Today's Headlines - more at Metro

8/10/2012

710, LA & Olympics, Freeway Expansion, Arroyo Seco, Amtrak, Parking Lots & More


28 Years Ago This Week: The World Returns For Los Angeles' Gold Medal Performance In Olympic Traffic Relief (A comprehensive look back at how Los Angeles successfully moved countless Olympics spectators through venues stretching 130 miles across one of the largest metropolitan regions in the world for 16 days with no rail system)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

$1 Gas Tax? One Auto Dealer Says, "Yes, Please"
National Journal

10 Transportation Apps To Keep You Moving
Mashable

Building A Mega-Freeway In L.A.: What's The Cost?
Natural Resources Defense Council Switchboard Blog

Calif. Bill Bars Agencies From Cellphone Jamming ("A year after San Francisco's transit agency touched off a global free speech debate by jamming cellphones to block a protest, lawmakers are taking steps to pre-empt a similar scandal.")

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/09/4710575/bill-would-bar-cellphone-jamming.html#storylink=cpy
Sacramento Bee

Caltrans Proposes Truckway Next To Widened 710 Freeway; Homes, Businesses To Be Destroyed
The Lead Type

City Can't Figure Out How Many Parking Lots It Has
LA Observed

Freeway Buckles Along 5 Freeway In Downey (video : "Caltrans engineers on Thursday worked to determine whether the excessive heat was behind a major traffic tie-up on the 5 Freeway.")
CBS Los Angeles

Front-Runner To Build SF Subway Station Has History Of Cost Overruns ("Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority lawyers and San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera previously have sought to ban Tutor from bidding on new jobs.")
NBC Bay Area

Goodbye Pasadena Freeway: Hello Arroyo Seco "Streetway'
EGP News

Gridlock On Avenue 64: West Pasadena And Highland Park Residents Call For A Halt To Plans For 710 Freeway Extension
Pasadena Weekly

Highway Expansions Are Only A Short-Term Solution: Expert
Transportation Nation

How Amtrak's Government Affairs Officers Have Built -- And Need To Continue Building -- Better Congressional Relationships
Progressive Railroading

Issues Involving Surety For Public Transportation Projects (109p. PDF)
Transit Cooperative Research Program Legal Research Digest

L.A. Controller Wendy Gruel Renews Complaints About City's Failure To Monitor, Collect Parking-Lot Taxes
Los Angeles Daily News

Making City Biking Less Scary ("Much of the problem has to do with typical transportation planning in the U.S., where streets are designed primarily as pathways for cars to move across as quickly as possible.")
The Atlantic: Cities

More Time To Respond To 10,000 Page 710 Freeway Report
EGP News

Plan Your Next Bike Trip With BikePlanner.org
Greater Greater Washington
BikePlanner.org -- A New Community-Based Trip Routing Tool
Mobility Lab

Proposed Highway Stirs Up Highland Park
EGP News

Public Transit Between Seal Beach And Long Beach To Change On August 26
OC Breeze

A Tug-Of-War Between Bus And Rail In A Brazilian World Cup City
The Atlantic: Cities

White House Honors Champions Of Change For Unwavering Commitment To Transportation Innovation
U.S. DOT Fast Lane Blog


What are transportation community leaders around the nation tweeting about today? Check out the Metro Library Twitter Dailyour online digest in newspaper format updated every day.

We invite you to visit Metro's The Sourceyour window to what's happening with agency news, funding and policy issues, and how to get the most out of transit and Los Angeles.

8/09/2012

Expo Lawsuit, Union Station, Beverly Hills Subway, WeHo Maglev, Measure R+, 710 Fwy, MAP-21 & More


August 9: This Date In Los Angeles Transportation History (The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, parent agency of Metrolink, is formed)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

California Geological Survey Says BHUSD Report Does Not Adequately Assess Potential Seismic Issues At Beverly High (p. 4)
Beverly Hills Weekly

Congress' $20 Billion Tech Mandate: Make Trains Safer
Information Week

Derision Grows For Caltrans 710 Study That Argues For Massive Road Widening For Cleaner Air
StreetsBlog LA

Documenting And Preserving L.A.'s Olympic History
LA as Subject via KCET

Editorial: California Voters Face A Very Taxing Ballot Election Day -- With At Least 3 Initiatives
Los Angeles Daily News

