Today's Headlines - more at Metro

3/02/2012

Expo Line, LA Bus Shelters, Alameda Corridor East, "Super Commuters," Measure R, Taylor Yard, ONT & More

March 2: This Date In Los Angeles Transportation History (Photos and the story of the epic and deadly disaster that nearly destroyed Southern California's transportation infrastructure)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

Activists Eye "Crown Jewel" For L.A.'s Urban Renewal ("The fight to create a state park at Taylor Yard out of 44 acres currently owned by Union Pacific Railroad adjacent to the Los Angeles River)
EGP News

Boehner: GOP Sour On Short-Term Highway Bill
The Hill

California Commission Approves Funding For ACE Grade Separation ("The California Transportation Commission recently voted in favor of providing $37.6 million from the state’s Proposition 1B Trade Corridors Improvement Fund for the Baldwin Avenue grade separation project in El Monte.")
Alameda Corridor East Project

California Gas Usage Was Falling Even Before Price Hikes
Sacramento Bee

California Grapples With High-Speed Rail Debate ("Times have changed for the worse. The price tag and the economy -- plus plans to start in the center of the state rather than in the cities -- have soured many Californians on the whole project. A recent Field Poll shows that two-thirds of voters would like another chance to vote, and most of them would vote against it.")
PBS Newshour

Can A Highway Median Become An Alluring Public Space?
The Atlantic: Cities

Could Creating This Transportation Program Save $200 Billion A Year
Transportation Issues Daily

Daily News: More Measure R Funds For Bikeway
StreetsBlog LA
Editorial: Measure R Just Right For Bikeway Funds
Los Angeles Daily News

Do You Have Car-Free Streets? A New Resource for North American Ciclovias
StreetsBlog DC
Open Streets Guide (182p. PDF)
People Powered Movement

Editorial: Slow And Go On The 710
Pasadena Sun

Enough With The Studies, Let's Get This Train Rolling (Advocates daily Amtrak service between Los Angeles and Indio)
Desert Sun

Expo Line Still Troubled, Culver City Mayor Slams Authority
Curbed LA

Gas Sends Angelenos Flocking To Mass Transit
KABC Los Angeles

High-Speed Rail Board Backs SoCal Bid For $1 Billion
San Diego Union-Tribune

House Scales Back Transpo Bill But Keeps On Attacking Safe Streets
StreetsBlog DC

How The 2012 TED Prize, The City 2.0, Aims To Crowdsource The Future
The Atlantic: Cities

An Interview With The Man Responsible For L.A.'s Bus Shelters
StreetsBlog LA

Is Urbanism Slowing The Rise Of Car Travel?
The Atlantic: Cities

LAX Light Rail Opponents Sue Uncle Sam
Courthouse News Service

Los Angeles And the Rise Of The "Super-Commuter": The Dramatic Increase In Our Long-Distance Workforce
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

Managed Lane Operations: Adjusted Time Of Day Pricing vs. Near-Real Time Dynamic Pricing -- Volume II: Ramp Signaling And Variable Speed Limits (VSL) (189p. PDF)
Florida DOT Research Center

Memo Causes Confusion About Start Of Bullet Train Construction
Los Angeles Times

Metro Project To Displace Spice Table, Weiland's (and Señor Fish)
Los Angeles Downtown News

No Plans To Sell Ontario Airport, Officials Tell Inland Empire Delegation
Diamond Bar Patch

Nominate The Best And Worst Transportation Projects!
Sierra Club Compass

Nope, More Drilling Won't Bring Back $2.50 Gasoline
Washington Post

Not Quite Carmageddon: More 405 Freeway Closures In The Sepulveda Pass This Weekend
LAist

The Only Elected Regional Government In The U.S.
The Atlantic: Cities

Padilla: Governor May Be Biggest Obstacle To Redevelopment 2.0
California Planning & Development Report
California's Urbanscape: A New Paradigm For Redevelopment For The 21st Century
UCLA Luskin School Of Public Affairs

Residents Want To Buy Homes In 710 Corridor, But Caltrans Isn't Selling
Glendale News Press

Ride Along With Metro CEO Art Leahy (audio interview by Patt Morrison and text article)
Southern California Public Radio

Security Awareness For Public Bus Transportation: Case Studies Of Attacks Against The Israeli Public Bus System (120p. PDF)
Mineta Transportation Institute

A Sleeper Issue That Could Derail House Transportation Bill
Transportation Issues Daily

Transportation Bill Amendment Would Restore Bicycle, Pedestrian Funding
Huffington Post

