Transportation

Construction Quiz: What will the new Tappan Zee Bridge share with the new Bay Bridge?

What lifts up to 1,750 tons? Goodbye "Left Coast Lifter". Hello "I Lift New York". The massive crane was barged 6,000 miles through the Panama Canal to begin construction of the replacement Tappan Zee Bridge, having completed the Bay Bridge job.

February 4, 2014 - New York Post

Calif. Bill Advances To Recognize Protected Bike Lanes as Class IV Bikeways

Hoping to encourage other cities to follow San Francisco's successful application of protected bike lanes, Asm. Phillip Ting (D-S.F.) would have Caltrans "develop minimum safety design criteria" for what would be a new class of bikeways in the state.

February 4, 2014 - San Francisco Bay Guardian

Amtrak Southwest Chief Service Rests with N.M. Governor

Continued service to many cities in New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas may rest with N.M. Gov. Susana Martinez who has indicated she is unwilling to share in the maintenance costs required by the federal government for a stretch of rail owned by BNSF.

February 4, 2014 - The New Mexican

Feds Allow ‘Next Generation’ Vehicle Safety Technology

By allowing the use of a new vehicle safety communication system called V2V, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are hoping to protect drivers without overstepping privacy boundaries.

February 4, 2014 - PBS NewsHour - The Rundown

Behold the First-Ever Regional Transit Map of New York

For anyone not a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, the best result of this year's Super Bowl might have been the first-ever regional transit map of New York.

February 3, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

In Transit, Is Better Station Architecture Worth the Cost?

Do transit stations with sleeker designs boost ridership? Evidence suggests that the answer may be yes. But does that mean that we should spend limited transit funds on better architecture?

February 3, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Woman in Bike Lane, Toronto, Canada

Bike and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Bill Introduced in Congress

Rep. Albert Sires (D-N.J.) introduced the New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act of 2014 (H.R. 3978), modeled on TIFIA, to promote investment in bike and pedestrian facilities to make streets safer for all modes.

February 3, 2014 - NJ.com

‘Mass-Transit Super Bowl’ Not-So-Super for Attendees

With parking limited around the stadium for yesterday’s Super Bowl, attendees relied on the New York region’s transit system to get to and from the game. After months of worry about the weather, mass transit was the Least Valuable Player on game day.

February 3, 2014 - New York Times

See-Saws, Circles, and Narrative Fallacies

A minor word of caution on statistical inference and the stories it can tell

February 3, 2014 - Norman Wright

The Roots of Snowmageddon

Last week, many Atlantans were stuck in traffic overnight because of fewer than three inches of snow. What went wrong?

February 2, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Proposed design for Glendale-Hyperion Bridge

Bridge Redesign a Victory for Pedestrian, Cycling Advocates

In Los Angeles, months of agitation by pedestrian and bicycling advocates have finally paid off.

February 2, 2014 - LA Streetsblog

Tax and Borrow Plan Advanced by Delaware Gov. Markell to Fund Transportation

The 10-cent gas tax hike the governor proposed would only meet Delaware's transportation needs half-way. Gov. Markell also endorsed borrowing $50 million a year, matching the additional gas tax revenues. Combined, DelDot's debt load would be reduced.

February 2, 2014 - Smyrna-Clayton Sun-Times

Bringing Caltrans Into The 21st Century

Can the nation's largest state department of transportation, long oriented to building highways and fighting congestion, be brought into the modern, multi-modal era? The State Smart Transportation Initiative's report for Caltrans may do just that.

February 1, 2014 - The Sacramento Bee

"What Did He Know, and When Did He Know It?" Bridge-Gate Plot Thickens

David Wildstein, the former Port Authority official who resigned over the George Washington Bridge-Gate lane closures and has refused to answer investigators' questions, indicated in his lawyer's letter that N.J. Gov. Christie knew of the closures.

February 1, 2014 - The New York Times

Why New Transfer Rules Would Benefit Toronto’s Most Marginalized

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is considering switching its single-trip transfer system to a more flexible time-based system allowing short return trips to be made without paying twice. Low-income and marginalized riders stand to benefit most.

January 31, 2014 - Now Magazine

Amsterdam Electric Car

The Land Where Electric Vehicles Reign

In this European country, the Nissan Leaf is the third best seller and Tesla's Model S luxury car is number one. The major reason is not its environmental ethos, which is strong, but because of the perks that EVs receive. What county is it?

January 31, 2014 - The Guardian

nyc. subway.

Which U.S. Cities Have the Best Transit?

Walk Score has published its analysis of the quality of public transit in 50 of the biggest cities in the United States. The rankings may surprise you.

January 31, 2014 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Atlanta #Snowpocalypse

The Night That Sprawl Drove Dixie Down

You can point the finger at unprepared politicians or mistaken meteorologists for paralyzing Atlanta this week. But to find the real culprits, you'll have to look at the region's history of land use and transportation decisions, argues Rebecca Burns.

January 30, 2014 - Politico Magazine

Charlotte Bets On Federal Funding for Streetcar

The Charlotte City Council approved $12 million in engineering work for a proposed 2.5-mile streetcar extension. The city hopes the investment will help it win federal funds for the $126 million project.

January 30, 2014 - Charlotte Observer

Is Lowering the Speed Limit the Best Way to Improve Street Safety?

In the aftermath of recent pedestrian fatalities, a lot of attention has been placed on lowering speed limits across New York City to improve safety. But the city's former traffic commissioner argues that other approaches would be more effective.

January 30, 2014 - New York Daily News

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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