More Americans than ever rode the rails last year, also bringing the agency its highest ticket revenue.
Amtrak saw its highest ridership in fiscal year 2024, reflecting, according to Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia, “not only the need for train travel in America but also the impact of strategic investments” in passenger rail.
“With the help of massive funding from the 2021 infrastructure law, the railroad launched one new train service, expanded four other routes and invested billions in infrastructure upgrades last year,” explains Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive. The agency recorded 32.8 million trips in FY 2024, a growth of 15 percent over FY 2023, and made $2.5 billion in ticket revenue, a growth of 7 percent over FY 2023.
Unsurprisingly, Amtrak’s most successful routes are in the Northeast Corridor, where frequent service lets many commute long distances regularly by train. Amtrak is upgrading many of those trains to faster models that run at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour.
FULL STORY: Amtrak sets ridership, ticket revenue records in FY24
The Passenger Rail Revival Is Here
For the first time in decades, multiple rail projects are moving forward that could have a transformative impact on train travel in the United States.
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
Amtrak Borealis Line Celebrates 100,000 Passengers
The St. Paul-to-Chicago train served more than 22,000 passengers in August.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service