April 2017 - Stop and Move

A look at Amtrak California ridership – February 2017

On April 25, 2017October 27, 2019 By jamesinclair

With the news that the San Joaquin line is looking to get a new 8th daily train next year, I felt it was time to take a new look at Amtrak California ridership. This post looks at the most recent Amtrak report, which covers February 2017. Here are some older posts:

Since we last checked in, the San Joaquin received a new 7th daily train. Unfortunately, the addition of a new train has not resulted in higher ridership. In fact, it has gone down a tad.

The entire Amtrak system was down around 3%, compared to last February, which makes sense when you consider that February 2016 had one more day (leap year). Maybe doing these in February wasn’t the best idea, woops. Click to read more!

Categories : Fresno TransitTags : brt bus expanded hours FAX fresno q transit weekend service4 Comments

Fresno will finally expand bus service past midnight on weekdays!

On April 12, 2017October 27, 2019 By jamesinclair

With a population of 520,000, Fresno is not a small town. And yet until now, the bus system, FAX, has acted like it serves a population of 50,000. Currently, service ends before 10pm on weekdays – all trips depart their last run around 9pm. On weekends it’s even worse – the buses are in their garages by 7pm.

This will finally change in 3 weeks.

A FAX bus downtown

On May 1, weekday service until approximately 1 a.m. will be launched. Weekend service bus frequencies will improve — most routes will deliver
service every 30 minutes.
FAX Newsletter

The new schedules haven’t been released yet, so I am interpreting “until approximately 1 a.m” as the buses will start their final runs around midnight, concluding service at around 1am. Click to read more!

Categories : AmtrakTags : 8th daily amtrak amtrak california expansion fresno new service rail sacramento san joaqins stockton9 Comments

Amtrak San Joaquin on Track for 8th Daily Train

On April 6, 2017October 27, 2019 By jamesinclair

It was just last June that the Amtrak San Joaquin line received a 7th daily train, and now planning for an 8th daily is well underway. The current target, according to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, is January, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that slip a month or two.

The plan is to offer a “morning express,” with service between Fresno and Sacramento. Currently, all trains originate in Bakersfield, with 5 going to Oakland, and 2 to Sacramento. Riders can reach either location the full 7 times thanks to bus transfers.

Currently, to reach Sacramento, Fresno customers can board a 6:18am train, and transfer to a bus in Stockton, arriving in Sacramento at 9:45am. OR, they can board a train at 7:53am, with direct service into Sacramento arriving at 11:20am. Click to read more!

Categories : RetailTags : amazon dead malls exurbs mall retail shopping suburbs2 Comments

Is the “retail apocalypse” only a suburban problem?

On April 3, 2017October 27, 2019 By jamesinclair

There has been a lot of talk in the press recently about brick and mortar retail being on the way out. The culprit, supposedly, is Amazon, and other online retailers, who can offer so much more convenience than physical shops can, and also offer lower prices.

Business Insider is calling it the retail apocalypse.

Thousands of mall-based stores are shutting down in what’s fast becoming one of the biggest waves of retail closures in decades. More than 3,500 stores are expected to close in the next couple of months.

Department stores like JCPenney, Macy’s, Sears, and Kmart are among
the companies shutting down stores, along with middle-of-the-mall chains
like Crocs, BCBG, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Guess. Click to read more!