Today's Headlines - more at Metro

5/16/2009

Transportation Headlines for Saturday May 16, 2009

ARRA energy funds will begin flowing soon, according to report
American City and County

Bad LA Economy=Good Commute
CurbedLA

City to close bus routes - Riders’ needs and economic realities are in direct conflict for Santa Clarita Valley commuters
Santa Clarita Signal

Court upholds observation during drug tests
AP

DOT Unveils $1.5B in Infrastructure Grants
Journal of Commerce

Fed up? Redirect your rage at mycommutesucks.org
Transportation for American

GM Hybrid Vehicle Undergoing Testing By Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
ArticlesWorld

Governor Finds a New Way to Rob Transit Even More
LA Streetsblog
See California Transit Association: http://www.caltransit.org/node/808

High-speed rail among top 100 U.S. infrastructure projects, CG/LA says
Progressive Railroading

L.A. considers privatizing parking - Villaraigosa, pointing to Chicago as an example, hopes to auction off meters and city-owned garages and use the money to save his effort to expand the LAPD and preserve other city services
Los Angeles Times

LaHood announces availability of TIGER grants
Metro Magazine

LA, Long Beach Imports Plunge 21.5 Percent
Journal of Commerce

LAX continues to embarrass
LA Observed

Metrolink approves 3 percent rate hike
Ventura County Star

Metrolink board approves hike in fares - COST: Three percent increase is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1.
Daily News

Metrolink to Install Cameras in Train Engines
NBC

National Geographic Reveals the World’s Transit Superstars
StreetsBlog

RTA adds routes
Valley News

Some California high speed rail segments ready by 2015?
Trains for America

Taking a Look at Bike to Work Week
LA StreetsBlog

Two Staples of Southern California Economy No Longer So Reliable
Wall Street Journal

Union will fight MBTA's post-crash cellphone ban
Boston Globe

Updated: Port Traffic Falls Again
Los Angeles Business Journal

What Makes A City Bike Friendly? Ask Davis, California
Wired

What's Wrong With Our Cities? A Two-Minute Video Explains
Fast Company

Wi-Fi hits the highway
CS Monitor

WMATA to buy electricity wholesale
Metro Magazine

5/15/2009

Transportation Headlines for Friday May 15, 2009

5th District Candidates Tell Why They Deserve Your Vote
Jewish Journal

Alameda Corridor feels effects of trade slowdown - Revenue and traffic fall along with activity at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach. About $2 billion in the rail route's bonds are placed on 'rating watch negative
Los Angeles Times

California could lose a congressional seat
Orange County Register

Congress Takes a First Step Towards Reshaping Transportation Policy
StreetsBlog

Dan Walters: Scare tactics or the day of reckoning?
Sacramento Bee

DC Metro Board's Finance Committee Approves Use of Bank Cards at Fare Gates
Washington Post

Drill, Baby, Drill in Hancock Park
CurbedLA

Government Retrofit: Federal Coordination
Citiwire

Highway 118, Rice interchange projects get state funding
Ventura County Star

Homes built for a new American Dream
Marketplace

Learning from Los Angeles
Urban Land Institute

Los Angeles makes hailing a cab easier and the three-point seatbelt turns 50
Marketplace NW

Metrolink won't help pay for Simi Valley crash memorial
Ventura County Star

New report says tough times in international trade are hurting LA port outlook
89.3 KPCC

Officials urge MTA to move ahead with South Bay transit link
Daily Breeze

Public meetings to discuss Bradley terminal project EIR set for June 3rd and 6th
The Argonaut

Repaving to shut down LB Freeway sections
Press Telegram

Restored Pacific Electric Railway ‘Red Car’ would be centerpiece of proposed Venice Heritage Museum
The Argonaut

Schwarzenegger outlines drastic budget cuts
Los Angeles Times

Venice sees Red Car as center of history museum
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Walkable Communities: East Holly NC Leads Way
CityWatch

Welcome to the Blogroll: I Will Ride
LA StreetsBlog

Why Arnold's May 19 Bailout Is Failing
LA Weekly

5/14/2009

Transportation Headlines for Thursday May 14, 2009

$300-million I-5 widening project moves forward in O.C.
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

California Pushes Cleaner Air
Journal of Commerce

Caltrans officials steered contracts to firm where former colleague works - Legislative report angers members of an Assembly committee, who call for more oversight
Los Angeles Times

