Expo Line, America Fast Foward, Foothill Transit, 710 Freeway, Gas Prices, Amtrak, Smart Parking, SCI-Arc & More

Amtrak: Our Bus-Level Discount Fares Have Nothing To Do With Discount Buses
Transportation Nation

Another Wonderful Long Beach First: Protected Bike Lanes

StreetsBlog LA

Barack Obama Talks Deficit, Voters Talk Gas Prices
Politico

Caltrain Board OKs Budget That Keeps All Trains Running, All Stations Open
Silicon Valley Mercury News

City Council Seeks Support On Bill Pertaining To 710 Freeway: A State Assembly Bill That Will Go To The California Assembly Committee Monday Would Allow The City Of South Pasadena To Regain Freeway Veto Power
South Pasadena Patch

Congress Borrows From L.A.'s Transportation Playbook
Public CEO

Dutch Superbus ("The High-Speed Bus prototype is electric-powered, cruises at 150 MPH+, and can hold 23 passengers, according to the designer.")
Antiplanner

Editorial: Keeping Calif. High-Speed Rail On Track
San Francisco Chronicle

Foothill Transit Debuts Three Fully Electric Buses While Other Agencies Aim For Zero Emissions
Pasadena Weekly

"Gate Wave" Chosen For Redondo Beach Transit Center
Easy Reader

L.A. Architecture School SCI-Arc Buys Its Unorthodox Home: The Southern California Institute Of Architecture Pays $23 Million For The Century-Old Rail Freight Depot
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Anticipates Light Rail Line (audio : "After numerous delays and cost overruns, the first phase of the project will run from downtown to L.A.'s West Side. The new Expo Line hearkens back to the days when L.A. residents took "Red Car" trolleys from downtown to the ocean." Metro CEO Art Leahy is interviewed and audio from the Metro Transportation Library's archival collection is featured)
NPR

Los Angeles - Las Vegas Rail Hoping For HSR Funding
Examiner

Maintenance Yard For Green Line Planned For East End Of Westchester
Argonaut

Medians Will Provide Green Oasis In Urban Setting ("The green belt on medians along San Vicente Boulevard will be transformed into one of the city’s newest parks through a plan that was finalized on April 18 by the Office of City Councilmember Herb Wesson, 10th District, and three local neighborhood councils.")
Park La Brea News Beverly Press

New York Times' Flawed HSR Editorial
California High Speed Rail Blog

Opinion: Riled About Rail: Why All The Anger About High Speed Trains?
CNN

Professional Certification And Credentialing Program For The Transit Industry (16p. PDF)
Transit Cooperative Research Program Research Results Digest

SFMTA Launches SFPark To Much Fanfare And Political Support
StreetsBlog SF
The Right Price For Parking (video)
StreetsFilms

TIGER III Is Grrrrrr-eat News For Transportation Agencies ("News about an upcoming TIGER III award program is beginning to leak out. The USDOT isn't planning to releaes a solicitation for proposals until early summer.")
StreetsBlog DC

US Freight Rails Hiring Rises Sharply
Journal Of Commerce

Why L.A. Hates Presidential Visits
The Atlantic

San Dimas Gold Line, US Transit Projects, Megabus Effect, Google Map Maker, I-405 Closures, Presidential Traffic, TOD Strategic Plan & More

America's Railroads Are Still A Century Behind (detailed infographic outlines our "national rail fail")
Fast Company

Anaheim Mayor Quits OCTA Board
Orange County Register

Expect Delays: Both Sides Painted The White House's Now-Gutted High-Speed Rail Plan As Revolutionary. If Only.
New York Magazine

Finally, A 710 Worthy Of Support: State Considers Restricting Parking In Transit Oriented Districts (Assembly Bill 710)
StreetsBlog LA

Glendale Clears Path For Pedalers: The City Council's Policy Document Focuses On Improvements In Bicycle Education And Safety
Glendale News-Press

Hazard Analysis: The Practice Of Using Cell Phones While Operating A Transit Vehicle
Metro Magazine White Paper

I-405 Freeway And Road Closures ("Commuters can now expect freeway and street closures during construction of the bridge and roadways from April 25 to 29.")
Canyon News