Heathrow's Pod System Could Be Rolled Out To Other Airports
Airport World

Maglev Tube Transit Company Wants To Build Pilot In WeHo
Curbed LA

Metro Sorcerers Cast Spells Over 710 Expansion
Flying Pigeon LA

Monster Pothole In 405 Construction Zone Flattens Hella Tires, Backs Up Traffic For Miles
LA Weekly

Navigating MAP-21: How Much Money Will My State Get?
League Of American Cyclists

Olympic Cities: London Rethinks Its Iconic Underground Signage
This Big City

Opinion: A Golden State Train Wreck (George F. Will)
Washington Post

Our View: Westside Pols Game The East ("We are not against a major concentration on Downtown Los Angeles as a hub for rail transit, or against the Subway to the Sea. We are against L.A. city officials eating our metaphorical lunch, one we've paid for, by continuing to nickel-and- dime the Gold Line extension and Alameda Corridor transit issues important to our region.")
Pasadena Star-News

Pasadena Residents Express Strong Opposition To 710 Plan
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Supremes Will Hear Case In Neighbors For Smart Rail vs. Expo Construction Authority
StreetsBlog LA

Torrance Signs Off On Design For New $21M Transit Center
Daily Breeze

Voter ID Laws Marginalize People Without A Car
StreetsBlog DC

What Will LA Metro's Future Union Station Look Like? (How will the station's emerging master plan accommodate high-speed rail and development? Martha Welborne, Executive Director for Countywide Planning at Metro, discusses)
KPCC Southern California Public Radio

What's Up With Wayfinding?
LADOT Bike Blog

Worry At Both Ends Of Long Beach Freeway ("From Pasadena to the ports, residents are worried about plans to expand and extend the Long Beach Freeway.")
NBC Los Angeles


What are transportation community leaders around the nation tweeting about today? Check out the Metro Library Twitter Dailyour online digest in newspaper format updated every day.

We invite you to visit Metro's The Sourceyour window to what's happening with agency news, funding and policy issues, and how to get the most out of transit and Los Angeles.

8/08/2012

Measure R+, Blue Line, Olympic Boulevard, 710, Mobile Apps & More


August 8: This Date In Los Angeles Transportation History (The California State Highway Commission is created to implement road construction that will link all 58 state County Seats. Includes 1896 map for the project)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

7 Mobile App Development Tips For Local Governments
Government Technology

8 Improvements Suggested For The 110's Arroyo Seco Parkway
Curbed LA

710 Freeway Expansion Would "Improve Air Quality And Public Health," Says Metro; Residents Call B.S.
LA Weekly

After Emotional Metro Board Meeting, Blue Line Safety Back In Spotlight
StreetsBlog LA

Arroyo Seco Parkway Corridor Partnership Plan: Recommendations (28p. PDF : Includes transit interface recommendations)
Caltrans / SCAG

Bridge Construction Underway, Expo "Well On Its Way" ("Work starts to build bridge at Centinela Avenue for future light rail into Santa Monica from Culver City.")
Westwood-Century City Patch

Businesses Ask Judge To Stop Work On Downtown Light Rail
Curbed LA

Faster Commute Expected For Venice Bus Riders
Venice-Mar Vista Patch

Free Wi-Fi Catches On With NYC's Subway Riders
Associated Press

The Great 1920s Battle That Created Olympic Boulevard
Curbed LA

In Los Angeles, Ideas For A Quieter Wait For Mass Transit ("Sixteen of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system's train and bus stations are located on freeway medians, where passengers wait for their train or bus as rivers of cars rush (or crawl) by on either side. The scenery is not particularly pleasant. Nor is the sound, which according to a new study could pose problems for agencies trying to convince more people to ride transit.")
The Atlantic: Cities
Passenger Exposure To Noise At Transit Platforms In Los Angeles (53p. PDF)
UCLA Luskin School Of Public Affairs Center For Innovation

In New NHTSA Report, Scarce Information On Causes Of Pedestrian Deaths
StreetsBlog DC
Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians (4p. PDF : The 4,280 pedestrian fatalities in 2010 were an increase of 4 percent from 2009, but a decrease of 13 percent from 2001.")
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

