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Talking Transportation 2023

Talking Transportation 2023
Hovercraft Weldon

Something Fishy About Bridgeport’s New Dock, Something Airy About It’s Plans for a Ferry

By JIM CAMERON | February 17, 2023
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There must be something in the water. How else can we explain Bridgeport, our state’s largest city, and what goes on there? Bridgeport politics are infamous. The fact that they keep re-electing convicted felons to high office should tell you a lot. But on the transportation front the locals’ behavior is equally hard to understand.

Talking Transportation
Beer in car

Various Lawmakers Are Proposing to Make It Easier (or Harder) to Drink and Drive in Connecticut

By JIM CAMERON | February 6, 2023
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The Connecticut Legislature is back in session, saving us from ourselves (and each other). And the collection of proposed bills this session, numbering in the hundreds, includes many that would affect our state’s transportation laws. Once again lawmakers are debating our state’s “open container” law as Connecticut is one of only 10 states where it is legal for a passenger in a car to have an open can of beer, hard cider or even a bottle of Jack Daniels as the vehicle drives along. Of course, the driver would never be drinking, just the passengers — so that would keep us all safe, right? At the same time, some lawmakers want to extend the pandemic happy hour law to keep allowing “to go” drinks from bars and restaurants.

Cameron on Transportation
Escalators below Grand Central

New Grand Central Madison Finally Open, at Quite a Cost

By JIM CAMERON | January 29, 2023
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Grand Central Madison, the new train station bored into the rock beneath Grand Central Terminal, is finally open. When it’s fully operational it’s expected to serve 160,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders. And by freeing up space at Penn Station (once dominated by LIRR), some Metro-North trains will be able to terminate there instead of at GCT. As a friend from an engineering consultancy put it in social media, “This new station proves we CAN build great things (in the US).” Yeah … a decade late and 400% over budget. I hate always to be the cynic, but if we don’t understand our mistakes we’ll keep repeating (and over-paying for) them.

Cameron on Transportation
Jim Gildea Connecticut Rail Commuter Council

The Politicians and Bureaucrats Running State Transportation Policy Want to Keep Commuters in the Dark

By JIM CAMERON | January 24, 2023
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Why do the folks who run our commuter railroads act like their customers are stupid? Though desperate for ridership to return (to fight huge post-COVID deficits), they ignore legitimate commuter feedback and do everything they can to hide their failures. Case in point: the Commuter Rail Council, the independent watchdog group created by the Connecticut legislature almost 40 years ago, on which I served for 19 years. During the Malloy administration we were getting a bit too vocal in our complaints, so a senior Democrat warned me (and another Council member) to cool it or “your little Commuter Council will be written out of existence”. Sure enough, they tried, slipping a bill into the hopper to eliminate our group and its criticism.

Talking Transportation 2023

This Proposed Competition on the Rails Might Help Amtrack Get Back on Track

By JIM CAMERON | January 19, 2023
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In my last column I wrote about the amazing success of high speed rail in Europe based on cheaper fares and more frequent service than anything you’ll find on Amtrak, even on the Northeast Corridor. Another reason for their success is competition: the state-run railroad (SNCF) now competes against an Italian railroad even on its most popular domestic TGV routes. That’s led to a doubling of ridership and fares dropping by 17%. Many ask: why can’t Amtrak get some competition? Sure, they compete against the air shuttles (faster, but more expensive), buses (much cheaper and slower) and, of course, cars (also slower).

Cameron on Transportation

Whooda Thunk It? Making Trains a More Attractive Option Attracts More Customers. Many More.

By JIM CAMERON | January 14, 2023
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How can we persuade more people to take the train? Well, maybe we should take a cue from our friends in Europe, especially the French. We know, of course, about the famous French TGV, or Train à Grande Vitesse. Since 1981 these sleek trains have carried over 100 million passengers a year at speeds averaging almost 200 mph from Paris to all corners of the nation. Passengers can travel in either first or second class (Coach) and enjoy on-board meals and beverages along with free Wi-Fi.

