All posts from the month of November 2008
Denny Zane on Measure R and Transit in L.A. County
November 19, 2008By Andrew Bielak
When people think about Los Angeles County, images of high-speed subway lines extending to the sea and sleek light-rail cars passing through dense transit-oriented development are generally not the first things to pop into their heads.
But thanks to the November 4 approval of Ballot Measure R – a half-cent sales tax increase expected to generate $40 billion for transportation improvements, largely in transit, over the next 30 years – L.A. County’s reputation as the epicenter of sprawling development and automobile culture could be set for a major overhaul.
Denny Zane (right), a longtime community activist and former mayor of Santa Monica, helped lead the fight to win support for Measure R by heading up Move L.A., a coalition of labor, business, and environmental groups that saw a common interest in battling climate change, reducing congestion, and improving transportation options in the region.
In a phone interview this week, Zane spoke to Transportation for America about the process of building a unified front for the effort, the challenges in getting the measure on the November ballot, and the future for Los Angeles County and Move L.A.
(Continue Reading)
Today’s Headlines — 11/18/08
November 18, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Minneapolis responds to growing transit ridership by trying out a double-decker bus. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- Officials in Seattle hope to get federal money to rebuild a traffic-clogged arterial. (Seattle Times)
- A conservative pundit blasts plans to stimulate the economic through investment in infrastructure. (National Review)
- Popular opinion and inside-the-beltway voices show little support for an auto industry bailout. (New York Times)
- Despite plunging gas prices, ridership jumped 23.5 percent on South Florida’s Tri-Rail from October 2007 to October 2008. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Campaign responds to David Brooks’ “National Mobility Project”
November 17, 2008By Stephen Lee Davis
Two weeks ago, New York Times columnist David Brooks joined the chorus of those lamenting the sorry state of our nation’s infrastructure and yearning for investment in that arena as an economic stimulus.
While the bulk of his column detailed his skepticism regarding the positive effects that bailouts or stimulus packages have on the short-term economy, he praises the value of investing in infrastructure as a way to aid the nation over the long-term by investing in useful, tangible projects that can help us remain economically competitive and get us where we need to go.
The problem lies mostly in his 1950′s thoughts about where transportation investments should be targeted. Transportation For America communications director David Goldberg shared his praise and critique with The New York Times, who published his letter here. Read it in full below:
David Brooks is spot-on with his call for major investment in transportation infrastructure, both for near-term economic stimulus and for a sustainable recovery. His recommendations of what to build are outdated, however.
As he notes, a way to put people to work would be to repair and maintain our existing highways, bridges and transit systems. But building new highways was the project for an earlier era, the 1950s, when gas was cheap and President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Interstate System.
Today we urgently need to build the infrastructure for a clean-energy economy and reduced dependency on oil. Soaring gas prices made our vulnerability clear: Americans flocked to public transportation or took to their bicycles only to find the transit systems underfinanced and the roads dangerous and inhospitable. Half of our urban-dwelling citizens found they had no transit at all.
If we’re going to go into debt to build for the future, we must do so to complete our transportation network with high-speed rail, modern public transit, streets that support safe biking and walking, and, yes, well-maintained highways.
Today’s Headlines — 11/17/08
November 17, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- With a new administration committed to public spending and investment in infrastructure as a means to stimulate the economy, Baltimore Sun Columnist Michael Dresser says the next big political slogan could be “Build, Baby, Build.”
- Two transportation insiders say a price floor of $3.50 a gallon for gasoline could turn things around for America’s auto industry. (New York Times)
- A $25 billion federal loan could be used to push U.S. carmakers to begin anew as “transportmakers,” and start to provide our country with high-speed trains and buses. (New York Times)
- A group of experts looks at our oil dependence problem and lays out various suggestions for solving it. (Wall Street Journal)
- The Washington Post editorial board applauds forward progress in discussions for the Purple Line outside of D.C. and urges President-elect Obama to raise the federal gas tax when he comes into office.
