The Planetizen News Brief - 1/22/09

• Artist: Planetizen
• Title: Planetizen Podcast - 2009-01-22 - The Planetizen News Brief
• Genre: Podcast
• Year: 2009
• Length: 5:00 minutes (4.59 MB)
• Format: Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

The Planetizen News Brief is a weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues of the past week.

The Planetizen News Brief airs every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City", which is broadcast in cities across the U.S. Learn more about Smart City and listen to archived shows.

Full Transcript

More than 2 million people filed into Washington D.C. earlier this week to witness the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Some have called it the largest public gathering in American history, and it’s sure to stand out as one of the country’s most historic Inaugurations. The record crowds also showed up in Washington D.C.’s metro stations, clogging and overwhelming public transit in and around the city. According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, more than 550,000 riders had entered the system by noon on Inauguration Day. Lines to enter stations had riders waiting up to and over an hour just to get in, and numerous sources reported incredibly packed trains and buses throughout the day. D.C.’s Metro marked its highest day of ridership ever Monday before the Inauguration with more than 700,000 riders, a figure that was then surpassed the next day, with Metro officials estimating more than a million passengers riding on Inauguration Day. Though obviously not the typical day for D.C.’s Metro, the increased ridership may be seen as a sign that Americans are warming up to the idea of public transit.

And they may be, but as far as the nation’s economic stimulus is concerned, transit is still a far second place to driving. The Wall Street Journal reports that road funding outnumbers public transit funding three to one in Congress’ draft economic stimulus package. The package proposes about $43 billion to fund road, transit and airport projects in the country, less than the $53 billion proposed by the House transportation committee and almost one half of the $85 billion many in congress were expecting. $30 billion of the proposed $43 billion has been set aside for highway projects, angering many transit advocates who had hoped for a greater investment. But the stimulus package is not yet final, and congressmembers can surely expect to hear from transit lobbyists as the bill moves forward.

And meanwhile, in an unlikely role reversal, redevelopment plans in suburban Minneapolis have a Wal-Mart store screaming Not in My Back Yard. The city of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has been drafting plans for the creation of a pedestrian-oriented traditional downtown – a redevelopment plans that would drive a new Main Street through the parking lot of the town’s Wal-Mart. According to a recent article from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, officials in Eden Prairie have surveyed residents about what they’d like to see in their town and an overwhelming majority has called for a more diverse, compact and active downtown area. Plans for the redevelopment have been sent off for regional approval, which has complicated Wal-Mart’s plans to expand. But with residents clamoring for a more compact downtown lifestyle, city officials are hoping Wal-Mart will compromise to allow the development – and downsize its own footprint.

Stories discussed in this week's Planetizen News Brief

Washington Metro Packed for Inaugural

Stimulus Funds Roads Over Transit Three-to-One

WalMart Goes NIMBY Against Town Center Plans