Urban planning: The built environment

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Urban planning aims to improve the built, natural, social and economic aspects of towns and cities. Discuss any related topics, like transportation, land use, and community development here among enthusiasts and professionals.

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spiritedpause

Are there any US cities that are working on plans to use existing freight rail lines for commuter rail? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/urbanplanning

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Are there any US cities that are working on plans to use existing freight rail lines for commuter rail?

As an example, I noticed when I was in Tampa that their freight rail routes (mostly owned by CSX) could actually have decent coverage for commuter rail from the suburbs to downtown Tampa.

I also noticed that these freight rail lines seemed to very rarely have freight trains traveling on them.

Are there any US cities that are working on developing commuter rail lines that either share these freight rail lines, or would build their own lines right alongside them using existing right of way?

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[–] mean_bean279 3 points 10 months ago

Orlando to Miami just had their freight rail partially converted with Bright Lines to passenger rail. It’s privatized now… but that might be more of what you’re thinking. The US doesn’t really have any passenger specific rail lines compared to its freight lines. Most cities might not be looking to convert freight lines since they’re privately owned and usually still in use for cargo.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

@spiritedpause Isn't all US passenger train enterprise centralised through Amtrak?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That’s for passenger rail between cities, I’m more so referring to commuter rail within a city to get from suburbs to city center. Those systems are generally built and run by state and local gov.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

@spiritedpause Oh OK - thanks for elucidating me.