Today’s Headlines — 11/14/08
November 14, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- With their vote for $17.9 billion in public transportation improvements last week, Seattle area residents sent a powerful message to transit officials: “Get started, get it done, and do it right.” (Seattle Times)
- Obama faces plenty of challenges in rebuilding the economy, but the future president could make one smart decision by investing in transit infrastructure. (Grist)
- A new report details the potential costs of traffic congestion and lack of access in Atlanta, and the numbers ain’t pretty. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Facing heavy opposition from Republicans in Congress, Democrats tamp down hopes for an auto industry bailout. (New York Times)
- Average gas prices might be down to $2.18 a gallon, but cash-strapped Americans are feeling little relief. (New York Times)
Today’s Headlines — 11/13/08
November 13, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick discusses plans to consolidate the state’s transportation agencies and give residents a truly multi-modal system. (Boston Globe)
- China directs a $586 billion stimulus package straight at infrastructure. (USA Today)
- A proposed bike parking law in New York City could push cycling in the Big Apple to a new level. (Business Week)
- The Baltimore Sun urges public officials in the region to take note of the transit-funding ballot measures that passed in Washington and California.
- Some economic experts question whether bailing out G.M. makes more sense than letting the crumbling auto giant file bankruptcy. (New York Times)
Today’s Headlines — 11/12/08
November 12, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Washington DC’s cash-strapped Metro is under pressure from an investor looking to collect $43 million. (Washington Post)
- While some states find creative new ways to raise money for transportation, Arizona lags behind in ideas — and in cash. (Arizona Republic)
- As promised during his campaign, Obama plans to set up the White House’s first Office of Urban Policy. (Washington Post)
- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could be waiving some environmental regulations for transportation projects, allowing for more sprawl and more emissions. (Los Angeles Times)
- Obama and Congressional Democrats push for emergency aid to U.S. automakers, which are asking for at least $25 billion in federal assistance. (New York Times)
- Oil prices sink to a 20-month low of $59 a barrel. (New York Times)
Today’s Headlines — 11/10/08
November 10, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- A task force in Michigan releases a report today on the state’s transportation funding issues, and could propose an increase in the gas tax or the construction of new toll lanes. (Detroit Free Press)
- A shift in production and technology causes a shortage of asphalt, crippling road repair work across the country. (Associated Press)
- While millions of voters backed big transit improvements on election day, Chicago residents got no such chance to support their overburdened public transportation system. (Chicago Tribune)
- Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, pushes for an extra $25 billion in loan guarantees for struggling U.S. automakers. (AFP)
- The Washington Post editorial board gets behind a federal bailout for public transit agencies dragged down by the AIG debacle.
- Renowned economist and informal Obama adviser Robert Reich says an economic recovery effort needs public spending — and a lot of it — on modern infrastructure. (Talking Points Memo via Streetsblog)
- Bike-sharing programs are a hit in European cities. (New York Times)
Today’s Headlines 11/07/08
November 7, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- Salt Lake City Council ratifies a new transportation master plan that includes lower speed limits, new bike lanes, and whole lot of perks for downtown pedestrians. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- The American Public Transportation Association counts more than $75 billion for local transit initiatives approved on election day.
- The International Energy Agency predicts that an eventual economic recovery will be accompanied by a sharp rebound in oil prices — and expects oil to reach $200 a barrel by 2030. (Gristmill)
- Two families look to cut their gas use and save cash in a contest for USA Today and ABC.
- Atlantans hear an earful about their city’s transit planning. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Democrats in Congress roll out a $100 billion stimulus package that could be passed next month. (Washington Post)
Today’s Headlines — 11/06/08
November 6, 2008By Andrew Bielak
- California voters approved major transit improvements at the polls, and public officials are flush with big cash and big expectations. (Los Angeles Times)
- The Windy City’s Chicagoland Bicycle Federation dispatches “transportation coaches” to help anxious suburbanites try a ride on two wheels. (Chicago Tribune)
- A big win for public transportation on election day in Seattle give the city’s transit agency a chance to make major upgrades. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
- Honolulu voters back a light-rail project supported by the city’s re-elected mayor. (ABC — KITV)
- The auto industry looks for more help from Congress and Speaker Pelosi. (New York Times)
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- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
February 7, 2012 - T4 coalition announces opposition to House energy and transportation bill
February 6, 2012 - House committee ignores broad opposition, decimates transit funding anyway
February 3, 2012 - Massive letter opposing House leadership attack on transit sent to Capitol Hill
February 3, 2012 - House leadership making unprecedented assault on public transit
February 2, 2012
- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
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