NNEPRA February, 2019 Board Meeting
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- Created: 25 February 2019 25 February 2019
The NNEPRA Board welcomed a new member, recently sworn in DOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note. Commissioner Van Note had previously served on the DOT for 27 years and before being nominated, was Director of Policy and Planning for the Maine Turnpike Authority.
Ridership: The Downeaster Performance Report was discussed. FY 2019 to date (through January) shows a 3% variance in ridership (Target 320,844, Actual 318,689).
California High-speed Train Construction Halted.
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- Created: 13 February 2019 13 February 2019
California's high-speed train, approved by the voters in 2008, was to have connected Los Angeles and San Francisco. This week, however, the new governor brought the project to a halt concluding that it "would cost too much and take too long." Originally estimated to cost $33 billion, the uncompleted right-of-way has now ballooned to $77 billion and will take 13 additional years to complete.
It would have taken the bullet-train 2 hours and 40 minutes to travel the 520 miles between the two California cities at speeds approaching 220 mph. The Acela from Boston to Washington travels some 457 miles in 6 hours and 38 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 165mph.
More information is available here.
NNEPRA January, 2019 Board Meeting
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- Created: 29 January 2019 29 January 2019
Executive Director Patricia Quinn presented the latest Downeaster Performance Report summarizing the first two quarters of FY2019.
Ridership: Each of the six months showed uneven variations, but the bottom line on actual ridership revealed a small decrease from the targeted goal (-1% or 280,726 vs. 284,036). Ms. Quinn reported that ridership in January would likely exceed the targeted goal.
Revenue: The numbers exceeded slightly the projected farebox ($5,273,148 vs. $5,265,446).