Transportation

A Subway Ride Into America's Melting Pot

New York's No. 7 subway line travels through one of America's most diverse 9.5 miles.

June 15, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

U.S. Drivers Will Pay Highway Tolls To Foreign Firms

Across the nation, states are leasing toll roads to private investors, including many foreign firms.

June 15, 2006 - The Washington Post

Boise Buses Struggle To Survive

The population is increasing, but Boise's bus system has been on the same route map for more than 10 years. Some public officials want to update routes and increase transit options, but others translate low ridership into no demand.

June 14, 2006 - The Boise Weekly

Oregon Could Charge Gas Tax By Mile, Not Gallon

Hybrid cars and fuel efficient motors are using fewer gallons of gas, a trend expected to decrease revenues from per-gallon gas taxes -- the main funding for road-building. The proposed system would track drivers' mileage with on-board GPS devices.

June 14, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Winner Announced For Iconic Pittsburgh Pedestrian Bridge

Endres Ware, a California architecture and engineering firm, has won the competition to design a pedestrian walkway for the West End Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

June 14, 2006 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Naming Streets In America's Fastest-Growing County

As a planner for Riverside County, California, John Trichak's monumental task is to approve names for new streets in fast-growing unincorporated Riverside County.

June 13, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

D.C. Bridge Opening Avoids 'Apocalyptic Traffic Scenarios'

After about a decade of planning and litigation, and another six years of construction, the first part of the first of two spans to replace the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge between Prince George's County, Md. and Alexandria, Va. is open to traffic.

June 13, 2006 - The Washington Post

Chicago Peddles 500-Mile Bike Path Proposal

Inspired by European biking models, the "Bike 2015 Plan" envisions a city flooded with bicycle commuters using a well-developed infrastructure within 10 years.

June 12, 2006 - The Chicago Tribune

House Passes Transportation, Housing, And Urban Development Budget

The new bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee "Provides for Smarter, More Efficient Amtrak Operations"; "Supports Aviation"; "Addresses Critical Housing Needs"; and "Funds Highway Spending", while cutting some critical programs.

June 8, 2006 - U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations

Local Municipalities Voice Concerns, Sue, Over U.S. Emissions

From the Inuit to the City of Portland, a chorus of local entities are fed up with the lack of environmental initiatives and standards set at the national level, especially as pertaining to transportation-caused pollution, and many have begun to sue.

June 8, 2006 - The Next American City

Around Puget Sound, Long Commutes Worth It For Some

Some people prefer the suburban sprawl, in spite of soaring gas prices and hour-long commutes. Schools, open space, and lower cost of housing may offset costs.

June 7, 2006 - Puget Sound Business Journal

'Smart Card' Technology Proving Troublesome To Bay Area Transit Operators

Once hailed the transit-pay mechanism of the future, the cards have become one of Bay Area transit's biggest flops. Yet the money keeps flowing while the costs keep rising.

June 4, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

The Selling Of A Failing State Toll Road

Indiana's governor explains how he solved his state's transportation budget gap using private capital rather than public funds -- by leasing the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road for $3.8 billion to a foreign consortium.

June 4, 2006 - The New York Times

U.S. Government Approves 'Highway Of Opportunity' In D.C. Suburbs

The federal government has granted permission for construction of Maryland's Intercounty Connector (ICC) outside the nation's capitol.

June 3, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

How Trains Can Preserve 'America the Beautiful'

Alfred Runte, author of "Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation", calls on the United States to revive its passenger rail service in order to conserve energy and preserve the natural landscape.

June 3, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Friday Funny: The Committee To Save Big Ugly Things

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has produced a spoof political ad to mock the preservation of the city's controversial Alaskan Way Viaduct, although he may run into ethics violations for using a City Hall production crew.

June 2, 2006 - Seattle Weekly

Should Illinois Sell Its State Tollway?

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Ralph Martire says that the project warrants careful analysis before the state decides to sell-off a profit-making asset to reduce deficit.

June 2, 2006 - Chicago Sun-Times

The Problems With Toll Roads

The Denver Post publishes an investigative series entitled "Truth Be Tolled", exposing errors in toll road forecasting, and suggesting that financial conflicts of interest may be responsible.

June 1, 2006 - The Denver Post

Streetcar System Moves More Than People

For less than the cost of a recent school levy, Tacoma, Washington, could have a brand new old-style streetcar system.

June 1, 2006 - Tacoma News Tribune

Highest Interstate Speed Limit In The U.S.

Speed limits on stretches of West Texas interstates have been increased to 80 mph.

June 1, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

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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