Public Transit

Hawaii Light Rail to Connect With Airport

The Honolulu City Council has agreed to slightly re-work the route of the region's recently-approved light rail system to connect with Honolulu International Airport -- a move that has angered some residents.

February 1, 2009 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Magnetic Bus Idea To Test In Oregon

Transit officials in Eugene, Oregon, have announced plans to install a test route for a magnet-guided bus technology.

January 31, 2009 - The Register-Guard

Improving Transit Efficiency The German Way

Traffic is a nightmare in Cali, Colombia, the Latin American country's third-largest city. But a massive redesign is taking place, with German transit efficiency guiding the way.

January 30, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Emissions, Not Gas Prices, Increase Transit Use

Boise's degrading air quality and the fear it may lead to a loss in federal transportation funding is causing local governments to improve public transit options to get commuters out of their cars. The alternative, smog testing of cars, is resisted.

January 24, 2009 - The New York Times

Stimulus Disappoints Transit Advocates

Hopes are fading from transit enthusiasts who wanted to see high speed rail and public transit profit from Obama's stimulus package. Even the road lobby is disappointed that infrastructure will get less than tax cuts and state bail-outs.

January 22, 2009 - The New York Times

Chicago Misses Deadline for $153 Million Transit Grant

The city of Chicago has missed a deadline to approve a pending parking fee ordinance that would have helped the city qualify for $153 million in federal grant money.

January 12, 2009 - Crain's Chicago Business

Bright Metro Futures Hinge on Transit

Creating transit, and planning around it, will be the key to success for metro areas, according to a new report from New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

January 11, 2009 - Citiwire

Atlanta Envious of New Phoenix Light Rail

As a new light rail system begins operation in Phoenix, Atlanta residents look on with envy. Some worry that the lack of viable public transit in Atlanta threatens the city's competitiveness.

January 3, 2009 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rapid Buses To Serve Suburbs?

A local leader in the suburban Maryland/Washington DC area proposes aggressive use of "rapid buses" in dedicated lanes to accommodate growth, like other jurisdictions in the U.S.

December 14, 2008 - Washington Post

Washington D.C.'s Metro Given More Time to Pay Up

A major financier of Washington D.C.'s Metro system has agreed to give the transit system an extra 10 days to collect more than $40 million from the troubled system, complying with a judge's ruling that forcing Metro to pay could cause great harm.

November 2, 2008 - The Washington Post

Credit Crisis May Force Metro to Pay Millions

Metro and 30 other transit agencies across the country may have to pay billions of dollars to large banks as years-old financing deals unravel, potentially hurting service for millions of bus and train riders, transit officials said yesterday.

October 28, 2008 - Washington Post

NIMBY Couple Fights Bus Route

This column looks at the NIMBY-minded attitude of one couple that has been fighting to prevent a bus line from coming into their neighborhood.

October 21, 2008 - The Toronto Star

California Transit: It'll Drive You To Drive

Northern California planner and lawyer Joel Ellinwood has committed himself to riding trains and public transit whenever possible. He's learning a lot along the way.

October 12, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

The Catch-22 of New Orleans Transit

Since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, public transit in New Orleans has struggled to rebound. With few riders, service expansions can't be justified. But with diminished service, fewer view transit as a viable option.

October 5, 2008 - Next American City

Lowering Transit Fares and Raising Revenue

Unlike the public transit systems of many other cities, Rochester, New York, recently lowered its fares -- and they've got a budget surplus to boot. But to maintain this economic rarity, service has been reduced.

September 22, 2008 - Nate Berg

Driving Versus Public Transit Costs

I often hear debates over the costs of different modes of transportation, particularly between driving and public transit travel. Rising fuel prices have made public transit more attractive for some trips, boosting ridership, but critics point out that for most trips, transit fares are still comparable with fuel costs (for example, at $4 a gallon, fuel costs about $2 for a typical 10-mile trip, comparable to a bus fare in a typical city), and generally take longer. It is therefore legitimate to ask whether public transit really saves money.

September 15, 2008 - Todd Litman

The Magnetic Parking of Tomorrow!, or Ghost Ride Your Whip

Earlier this month, researchers performed a test run of a bus that basically drives itself. It follows a line of magnets embedded in the pavement, coursing exactly along its route and eventually to the bus stop. The tiny magnets on the bus and in the street guide the bus to the perfect parking position at the stop for picking up passengers. It's a cool idea, and a lot of transit agencies are interested. But there are wider applications. Take, for example, my neighborhood, where nobody knows how to park.

September 14, 2008 - Nate Berg

Congress Considering More Funding for Public Transportation

New funds have already been allocated to public transit agencies, but unexpected increases in ridership have called for even more. The funds come as part of a new energy bill intended to reduce foreign oil dependence.

September 10, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

Smart Growth Isn't Smart Without Transit

California's SB 375 could have a big impact on the way the state grows, but without more funding for public transit, any gains would be offset by continued congestion and traffic problems.

September 5, 2008 - Beyond Chron

Unlikely Partners Oppose L.A. Transit Funding Plan

In an unlikely collaboration, tax payers and the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union have joined in opposition to a proposal that would raise L.A. County sales tax a half-cent to provide funding for public transit.

August 18, 2008 - LA Weekly

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