Sofia Berger

🚂 US Railroads Poised for Growth Amid Improved Service and Resiliency   Analysts at the RailTrends conference report that U.S. Class I railroads have significantly improved their service and resiliency, positioning them for potential volume growth. Despite challenges such as international container surges and natural disasters, railroads like BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern have demonstrated robust operational performance. Improvements in train speeds, dwell times, and overall service consistency have been noted, with intermodal volumes growing by 10% this year. Analysts believe these advancements could help railroads capture more freight volume, reversing years of decline in certain sectors.   At John S. James Co., we understand the importance of reliable transportation and logistics services. Our expertise in customs brokerage and freight forwarding ensures your cargo moves efficiently through any disruptions. Trust us to manage your logistics needs with precision and care. Visit johnsjames.com to learn more about our comprehensive services.   #Railroads #FreightForwarding #CustomsBrokerage #Logistics #SupplyChain #JohnSJamesCo #Intermodal #BNSF #UnionPacific #CSX #NorfolkSouthern #RailTrends #Transportation #USRail #VolumeGrowth #ServiceImprovement #Resiliency #TradeCompliance #ShippingIndustry #GlobalTrade #RailIndustry

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"Think of these systems as mass transit for a megalopolis: They travel faster and farther than traditional urban metros like the New York City subway, and operate far more frequently and seamlessly than typical suburban commuter rail services like the Long Island Rail Road. Their function is 'to reduce the length of commutes into urban areas to greatly expand the travelsheds around cities and increase their effective size.'" https://lnkd.in/e-wxP7PF

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The American Planning Association - New York Metropolitan Chapter (APA-NYM) strongly supports the implementation of congestion pricing, which was delayed from going into effect on June 30th. This policy is the culmination of over a decade of collaborative efforts by hundreds of planners from various firms and city and state agencies. These planners have invested thousands of hours working closely with elected officials, the public, and other stakeholders within a structured framework set forth by elected officials to refine and develop a viable congestion pricing policy. Congestion Pricing aims to provide essential resources to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for improving transit, and transportation accessibility, and addressing core environmental justice issues, particularly in the Bronx. The APA-NYM continues to endorse this policy, recognizing its development through extensive planning and stakeholder engagement. While acknowledging that no policy or program is perfect, congestion pricing has undergone rigorous environmental review and as the MTA has stated, there is no current alternative to make the necessary improvements to sustain the transportation system. Planners have done their work. The environmental review has been completed without successful challenges in court. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to install the cameras and infrastructure that stand ready to be active. Absent an alternative, we continue to support a process that proceeds as envisioned. #congestionpricing #planning #apanym #apa #cityplanning

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Check out this article Santiago Fernandez Reyes and I wrote for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH about a new tool to visualize transport accessibility across multiple Latin American cities. I built the prototype for this when I was at ITDP México, and I am happy to see how far the tool has come since then! Use it to visualize relative accessibility and reachable opportunities by mode and congested vs. free flow conditions. You can play around with the tool linked in the article here: https://lnkd.in/ePYRzEMx

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Earlier this week, industry representatives made clear to the Surface Transportation Board that railroads are continually working to grow their services and deliver value to customers. As seen through the Freight Rail Index (FRI), rail demand closely follows broader economic conditions. When rail customers are investing and growing their businesses, rail traffic increases.     Yesterday’s rate cuts are expected to ease the brake on our economy and spur incremental growth. By reducing borrowing costs, the Federal Reserve’s latest move is likely to have a positive, ripple effect across key sectors that drive rail demand.  Specifically, the rate cut will reduce pressure on manufacturing, which will, in turn, boost demand for the critical inputs moved by rail. Additionally, this rate cut is likely to boost consumer confidence, encouraging spending and driving demand for intermodal movements, which transport a range of goods, from electronics to holiday merchandise.    Railroads are poised capitalize on these economic tailwinds, and yesterday's rate cut is a pivotal step-in enabling both railroads and the broader economy grow and thrive. For more AAR freight rail economic insights, visit www.AAR.org/RIO. 

