Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
February 17, 2012 A major public transit milestone for Cincinnati began with the start of construction on a new streetcar system, known as the Connector, in that major Ohio city. Those on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for this system included Mark Mallory, mayor of Cincinnati from 2005 to 2013; and Ray LaHood, U.S. secretary... Continue Reading →
February 16, 1979 In the Great Lakes region, a lake freighter (also known as a laker) made her first voyage. This was the first voyage of that type of vessel in mid-winter, and it took place on the mostly ice-covered waters of both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. This lake freighter was constructed by Bay... Continue Reading →
January 30, 2009 The Santo Domingo Metro, a rapid transit system operating in the metropolitan area of the capital of the Dominican Republic, was officially opened for commercial service for the public. (Along with being the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is that country’s largest city; in addition, the metropolitan area bearing this... Continue Reading →
January 26, 1962 The George Mason Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., made its debut in the midst of rainy weather. Washington Post reporter Paul Schuette noted that this newest structure to cross the Potomac River and connect the nation’s capital with Arlington, Virginia, “was dedicated under umbrellas” on that Friday afternoon. Schuette also stated, “More... Continue Reading →
January 23, 1912 Regular service began on the Overseas Railroad, a 156-mile (251.1-kilometer)-long extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West (located beyond the end of the Florida peninsula). This service was launched the day after Henry Flagler, a founder of Standard Oil and the developer of Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), arrived in... Continue Reading →
January 13, 2001 The last remaining section of the Washington Metro rapid transit system as originally planned was opened to passengers. This 6.5-mile (10.5-kilometer) segment consisted of the final five Green Line stations -- Congress Heights, Southern Avenue, Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Avenue. (Congress Heights is in Washington, D.C., while the other stations are... Continue Reading →
January 12, 2012 A newly built terminal for an airport in northwestern Costa Rica was opened to the public. Construction on the terminal had started on October 19, 2010. Those visiting this building on its first day of operations included Laura Chinchilla, who served as president of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014. The first... Continue Reading →
January 11, 1961 In New York City, a comparatively low-key dedication was held for a suspension bridge that crosses the East River and serves as a link between the neighborhoods of Throggs Neck in the Bronx and Bay Terrace in Queens. “The Throgs Neck Bridge was opened yesterday with no speeches, little fanfare and not... Continue Reading →
January 9, 1984 Du Collège station of the Montreal Metro, the underground rapid transit system serving the metropolitan area of Canada’s second most populous city, was officially opened. Du Collège station is located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent. This station is named for the rue Du Collège, one of the streets where it is... Continue Reading →
January 6, 1922 Construction began on a suspension bridge that would cross the Delaware River and serve as a link between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey. As part of the festivities marking the start of work on this structure (originally known as the Delaware River Bridge), a salute of 17 guns was fired from... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 