I Just Made A New Road On Google Maps, You Can Too
GOOD
Introducing Google Map Maker For The United States
Google
Introducing Google Map Maker For The United States (video)
Google via YouTube

Jumpstarting The Transit Space Race: 2011 -- A Catalog And Analysis Of Planned And Proposed Transit Projects In The US (46p. PDF)
Reconnecting America

The Many Benefits Of Public Art
American Society Of Landscape Architects The Dirt Blog

The Megabus Effect: After Decades Of Decline, The Bus Is The U.S.'s Fastest-Growing Way To Travel, Led By Curbside Service From Megabus, Boltbus, And Others
Business Week

[N.Y.] M.T.A. Is Planning To Sell Its Midtown Headquarters
New York Times

Neon Miracle On The Miracle Mile (original street signage restored)
Los Angeles Magazine

Obama's Visit Expected To Cause Traffic Delays In Los Angeles ("Two presidential visits last year brought lengthy gridlock.")
Los Angeles Times

A Road Fit For A King: Transit Service On Imperial Highway (a transit history stretching back to 1930)
More Than Red Cars

The Road To Health: Improving Community Well-Being Through Transportation (convening event : April 27 : California Endowment in Los Angeles)
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

San Dimas Talks Gold Line Site
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Santa Monica's Downtown Developers Brace For LUCE
Santa Monica Lookout

South Pasadena Lobbies For Restoration Of Freeway Veto Right
USC Annenberg Neon Tommy

Southern California's First Separated Bike Lanes Open In Long Beach
GOOD

States Begin To Consider The Benefits Of A Two-Year Transportation Bill
StreetsBlog DC

To Improve Living Standards, Improve Housing And Transportation Policy
Think Progress

Transit-Oriented Development Strategic Plan (84p. PDF : Produced as a guide for future investments by the Portland Metro TOD program)
Reconnecting America

Westside Gridlock Alert: Obama's Visit Thursday Will Lock Up Surface Streets
LAist

What The Feds Giveth, The States Taketh Away -- From Bike/Ped Programs
StreetsBlog DC

Budget Impact On Metro Projects, Downtown's "Metroport," Green Line, Expo Line, 405 Expansion, LAX, Graffiti & More

405 Freeway Renovation Causes More Traffic: Lanes On Wilshire Boulevard Have Been Closed For Construction, Prolonging Students' Commute
UCLA Daily Bruin

America's Low Gas Prices: A Global Perspective
Infrastructurist

APTA Awards: 2011 Call For Nominations (deadline is April 22)
APTA

Budget Woes Could Stop Transportation Projects In Their Tracks (audio)
KCRW Which Way LA?

Cities Build Airport Cities -- "Aerotropolises" -- For Growth
USA Today

Crenshaw/LAX Line: The Next Great LA Train Battle?
Curbed LA

Developer Still Fighting For Transit Village Project
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

DOT Stimulus Obligations Hit $45.5 Billion: Some Passenger Rail Grants From 2009 Economic Package Still Open
Journal Of Commerce

Even A Guy Who Writes About Road Repair Can Win A Pulitzer
Transportation Nation

Expo Line To Public: Watch Out For That Train
KABC-7

The Failure Of Regionalism
Transport Politic

Freeway Air Pollution May Cause You To Forget That You Read This
AltTransport

Future Stations Of The Past: Downtown's 1968 "Metroport" & Express Service To LAX
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

How To Get A Bike Rack Or Corral On Your Street
Southern California Public Radio

It's Not Easy Being Green: Community Opposition, Funding Hamper Expansion For Green Line
StreetsBlog LA

LA Metro Shows Off Its New Expo Light Rail Line
Southern California Public Radio

L.A.'s Expo Line Is Halfway To The Sea: How You Can Make Sure It Gets There (includes several photos of this week's trial runs, station design, employees)
GOOD

Metro Sets More Subway Advisory Group Meetings: The Beverly Hills Meeting Is Scheduled For April 26 At The Public Library
Beverly Hills Patch

More Economic Output "Bang" For Our Investment "Buck" (by Antonio Villaraigosa : "I'm thrilled to provide updates on two infrastructure projects: one at the Port of Los Angeles, and one at Los Angeles International Airport. Combined, these projects will create nearly 50,000 jobs for Los Angeles and billions in economic output.")
Huffington Post

