If you think Taiwan’s project was ambitious, try connecting 700 miles of open land in a country hostile to train travel. Rocky Xpress is working to establish a commuter rail network linking the major cities on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The rapid growth of cities like Denver, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and its spillover to cities like Colorado Springs and Fort Collins has created the need for a rail connection. The proposed rail line would run north-south from Casper, Wyoming to Albuquerque, and connect with existing transit systems in the Denver region. As noted by the folks at Worldchanging, this new system has a long road to hoe to become a reality, and requires the cooperation of cities along the entire route. Let’s hope these cities rise above parochial concerns about the growing influence of Denver, and join in on a process that actively manages the inevitable growth of the region.

Even New York City, home to one the world’s great transportation networks, has to be patient in developing new rail networks. Two projects that have been on the books for over 40 years, a connection of the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Station and a subway under 2nd Avenue, may finally get built. The city’s recurring financial problems have prevented a Grand Central – LIRR connection, so, for years, the train has only crossed town and deposited passengers at Penn Station. The proposed 2nd Avenue subway is less vital, but provides coverage for a long neglected part of the Upper East Side. A $3.3 billion infusion of federal funds will provide the sorely needed jump start for these projects. Even more interesting are plans for the city’s new Fulton Street Transit Center, which promises to make sense of the jumble of subway lines running through the area near the former World Trade Center site. The New York Times has a cool interactive graphic showing the proposed layout of the center. As with the other projects in that area, the center must make an architectural statement, and the challenge is to marry the functional requirements of the facility with the desired design elements in a cost effective manner. Farther from fruition than any of the above projects is the proposed Moynihan Station near Penn Station. Anyone who has traveled through Penn Station will immediately recognize the benefits of an adjoining space with a little air and light, but I may have to wait until my golden years to visit this potential addition to the New York transport scene.

While these changes may make it easier to get around the New York area, riding the trains may soon be less enjoyable. The Metropolitan Transit Authority is considering ending the long tradition of selling alcohol on the commuter trains heading to Connecticut and Long Island. The concern is rightfully about the safety of overindulgent commuters who hop into their cars upon arriving at the train station. Leave it to the drivers to once again screw it up for the rest of us. The MTA needs a walker ID card so that those who leave their cars at home can be rewarded with a nice, cool beverage on the ride home.