Transportation

Queensway Viaduct

Plans for Queens' 'High Line' Has Competition: Bringing Back the Train

Queen's version of Manhattan's High Line is known as the QueensWay, an abandoned LIRR branch that went from Rego Park to Rockaway. Two congressmen have now endorsed a plan to bring the train back - though planning for the new park has already begun.

March 27, 2013 - Queens Chronicle

Denver Densifies as Developers Anticipate Transit Expansion

Before the first line of the multi-billion dollar FasTracks regional transit expansion opens to the public, developers are clamoring to build near Denver area stations. In a city that was beset by sprawl for a half-century, the shift is good news.

March 27, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

D.C. Mustn't Look Far to Find Lessons for Reducing the Nation's Worst Congestion

Washington D.C. holds the dubious distinction as the nation's most congested city. As D.C. seeks ways to reduce its traffic, Arlington County, in suburban Virginia, has made great strides in convincing commuters to ditch their cars.

March 27, 2013 - Transportation Nation

Proposed 'Bike Freeway' in S.F. Faces Backlash

At a raucous community meeting held last week, the opposition to a proposal to replace curbside parking along Polk Street with bike lanes and parklets made their opinions known to city planners, reports Maria L. La Ganga.

March 26, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Help Select the Most Promising Applications of Open Data

886 projects have been entered in a $5 million competition organized by the Knight News Challenge to find the best ideas for making the places we live "more awesome through data and technology." The Atlantic Cities shares 12 of their favorites.

March 26, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Cycle Tracks and Bus Only Lanes Coming to Downtown L.A.

The updated designs for an ambitious project to remake car-clogged Figueroa Street as a transit-, pedestrian-, and bicycle-friendly complete street have been made public in advance of a community meeting next month.

March 26, 2013 - LA.Streetsblog

What Type of Bus Stop Does $1 Million Buy You?

Arlington County, Virginia has opened the new $1 million Columbia Pike bus stop to popular disbelief. The prototype station will eventually accommodate buses and streetcars.

March 26, 2013 - The Washington Post

Is San Francisco’s Transit-First Policy Facing a Midlife Crisis?

Driving accounts for 62 percent of all trips in San Francisco - the same level as when the city's pioneering transit-first policy was adopted 40 years ago. Aaron Bialick looks at the reasons why the policy has led to "scant visible progress."

March 25, 2013 - SF.Streetsblog

Examining L.A.'s Boulevard of Urban Dreams

Christopher Hawthorne continues his exploration of the changing face of Los Angeles, as seen along its boulevards, with an examination of the street where the city has perpetually "embraced and tested out the future" - Wilshire Boulevard.

March 25, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Can Intelligent Traffic Lights Ease Toronto's Gridlock?

Faced with paralyzing gridlock, North America's fourth-largest city is studying several potential solutions for easing congestion - including traffic lights that think for themselves.

March 25, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Del Mar Station TOD

Value of Homes Near Transit Fared Much Better During the Recession

A new study conducted by the Center for Neighborhood Technology shows that homes in close proximity to transit stations lost much less of their value during the collapse of the housing market, reports Tanya Snyder.

March 24, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Has Commuter Cycling Peaked in New York?

A new study conducted by the City of New York shows that after years of phenomenal growth, commuter cycling remained flat in 2012 during the typical riding season, reports Matt Flegenheimer. However, ridership during the colder months did increase.

March 24, 2013 - The New York Times

How Well Has L.A. Lived up to 25-Year-Old Predictions?

How well could today's futurists predict how everyday life will change by 2038? This was the task that the Los Angeles Times Magazine embarked on in 1988. A class of graduate students at USC has been looking into which predictions came true.

March 24, 2013 - Los Angles Times

Plane and Train

Rail Competitive With Air Between Many U.S. Cities

Data from the Federal Railroad Administration shows that rail is competing well (and mostly winning) against air to claim market share in eight major city-pairs, many outside of the traditionally strong Northeast Corridor.

March 23, 2013 - Better Institutions

Maryland Gas Tax Bill May Raise the Bar

One of the nation's most-watched and complex gas tax bills made significant progress in the House of Delegates. It retained one of its most significant parts, indexing the tax (and transit fares) to inflation, overcoming opposition by Republicans.

March 23, 2013 - The Baltimore Sun

New Master Plan for L.A.'s Union Station Will Focus on Passengers, not Developers

If you paid attention to the visions unveiled a year ago by the teams competing to develop a master plan for the area around L.A.'s Union Station, you might expect to see a development-focused final product. Apparently, you'd be wrong.

March 23, 2013 - Curbed LA

Downtown St Louis Parking Lot

What is the Worst Parking Crater in America?

The March Madness bug has bitten the staff of Streetsblog. Based on nominations submitted by readers, the website has organized a Parking Madness tournament to determine the "ugliest parking scar draining the life from [an American] downtown."

March 22, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Strong Government Regulations Key to Kicking Oil Habit, Reducing Vehicle Emissions

What will it take to greatly reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles? Efficiency, alternative fuels, and strong governmental policies reports the National Research Council. And it will be highly unlikely.

March 22, 2013 - The Daily Climate

First Leg of Denver's Multi-Billion Dollar Transit Expansion Set to Open Next Month

After passing a trial run with few problems this week, Denver's 12.1-mile West Rail Line is set to open to the public next month.

March 22, 2013 - The Denver Post

Tea Partiers Try to Halt Indy Transit Vote

As the Indiana Senate begins to consider whether to allow residents to vote on a tax referendum to expand mass transit in Central Indiana, Tea Party-aligned groups are trying to derail the legislation.

March 21, 2013 - IndyStar.com

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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