Car-Free in America?
New York Times

Chart: Comparison Shopping For Transit Systems
Infrastructurist

Economic-Stimulus Cash Is Moving Slowly
Wall Street Journal

Fight for Hydrogen Funding
New York Times

Free bus rides offered on Bike Day
Daily Breeze

Google Maps 'Bike There' Feature Request
Petition Online

Gov. proposes selling L.A. Coliseum, other properties to raise cash - Other state assets that could be put on the block include San Quentin State Prison and the Orange County Fairgrounds. The move could raise between $600 million and $1 billion, according to a proposal
Los Angeles Times

Graffiti Ordinance Will Make Taggers' Parents Pay the Bill
LAist

Greyhound Extension
Riding in Riverside

If state cuts too deep, it loses stimulus funds
San Francisco Chronicle

L.A. City Council committee outlines drastic budget cuts - Budget committee recommends police hiring freeze, 800 more layoffs, 26 unpaid furlough days and cuts to parks, libraries, street-paving and other city services to close an expected $530-million gap
Los Angeles Times

LACMTA proposes $3.9 billion FY2010 budget
Progressive Railroading

LACMTA proposes $3.9 billion FY2010
Pedestrian View of Los Angeles

Less Than One Percent of Transpo Stimulus Money Paid Out So Far
LA StreetsBlog

Mar Vista Community Council endorses the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights by a 10-0 vote!
Westside Bikeside

Massachusetts stops transit drivers carrying cell phones
Reuters

Mass. transit authority banning driver cell phones
Yahoo! Tech

MBTA makes new cell phone policy very clear
NECN

Oberstar Less Stringent on Earmarks
Roll Call

Our View: MTA skips Gold Line
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Port of Long Beach, Ventura County honored by U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Awards Program
US EPA

REGION: Plan advancing to streamline expansion of some residential projects - Proposal aims to concentrate development, expand wild habitats
North County Times/Californian

Riverside hopes warning signs prevent train tragedies
Press Enterprise

Roadblocks for bike commuters: show me the route!
Terrapass

Santa Monica has grand plans when Expo Line rolls into town
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Senate Bill Steers Away From the Car
Washington Post

Senators Hear From Obama’s Transit Chief-in-Waiting
StreetsBlog

Southern California Economy Headed Down
Journal of Commerce

Transit agency studies widening I-5 through Irvine - Engineering firm has been hired to explore expansion solutions
Orange County Register

5/13/2009

Transportation Headlines for Wednesday May 13, 2009

CTA Bus Tracker: E-mail alerts coming for all bus routes - Riders can get notices telling estimated arrival times of next 4 buses
Chicago Tribune

Dallas Area Rapid Transit board approves increasing bus, rail fares
Dallas Morning News

Evacuating Populations with Special Needs - Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer Series
Transportation Research Board

Evaluation of Project Delivery Methods
Transportation Research Board

Federal Transportation Bill Is Coming… But When?
LA StreetsBlog

Formula for Success: My Thoughts (Transportation Reauthorization)
Freakonomics

Good Sam’s Blesses the Bikes
LA StreetsBlog

Guidebook for the Evaluation of Project Delivery Methods
Transportation Research Board

How Better Funding For Transit Could Create 2 Million Additional Jobs
Infrastructurist

Income-Based Equity Impacts of Congestion Pricing--A Primer
Transportation Research Board

Making their voices heard - Residents weigh in on future of Civic Center (Expo Light Rail)
Santa Monica Daily Press

Meet the Green: LA Getting Its First Hybrid Cabs
CurbedLA

More study, changes in store for Metrolink project (Perris Extension)
Press Enterprise

New tide is forming (Santa Monica Big Blue Bus)
Santa Monica Daily Press

New Transportation Agenda
Next American City

Port project would add jobs and reduce pollution
Press Telegram

Post Measure R Forum Update and Funding Clarification from Habib Balian
I Will Ride

Residents Plot Future of Civic Center, Downtown (Expo Light Rail)
Santa Monica Surf/Lookout News

Rough Roads Ahead: Fix Them Now or Pay for It Later
Transportation Research Board

San Francisco MTA's Central Subway gains favorable FTA rating
Progressive Railroading

SCAG Plan Gets Part-Way To Needed Emissions Reductions
California Planning and Development Report

Senator Gil Cedillo's 710 Bill Passes CA Senate Appropriations on Unanimous, Bipartisan Vote
OBS News

Suit against Metrolink advances - Defense attorneys had argued that a class-action lawsuit would set a bad precedent
Glendale News Press

Technologies That Enable Congestion Pricing--A Primer
Transportation Research Board

TransLink passes BART tests, ready for summertime launch
Contactless News

Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter - April 2009
Federal Highway Administration

