Today's Headlines - more at Metro

12/19/2012

Metrolink, LAX Transit, 2013 Funding, New House Transpo Chair, CA Gas, Walkability & More

All Eyes On Bill Shuster, New Transportation Chairman ("Shuster wants to explore — but not necessarily enact — a bevy of funding opportunities, including the gas tax, more tolling, a miles-traveled fee for vehicles and tying energy production to infrastructure.")
Politico

The Best Open Data Releases Of 2012
The Atlantic: Cities

Californians Continue To Purchase Less Gas
California High Speed Rail Blog

The Cycle Path To Happiness ("Scientists are confirming what most cyclists instinctively know -- that riding a bike has extraordinary effects on our brain chemistry.")
The Independent (U.K.)

Dangerous Intersections: LA Gets A Few Crosswalk Makeovers, But Are They In The Right Places?
KPCC Southern California Public Radio

A Few Surprises In New Bike Scores
The Atlantic: Cities

Fix For Flawed Light Rail Junction In Downtown L.A. Is Outlined  ("L.A. County transit officials choose a permanent repair option that they say should eliminate safety concerns at the busy intersection of the Blue and Expo lines.")
Los Angeles Times

Foot Forward: Walkability Is The Key To Fixing Cities (interview with author Jeff Speck, author of new book: Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step At A Time)
Grist

Go Metro, Metrolink To 2013 Tournament Of Roses® Celebrations
Mid Valley News

Gold Line Bridge Captures Local Heritage, History
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Is 2013 The Year Of New Transportation Funding?
Governing

LAX Could Have A Subway Stop Connecting To Metro By 2020
Curbed LA

Long Beach: The Simple Art Of Beautification
StreetsBlog LA

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Looks Ahead For Big 2013
StreetsBlog LA

Map: Light Rail Stations, Metro Rail Connection Proposed For LAX Passengers
KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Metro Planning Stations To Bring Light Rail To LAX
KABC Los Angeles

Metrolink To Buy Newest, Cleanest Locomotives ("The revolutionary locomotives are expected to reduce emissions by 86%.")
Metrolink News

Miami-Orlando Passenger Train Project Clears Key Hurdle ("The first privately run rail link between two major U.S. cities.")
Reuters

New "Zebra Crossing" Aim To Make 53 LA Intersections Safer
Blog Downtown

[N.Y.] MTA Chief Will Resign As He Looks At Mayoral Bid ("Joseph J. Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has informed the Cuomo administration that he is stepping down from his position, according to four people with direct knowledge of his plans. He is expected to resign on Friday, allowing him to pursue a candidacy for New York City mayor as a Republican.")
New York Times
A Transit Chief In The Mayor's Office?
The Atlantic: Cities

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus Sees Improvements, Some Setbacks ("Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus will see some $14 million in technological improvements over the next few months, including a new fare collection system that will allow travelers to use the Transit Access Pass (TAP) cards -- used by L.A. Metro -- to pay fares.")
Santa Monica Lookout

Sprawl: What Happens When You Legislate Against Vibrant Streets ("You can look around L.A. and find all kinds of places where streets have been widened to try to handle what they perceived as future traffic needs," Norquist says. "It's wrecked the character of these streets.")
KCET

Time Out For Bullet Train Is What Is Needed
Bakersfield Californian

Walk Score Ranks The Bikeability Of Every Address In 36 Cities
StreetsBlog DC

WeHo's Robot Parking Garage Will Have Glass Wall, Plaza, Art
Curbed LA
Council Takes Another Step Toward Automated Garage
West Hollywood Patch


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