Happy New Year everyone! With the start of 2013, I would like to let everyone know what I am working on for the month of January. Some of the posts that I am planning out include:
- Ventra: An innovative common-use transit payment system that is being implemented this year throughout the Chicago transit system.
- Paris Metro Line 12: From it’s beginnings as the Nord-Sud Line A, to its recent extension towards the northern Parisian suburb of Aubervillers, Line 12 is a vital north-south axis for the city’s growing subway system.
- Part 3 of my fantasy subway system for Norfolk, VA: Where I focus on Line 3 of the fictional subway system, which connects the military hubs of Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Air Station Oceana near Virginia Beach. The fictional line also passes by Norfolk International Airport.
- Part 1 of my fantasy rail system for Tampa Bay, FL: Since I’ve been talking quite a bit about my fantasy subway for Norfolk, I thought about reviving my fantasy rail system for Tampa. I originally sketched up a map of possible light rail and commuter rail lines prior to the defeat of the 2010 sales tax referendum.
Plus: Updates on HART MetroRapid, and MLK Holiday transit services.
In the next couple of days, I hope to have a poll question posted as well. This question will be in regards to the medians of Interstate 275 in Tampa. I won’t go too in depth, as to not spoil the surprise. However, some of you may have an idea of what I’ll be asking.
In the meantime, I invite you to check out Zac Ziegler’s latest post on Tampa’s light rail ambitions. This post comes not very long after a recent poll showed that many Tampanians now support a sales tax increase that would help fund light rail…something that seemed unclear just two years ago. If you haven’t read up on his other post regarding the 1% sales tax for transit, which he describes what could have happened if the 2010 sales tax referendum in Hillsborough County had passed, then I invite you to read that post as well, as I found it to be a very good read.
Also, I’ve made some updates to the About and Projects pages.
I hope that your 2013 is filled with joy and prosperity!
Warmest Regards:
HARTride 2012
The Global Transit Guidebook 
Happy New Year! I see you are planning to do a piece in 2013 about the extension of Métro Line 12 to Aubervilliers Front Populaire. I went there the other day, took pictures and recorded sound. I shall be publishing a piece about it soon so you are welcome to tap into it if you wish. I’ve also published a piece about the extension of Tram Line 3 which should interest you. The extension is now up and running and is superb. RATP have also introduced some very innovative tram stop announcements to this line which are fantastic.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for commenting!
Yes, I am beginning my rough draft for the posting revolving around Line 12. I hope to have it up by the end of the month. I will definitely take a look at your photos and recordings once they’re up. I also hope to be able to visit Paris sometime either this year or at some point in the distant future. My first visit was in 2009 and I quickly fell in love with the city and the Metro. I hope to be able to see all of the neat changes along Line 4 as well.
Just to let you know that I published my blog piece today about the extension of Métro Line 12 to Front Populaire. You are quite welcome to use some or all of it for your blog piece if you wish.
Thank you very much for the update! I’m still working on my preliminary draft, so it should be up sometime in early February.