Transportation

With only 50,000 electric cars on the road now, many charging stations are free - but what happens when the number multiplies? Electric car charging companies are counting on the number increasing and are determining "how to charge for the charge."

September 20, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

The Christian Science Monitor argues why the growing popularity of bike-sharing programs across America will result in more cohesive communities and more livable places.

September 20, 2012 - The Christian Science Monitor

Seattle is a city of grids (plural). Downtown, alone, contains three, making for some pretty interesting transportation challenges. Some argue it's simply part of what makes the city livable.

September 20, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A new report produced by Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative offers recommendations for how state DOTs can innovate to support economic growth and better link land use and transportation decision-making.

September 20, 2012 - Mobilizing the Region

Hannah Fairfield charts two variables - miles traveled versus deaths per 100,000 population - over the last 60+ years, and notes key technological or behavioral breakthroughs, to offer unique insight into advancements in driving safety.

September 19, 2012 - The New York Times

A new study shows that denser, more transit-oriented development will lead to an overall decrease in miles driven, reports Angie Schmitt.

September 19, 2012 - Streetsblog

Unlike its slowing economy, infrastructure projects across China continue to expand. Already home to three of the world's most-used transit systems, China plans to invest $127 billion in the coming decade to build dozens of new urban rail projects.

September 19, 2012 - the transport politic

The Wall Street Journal published a 10-page energy section with the declining gas tax problem on page 1. Five solutions are offered: taxing the miles, taxing the roads, indexing the gas tax, taxing the oil, and taxing the cars. Each has challenges.

September 18, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Following up on a recent LA Times editorial arguing for a "citizens sidewalk brigade" to document the state of every one of the city's sidewalks, rather than a proposed $10 million three-year survey, columnist Steve Lopez registers his approval.

September 18, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Despite more bicyclists on its streets, Philadelphia has seen a marked reduction in bike crashes and deaths. With double the amount of cyclists on downtown streets since 2002, the decline is being attributed to more visibility to motorists.

September 18, 2012 - philly.com

While the decades long effort to augment and improve New York's atrocious Penn Station have stalled, D.C. is moving ahead with plans to expand Union Station and redevelop the land above its tracks. Fred A. Bernstein looks at the two projects.

September 18, 2012 - Architectural Record

Two of North America's largest railroads have prevented Montreal from electrifying the city's four commuter rail lines on tracks owned by freight rail. They claim that electrification would pose insurmountable structural problems for freight rail.

September 18, 2012 - The Montreal Gazette

All too often when we think of 'transportation,' especially transit, our thoughts are overtaken by visions of public transit. Yet, private transit also plays a key role.

September 18, 2012 - Urban Land Magazine

Matthew Yglesias reports on how Los Angeles is embracing its natural advantages to become an "ideal transit city," matching its transit investments with improvements to the built environment.

September 17, 2012 - Slate.com

With the possible entry of a fourth car sharing service into San Francisco, Daimler's Car2Go, the MTA must consider exemptions from the city's strict parking policies, specifically on-street parking in residential parking districts and metered zones.

September 17, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

A protest last week through downtown Los Angeles was meant to raise awareness of local activists' concerns that Los Angeles County Metro is displacing working class people and small businesses as it develops land adjacent to its stations.

September 17, 2012 - KPCC

A $37 billion program to modernize America's air traffic control system, and "transform global aviation" is "way behind schedule and over budget," reports Ashley Halsey III.

September 17, 2012 - The Washington Post

Angie Schmitt reports on a recent study which found that bicycle infrastructure is a good predictor of ridership for bike-share programs.

September 16, 2012 - Streets Blog

Alex Goldmark reports on the new NASA-inspired space elevator design that is primed for testing and could make it possible for billionaires to step foot on the moon sooner than later.

September 15, 2012 - Transportation Nation

NYT Economic Scene columnist Eduardo Porter makes a strong case against the new 54.5 mpg by 2025 fuel efficiency standards, arguing instead for higher gas taxes. Critiquing the piece, Reuter's economics blogger, Felix Salmon calls for both measures.

September 15, 2012 - The New York Times - Business Day