Transportation

Car-Free Sundays Coming to L.A.?

A group of cyclists in Los Angeles is hoping to move forward in talks with the city to establish car-free days, based on the ciclovia street closures originated in Colombia.
5 November 2009 - 8:00am
Los Angeles Times

Maryland's Smart Growth Law A Dud According To University Study

Maryland's 1997 landmark smart growth, hailed as one of the most innovative policies in the nation, has turned out to have failed in what it hoped to accomplish - preserve open space and cluster urban growth, according to a just-released report.
5 November 2009 - 7:00am
Washington Post

Bus Becomes Bus Stop

Sculptor and designer Christopher Fennell takes scrapped school buses and repurposes them into bus shelters.
5 November 2009 - 6:00am
The Design Blog

Changes Ahead for Rails and Air

Changes to a 75-year old rule, which says nonvotes must count as 'no' votes in labor elections, could make it easier for workers to organize in the railroad and airline industries.
5 November 2009 - 5:00am
The Wall Street Journal

Kunstler: Rebuild the Passenger Rail System

In his forward to James McCommons' new book, Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service, James Howard Kunstler lays out the case for investing in a revival of passenger rail.
4 November 2009 - 2:00pm
AlterNet

Buffett Buys BNSF

Billionaire Warren Buffett took full ownership of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad yesterday, calling his move "a bet on the country." Some say it's a bet on coal and against clean energy.
4 November 2009 - 12:00pm
Streetsblog

One Transportation Agency to Rule Them All in Mass.

It is now official: the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation will be the singular transportation and transit agency for the entire state. With the swearing in of its five-member board, the agency can begin its work.
4 November 2009 - 11:00am
The Boston Herald

Let Me Clear My Throat

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 04:23

For those who either have been wondering about, or not regularly following, the private life and times of your correspondent, I believe some sort of explanation is in order for what appears to have been my abrupt and complete disappearance off the face of the Earth.  No, I did not get hit by an electric bus.  No, there were no sinkholes in my proverbial bike lane.  No, I didn't fatally discover an improperly phased pedestrian “Don't Walk” message on a recent signal timing field test.  In fact, I have not disappeared from the face of any planet; rather, I have been devoured by the political wranglings and machinations of a very complex and tumultuous mayoral campaign in my fantastic hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey.  More importantly, one week after being appointed Provisional Director of the Hoboken Parking Utility, my wife gave birth to a wonderful boy.  But – sniff – I did miss you!

Solar Monorail

Bologna, Italy is getting a new monorail to connect the city with the airport, powered by photovoltaic panels built into the infrastructure.
3 November 2009 - 12:00pm
Inhabitat

Motorist-Cyclist Trial a Rallying Call for Respect and Rights

The ongoing trial of a California driver who allegedly injured two cyclists on purpose has become a rallying point for cyclists around the country, who are hoping the verdict elicits greater respect to cyclists from motorists.
3 November 2009 - 8:00am
Los Angeles Times

Dedicated Non-Motorist Lane on Vancouver Bridge Finds Public Support

Residents in Vancouver are reportedly in favor of keeping a dedicated lane for pedestrians and cyclists on a local bridge. Even some motorists are in support.
3 November 2009 - 6:00am
The Vancouver Sun

Ford in the Black, Thanks to Cash for Clunkers

Ford Motor Co. is reporting almost $1b in profits in the third quarter. CEO Alan Mulally credits the Cash for Clunkers program and cost cutting for their success.
2 November 2009 - 1:00pm
The Los Angeles Times

How Do You Define Success?

When it comes to Houston's light rail, Randal O'Toole says you're doing it wrong. Planners are trumpeting high ridership numbers, but O'Toole says the numbers show an overall decline in Houston's transit ridership.
2 November 2009 - 11:00am
The Antiplanner

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Transportation Policy

Mon, 11/02/2009 - 08:54

An important new book, Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research, and its summary report, The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America, were just published by the Convergence Partnership, a coalition that supports more rational and equitable health policy.

Paris Bike Program's Thousands of Casualties

Paris and JCDecaux promise to forge on with the popular bike program, despite having lost thousands of bikes to recklessness and vandalism.
2 November 2009 - 7:00am
The New York Times

49% Spike in Ridership After Bay Bridge Closes

BART beat previous records for ridership on Weds. after a piece of the Bay Bridge that was fixed over the Memorial Day weekend failed.
2 November 2009 - 5:00am
Transportation For America blog

Hitting Fast-Forward on Transit

LA Mayor Villaraigosa an ambitious new plan to speed up new rail projects throughout the city, and to complete it all within 10 years instead of the previously proposed 30.
1 November 2009 - 5:00am
The Los Angeles Times

Mixing It Up at RailVolution

Sat, 10/31/2009 - 14:39

BOSTON -- If you've ever studied the bar menu at Trader Vic's then you know about such wonders as Tropical Passion, Moku Nani, and the Potted Parrot. Each is made of a unique but secret blend of dark rum, light rum, spiced rum, tropical juices, and of course "subtle flavorings."  But by the time you'd realize that the only real difference is the glass they come in, you're too probably drunk to notice--or care. 

Minus the palm fronds, the RailVolution conference is much the same.  

Drive A Hot Rod, Save The Planet

How can a Porsche be better for the environment than a Prius? If you use transit to commute, and only take the hot rod out on the weekends. Slate writer Joe Eaton sold his Volvo for a combination of transit and fun.
30 October 2009 - 12:00pm
Slate

Transportation Planning In Federal Climate Legislation

In this short radio broadcast, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer welcomes the support of influential land use planner Mike McKeever of Sacramento, who testifies in support of the bill that incorporates smart growth strategies first employed by his MPO.
30 October 2009 - 11:00am
Capital Public Radio
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