CMAQ funds a smart North Carolina move to get a third frequency
Good news out of North Carolina. Using CMAQ money, the State will add a third frequency to their Raleigh and Charlotte Amtrak service.
I think we should be looking at CMAQ money to fund more frequencies on the Hiawathas (assuming that the region between Milwaukee and Chicago is eligible for CMAQ funding). I know Wisconsin already uses CMAQ money for their excellent marketing work (and we should probably do the same in Illinois, come to think of it), but hey, let's follow North Carolina's lead and get more frequencies.
posted by Dan Johnson at 9:52 PM
3 Comments:
It would be wonderful if there were more daily Amtrak Hiawatha trains. I take the train to Chicago every weekday to work. It's a great train service, but another morning rush hour train (around 7 a.m.) and a couple more evening rush hour trains (around 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) are desperately needed, along with a late night train (around 10 p.m.), along with a midnight train on the weekends. A stop in northern Illinois would also be good for people who want to take the train to Mitchell Airport. Why is expanding the Hiawatha service so difficult? Nearly $2 billion will be spent to expand I-94 - why can't the money be fund to increase the Amtrak Hiawatha service?
The goal, would seem to be to offer hourly service with half hour trains at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30AM, along with 4:30, 5:30, 6:30PM.
Hiawatha does what it does with only two consists, i believe with 4 you could bring the service to 14 roundtrips daily.
I take the Hiawatha whenever I can for business or pleasure in Chicago. I would love to see a trip to Chicago at 9 or 9:30AM and the return trip at 7 or 9PM. In the past 3 years I have only had to drive to Chicago twice...and it was horrible compared to taking the train the other 15 or so times.
Post a Comment
<< Home