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The only possible answer is Austin and even that's not likely based on recent announcements of funding shortfalls.
There's just not enough time left in the decade to pass a vote to secure funding, plan a route, receive state/local funds, hire engineering/consulting, conduct outreach, design the project, secure federal funds, and complete construction by 2030.
Also not to be pedantic but in railroad terminology "interurban" refers to streetcars that ran/run between cities. Like modern commuter rail, but with more stops and using streetcars. Only three left according to Wikipedia.
The South Shore Line (Chicago, South Shore and South Bend), which now uses commuter railcars, and what other two?
The South Shore Line (Chicago, South Shore and South Bend), which now uses commuter railcars, and what other two?
Norristown High Speed line and routes 101/102 in your area. Sounds like none of them are still technically classified as interurban but were never abandoned.
None of them. LA, Seattle & Baltimore are probably the only cities that have the political climate & willpower to legit start construction on new legit MRT line before end of decade.
The only way I see Seattle realistically getting true heavy rail is if they buy the tracks that serve their commuter rail, electrify it and provide all day regional rail service. It wouldn’t exactly be a metro though since each station is like 5-10 miles apart.
I'm going with Kansas City since it seems less NIMBY and their streetcar has been a huge success. Austin needs one badly due to growth, but it seems to be badly botched.
I'm going with Kansas City since it seems less NIMBY and their streetcar has been a huge success. Austin needs one badly due to growth, but it seems to be badly botched.
The Kansas City electorate is actually closely divided on the issue of whether or not to build an LRT/light metro network.
There's a fellow there named Clay Chastain who gained fame with his successful effort to raise funds for the restoration of the city's 1914 Beaux-Arts Union Station. Since then, he has launched seven petition campaigns to have the city of Kansas City, Mo., build a light rail transit network. Six of those seven referenda went down to defeat. To just about everyone's surprise, including his, the sixth one passed — but the city council ultimately threw it out because the proposal contained no financing mechanism for the routes.
Chastain, who left the city for Northern Virginia for a while, ran against incumbent mayor Quinton Lucas in this year's election. Lucas crushed him. Many, including some who share his goal of expanding light rail in KC, regard him as a huge PITA.
Also: At the same election where voters in the proposed expanded taxing district for the KC Streetcar voted yes on the expansion that funds the currently-under-construction extension of the line from Union Station to the Country Club Plaza and UMKC, voters citywide approved a ballot question that forbids the city government to participate in any sort of light rail construction project in any way unless voters citywide approved in a referendum. IDK if this question remains in force or got overturned.
Not surprised to see Austin running away with this now. It seems like they at least have a decent-ish plan in place.
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