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Events Calendar

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Sun 02

Western Connecticut State University Has an Open House This Sunday, Nov. 2, for Prospective Students

November 2
Mon 03

Motivational Speaker Tanner Clark Talks to Parents and Teens at Middlesex Middle School

November 3 @ 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wed 05

Darien Farmers Market

November 5 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wed 05

Recovering from Tech Addiction: An Online Discussion by Clinicians on Zoom.com

November 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thu 06

How to Create a Thanksgiving Tablescape with Martha DeFlorio

November 6 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu 06

Mather Center Closed the Afternoon of Nov 6. Reason: Town Employee Luncheon

November 6 @ 12:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Sat 08

Drive-Thru Food Drive at the Darien Railroad Station Parking Lot Across from Tilley Pond

November 8 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sat 08

The History of Mrs. Claus: Author Pamela McColl Will Discuss Her New Book

November 8 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wed 12

Darien Farmers Market

November 12 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Darien CT Weather

Most Popular

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  • Darien Police: Man, 65, Arrested Two Years After Using Phony ID to Withdraw $2.5K from a Darien Bank
  • Tips for Riding NextGen Acela: Amtrak’s Already-Running Train of the Future
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  • Darien and Rowayton Real Estate Report: August 14 to 21
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  • Amy Rupp, 70, Graphic Artist, Intramural Girls Lacrosse Coach, Designed Logos for Tokeneke School and Pumpkin Fair
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  • Police: Man, 27, Stole and Forged a False Name on a Check in 2022, Arrested This Month
  • Mischief and Mismanagement (with Taxpayers’ Money) in the Motor Pool of the Governor’s Office
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Past Month's Most Read

  • Police: Woman, 40, Stole Money from a Business Bank Account to Pay Her Credit Card
  • Expect Overnight Lane Closures on I-95 Between Exits 13 and 15, This Monday to Wednesday, 5 PM to 8 AM
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  • Police: Man, 32, Stole Laptop and Luxury Watch from Darien Doctors’ Office
  • Darien Police: Man, 65, Arrested Two Years After Using Phony ID to Withdraw $2.5K from a Darien Bank
  • Christopher Smith, 67, DHS Class of ’76, Systems Engineer, Real Estate Investor, Ham Radio Enthusiast
  • Tips for Riding NextGen Acela: Amtrak’s Already-Running Train of the Future
  • Darien Father and Son Duo Will Run the 2025 NYC Marathon for Cystic Fibrosis Research
  • Darien and Rowayton Real Estate Report: September 25 to October 2
  • Darien and Rowayton Real Estate Report: September 18 to 25
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  • Rose Rodriguez, 101, Enjoyed Welcoming Company at Home and Customers as a Bartender, Eventually Owning Her Own Bar
  • Darien and Rowayton Real Estate Report: August 14 to 21
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  • Amy Rupp, 70, Graphic Artist, Intramural Girls Lacrosse Coach, Designed Logos for Tokeneke School and Pumpkin Fair
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A Twitter List by TheDarienite

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Archives

Animals

  • Dog with American Flag Old Glory Fourth of July 4
    Four Tips to Keep Your Pets Calm and Safe Over the Fourth of July

    Food. Fireworks.

  • dog French Bulldog Puppy
    Dog Licensing Begins June 1. After June 30, You’ll Pay More — And Here’s More Dog Rules for You to Follow

    Dog Licenses are available beginning June 1, and it will cost dog owners more if they don't get a new license by June 30, the end of the month, according to an announcement on the Darien government website. (more…)

  • Alexandra Horowitz dog researcher
    What Goes on in the Minds of Our Canine Friends? Find Out at New Canaan Library Thursday

    Alexandra Horowitz, a dog researcher and author of "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves," will share her knowledge and insights in a presentation at New Canaan Library on Thursday evening, May 23. (more…)

  • Adopting Dog Adoption
    With Dog Deaths in Shelters Up 30% in 2023, National Rescue Dog Day Highlights Need for Adoption

    May 20 is National Rescue Dog Day, and it comes at a time when animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are overflowing with dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes. (more…)

  • ‘Turtle Odyssey 4D’ Short Movie at Maritime Aquarium

    Journey below the surface of the ocean and experience life through the eyes of a sea turtle in the awe-inspiring “Turtle Odyssey 4D” now playing at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk along with “OCTOPUS: Blue Planet II 4D Experience.” (more…)

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