Interesting transportation things

[M II A II R II K]

An electric plane with no moving parts has made its first flight

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/6...-first-flight/

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- MIT researchers report that they have created and flown the first plane that doesn’t require any moving parts. This 2.45-kilogram (5.4-pound) experimental aircraft did not spin turbine blades to propel itself 60 meters (200 feet, the length of a school gym): it used electricity directly. — If the technology could be scaled up, it would produce future aircraft that are far safer, quieter, and easier to maintain. Most important, it would eliminate combustion emissions, since the process is powered entirely by battery.

- The inaugural flight was made possible by a process known as electroaerodynamic propulsion, an idea that has been around since the 1960s. The concept itself is a lot harder to visualize than a typical spinning propeller. It takes advantage of what’s known as ionic wind. — Using very high voltages—in the plane’s case, 40,000 volts—the thruster generates ions in the air around two electrodes. The electric field created between these throws the ions from a smaller electrode over to a larger one.

- These ions collide with normal air molecules while traveling, creating the ionic wind and pushing the plane forward. Since the ions are moving between two stationary electrodes, no moving parts are required to power the plane. — So why haven’t we been using this technology in our planes all along? When it was conceived of in the 1960s, researchers came to the conclusion that it couldn’t create the level of thrust needed to sustain flight. — Keep in mind, the test plane didn’t have anyone or anything riding onboard.

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[M II A II R II K]

U.S. Finally Legalizes Modern, European-Style Train Cars

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/11/...le-train-cars/

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- This week, the Federal Railroad Administration finalized new safety rules that bring American standards more in line with those used in Europe — changes that will save American commuter rail operators money and passengers time. Under the new rules, old, heavy trains can now be replaced with lighter, sleeker, more-modern models.

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[Hatman]

That is amazing good news! Hopefully more systems will benefit from European crash-management standards now that long and costly waivers to use the new equipment are no longer necessary.

In honor of the event, here is a video on the Shinkansen by one of the most awesomest YouTube channels around:
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[Busy Bee]

^^^
Very cool video indeed

As for the FRA regs, to be honest I thought that was already a done deal a couple years ago. You've had a few American operators (those Texas commuter op's) purchase off the shelf Stadler FLIRT's for a few years now. 100% positive news though and will make for interesting rolling stock procurement over the next decade as agencies retire hogs and seek out newer lighter cars and motive power to modernize their fleets. Good times ahead.

[SpongeG]

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[M II A II R II K]

World’s First Floating “Sail-Through” Supermarket launched in Dubai

https://yourdubaiguide.com/worlds-fi...ched-in-dubai/

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- Fancy a quick snack or essential supplies while sailing or jet skiing near Dubai? Carrefour has got you covered. Named “Carrefour Bites and More by the Shore”, the Aqua pod floats near the Kite Beach, Jumeriah Public Beach and Al Sufouh Beach in Dubai. — The supermarket has a collection of 300+ items that can be purchased by customers who can order at the window counter and receive their packed items. Larger sailing vessels can order through phone or app and the items would be delivered by a skiff (small boat) within 45 minutes.

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[M II A II R II K]

Miami High-Rise Projects Prepare For The Future Of Flying Cars

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/12/0...e-flying-cars/

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- The future of Miami’s urban aviation is cleared for takeoff. Developers of the new Paramount Miami WorldCenter in downtown Miami are banking on the future of flying cars and they are creating the world’s first flying-car dock, or residential skyport, on the penthouse level of its 60-story tower. — The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami Beach, slated to open in 2019, will have a ‘floating helipad’ for jets and helicopters and drones, once available. There is also a yacht to shuttle residents to their doorsteps.

- Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum, which rises 62 stories and is nearly complete, was the first residential building in Miami to include a private rooftop helipad doubling as an observation deck over the bay. Uber and Airbus are building personal transport drones and developers are banking on the uber rich to use them over the skies of Miami. — “These flying-car projects are the real deal,” says Paramount Ventures CEO Dan Kodsi, who is the developer of Paramount and a recreational pilot.

