All posts from the month of April 2011
Today’s Headlines – 4/29/11
April 29, 2011By Transportation for America
Details of the Obama administration’s proposed transportation bill are circulating. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)
Senate Majority Leader Reid wants a Senate vote on repealing tax breaks for oil companies, while key House Republican Paul Ryan expressed new openness to the idea. (Politico, The Hill)
The Economist looks at the state of American transportation infrastructure and innovation.
A bill in the California Legislature to drop minimum parking requirements for infill development could come up for a vote soon. (Streetsblog Los Angeles)
A leading Republican in the Wisconsin Senate opposes Governor Scott Walk’s plan to pay for highways through the general fund. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
And, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hasn’t ruled out a gas tax holiday. (CBS 6)
High gas prices are fueling demand for broader transportation options
April 28, 2011By Sean Barry
The higher gas prices become, the more likely people are to start looking for alternatives. And the shift has already begun.
Demand for mass transit is surging everywhere — from Nashville, Tennessee to Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Terre Haute, Indiana to Pasadena, California. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is encouraging his constituents to bike, walk or carpool at least once every two weeks. And, residents in Peoria and central Illinois started coordinating ridesharing schedules online.
In that same vein, the Las Cruces Sun-News, one of the largest newspapers in New Mexico, encouraged readers to consider new options in an editorial this week, opining:
The economic decision to choose public transportation over one’s personal vehicle could turn into a positive for all concerned.
People who’ve never tried it may actually like it. And if a bus is going where they’re going? Yes, they’ll be more likely to continue using that mode of transportation. It beats paying almost $4 a gallon for gasoline, especially when the personal vehicle gets about 15 miles per almost $4.
Gas prices at or above $4 a gallon generate the need for 670 million additional passenger trips on transit systems, resulting in more than 10.8 billion trips per year, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Bicycling has become a popular alternative, with new riders benefiting from recent investment in bike facilities and programs. Mirroring the increased demand for transit in 2008, biking increased 15 percent nationwide and 23 percent in the 31 largest bike-friendly cities that year, with a similar uptick occurring today, according to Peopleforbikes.org.
Last time gas prices topped $4 and demand for transit surged, cities with well-established public transit systems like New York and Boston saw increases in transit usage of 5 percent of more, while some of the biggest increases in demand came in areas less associated with transit, like the Southwest. But these are many of the same communities that lack the capacity for a large surge in ridership.
Often lost in the discussion is the fact that many people are stuck without realistic alternatives to pain at the pump: streets too dangerous to walk or bike, destinations too far away, no available transit service, no easy options.
Most of the talk in Washington has focused on the supply side of the gas prices equation — speculation, domestic drilling and the like. But a real-world shift in demand is happening right before our eyes. With the nation’s comprehensive surface transportation bill overdue for renewal, this ought to lend greater urgency to the need for robust investment in an array of options to ensure no one gets stranded or left behind.
Today’s Headlines – 4/28/11
April 28, 2011By Transportation for America
$4 per gallon gas is causing drivers to cut back. (WSJ)
A real estate reporter thinks rising gas prices will stimulate demand for walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
New York City’s transportation authority voted to end its contract with Long Island Bus. (WYNC)
Complete streets policies are increasing in popularity throughout the country. (NRDC Blog)
Neighborhood opposition in several Silicon Valley cities threatens California’s high-speed rail construction. (WSJ)
And, the New Hampshire House passed a 5-cent cut to the state’s gas tax. (Concord Monitor)
South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson stresses rural transit needs as gas prices continue to escalate
April 27, 2011By Sean Barry
Gas prices in the U.S. continue to escalate and could hit $4.25 by Memorial Day, according to some projections. These spikes tend to hit smaller communities and rural areas particularly hard, as residents and businesses must travel farther and use more energy during daily activities.
While too much of the talk in Washington emphasizes gimmicks like grand jury investigations and “drill, baby, drill,” some leaders have engaged with constituents on increasing transportation options, one of the most important steps we can take to relieve pain at the pump.
Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat from South Dakota, recently conferred with the Brookings Area Transit Authority, which seeks additional funding and capacity to operate its 21 vehicles. Brookings has a population of 22,000 and is home to South Dakota State University.
Senator Johnson, who is currently serving as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, noted that investment in transit systems is a vital economic development tool for many South Dakota communities. The system in Brookings faces the dual challenge of an aging population demanding more services and rising prices due to the spike in energy costs.
Brenda Schweitzer, the authority director, “noted that rising gas prices have increased BATA fuel bills by $2,000 just within the past month,” according to the Brookings Register. The Register also reported that “the organization’s out-of-pocket match for fuel is at $5,000 per month right now.”
Johnson assured Schweitzer and other participants in a recent panel that he would use his clout in the Senate to push for a transportation bill that meets the needs of South Dakotans and sparse communities across the country.
“With reliable transit systems, we can strengthen our economic development by connecting people to medical services, schools, family and jobs,” Johnson said on his website. “Meeting with people on the ground who deal with rural transit issues every day helps me as I work to ensure that the needs of rural communities are met.”
The Banking Committee has particular jurisdiction over the transit elements of the next bill, which has been overdue for renewal since late 2009.