New Construction At LAX Generates Almost 40,000 Local Jobs (3p. PDF)
Los Angeles World Airports News Release
LAX Airfield And Terminal Construction Projects (47p. PDF)
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Obama: Do We Want To Be Pothole Nation?
Talking Points Memo

Pam O'Connor, Other Elected Officials Tour Expo Line Station: Safety Was Emphasized During Monday Morning Test
Santa Monica Patch

Planning To Avert A Downtown Parking Crutch
Santa Monica Lookout

President Obama Visit Expected To Impact Traffic Near UCLA On April 21
UCLA Newsroom

The Right Price For Parking (video)
StreetsFilms

San Pedro Bridge Wears Out Welcome
Daily Breeze

State's Financial Crisis Could Cut Off Funding ("The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other agencies could run out of money to complete the San Fernando Valley's Orange Line bus extension and the 405 Freeway widening project because of the state's budget crisis, officials are warning. The future of those two projects, along with the first phase of building the Expo light-rail line, relies on the sale of state bonds that were approved by voters in 2006.")
Los Angeles Daily News

Tagger Vandalizes Little Tokyo Gold Line Station; Ties To Graffiti Art Exhibit Suspected
Los Angeles Times

Tagging Outside An L.A. Street Art Exhibit Fuels Debate: Authorities Say The Downtown Los Angeles Show Has Spawned A Rash Of Tagging Near The Museum. The Museum Says Such "Anarchic" Work Was Anticipated And Is Being Cleaned Up
Los Angeles Times

These Are Not Just Stamps -- They're 16 Ways To Help The Planet (Public transportation is featured on postage stamps as one way to "go green.")
U.S. Postal Service

A Two-Year Transportation Bill? Some Say It's A Better Deal
StreetsBlog DC

Two Years Better For Transportation
New Republic

L.A. is GOOD, CicLAvia Film, Port Of L.A., Railroad Environmental Awareness & More

8 Railroad Innovations Promoting Environmental Awareness (photo-essay)
Huffington Post

$100 Million For HUD Sustainability Program Survives In This Year's Budget
StreetsBlog DC

Amtrak Taps Into Rail Fan Base To Boost Security
Wall Street Journal

Changes Coming At Metrolink
Riding In Riverside

CicLAvia 2011: Los Angelenos Take Back The Streets (video : "Freedom, fun, fellowship and community were just some of the answers Rob Adams got when he asked Angelenos from all walks life what CicLAvia meant to them.")
StreetFilms

A Community-Visioning Approach To Support The Collaborative Decision-Making Framework For Transportation Investments (webinar : May 25, 2011)
Transportation Research Board

East Hollywood's Neglected Santa Monica Boulevard May Get Some Love
Curbed LA

Fixing A Leaky Roof (Or A Pothole) ("How can infrastructure advocates overcome the political reality that fixing a leaky roof, or a pothole, is just plain boring? Does the public need to weigh in? Or can the discussions be had among just elected officials and the transportation community? Do officials at the federal and state transportation departments need to be more up front about where their allotted transportation money is going if they are to justify the need for more? Do tight budgets help or hurt the conversation?")
National Journal Transportation Blog

The Future Is Bright ("The future looks as clear as the carpool lane for the City of Angels, whether in 10 years or 30. By investing deeply in new transportation options and building on the very stylish historic infrastructure that’s here, Los Angeles could soon return to its former glory. “In the long run, the Metro will reach every part of the county and create an interconnectivity that we never had,” says Zane. “The economic efficiency of that, as well as the environmental benefits, will be extraordinary. We always had the best weather. Now we’ll have the best transportation system and cleaner air. Who can compete with that?”)
GOOD
Read GOOD Issue 23: The Swollen Beast That Is Los Angeles
GOOD

How Social Media Fits Into Los Angeles' Crisis Communication Strategy
Emergency Management

LA Plaza Opens Its Doors To LA's Mexican History
Blog Downtown

Lost And Unused Metrocards Add Up To $52 Million A Year In NYC
Transportation Nation

