Transportation

Red Light Cameras Rigged

Following similar discoveries of fraud in the U.S., the Italian government has uncovered a scheme to increase local revenues by artificially shortening yellow lights.

February 3, 2009 - BBC News

Bikes in the World Today

This three-part series from the BBC looks at bicycles in the modern world -- from Paris to Uganda to India.

February 3, 2009 - BBC

Vehicle Retirement Program Considered For Stimulus

A program known as ‘cash for clunkers’ is being considered for inclusion in the Senate stimulus package to make the U.S. auto fleet more fuel-efficient and stimulate demand for new, cleaner cars. Will the older vehicles will be scrapped or resold?

February 2, 2009 - Bloomberg News

Toronto Considers Fast-Tracking Downtown Subway

The city of Toronto is considering a plan to fast-track the construction of a new downtown subway line.

February 2, 2009 - The National Post

Retiming Streetlights for Bikes

SF Streetsblog looks at cities that have timed traffic lights on busy bike streets to best suit their pace, and argues that Valencia St. in San Francisco is a prime candidate for retiming. (VIDEO)

February 1, 2009 - Streetsblog

Hawaii Light Rail to Connect With Airport

The Honolulu City Council has agreed to slightly re-work the route of the region's recently-approved light rail system to connect with Honolulu International Airport -- a move that has angered some residents.

February 1, 2009 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Magnetic Bus Idea To Test In Oregon

Transit officials in Eugene, Oregon, have announced plans to install a test route for a magnet-guided bus technology.

January 31, 2009 - The Register-Guard

Older Streets Are Safer Streets

Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick, after a study of data from 130,000 car crashes in California, have determined that cities built since since 1950 have more dangerous roads than those built before 1950.

January 30, 2009 - New Urban News

New Commuters Hit the Rails Today in Metro Portland

Portland's new Westside Express Service officially opens today, carrying passengers from Beaverton to Wilsonville. The Oregonian calls it, "a punch of hard-rolling rust-and-grease."

January 30, 2009 - The Oregonian

Improving Transit Efficiency The German Way

Traffic is a nightmare in Cali, Colombia, the Latin American country's third-largest city. But a massive redesign is taking place, with German transit efficiency guiding the way.

January 30, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Inmates Transported on new Phoenix Light Rail

County sheriff’s deputies seek to cut inmate transportation costs by utilizing the Metro Light Rail. Passenger safety concerns have obviously been raised.

January 29, 2009 - The Arizona Republic

A Streetcar on 42nd Street?

A nonprofit organization is promoting the idea of closing Manhattan's 42nd St. to traffic and putting in a 2.5 mile street level light rail line.

January 29, 2009 - The New York Times

With No Projects Ready, Metro Boise to Miss Transportation Funds

Congress is expected to offer up to $16 million of stimulus money to the state of Idaho for transportation projects. But in the Treasure Valley -- home to Boise and a third of the state's population -- there aren't any projects that are ready to go.

January 29, 2009 - The Idaho Statesman

Concerns Over Tolls and Sprawl May Determine Bridge Width

Plans for a new bridge over the Columbia River in Oregon have local officials in a debate over lanes, tolls and sprawl.

January 29, 2009 - The Oregonian

Shrinking Budgets May Hurt Ridership Levels

Many commuters still find buses, trains, and subways to be more cost-effective than driving. However, mass transit funds are drying up, and increased fees and decreased service may deter riders from sticking to mass transit.

January 28, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

How 'Level of Service' Measurements Ruin Cities

"Level of service" is a ranking used by transportation engineers to assess the performance of roads. Streetsblog argues that LOS distorts the development of mobility infrastructure by prioritizing cars over people.

January 27, 2009 - StreetsBlog-SF

Obama To EPA: Allow CA To Set Its Own Emission Standards

In a move that will disappoint auto manufacturers and labor but was met with great applause by the environmental community, Obama has taken the first step to granting CA's request for a waiver so it can set its own, stricter emission standards.

January 27, 2009 - CNN Politics

Stimulus Gets Transportation Projects Moving - In China

While the U.S. waffles over its stimulus package, China is two months into a grand countrywide transportation facelift, building high-speed rail, expanding freight capacity and generally beefing up the country's mobility.

January 26, 2009 - The New York Times

15 Bold and Bizarre Parking Solutions

WebUrbanist brings together fifteen innovative, creative, and absurd experiments in parking, from VW's robot stacker to eco parking to parking meters on gravestones.

January 26, 2009 - WebUrbanist

The Sprawl of Unsold Cars

The downturn in the economy has hurt the auto industry, leaving many cars unsold. Storage of these cars is becoming a problem for many automakers.

January 25, 2009 - Guardian

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.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

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