LA County Supervisors OK Tax Extension For Fall Ballot ("L.A. County lawmakers will let voters decide on an additional 30 years for Measure R to fund transportation projects, which would leave it in place until 2069.")
Los Angeles Times

LA Supervisors Approve Transit Tax Extension On Fall Ballot
CBS Los Angeles

LADOT To Complete York Boulevard Bike Lane
Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch

Latest 405 Widening Plan Would Spare Fairview Bridge In O.C.
Los Angeles Times

Local Policies And Practices That Support Safe Pedestrian Environments (97p. PDF)
National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Measure R Tax Extension To Be On November Ballots
Beverly Hills Courier

Metro Expo Line Phase Two Bridge Construction Underway As Complaints Force Review Of Other Crossings
Rancho Park Online

Metro, LA County Leaders Seek Solutions To Blue Line Dangers
KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Pasadena City Council Supports Caltrans Home Bill
Pasadena Sun

Planning Olympic Legacies: Transport Dreams And Urban Realities
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

Proposed 710 Plan Could Make The Freeway 10 Lanes Wide
Curbed LA

Role Of Human Factors In Preventing Cargo Tank Truck Rollovers (72p. PDF)
Hazardous Materials cooperative Research Program

Transportation Energy Data Book (31st ed. : 422p. PDF)
U.S. Department Of Energy

Transportation Group: Atlanta Not A Bellwether For Transit Funding Votes
The Hill

Young People Aren't Buying Cars Because They're Buying Smart Phones Instead ("Young Americans aren't simply turning their back on buying cars. They're also turning their backs on driving..."A car is a symbol of freedom," one consumer researcher told Bloomberg. "But unlike previous years, there are many different ways that a Gen Y person can capture that freedom.")
The Atlantic: Cities


What are transportation community leaders around the nation tweeting about today? Check out the Metro Library Twitter Dailyour online digest in newspaper format updated every day.

We invite you to visit Metro's The Sourceyour window to what's happening with agency news, funding and policy issues, and how to get the most out of transit and Los Angeles.


8/07/2012

Regional Connector, Metro Blue Line, Venice Rapid, DASH, MAP-21, Metrolink & More


August 7: This Date In Los Angeles Transportation History (100 years ago today, the first California state highway bond breaks ground on "Contract Number One" to build a highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

Businesses Step Up Fight Against Regional Connector
Los Angeles Downtown News

The Changing Business Of Planning
Planetizen

Consultant, Professor Look To Bring Training For High-Speed Rail To UNLV
Vegas INC

DASH Downtown Bus Adds Two New Stops To Accomodate Expo Rail Line
Blog Downtown

FTA And MAP-21 A Powerful Combination For American Public Transportation
U.S. DOT Fast Lane Blog

Gauging The Real-World Value Of Real-Time Bus Arrival Data
Transit Talent

Glendale Councilman Holds Off On Bid To Save Metrolink Board Seat
Glendale News-Press

Hottest Neighborhoods In Los Angeles ("One of the best things about Culver City is that it’s becoming, and will surely be, a major hub for public transportation in Los Angeles. The Expo Line opened its Culver City stop last month, which makes traveling to Downtown a breeze.")
Fix And Flip

L.A. Blue Line's Deadly Record Alarms Officials
Los Angeles Times

L.A. County Supervisors To Vote On Whether To Put Measure R Extension On Ballot
Los Angeles Daily News

LA Port Cuts Emissions Half Or More Since 2005: Huge Success
Green Car Reports

Long Beach: Livingston Drive Repaving Comes With More Sharrows And Wider Sidewalks
StreetsBlog LA

Metro Board Can Move Measure R Funds With Two-Thirds Vote
StreetsBlog LA

New Dedicated Revenue Mechanisms For Freight Transportation Investment (webinar : August 8 : "Describes methods that might be used to raise revenue to support government investment in freight transportation facilities, primarily for highway transportation.")
Transportation Research Board

Public Transport At The Olympics Is Smooth Running -- So Far
Treehugger

SF Parking Plan's Message: Transit First ("San Francisco's aggressive plan to install thousands more parking meters and to expand the hours they operate has an overarching goal of making the streets friendlier for transit, cycling and walking.")
San Francisco Chronicle