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"The US is experiencing a critical influx of capital into public transit... the industry is now racing to catch up. However, this urgency has led to inefficiencies and waste in the procurement of rolling stock and infrastructure development." — Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, President of Icomera North America In the US, many agencies have deferred asset renewal for decades, and now face significant gaps in current knowledge and experience for procuring new products and technologies. At the American Public Transportation Association Rail Conference, we sat down with Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, President of Icomera North America, to explore strategies for maximizing the impact of modern-day investments in rail. Read the interview here: https://lnkd.in/e4Eae4Hp #Rail #USA #APTA #Icomera #Investment

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Helping identify who benefits from transportation investments is one area where models can help communities and states advance transportation justice. Alta’s Civic Analytics team worked alongside Replica and HEAVY.AI to enrich the National Bridge Database, managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with a national catchment vulnerability analysis looking to understand which major bridges in the US are used by low-income travelers. This data was used to create a national critical index for thousands of bridges across the US, where the importance of a bridge to the surrounding community is reflected by more than just the total number of vehicles that use it. https://lnkd.in/grcEEcJc

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Today U.S. Department of Transportation announced the 2024 recipients for the annual #RAISE Grant. These grants will distribute monies for a variety of connectivity and mobility projects across the U.S. and the territories for everything from ports to pedestrian sidewalks. A few of these included rail and multimodal components as well. In the Central and Southwest U.S. the two that stand out include the City of Rapid City #SouthDakota which will pursue a comprehensive safety and improvement plan for a variety of at-grade crossings downtown. In addition, the I-40 TradePort Corridor is also included. This project will plan the development of a regional multi-hub supply chain system stretching approximately 805 miles through California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Planning activities will focus on two hubs in #Arizona and one hub in #NewMexico. Shout out to Adam Wasserman, Bernalillo County, Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, Port of Los Angeles, CIty of Winslow, City Of Kingman, Elevate Rapid City, South Dakota Department of Transportation, and many other for their work on these efforts! https://lnkd.in/gjbXf-Q3

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🚶🚴‍♂️ How can high-density areas be optimized to support bicyclists and pedestrians? In this piece, we use LOCUS to explore active transportation travel patterns along Los Angeles Metro's Rail-to-Rail corridor, revealing insights that can help shape more accessible, safe, and transit-friendly urban environments.   Learn how data-driven strategies are transforming planning efforts for healthier and better-connected communities: https://lnkd.in/d9FC7nTy

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WASHINGTON, D.C. /May 14, 2024 /USDOT -- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (#FRA) today issued a Notice of #Funding Opportunity (#NOFO) that makes available over $2 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (Fed State-NEC). The corridor supports 800,000 passengers per day and billions of dollars in annual economic activity. Modernizing this critical #infrastructure to provide safer, faster and more reliable passenger #rail service for travelers and commuters is a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The available funding announced today builds on historic Northeast Corridor investments by the Biden-Harris Administration, including funding to advance major projects like the Gateway Program Hudson River Tunnel Project in New York and New Jersey, the Fredrick Douglass Tunnel and Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement Programs in Maryland, the Connecticut River Bridge Replacement in Connecticut, the New York Penn Station Access Project, and more. After decades of federal underinvestment, funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law finally has the Northeast Corridor on track to meet the needs of 21st century travelers and commuters. Last year, FRA awarded $16.4 billion for 25 projects of national significance along the corridor, which runs from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC. These unprecedented investments will rebuild tunnels and bridges that are over 100 years old; upgrade tracks, power systems, signals, stations, and other infrastructure; and advance future projects to significantly improve travel times by increasing operating speeds and reducing delays. Image Source | (©schaerfsystem | pixabay)