Photo: Roll Call
Today’s Headlines – 4/27/11
April 27, 2011By Transportation for America
President Obama and Democrats are pressuring Republicans on oil company tax breaks. (WP)
A desperate sprawl developer is giving away free car rewards for cars to unload his new homes, while another developer said the future of housing is “smaller, greener and near transit.” (Grist, Hartford Courant)
The San Francisco Bay Area’s Caltrain system continues to face long-term funding challenges. (San Jose Mercury News)
The debate over high-speed rail has a way of going in circles. (Infrastructurist)
Normal, Illinois may lose a bus route. (Bloomington Pantagraph)
And, federal officials signed a formal funding commitment for light-rail between St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. (AP)
Today’s Headlines – 4/26/11
April 26, 2011By Transportation for America
Gas prices nationwide could reach $4.25 by Memorial Day. (LA Times)
The rise in prices at the pump is hurting President Obama’s approval rating. (Politico)
Speaker John Boehner hinted at support for repealing oil company tax breaks. (The Hill)
Rural Americans deserve the same transportation options as their rural counterparts, the Daily Yonder editorialized. (Daily Yonder)
The Crow Reservation in Montana launched a new transit system. (Billings Gazette)
And, a transit user in Cobb County, Georgia is fighting to save his bus route. (CBS Atlanta)
Today’s Headlines – 4/25/11
April 25, 2011By Transportation for America
Oil companies are expected to post high first-quarter earnings, rivaling the previous record in 2008. (WSJ)
Montanans have been hit hard by the spike in prices at the pump, with holiday travel and outdoor visits impacted. (Helena Independent Record)
Congressional Democrats are stepping up their push for ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. (The Hill)
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy is still looking for a transportation commissioner. (Connecticut Post)
AASHTO, which represents state transportation officials, backed off a recommendation to loosen bicycle and pedestrian guidelines. (Bike Portland)
And, high-density, mixed-use development is being prioritized around several Denver light-rail stations. (Denver Post)
Today’s Headlines – 4/22/11
April 22, 2011By Transportation for America
The Federal Government will continue funding high-speed rail because “the people want it,”Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told an Illinois editorial board. (Chicago Tribune)
LaHood also posted answers to questions from interested Americans on his blog. (DOT Blog)
Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, floated a gas tax increase — at the state and local level. (Commercial Appeal)
San Francisco launched its innovative SFPark system, which will pilot a new way for cities to manage and price parking. (Streetsblog San Francisco)
Representative Peter DeFazio asked Oregon students to get involved in advocating for transportation options. (Daily Emerald)
And, a University of Chicago study found a link between neighborhood designs that enable physical activity and people’s health. (Science Life)
New York Times: High-speed rail deserves continued support
April 21, 2011By Sean Barry
 |
| Originally uploaded by pgengler to Flickr. |
The New York Times resolutely defended high-speed rail in an editorial this morning, characterizing the elimination of remaining funds for the program this fiscal year as “harebrained.”
The budget deal reached by the White House and Congress zeroed-out the $1 billion allocated for high-speed rail in fiscal year 2011 and rescinded an additional $400 million that had been returned by Florida Governor Rick Scott. A previous agreement to keep the government running for an additional week had already included $1.5 billion in cuts.
Governor Scott weathered heavy criticism for rejecting the funds, including from fellow Republicans, and his administration has since acknowledged getting key facts about the project wrong in a presentation to the state Supreme Court.
The Times strongly opposed Scott’s decision, but noted that his action has enabled other interested governors, including 11 Republicans, to put in bids. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has 90 proposals from 24 states to choose from, with a total price tag of $10 billion, and a total of $2.4 billion to distribute. The Times wrote:
Two areas stand out on that list: the Northeast corridor from Boston to Washington; and California, which has ambitions to build a high-speed rail system from San Francisco and Sacramento to San Diego. California voters have approved almost $10 billion in bonds for the project (which has an ultimate price tag of some $45 billion), but the state wants the $2 billion for an extension.
While supportive of California’s efforts, the Times would like to see Amtrak’s application for an upgrade to the Northeast corridor’s Acela line receive top priority. Their $1.3 billion request would boost Acela’s speed from 135 miles per hour to 160 miles per hour between Philadelphia and New York City, one of the busiest and most popular stretches in the country. And, New York submitted an application to clear a path for Acela through New York City’s Penn Station, which more than 750 trains pass through daily.
USDOT has not yet announced when recipients will be selected.
Today’s Headlines – 4/21/11
April 21, 2011By Transportation for America
Some state transportation officials see benefit in a two-year transportation bill. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill)
Officials in Minnesota are piloting a mileage-based user fee as a potential alternative to the traditional gas tax. (Finance and Commerce)
American gas prices remain low by international standards. (Infrastructurist)
The cuts to high-speed rail contained in the recent budget deal epitomize how not to plan for the future, the New York Times editorialized. (NYT)
Supporters of California’s bullet train rallied in Fresno in the state’s Central Valley. (Bakersfield Californian)
And, South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson presided over a rural transportation roundtable in Brookings yesterday. (Brookings Register)
-
- The more they see, the less they like: 10 reasons why opposition to the House transportation bill is growing
February 21, 2012 - Crucial amendment could improve Senate bill, restore local control and help make streets safer
February 14, 2012 - 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
- The more they see, the less they like: 10 reasons why opposition to the House transportation bill is growing
Connect with T4 America
Interactive Features and Reports
T4 America on Twitter
