Today's Headlines - more at Metro

3/28/2009

Transportation Headlines for Saturday March 28, 2009

Amsterdam: Only EVs Allowed by 2040
EcoGeek

Amtrak details stimulus projects
Metro Magazine

APTA: Working Toward a Greener Today—and Tomorrow
Passenger Transport

Clash of Subways and Car Culture in Chinese Cities
Planetizen

Early signs encouraging for California's share of federal stimulus
Sacramento Bee

Emergency Weekend Closure of 405 Connectors to 101 Freeway
LAist

Fighting Bad Press with Google
Political Wire

Gold Line extension not yet a money train on Eastside - Its construction through Boyle Heights and East L.A. has hindered business over the years. But with its operation set for summer, officials say it will bring more people and possibly more money
Los Angeles Times

GPS systems will help inform commuters about train delays
Harvard Kennedy School

LaHood and the New USDOT Outdoing Early Expectations
Mobilizing the Region

LaHood Testifies on Transportation Authorization Before Senate EPW Committee
Passenger Transport

LAPD Drops Tickets for Cyclists Riding Without a 'Bicycle License'
LAist

LA transit board unsure of Italian rail contract
International Herald Tribune

MTS bus service to be pared down, fares increased
San Diego Union Tribune

New Study Shows Economic Impact of Italian Train Manufacturer's Plan to Locate Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility in L.A.
LA Union AFL/CIO

NoHo 14 Offers Brand-New Construction & Hotel-Caliber Amenities in the NoHo Arts District
Yahoo Finance

Officers Defy Order from Council, Board and Chief
SoapBoxLA

Police to alert public with Twitter dispatches
Harvard Kennedy School

Promise to Work on Behalf of All Angelenos on Metro Board
Jose Huizar, LA City Councilmember District 14

Public transit users 3 times more likely to meet fitness guidelines: UBC research
Brightsurf

Reinventing America’s Cities: The Time Is Now
New York Times

Riverside Transit Agency bus fares going up June 28
Press Enterprise

Santa Monica considers 'capping' freeway - The city is exploring the idea of building over the 10 to add seven acres of land and possibly create more open space
Los Angeles Times

Sound Transit adopts Link fare structure
Metro Magazine

Sound Transit sets light rail fare base at $1.75
Seattle Post Intelligencer

T&I discusses transportation issues for disabled
Metro Magazine

Transit Agencies Mobilizing to Implement ARRA-Funded Projects
Passenger Transport

Why the Modal Split in MTA Call For Projects?
Brayj Against the Machine

3/27/2009

Transportation Headlines for Friday March 27, 2009

American Maglev
AcademicVC

Amtrak Celebrates the Past, Present, and Future of Rail Travel with Nationwide Festivities in May
Webwire

Anatomy of a Scene: ‘Knowing’ Alex Proyas, the director of “Knowing,” discusses the subway disaster scene from the film
New York Times

AnsaldoBreda Problems Aren’t in Los Angeles Alone
Transport Politic

As Transit Is Gutted in Orange County, Freeways Set to Expand
StreetsBlogLA

Back to the Grid: John Norquist on How to Fix National Transpo Policy
StreetsBlogLA

Car Free Fridays! Calling All Cyclists!
Bike More LA!

City approves longer green lights for MTA's Rapid buses
Pasadena Star News

Councilman Jose Huizar Appointed to Metro Board of Directors
Eastside Sun

Expo Line could derail Bergamot Station
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Follow-up: Metro Board Meeting
I Will Ride

Gold Line Extension Gets Push Forward
American Chronicle

Good News for Subway to the Sea & Downtown Streetcars? Villaraigosa Makes Major Changes on Metro Board
LAist

LaHood wants all funding options on the table except fuel tax
Land Line

LA transit board unsure of Italian rail contract
International Herald Tribune

LB Transit implementing new fare pass technology
Signal Tribune

Local pol looking to solidify county commitment to Gold Line
Pasadena Star News

Mayor appoints 2 to MTA board, considers rail contract
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Mayor Appoints Downtown Councilman to Metro Board
BlogDowntown

Metro board says hello to 2, goodbye to Snoble
Daily News

Metro Board Wrap: New Members, Delayed Rail Car Decision and 2001 LRTP
StreetsBlogLA

Metro Crenshaw Transit Corridor Meeting Held in Inglewood
Inglewood Today

Metro Magazine: Travel Software to Aid Disabled Riders (Google Transit)
Trillium

MTA Approves Purchase Of 41 New Natural Gas Buses
CBS

MTA board wants to keep talking with Italian rail car firm
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

MTA's chief Snoble attends his last board meeting
Contra Costa Times

Next authorization of surface transportation funds one of highest priorities, LaHood tells Congress
The Trucker

O.C. toll road price drops to attract commuters - The cost of a 10-mile trip on the 91 Freeway Express Lanes will drop 50 cents during seven time slots through the day starting Wednesday. Officials hope to encourage drivers to use the lanes
Los Angeles Times

Paris Metro entrance auctioned for $27,500
AP

Portland gets its reward: Most sustainable city
Oregon Live

Ports' growth cooling - TRADE: When shipping recovers, Long Beach and L.A. expect smaller cargo-volume increases
Press Telegram

