@ericschierer.bsky.social
Phoebe Snow!
November 24, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Phoebe Snow!
Ha, that's wild. I graduated HS in 1997 and that sort of thing definitely seemed like something from before my time.
October 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Ha, that's wild. I graduated HS in 1997 and that sort of thing definitely seemed like something from before my time.
Official or unofficial but tolerated?
October 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Official or unofficial but tolerated?
I only mention the 30 because it seems like it's oddly overlooked when looking at improvements and such despite being the busiest toute
October 20, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I only mention the 30 because it seems like it's oddly overlooked when looking at improvements and such despite being the busiest toute
I wonder if MCTS or the county generally needs to have a specific plan, a specific ask, not just "more transit funding from the state" generally?
October 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I wonder if MCTS or the county generally needs to have a specific plan, a specific ask, not just "more transit funding from the state" generally?
Seems like Route 30 should be included too, no?
October 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Seems like Route 30 should be included too, no?
Yep, should go for relatively small increases each year rather than holding steady as long as possible then jumping higher like this
September 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Yep, should go for relatively small increases each year rather than holding steady as long as possible then jumping higher like this
Hmm, that'd be awfully hard to run with the existing equipment. One way runtime of 5:40. Would need very early first departure and very late last arrival.
September 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Hmm, that'd be awfully hard to run with the existing equipment. One way runtime of 5:40. Would need very early first departure and very late last arrival.
Is that just NEC?
August 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Is that just NEC?
Definitely the case with KC as well. The state effectively controls KCPD, not the city, and requires the city spend a certain portion of its budget on PD. So KC isn't blameless but the problem lies more with Jefferson City instead.
August 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Definitely the case with KC as well. The state effectively controls KCPD, not the city, and requires the city spend a certain portion of its budget on PD. So KC isn't blameless but the problem lies more with Jefferson City instead.
Yep! We really need Midwest states, individually or as a group, to order more equipment. To expand capacity on existing trains and to be able to run more trains.
August 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Yep! We really need Midwest states, individually or as a group, to order more equipment. To expand capacity on existing trains and to be able to run more trains.
Even if all flights to ORD were replaced by buses wouldn't those airports remain for flights to ATL, DFW, DTW, MSP, etc? (Not Kankakee but certainly Madison, probably others)
July 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Even if all flights to ORD were replaced by buses wouldn't those airports remain for flights to ATL, DFW, DTW, MSP, etc? (Not Kankakee but certainly Madison, probably others)
I can only guess that it's at least perceived to be easier to clear security (also maybe cheaper parking?) at the outlying airport.
July 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I can only guess that it's at least perceived to be easier to clear security (also maybe cheaper parking?) at the outlying airport.
Isn't the appeal here that you clear security at Trenton airport and arrive Philadelphia airport inside security?
July 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Isn't the appeal here that you clear security at Trenton airport and arrive Philadelphia airport inside security?
Amfleet II (long distance) cars only have 2 doors. Amfleet I cars, which have sometimes been used on Midwest trains, have 4 doors.
July 9, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Amfleet II (long distance) cars only have 2 doors. Amfleet I cars, which have sometimes been used on Midwest trains, have 4 doors.
I've heard it suggested because that order was such a fiasco with the failed N-S bilevels and then so delayed that all sorts of corners were cut to stay within the original federal grant amount so maybe they can't automatically open doors and deploy steps on all cars? Or it's Amtrak being stupid?
July 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I've heard it suggested because that order was such a fiasco with the failed N-S bilevels and then so delayed that all sorts of corners were cut to stay within the original federal grant amount so maybe they can't automatically open doors and deploy steps on all cars? Or it's Amtrak being stupid?
So frustrating. I'd love to know more about Venture car doors and what is or is not possible.
July 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM
So frustrating. I'd love to know more about Venture car doors and what is or is not possible.
Good to hear. I had forgotten about it until recently when I was on the Missouri River Runner and saw the extensions blocked off and wondered if it was still unresolved.
June 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Good to hear. I had forgotten about it until recently when I was on the Missouri River Runner and saw the extensions blocked off and wondered if it was still unresolved.
Hmm, aren't those sorts of table extensions unusable for some reason on the Midwest Ventures?
June 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Hmm, aren't those sorts of table extensions unusable for some reason on the Midwest Ventures?
Looks like it took just one year to build the Sturtevant station about 20 years ago...
June 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Looks like it took just one year to build the Sturtevant station about 20 years ago...
I may be misremembering but I recall when the Sturtevant station was rebuilt that initially an underpass was planned. But some combination of cost and railroad objection led to an overpass instead. Maybe same consideration here?
June 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I may be misremembering but I recall when the Sturtevant station was rebuilt that initially an underpass was planned. But some combination of cost and railroad objection led to an overpass instead. Maybe same consideration here?
And I looked up the answer to my own question. Yes, initially when construction started in mid 2023 it was supposed to be finished in mid 2025. Somewhere along the way that was changed to completion in 2026.
June 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
And I looked up the answer to my own question. Yes, initially when construction started in mid 2023 it was supposed to be finished in mid 2025. Somewhere along the way that was changed to completion in 2026.