours on either side of the flight. You don't lose as much time as you think by taking an Amtrak sleeper train -- and that time can be used to read, listen to music and meet interesting people.

Keep the Buses Rolling
When Westport Connecticut's Board of Finance voted in 1993 to eliminate its bus subsidy, the vote threatened to put the brakes on the town's buses for good. A campaign was waged to try to avoid the impending disaster.

This Time DOT's on the Mark

Not long after Henry Ford introduced his Model T in 1928 -- and no doubt even before the "Tin Lizzie" hit the road -- some of the country's first motorists found themselves stuck on American roadways. Now there may be some help for stranded motorists.

All That Traffic Allows
Poor engineering of highways and the careless placement of traffic signs has, in my opinion, led to many major and minor accidents over the years. I'll bet you can spot several poorly placed signs the next time you're out for a drive.

A Bold Step in the Right Direction
Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, after stirring high emotions in southern Fairfield County after proposing to shut down the Metro North Norwalk-Danbury line, had something of a metamorphosis a year later and proposed that train fares on the line be free -- for a while.






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