Transit

Falling revenues from real estate taxes could impact transit expansion plans as New York's MTA faces a sharp decline.

May 24, 2008 - Tim Halbur

In the early days, trolleys and trains carried 400,000 passengers a day over the Brooklyn Bridge. With continued growth in pedestrian traffic, a former transit commissioner says a rail renaissance might not be so far-fetched.

May 23, 2008 - NY1 News

Three whammy’s are pressing America’s luck this spring as the nation engages in one of the most exciting presidential elections in my lifetime. The problem is that the only solution that has been proposed at the national-level has been a gas tax holiday. A gas tax holiday would have the effect of starving our increasingly troubled transportation system of the necessary funds to maintain and improve infrastructure and service.

May 21, 2008 - John Renne

Rising gasoline prices are breathing new life into the Miami's niche jitney service.

May 20, 2008 - The Miami Herald

Chicago shouldn't be surprised if drivers don't take to transit once its new pricing scheme is enacted. No matter the cost, most motorists won't make the switch until the city's transit system is more reliable, argues a recent column.

May 16, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Some commentators argue that sprawl is an inevitable result of affluence, based on European development patterns. These pundits tell a simple story: European urban cores are losing population and becoming more automobile-dependent - just like American cities. So if Europe can’t beat sprawl, neither can America.

May 13, 2008 - Michael Lewyn

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

May 2, 2008 - The New York Times

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?

April 28, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

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

April 19, 2008 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

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

April 18, 2008 - The Toronto Star

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.

April 2, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

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.

March 17, 2008 - The Washington Post

Metrolink 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?

December 14, 2007 - Abhijeet Chavan

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.

November 20, 2007 - Todd Litman

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.

June 19, 2007 - Samuel Staley

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

June 12, 2007 - Steven Polzin

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.

March 6, 2007 - Samuel Staley