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[M II A II R II K]

Why is U.S. Public Transit Crumbling?:


https://thenib.com/why-is-u-s-public-transit-crumbling

[electricron]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

Why is U.S. Public Transit Crumbling?:
https://thenib.com/why-is-u-s-public-transit-crumbling

I have a major problem with an article that overlooks and treats two hundred miles of light rail corridors as being non-existent transit.
Dallas has 93 miles of double track light rail
Houston has 23 miles of double track light rail
Phoenix has 26 miles of double miles of light rail
San Diego has 54 miles of double track light rail
Total overlooked in just these four cities was 196 miles of double track light rail lines.

[pdxstreetcar]

So the anti-rail Federal Railroad Administration imposes BS rules on new rail lines (after they've spent decades jumping through FRAs hoops and moving goal posts) and threatens to shut down lines if they don't comply. Denver is experiencing it first-hand with their commuter rail system, they've even had to have human crossing guards at all their crossings for the last several years.

This completely worthless Federal agency is the main reason America barely has trains and when it does finally add a train, it costs billions of dollars and decades to implement (and why we have to construct entirely new separate light rail lines instead of using the directly adjacent underutilized rail lines). Unbelievable, if anything needs to be shut down, its the Federal Railroad Administration.


Colorado lawmakers urge fix to A-Line, G-Line problems on eve of deadline
“We cannot afford any further delays or loss of service,” letter states
Denver Post - December 13, 2018
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/1...ennet-gardner/

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by electricron

I have a major problem with an article that overlooks and treats two hundred miles of light rail corridors as being non-existent transit.
Dallas has 93 miles of double track light rail
Houston has 23 miles of double track light rail
Phoenix has 26 miles of double miles of light rail
San Diego has 54 miles of double track light rail
Total overlooked in just these four cities was 196 miles of double track light rail lines.

Phoenix's light rail line is mentioned halfway down, but it is weird that the author seems to alternate between caring only about subways and then acknowledging that light rail, streetcars, and buses also have a role to play.

[SpongeG]

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[exit2lef]

I received the following book for Christmas:

Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit by Christof Spieler.
https://islandpress.org/book/trains-buses-people

In 251 pages, the author profiles 47 metro areas that have invested in rail, streetcars, or BRT. The city in which I live, Phoenix, is covered in fair terms -- not as a glowing example of ubiquitous and frequent transit, but not as an urbanist whipping boy either. He writes "Phoenix is not fundamentally transit-friendly -- it is a car-oriented city with a relatively small downtown. But its light-rail line (and the planned expansions) does an excellent job of putting transit where it can do the most good."

I'm looking forward to reading the other 46 chapters in the weeks to come, and I'm interested in hearing from other readers. Do you feel Spieler is fair and accurate in his critiques of your cities?

[dubu]

so eugene oregon is even in there? it has brt. thats what this city needs, its two hrs away and has about the same population.

[M II A II R II K]

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[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by dubu

so eugene oregon is even in there? it has brt. thats what this city needs, its two hrs away and has about the same population.

Yes, Eugene is included. The author calls the city's EMX service "the most comprehensive BRT system in the nation."

[mrnyc]

wow the government finally dropped the ban on photography in the tashkent metro this summer — check out the beautiful stations — i rode around, jumped off and saw most of them, but the cosmonaut station was my favorite:


https://www.theguardian.com/cities/g...ures?CMP=fb_gu

[Pedestrian]

When rebuilding SF’s 100-year-old cable cars, carpenters turn to new digital photo archive to nail the details
By Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez on December 25, 2018 1:00 am

Picture the elements of a century-old San Francisco cable car.

The subtle sloping arch of its windows. The layered wooden brow extending from its roof. The swelling outward curve of its back panel, where a conductor may stand on any given day.

These are just some of the countless little details Muni’s cable car carpenters obsess over to achieve millimeter-perfect historical accuracy. They only have one chance to get it right. Barring major collisions, Muni reconstructs each cable car just once every 50 years.

Now these wood-working artisans have been armed with a new tool to ensure every screw, and every nail, is placed more accurately than ever before:

Photos.

Or, more precisely, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Photo Archive, an effort started roughly a decade ago to scan, digitize, and digitally “tag” thousands of analog photos chronicling Muni since its inception in 1912, and even photos of Muni’s predecessors . . . .

http://www.sfexaminer.com/rebuilding...-nail-details/

[JManc]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

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Because authoritarian government? No vote/ referendum/ budget constraints just what Chairman Xi wants and what Chairman Xi gets and the Party rubber stamps. Here are best hope is pork barrel legislation and a receptive congress and state government.

[M II A II R II K]

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