Rail car firm gets extension in MTA contract - Italy's AnsaldoBreda is granted a two-month reprieve in a deal to build 100 light-rail cars for the L.A. County transit agency
Los Angeles Times

Santa Monica to expand Big Blue Bus line
KABC

Sound Transit tunnel bids are cheaper than predicted - Two bidders on a Sound Transit tunneling contract are offering to do the job much cheaper than predicted by the agency's engineers
Seattle Times

Thanks Gov., Even with Prop A City Facing Long-Term Transit Cuts
StreetsBlogLA

Transportation officials hear homeowners complaints about nearby freeway construction
The Argonaut

Use Google Maps to Find Your Way on Public Transit
Commuter Dude

US Infrastructure at Risk
Irvine Center for Public Policy Research

3/26/2009

Transportation Headlines for Thursday March 26, 2009

AM Commute Bomb Scare Shut Down Pershing Square Station
LAist

AnsaldoBreda Plays Corporate Incentive Politics with L.A.
Transport Politic

Behind the Orange Curtain: Massive Service Cuts at OCTA
StreetsBlogLA

Blowback: The full story on AnsaldoBreda's L.A. rail-car proposal - The company's plans would bring jobs to the area and keep taxpayer dollars close to home
Los Angeles Times

Fleming appointed to MWD
LA Observed

Google makes changes to search results - The search engine giant launches a technology to better understand what people are looking for. It also will give longer snippets after the search title, with relevant words in bold
Los Angeles Times

How a world-class transit line works - in Los Angeles!
NRDC Switchboard

IBM hops aboard high-speed rail
Cnet

Inspired by Obama, Schwarzenegger Presents Recovery.ca.gov
LAist

Locals seek to include Gold Line extension in MTA's long-range transit plan
Pasadena Star News

Loose Lips LaHood Turns Timid on Transportation Policy
Wired

Map of the Day: Unemployment in California
LAist

Measure R and Metro
CurbedLA

Metro Board: Finally a Discussion of the LRTP
StreetsBlogLA

No More Free DASH Transfers in Downtown, Now Monthly Passes
LAist

NY M.T.A. Increases Fares and Cuts Services
New York Times

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus Using Stimulus Cash to Buy Hybrids
LAist

Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus to Receive Nearly $13 Million in Federal Economic Stimulus Funds; Plans to Infuse Money Back into Economy with New Contracts
Business Wire

Santa Monica rail yard idea stirs alarm at arts complex - Nearby residents suggest Bergamot Station as a site for an Expo Line maintenance yard. They don't want the facility built, as now proposed, close to their homes
Los Angeles Times

Southern California ports' economic storm may calm by year's end - An economist's outlook is a bright spot at a shipping conference. Some warn that Los Angeles and Long Beach are at risk of losing their competitive edge to other ports in the U.S. and Canada
Los Angeles Times

Transit Time Map: Find a Walkable Place to Live
Walkscore

3/25/2009

Transportation Headlines for Wednesday March 25, 2009

3 dead in MTS shootings - Police gun down man who shot co-workers
San Diego Union Tribune

Art Leahy, So Long and Thanks For All the Fish
Orange County Progressive

BART plans to introduce TransLink in June
San Francisco Chronicle

Blueprint America – Stimulus Roadblock?
PBS

California's Wipeout Economy
Washington Post

Call List Gives a View of Potential Downtown Transportation Projects
BlogDowntown

Cyclists Strike Back at LAPD Commission Meeting
LAist

e-Traction Develops Diesel Electric Hybrid Bus
Ubergizmo

Gov. Talks Transportation Financing and Expansion on Meet the Press
StreetsBlogLA

Hollywood Pitch: Bring the Junkets Back (Hollywood & Vine)
New York Times

Is an Italian rail company taking L.A. for a ride? AnsaldoBreda Inc. is promising much in order to keep building light-rail cars for the MTA, but is it all going anywhere?
Los Angeles Times

Japan: Blurring the line between bullets and trains
Los Angeles Times

Lawsuit against L.A., Long Beach port truck plan is reversed
Land Line

Los Angeles and Mass Transit? Designers Can Dream
Fast Company

Mass Transit? Meet Your Possible Future
NBC

New Plan For An Old Freeway
CalTrans Inside Seven

New York City - Do Not Want: Possible New York Subway Fare Hike
Jaunted

NY Commuters brace for MTA fare hike vote Wednesday
Newsday

NY Mayor: Get 'Mad As Hell' Over Transit Fare Hikes - Takes Line From 'Network' To Inspire Commuters
New York Post

OCTA Makes Worst of Choices - Votes to Slash Bus Service, Eliminate Jobs
Orange County Progressive