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🚄 Election Day's High Stakes for Northeast Corridor Rail Funding 🚄 Today’s election could have a huge impact on the future of the Northeast Corridor’s rail infrastructure—and the quality of daily commutes for countless riders. Recent derailments and service issues on Amtrak and NJ Transit have highlighted the urgent need for funding to address longstanding infrastructure challenges. However, these improvements are on hold as Congress remains divided on transportation spending. 🛠️ What’s at Stake? A summer of disrupted commutes exposed vulnerabilities in our rail network, underscoring the need for investment in reliability and safety. Without steady funding, both Amtrak and NJ Transit will struggle to make essential repairs and upgrades. The current political stalemate threatens the progress already made through previous infrastructure funding. 💼 Congressional Tensions are high. House Republicans have proposed significant cuts, including $139 million from the Northeast Corridor's operational funding and reductions to capital transit grants. A final decision on these cuts is unlikely until year-end, leaving the corridor’s future uncertain. 🏛️ Your Voice Matters! Regardless of today’s results, the Coalition for the Northeast Corridor remains committed to advocating for the funding needed to support safe, reliable, and efficient rail service in the region. Improved infrastructure is essential for the economy, environment, and daily life of millions of Americans. Join us in calling for investment in sustainable, modern transportation solutions! #NortheastCorridor #RailFunding #ElectionDay2024 #InfrastructureMatters

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Vice President, Client Services Abdollah Ansari recently moderated a panel with Construction Network. Speakers from Los Angeles Metro, California High-Speed Rail Authority and Metrolink joined the panel to discuss ongoing transportation projects, current infrastructure and traffic challenges and the impacts of transportation advancements in the region.   Learn more about what EXP is doing to improve transportation networks > https://bit.ly/46b1Ap2 #Transportation #Transit #Infrastructure #UrbanMobility

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Today is a big day for the future of our country from a political perspective and also an opportunity to experience the system that is working hard to make that future a healthier one for future generations. Consider leaving your personal car at home and taking a ride on Maryland's award winning transit system. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently acknowledged MTA as a leader in climate action. MTA's 2024 Climate Action Plan responds to the FTA's voluntary third phase of the Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Climate Challenge. Its purpose is to assess the agency’s current emissions level, set attainable reduction goals, and develop implementation strategies for agency programs, processes, and projects. The Maryland Transit Administration has been a leader in putting innovative, sustainable and clean technology to work for its riders, including the procurement of clean diesel buses and zero-emission buses.  #TakingYouPlaces #ClimateAction #MDOTGreen

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Strategic investments in North America's rail infrastructure aim to boost capacity and efficiency across the network. Learn about the new initiatives and collaborations shaping the future of rail transportation: https://lnkd.in/eYNYMbsX #RailInvestment #Transportation

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Our #transportation #funding system needs a fresh approach. The recent article (https://lnkd.in/eTyagxmR) by Route Fifty highlights the urgent need to rethink our approach to #transportationfunding. Here are some key takeaways: #StructuralDeficit: Despite the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) providing over $110 billion for #roads and #bridges, our transportation funding remains in a structural deficit. The current system is not aligned with future needs, especially with the rise of #electricvehicles (EVs) which will further erode gas tax #revenues. #DecliningRevenues: By 2032, #gastax receipts are projected to drop by 30%, resulting in a $20 billion annual loss. By 2040, this could grow to $33 billion annually, with total losses accumulating to over $300 billion. #State and #Local #Governments: States provided 73% of the $189 billion collected for road funding in 2022. As #EV adoption increases, state and local governments will face a majority share of the funding imbalance. #Equity in Transportation: It’s crucial to ensure that any new funding mechanisms address #transportationequity. This means prioritizing investments in underserved #communities, improving #publictransit options, and ensuring that all citizens have access to safe and reliable transportation. It’s time for state and local governments, along with #private, #public, and #civic communities—including #transportationprofessionals and #policymakers — to come together and proactively design a #sustainable and #equitable #fundingframework towards a future where our transportation #infrastructure is robust, equitable, and ready for the challenges ahead.

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