Out Of Disaster, A Burst Of Enthusiasm For Cycling
New York Times

Port Of L.A. Races To Prep For Panama Canal Expansion
USC Annenberg Neon Tommy

Questions About New Starts/Small Starts Program Cuts In The Final FY11 Continuing Resolution
Reconnecting America

"Smarter Traveler" App Manages Traffic Flow
The City Fix

State Legislators Advocate For High-Speed Rail, Caltrain Collaboration
Pacifica Patch

Suburban Commuter Rail: Politically Attractive, Functionally Repulsive
StreetsBlog Network

Test Train Rolls Out For Preview Of New LA Metro Expo Light Rail Line
Southern California Public Radio

Vandals Allegedly Do $5,000 Damage To MTA Bus
Daily Breeze

What If You Had 72 Hours To Transform Your City?
GOOD

Foothill Extension, Green Line Extension, HSR, Bikes On Metro, Gas Prices In Perspective, Bus Museum & More

After A Compromise, Where Does The Public Sector Head?
Transport Politic

Are Gas Prices Really That High? (infographic map comparing United States to the rest of the world)
Flowing Data

Bikes Make Tracks On Metro Trains
Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Third District

Cal State Offers Big-Picture View Of Inland Logistics ("California consumes 2 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel every hour." : overview of the 2011 Southern California Transportation and Logistics Summit, organized by Cal State San Bernardino's Leonard Transportation Center)
Riverside Press-Enterprise

California: The Last Hope For High-Speed Rail
Metro Magazine

Critical Agreement Executed For Foothill Extension Light Rail Project ("The execution of a critically-needed agreement between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and BNSF Railway (BNSF) that will result in BNSF abandoning their rights to use the corridor between (roughly) the future Arcadia and Irwindale Stations along the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa.")
PR-USA

Double Digit Rise In Gas Prices Marks Largest Savings In Nearly Three Years -- Giving Public Transit Riders Economic Edge
APTA Press Release

Downtown Long Beach Transit Mall To Reopen After $7M Revamp
Long Beach Press-Telegram

Editorial: Public Transit: Use It Or Lose It
Daily Breeze

Funding Approved For Downtown LA Streetcar Project
KABC-7

How To Get Where You're Going: Bicycling Becomes Collective
LAist

L.A. MTA Faces Tough Crowd In Lawndale Over Green Line
USC Annenberg Neon Tommy

Los Angeles To Slather Its Rooftops With Solar Panels
Grist

Market Forces ("During last year’s CicLAvia, local merchants, ever shortsighted, assumed that minus cars, there’d be no business. Statistics, in fact, suggest the opposite, that catering to cyclists is better for most businesses than depending on drivers.")
Orange 20

Metro Gold Line Extension Reaches Milestone
Examiner

Metro Green Line Extension Plans Meet Resistance At Lawndale Meeting
Daily Breeze

Metro Transit Ridership Down Across The Board
LA Observed

MTA Bus Ridership Declines In Recession
Los Angeles Times

Rail Service Plan For LAX Still Has Hurdles: More Than 15 Years After The Green Line Opened, An Extension Into The Airport Is Being Considered. But Cost And Logistical Problems Remain ("The new focus on rail in the area is being spurred by plans to build the Crenshaw Line, which would run through Southwest L.A. and Inglewood and intersect with the Green Line. This project would extend the Green Line to the corner of Century and Aviation boulevards, about 1.5 miles from the airport. The key question is how to close the remaining gap. Planners say they are studying all options, including building a light-rail line directly into the central terminus.")
Los Angeles Times

The Rising Price Of Gas Is The Talk Of The Nation (A roundup of stories and mitigation measures from around the country)
StreetsBlog Network

Senate Introduces A Narrower Bill For Wider Sidwalks
StreetsBlog DC

Sic Transit Gloria: A Bus Museum Fails To Gain Traction ("We think buses are the greatest thing since sliced bread," Mr. Medaglia says. "The public doesn't quite see it that way." So for now, much of the museum's collection sits parked behind the battered metal doors of a dank warehouse here" in Fremont, California)
Wall Street Journal

Transportation System Creates Great Trips (Six bus and rail lines to and from downtown and USC that take you to the places you want to go, without a car)
USC Daily Trojan

Urban Bikeway Design Guide A Promising Tool For Cities
Mobilizing The Region
NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide