This Afternoon in the DOT Fast Lane: Intern Travels America by Rail

In May, The National Association of Railroad Passengers sent their intern, college sophomore Elena Studier, on 38-day multimodal road trip across the country by rail, visiting more than 18 cities and 15 states. Studier has chronicled her trip on her blog, “Summer by Rail,” to highlight the 21st Century’s public transportation services in America, and capture how people live and move in different regions of the U.S. With her trip more than half done, Elena shares with Fast Lane readers a glimpse of her trip, the relationship people have with transportation services like rail, subways, buses, and bikes and how these services can connect people from coast to coast.

Hi, I’m Elena! I’m a sophomore in college focusing on transportation and urban environments while working toward my undergraduate degree in International Affairs and Human Geography.

This is my summer by rail.

With my bike, an Amtrak rail-pass, and one overstuffed backpack, I’ve traveled to 16 U.S. cities in the last 25 days, taking every form of ground transportation but a horse and cart (nine cities left so there’s still time!).

Keep reading on the Fast Lane!