Transportation

China Subway Binge: Too Much Too Fast?

If plans by Chinese officials are followed, 38 cities across the country will have subway lines by the end of the decade. The Economist asks if that might be 20 too many, as shiny subways steer investment from other forms of transit.

April 28, 2013 - The Economist

TIGER Trains Transportation Planners to Think Different

In the first entry in a multi-part series looking at the federal government's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, Tanya Snyder looks at the impact the program has had on transportation planning and funding.

April 27, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Amtrak: A Victim of its Own Success

At a recent congressional hearing, Amtrak president Joseph Boardman told Senators that the railroad is facing a 'crisis of success.' Amtrak's increasing ridership, especially in the Northeast Corridor, will lead to deteriorating service, he warned.

April 26, 2013 - philly.com

Get Ready for 'Divvy', Chicago's Soon to Launch Bike-Share System

Jon Hilkevitch details the roll-out of the Second City's first bike-share system. The handsome three-speed bikes painted in "Chicago blue" will start appearing on city streets in June.

April 26, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Driverless Cars Are Coming, But They'll Bring Congestion and More Fuel Consumption

Although driverless vehicles are being touted for their potential to reduce congestion and fuel consumption, among other benefits, Casey B. Mulligan argues they'll actually induce the reverse.

April 26, 2013 - The New York Times

SF Cable Cars

Thanks to SF's Cable Cars, Bell Tolls for City's Public Transit

They're a global icon of the City by the Bay and one of San Francisco's premier tourist attractions. Operating at a loss, the city's cable cars are also draining resources from more essential forms of public transit, writes Joe Eskenazi.

April 25, 2013 - SF Weekly

A PAC You Might Actually Want to Donate To

StreetsPAC, a new political action committee launched this week, seeks to mobilize New York City residents, and back candidates, who support bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

April 25, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Highway Trust Fund in Need of Multi-Billion Dollar Bailout

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office concludes that drastic reductions in transportation spending and/or increases in the federal gas tax will be needed unless another multi-billion dollar bailout is provided for the Highway Trust Fund.

April 25, 2013 - Governing

Children of the Past Envision the City of Tomorrow

How did childhood visions of future cities differ for kids growing up in the 1980s when compared to the 1960s or today? Matt Novak shares a short film from 1983 that captures the prescient urban visions of students.

April 24, 2013 - Smithsonian

Ciclavia

L.A. Opens its Streets and Residents Take Advantage

Sunday saw the sixth incarnation of L.A.'s popular CicLAvia event, which closes long stretches of city streets to automobile traffic, and opens them to bikes and pedestrians. The latest route, from downtown to the sea, attracted 150,000 people.

April 23, 2013 - The Los Angeles Times

2013: A Banner Year for Bike Share

No less than eighteen U.S. cities are expected to launch bike-share systems this year, a fifty percent increase over the number currently in operation. An infographic from bike sharing consultancy BikeShare.com details the new programs.

April 23, 2013 - BikeShare.com

World Bank: Carbon Pricing Key to Tackling Climate Change and Poverty

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim explains why climate change is a poverty issue - and why we must tackle it today to ensure that carbon emissions do not continue rising after 2016. Establishing a world price on carbon will be difficult to achieve.

April 23, 2013 - PBS NewsHour - The Rundown

Teenagers Subway

Young Americans Drive Historic Decline in Auto Usage

Brad Plumer looks at the latest data on Americans' driving habits, which shows that vehicle miles driven have fallen an astonishing 8.75 percent since June 2005. Despite the end of the recession, driving rates continue their downward trend. But why?

April 22, 2013 - The Washington Post

Lawsuit Settled, CA HSR Authority Ready to Purchase Property

A major environmental lawsuit against the High Speed Rail Authority brought by Central Valley farmers and other parties was settled on April 18, clearing the way for initial construction to begin on the 30 mile corridor between Madera and Fresno.

April 22, 2013 - KQED

Can Transit and Smart Planning Transform Colorado's Poorest Neighborhood?

With a new area plan oriented around the arrival of Denver's West Light Rail line, planners are hoping to spur a transformation of the city's Sun Valley neighborhood. Can the area diversify without displacing existing residents?

April 22, 2013 - The Denver Post

Vietnam Tries to Head Off Rising Car Culture by Building Transit

Lien Hoang looks at efforts by Vietnam's government to get ahead of rising living standards, and the auto congestion that often accompanies, by building modern transit systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

April 21, 2013 - The New York Times

Zappos Founder Extends Las Vegas Transformation to Transportation

Not content to simply transform downtown Las Vegas's built landscape and work culture, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has set his sights on evolving the area's transportation infrastructure. At the heart of his plan sits 100 Tesla S sedans.

April 20, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

CA High-Speed Rail Builder Selected: Will Low Cost Equal Low Quality?

The builder of the first phase of California's high-speed rail project has been selected after a competitive bid process. The winning team had the lowest bid, but also the lowest technical score.

April 20, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

America's Campuses Foment Transportation Revolution

Angie Schmitt looks at how America's institutions of higher learning are embracing progressive transportation demand management strategies to cut costs, expand their footprints, and encourage healthier lifestyles.

April 19, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Atlanta Sets its Sights on Biking Boost

With a burgeoning bike culture that saw the fastest rise in bike commuting in America from 2000-2009, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has recognized the potential in this grassroots growth by announcing the goal of being a top-ten cycling city by 2016.

April 19, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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