Transportation

Charlotte Residents Vote In Favor of Transit ... Again

The effort to repeal Mecklenburg County's half-cent transit tax was defeated by a wide margin at the polls on Tuesday.

November 8, 2007 - The Charlotte Observer

Delayed Boston Tunnel Project Irks Residents, Local Officials

Citing the need for more public input, rebuilding Boston's Storrow Drive tunnel is going to take longer than expected. Local residents and officials raise concerns about safety risks and rising costs.

November 6, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Bike-Friendly Portland Could Be Friendlier

Despite its reputation as one of the country's most bike-friendly cities, Portland could and should do much more to make cycling a safe and viable transportation option, according to this article.

November 6, 2007 - Willamette Week

Possible New Route For L.A.'s 'Subway To The Sea'

Building a "Subway to the Sea" in Los Angeles has been on the table for years, with local residents staunchly opposed to the rail line extension that would tunnel underneath their upscale neighborhoods. But now a new route is being proposed.

November 5, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Road Pricing Is Best When Revenues Go To More Roads

Independent Institute research fellow Gabriel Roth advocates for road pricing to relieve traffic congestion but laments when the revenues are not directed to new road capacity but instead applied to public transit.

November 4, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Why Amtrak Needs More Help

This editorial from The New York Times looks at a recently approved bill that will give more than $3 billion a year to help resuscitate Amtrak, and argues that more help is needed.

November 3, 2007 - The New York Times

Congestion Pricing Facing Uphill Battle In San Francisco

London Mayor Ken Livingstone discusses how congestion pricing came about in 2003, and the key role the business community played. Unlike London or NYC, downtown San Francisco merchants fear that congestion pricing will only be bad for business.

November 3, 2007 - San Francisco Examiner

High Speed Rail May Have Hidden Costs

With nearly $10 billion in bonds going up for a vote in 2008 to fund high speed rail in California, residents should consider the history of public works projects that have greatly exceeded their initial low cost estimates, writes Adam B. Summers.

November 2, 2007 - Reason

Toll Opposition May Strand State's Transportation Infrastructure

Opposition to a plan to increase fees on a Virginia tollroad may result in a pullout by private interests, leaving the state with the burden of paying for its transportation infrastructure -- a task that may be impossible, according to this article.

November 2, 2007 - Reason

Art Meets TOD

An art park is being planned as an anchor for future transit oriented development near one of Charlotte, North Carolina's new light rail stations.

November 2, 2007 - The Charlotte Observer

Debate Surrounds Dallas Riverside Park Plans

Plans to build an expansive mid-city park in Dallas may be squashed as voters consider whether they want to pay for a six-lane tollway and various other highway improvements to mitigate the loss of transportation routes through the proposed park.

November 1, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

What It Looks Like When Bikes Are Part of the Transit System

Bogotá, Colombia has made significant efforts to integrate bicycling facilities into its TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit system. The New York City Streets Renaissance team was there to learn more and take a look.

October 31, 2007 - Streetsblog

Chinese City Imposes Bike Lane Requirements

Bike lanes will be required for all new roads built in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, according to government officials. The city is hoping to get more people out of cars and onto bikes.

October 31, 2007 - China Daily

Feds To LA: Try Congestion Pricing On Freeways

In a clear message to L.A.’s transportation leaders, a U.S. Department of Transportation representative told the city's transit agency to consider congestion pricing as a method to both reduce congestion and show ‘the true costs’ of freeway driving.

October 30, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Report Claims More Transit Means Fewer Emissions

A government report claims that greatly expanding Britain's transportation infrastructure will not work against its goal of reducing carbon emissions, but will actually help push transit technology to be more environmentally-friendly.

October 30, 2007 - The Guardian

Portland Begins Process For Streetcar Expansion

Due to the success of Portland's downtown streetcar, city officials are already in the beginning stages of planning future lines throughout the city.

October 30, 2007 - The Oregonian

Ambitious Transportation Pricing Scheme Proposed For Bay Area

At a unique, combined meeting of two regional agencies, planners in the San Francisco Bay Area proposed several transportation pricing strategies to reduce global warming.

October 29, 2007 - Inside Bay Area.com

HOV Lanes: A 'Big' Waste Of Money?

Two HOV lanes on I-93 built as part of the Big Dig sit largely unused two years after the project opened.

October 29, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Survey Reveals Americans Preference For Transit Development

A new survey from Smart Growth America notes that three-fourths of Americans think improving public transportation is a better long term solution than building roads.

October 28, 2007 - Smart Growth America

CA High Speed Rail Receives 'Vote Of Confidence'

The California Transportation Commission allocated $15.5 million to the state's High-Speed Rail Authority for environmental, engineering and design work on short, designated corridors for the 700-mile, $40 billion rail system.

October 27, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

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