This Is Why You Don't Mind-Meld With Your Smartphone In The Subway ("You know how the edges of subway tracks are equipped with textured flooring, so blind people can sense they're in peril of tumbling onto the tracks? Turns out even that is not enough to halt a person who's really bonding with their cell phone.")
The Atlantic: Cities

Venice Rapid Bus Gets Green Light For Signal Priority
Bill Rosendahl, Los Angeles City Council, 11th District

"Walk Score" Is Great, But It Still Doesn't Capture "Walk Appeal"
The Atlantic: Cities


What are transportation community leaders around the nation tweeting about today? Check out the Metro Library Twitter Dailyour online digest in newspaper format updated every day.

We invite you to visit Metro's The Sourceyour window to what's happening with agency news, funding and policy issues, and how to get the most out of transit and Los Angeles.

8/06/2012

Red/Orange Line Bridge, El Monte Busway, Wilshire Widening, Arroyo Seco, MAP-21, Bikes, 710, LA Port & More


The ABCs Of MAP-21 (webinar : August 13 : "The first of the Navigating MAP 21 webinar series, this session will explain the basics of the new law, what it means for bicyclists and how we can harness the opportunities to fund biking and walking projects and programs.")
Advocacy Advance
More Information

Arroyo Community Gears Up For 710 Battle
Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch

StreetsBlog DC


Caltrans Unveils Plan To Lower Speed Limit On 110 Freeway ("According to the plan, which was released to the public last month, the speed limit has played a large factor in the high number of traffic accidents along the stretch that runs from Glenarm Street in Pasadena to the I-5 junction.")
KTLA

Caltrans Wants To Change Speed Limit On Pasadena Freeway To 45 MPH
Los Angeles Daily News

Carmageddon Sequel Gets Positive Spin From City Officials
Los Angeles Times

City Withdraws Wilshire Boulevard Widening Amendment
Brentwood Patch

A "Grand Swap" For Transportation Funding ("As we saw in Atlanta this week, even a one-cent tax increase with bipartisan and business backing couldn't get enough voter support. Is a shuffling of resources, and not new taxes, the right solution? What do you think? Could a "grand swap" work? Or is the risk of devolution too strong? (Maybe the federal government could retain some role in projects of regional or national significance?) Is this solution too blunt or just right?")
National Journal Transportation Experts Blog

Late Gold Line Trains Appeal To Bar Hoppers, Restaurant Workers; El Monte Bus Line May Be Next (""I'm ecstatic. This will make a huge difference. I'll take the train a lot more"..."This one move I guarantee will cut the number of DUIs in half"..."Metro is evaluating whether to add late night service to the Silver Line express bus which runs from El Monte to Artesia.")
Whittier Daily News

MAP-21: Moving Ahead For Progress In The 21st Century -- Transforming The Way We Build, Manage, And Maintain Our Nation's Transit Systems (numerous documents explain the new federal transportation bill)
Federal Transit Administration

StreetsBlog LA

Metro Planning Pedestrian Bridge Over Lankershim Near Universal Red Line Station ("The news comes soon after an announced plan to build a tunnel near the North Hollywood Metro Station.")
North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Station

Metro Shows Off New Expo Line As USC First Home Kickoff Approaches
North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch

Nightly Closures Of Southbound 710 Freeway Planned In East L.A., Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

The Original Highway Code (A look back at emerging standards from the 1930s, 40s & 50s)
Streets MN

Records Indicate Problems With Safety Tests On Some California Bridges
McClatchy News

Safely Passing Bicyclists (Map of states with statutes regarding motorists passing bicyclists)
National Conference Of State Legislatures

A Summary Of Design, Policies And Operational Characteristics For Shared Bicycle/Bus Lanes (167p. PDF)
University Of South Florida Center For Urban Transportation Research

Track Design Handbook For Light Rail Transit, 2nd ed. (695p. PDF)
Transit Cooperative Research Program

What's The Best Way To Build New Highways: Private? Public? Tolls? Magic?
Transportation Nation


What are transportation community leaders around the nation tweeting about today? Check out the Metro Library Twitter Dailyour online digest in newspaper format updated every day.

We invite you to visit Metro's The Sourceyour window to what's happening with agency news, funding and policy issues, and how to get the most out of transit and Los Angeles.