Grad student in planning interested in hearing from folks working in rail transit

[NCWS]

 

 I am a geography and planning grad student looking to get into rail transit and passenger rail development in the Southeast or anywhere in US really.  I just finished an internship with European Railway Agency in France. 

I am mainly interested in hearing from folks about their experience working with rail transit/commuter rail and prospects for new growth in the sector. 

I personally am a big time dreamer about what we can do in the states with commuter/rail transit connecting it into HSR corridors.  There is no reason (apart from the difficulties of getting state and fed funding) that we should not develop a web of connectivity based on passenger rail systems--from HSR to intercity/town routes to commuter rail to slow moving trams--and public buses. 

All the advances in alternative/green technologies coupled with the scale benefits of moving more people in fewer vehicles seems to be a no-brainer step toward environmental responsible behavior.  Even using conventional overhead catenary systems puts the pollution in a centralized location (at the electric plant) for hopefully a responsible disposal or filtration of waste.

I could go on and on about the environmental (and the social) benefits of rail and transit vs. private vehicle, but this is enough for now; and I have gone off my original topic of simply wanting to introduce myself and hear from people working in transit.

Kyle

[BNSFwatcher]

Check out www.trainjotter.com .  You will get an eyefull of opinions, suggestions, and comments from commuters and workers (for the transit systems) in the New York City area.  Lots of feedback available, and it is fun!  Educational, too.

Bill Hays

 

[Atlantic and Hibernia]

 We have a graduate student here at Montclair State University who is doing his thesis on the intersections of public transportation, land use, and population dynamics.  He is a PhD student in the Environmental Management Program.

<> If you are interested in getting in touch, I can look up his contact information.

<> 
<>Please let me have your e-mail.

 

<><>Kevin Olsen

<><>Chemistry Department Support Staff

<><>Montclair State University

<><>Montclair, NJ

<><>[e-mail]