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Crosstown Traffic

Crosstown Traffic is all about getting around in the Triangle. Bad drivers and traffic hassles. Gas taxes and transportation politics. Public transit and other auto alternatives.

The blog is maintained by N&O transportation reporter Bruce Siceloff, whose Road Worrier column is published each Tuesday.

This traffic is two-way. What do you think? Leave a comment or email Bruce with questions, links, tips or gripes.

Conti pushes faster trains, north and south, for Triangle

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Proposed high-speed rail corridorsAs North Carolina prepares to bid for several hundred million dollars in federal stimulus grants for fast passenger train improvements, Transportation Secretary Gene Conti is taking a leadership role in a national group of state officials that lobbies the government on rail issues.

Conti is the new chairman of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Rail Transportation. The group makes recommendations on federal passenger and freight rail policies that affect the states.

“Hopefully that will position us to be first in line for some of this money,” Conti told Triangle business and government leaders at a Regional Transportation Alliance breakfast today in downtown Raleigh. “And I think we’re excited about the prospects.”

Conti said he is “very optimistic” about North Carolina’s hope for winning hundreds of millions of dollars as its part of $8 billion in federal stimulus grants to be awarded for high-speed and intercity passenger rail service.

North Carolina and Virginia have worked to improve travel times on the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor from Washington, D.C., to Charlotte. That means better rail service for the Triangle, in both directions.

“Obviously Raleigh is right in the heart of that corridor,” Conti said. “We will be working with folks here to make sure we’re making the improvements to provide that service, both north and south.”

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Better a high speed train to

Better a high speed train to DC than a Raleigh Trolley to nowhere.

$$$ for trains

"Conti said he is “very optimistic” about North Carolina’s hope for winning hundreds of millions of dollars..."

Let's just hope the 'Lotto thief' doesn't steal it.

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About the blogger

Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the Road Worrier column in 2003. Lately he drives I-40 with the cruise control set at 68 mph. You can e-mail Bruce, call him at 919-829-4527, or follow him (@Road_Worrier) on Twitter.

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