Open source and open data make for transit innovation
Trillium

Pasadena invited to join Foothill Transit
Pasadena Star News

Pasadena may join Foothill Transit
Pasadena Star News

Proposed Victorville to Vegas train would likely bypass Barstow
Desert Dispatch

San Diego's Smart Growth Fund Dissolved
Smart Growth Online

San Francisco Rail: A Living History
Planetizen

Supervisors to consider resolution calling for freeway funding
Desert Sun

Sustaining the New Urbanism
Planetizen

UCLA Anderson Forecast: dark days
Los Angeles Times

U.S. Ports Plan Clean-Truck Programs
Journal of Commerce

What the Cahuenga Pass Looked Like Before the 101 Freeway
LAist

3/24/2009

Transportation Headlines for Tuesday March 24, 2009

City Hall considers building over freeway
Santa Monica Daily Press

City Gets Stimulus Money for Buses
Santa Monica Surf/Lookout News

Cross-field taxiway OKd for LAX - The project is intended to help handle the new generation of large airliners, including the Airbus A380. The Board of Airport Commissioners also moves to improve the finances of Van Nuys Airport
Los Angeles Times

DC Metro posts transit data online - sort of
GreaterGreaterWashington

DOT Working Quickly to Distribute Economic Recovery Funds
National League of Cities

Flowers run 'wild' on freeway embankments
Inland Empire News

Huge Blow to Transportation Coverage
CurbedLA

Laid Off: LA Times Transit Reporter, Steve Hymon
LAist

L.A.’s Orange Line: Bus Rapid Transit (plus bike path!)
StreetFilms

Major Legal Issues for Highway Public-Private Partnerships
Transportation Research Board

Making Certain Progress in Uncertain Times: The Transportation Research Board's 2008 Field Visit Program
Transportation Research Board

Mass Transit? Nah, Más Transit! Meet Your Possible Future
CurbedLA

Moses Sherman led the people to the promised land; but he was no General
Examiner

No News Here, WMATA Still Incompetent
WhyIHateDC

Notice of Intent to Hold Hearings on Unmet Public Transit Needs
Santa Clarita Valley News

OCTA slashes bus service by one-fourth, cuts 400 jobs - Video: Cuts driven by revenue shortfall are deepest yet
Orange County Register

Orange County's new acting transportation czar
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Port offices expanded to process TWIC cards at Long Beach, Los Angeles
LandLine

Report on Worldwide Hydrogen Bus Demonstrations, 2002-2007
Transportation Research Board

Respondents to survey favor high-speed rail instead of air travel
SF Examiner

Review of Future Development of High-Speed Passenger Rail
Transportation Research Board

Riverside County plan may stimulate funding for local road projects
Press Enterprise

San Diego will be among first areas to test new all-electric vehicles
Los Angeles Times

Specialist Urges National Port Pollution Policy
Journal of Commerce

Steve Hymon out at Times
LAObserved

Stimulus Bill Funds Intelligent Transportation Systems
Government Technology

Streetfilms Praises Orange Line BRT and Bike Path
StreetsBlogLA

Transit and chamber CEOs to talk at lunch
Press Telegram

Using Pricing to Reduce Traffic Congestion
Transportation Research Board

Virtualization and Transit - IT that improves operations and strengthens customer service
Mass Transit Magazine

Westside Urban Forum Discusses Billboard Wars
CurbedLA

Zipcar, city to bring more cars near USC - Zipcar representatives say they hope to launch the deal between the city and company in August
Daily Trojan

3/22/2009

Transportation Headlines for Sunday March 22, 2009

Bike Safer Still Going Strong
Urban Velo

DC Metro To Post Schedules, Routes Online
WJZ

Do maritime security 'smart cards' defy common sense? Even slow tourist boats and delivery people will need Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards to use U.S. docks. Some complain that they're unnecessary, too expensive and hard to get
Los Angeles Times

Drivers find gasoline for under $2 a gallon
Whittier Daily News

Earmarks are earmarks, no matter the need
Antelope Valley Press

Find Washington, D.C. Metro Information Online
WHSV

For Obama, mayor and governor: a win-win-win situation
Los Angeles Times

Laguna artist found expression in freeways and signs - Review: Roger Kuntz's work is on view at Laguna Art Museum
Orange County Register

LB Airport chief takes Obama trip in stride - EXPERIENCE: New director worked at New Orleans facility during Katrina
Press Telegram

Mileage-tax proposal stirs debate
Contra Costa Times

Reaction to hydrogen buses trial
GreenCar

SANDAG urged to step up in San Diego’s transit budget crisis
Ocean Beach Rag

Santa Monica gets electric buses, Inland Empire gets stimulus jobs
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Schwarzenegger asks Obama for more infrastructure money
Sacramento Bee

Trashed - For the past decade L.A. has sold its public space to advertisers to help keep its streets clean – it hasn’t worked
LA City Beat

Trucking toward a port-pollution solution - The Port of Los Angeles is the technology incubator for Samra's company, Balqon, which is supplying the major smog source with heavy-duty electric cargo trucks
Los Angeles Times

And if you are on Facebook:

Event: Decision Day for Expo Light Rail
"Tell the Sups: Measure R Passed, We Want our Expo Line!"
What: Business Meeting
Hosts: angelenic.com, My Other Ride is Los Angeles Metro, and Friends for Expo Transit
Start Time: Thursday, April 2 at 2:30pm
End Time: Thursday, April 2 at 3:30pm
Where: Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration