Transit

New York City's Abstract Subway Map

2 May 2008 - 8:00am
The New York Times

New York City's controversial subway map of 1972 is being updated in the current edition of Men's Vogue.

The Next Steps Toward A Sustainable Sacramento

28 April 2008 - 9:00am
California Planning & Development Report

The Sacramento region has become a national model for smart growth planning. But what, asks Bill Fulton, will it take to make the region sustainable for decades to come?

Gas Prices Continue To Push Motorists Onto Transit

19 April 2008 - 1:00pm
Atlanta Journal Constitution

In the sprawling Atlanta region, some and bus lines are experiencing overcrowding due to the soaring number of transit commuters.

German City a Model for 'Sane Transportation'

18 April 2008 - 7:00am
The Toronto Star

The German city of Bremen has lessons to teach North American cities about sustainable transportation, according to this article from The Toronto Star.

Using Fees On Motorists To Fund Public Transit

2 April 2008 - 12:00pm
Los Angeles Times

A bill introduced in Sacramento could pave the way for Los Angeles County to raise $400 million dollars a year for public transit from motorists -- who'd pay more for gas or vehicle registration.

Replacing Transit with Toll Roads

17 March 2008 - 10:00am
The Washington Post

The Department of Transportation under President Bush has placed an emphasis on market-based measures such as toll roads to alleviate congestion, and this has public transit advocates worried that the Federal government sees no role for transit.

The Party Train

14 December 2007 - 11:02am

Toy trainMetrolink is Southern California's regional rail system linking several counties. The 15-year old system with 7 lines, 54 stations, and 388 route miles serves over 40,000 passengers in the Southland. Metrolink says its mission is "to provide the people of Southern California safe, reliable and environmentally friendly commute option." Sure, but can it also serve as an interesting venue to host a 4-year old's birthday party?

One birthday boy in particular loves trains and is a fan of a popular TV series featuring trains. His mother told me that their family trips were often planned around using rail transit to get to destinations in Central and Southern California. So what better way to celebrate his birthday than to invite his friends -- accompanied by parents of course -- for a trip on a commuter train? Children that age are probably more used to birthday parties where they are entertained by clowns or magicians. Would these children, growing up in Southern California's car-centric culture be entertained at a party where the view through a train window was the main attraction?

Smart Growth Safety Benefits

20 November 2007 - 7:02am

Many families move to sprawled, automobile-dependent suburbs because they want a safe place to raise their children. They are mistaken. A smart growth community is actually a much safer and healthier place to live overall.

What Gotham Tells Us about Mass Transit

19 June 2007 - 7:14am
I recently got taken to the proverbial wood shed on Planetizen Interchange for arguing that mass transit is unsustainable. So, I decided that it might be useful to look at the mass transit system that seems to be the most successful in nation: New York City. New York has the density and economic activity to sustain transit—perhaps a best-case scenario in the U.S.

Compelling Needs, Great Technology and Unparalleled Economic Capacity Produce Stunning Transportation Progress ...Not!

12 June 2007 - 5:50am

Having sat through a Transportation Task Force committee meeting recently where a representative of local government requested funds to enable the completion of a particular road project, I had to chuckle – folks had been asking for the final funds for that road for several years and, several times, various community leaders had touted the resolution of the funding problem with “full speed ahead” declarations.  While not quite as embarrassing as the President Bush’s now dated declaration of “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq, it was gaining the same notoriety locally.  The actual construction was less than half completed and years away from being finished.  Several levels of government ha

Getting real about planning and mobility

6 March 2007 - 1:48pm

After reading through dozens of long range transportation plans, I have to wonder if the planning profession is serious about improving mobility. By mobility, I mean improving the ability, speed, and efficiency of getting from point A to point B.