Transportation Reauthorizaton Ping Pong
Reason

Villaraigosa calls on City Council to declare a fiscal emergency
Los Angeles Times

Virtual Desktops cuts costs at Denver Transportation Agency
Network World

Volumes at ports of Long Beach, L.A. to fall 13.5% this year, forecast says
Press Telegram

Why the 'Safe Streets Bill' was Stalled
LAist

5/12/2009

Transportation Headlines for Tuesday May 12, 2009

405 Construction Coverage Slammed
CurbedLA

Amtrak: True high-speed rail unrealistic, Amtrak boss says
Chicago Tribune

Big Bucks and Big Ideas for Big Transportation Bill
Wired

Bike to Work Kicks Off; Downtown Activities Scheduled All Week
BlogDowntown

Boxer: Collect Fees on Driving Through ‘Honor System’
LA StreetsBlog

Breaking News: “Safe Streets” Bill Stalled, “Cash Out Parking” Moves Forward
LA StreetsBlog

California Fast Tracking High Speed Rail
Reuters

Changing times could cost cities road funds
Press Enterprise

CityWatchLA - Dude, Where’s the Bike Plan?
SoapBoxLA

Cuts Loom in California if Propositions Fail
Wall Street Journal

Discover LA “Art’s a Trip” Metro ART Tour
Pleasure Palette

Gasoline prices jump in California and U.S.
Los Angeles Times

Gold Line Foothill Extension left out of stimulus funding
Pasadena Star News

Governor: Budget shortfall could reach $21.3 billion if ballot measures fail - With the state's annual income tax collections expected to fall for the first time since 1938, Schwarzenegger warns of 'severe cuts' if voters don't pass Propositions 1A through 1E
Los Angeles Times

Governor lays out budget cuts this week - before May 19 vote
Sacramento Bee

Hey, It's Bike to Work Week
LAist

Homes, businesses not threatened by new freeway lanes - But traffic near freeways could be heavy, as lane closures on streets are planned
Orange County Register

In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars
New York Times

LA Wins Again
CurbedLA

Media Praises I-405 Widening Project, Tough Questions Unanswered
LA StreetsBlog

Metro, LADWP, and Alternative Fuel
Travelin’ Local

Pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers share the road and the law
Whittier Daily News

Recovery Act puts people back to work in good-paying jobs
USDOT Fastlane

'Safe Streets Bill' Fails to Advance out of State Transpo Committee
LAist

Smooth Ride Into Downtown Los Angeles
Jose Huizar – Council District 14

State budget deficit now $21.3 billion
Sacramento Bee

State budget shortfall getting worse -- a lot worse
Los Angeles Times/LA Now

T4 America Releases "Blueprint" for Federal Transportation Program
America 2050

Transportation for America Releases Blueprint for Transportation Reform
LA StreetsBlog

Why is it so hard to build a train?
Planetizen

5/10/2009

Transportation Headlines for Sunday May 10, 2009

Amtrak's Surfliner is great way to see some Southland cities
Ventura County Star

Antonovich disappointed Gold Line Foothill extension denied Stimulus Funding
West Ranch Beacon

Bank Card System Weighed For DC Metro - Transit Agency Cites Rider Convenience
Washington Post

Boxer: Senate Aims to Index Gas Tax to Inflation, Is Considering Mileage Charge
Infrastructurist

Cellphone Ban After Boston Trolley Crash
New York Times

Cutting greenhouse gas may be a mandate - Valley, SoCal officials talk alternatives to driving
Desert Sun

LaHood: ‘Perfection’ Is Goal for Overhaul of Highway Trust Fund
CQ Politics

LaHood: States on track for rail funds
MarketWatch

‘Leading the Way’: Public Transit Revitalizes Communities
Passenger Transport

Los Angeles Metro Takes Top Bus Roadeo Award; APTA, FTA Present Other Honors During Conference
Passenger Transport

Making Bike Trails History
KHTS 1220 AM

Motorists Encouraged by President Obama's Transportation Budget Proposal
PRNewsWire

OP-ED ; Let High Fuel Tax Move Economy
iStockAnalyst

Portland Report: An L.A. Resident Considers the Streetcar
LA Downtown News

SANDAG Board Approves Transit Fare Hikes
10 News

Smyth pedals bike-path bill - AB 1464 could position some existing local bike paths to receive more state funding
Santa Clarita Signal

Southland bullet train gets green light
ABC News

Transit chief: Operators will be barred from bringing cellphones aboard
Boston Globe

Very Small Starts Includes Bus Rapid Transit
Passenger Transport

We Need To Make Sure High Speed Rail Authority Is On Track
California Progress Report