What Are CRA's Legal Obligations?
The Planning Report

What Intersections Would Look Like In A World Of Driverless Cars
The Atlantic: Cities

Will Brown's Vision For High-Speed Rail In California Stay On Track?
PBS News Hour

With Contraception Vote Over, Senate Can Finally Get To Transpo Issues
StreetsBlog DC

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

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

2/29/2012

ACE Grade Separation, Light Rail, Metrolink, Bike Forces Unite, 830 Miles Of New LA County Bikeways & More

830 Miles Of New Bikeways Planned For L.A. County
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

App Will Help Blind, Visually Impaired Navigate Streets ("A University of Minnesota researcher is developing an app that would tell the blind and visually-impaired not only when to cross the street, but which direction they’re going and how many lanes they have to cross.")
Minnesota Daily

Bill Would Allow L.A. Motorists To Park Free If Meters Are Broken
Los Angeles Times

Boehner Ally, Critic Rep. LaTourette Holds Keys To House Transportation Bill
The Hill

Building An America That Lasts...With Recycled Pavement
U.S. DOT Fast Lane Blog

California Commission Approves Funding For ACE Grade Separation
Progressive Railroading

CicLAvia To Promote "Car-Free" Event At South Gate Meeting
Los Angeles Wave

County Gets A New Bike Plan At Last
Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Third District

Does Light Rail Really Alleviate Highway Congestion?
The Atlantic: Cities

Don't Call It A Merger: America's Big Three Bike/Ped Advocates Join Forces ("Last week, three leading organizations advocating for biking and walking issued a communiqué about their intention to unify. According to the plan, hashed out two weeks ago at a top-level meeting in San Diego, the League of American Bicyclists, the Alliance for Biking & Walking, and Bikes Belong will become one organization, with one board of directors.")
StreetsBlog DC
New National Plan To Transform Bicycling
League Of American Bicyclists
Joint Communique Regarding Bike Advocacy Unification (2p. PDF)

The Hidden Truths Of A Gas Tax Holiday
Transportation Issues Daily

How More Expensive Housing Can Actually Cost You Less ("The farther you go in search of cheaper housing, the more expensive your transportation costs become...The Chicago-based organization maintains a massive, geo-coded database of location-specific information on average housing costs, driving rates, transportation costs, and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions...highly revealing as it illuminates the benefits of close-in, walkable neighborhoods in bringing those costs down.")
The Atlantic: Cities

It's Take Two For "Give Me 3" In Sacramento
StreetsBlog LA

John Mica: Highway Bill Optimists Are "Smoking The Funny Weed"
Politico

LA County Updates Master Bike Plan After 35 Years
Long Beach Post

Meetings Scheduled On Plans To Close Freeway Gap
Los Angeles Wave

Metrolink Receives $3.7 Million To Enhance Safety At Bus Crossing
Railway Track & Structures

Mounting Transportation And Housing Costs Devour Household Budgets
StreetsBlog DC

Nationwide Data Show How Transportation Costs Hurt Families, Better Planning Can Help
Natural Resources Defense Council Switchboard Blog

Never Lost: MIT Creates Wayfinding Arrows Projected From Your Cellphone
Fast Company Design

Rental Helmets, Coming Soon To A Bike-Share Station Near You
StreetsBlog Network

Senate To Open Debate On Highway Bill Amendments Thursday
The Hill

Study: Only 28% Of Neighborhoods Affordable ("Some 76 percent of neighborhoods are affordable. But when you add in transportation costs, the results are jarring: fewer than a third of American neighborhoods — just 28 percent — are affordable.")
Transportation Nation
H+T Affordability Index

Supervisors Approve Bike Master Plan, Looking To Make Life Easier For Cyclists
Southern California Public Radio

Top Planning Trends Of 2011-2012 ("Over the course of the year, the editors of Planetizen review and post summaries of hundreds of articles, reports, books, studies, and editorials related to planning and urban development. Here are our picks for the most notable planning trends of the past year, and the topics that we’ll be paying special attention to in 2012.")
Planetizen

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

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

2/28/2012

Gas Prices, Mobility 21, Transportation Bill, Cornfields, 710 Meetings, HOT Lanes & More

Activists Talk Fantasy LA Rail Lines
Curbed LA

Americans Can't Afford A Highway-Centric Transportation Bill
StreetsBlog DC

Bike Repair Racks And Other Ways To Make SoCal More Bike Friendly
StreetsBlog LA

California Gas Prices Jump 26 Cents In A Week ("The average cost of self-serve regular hits $4.29 a gallon, 57 cents higher than a year ago. The average nationwide is $3.29.")
Los Angeles Times

County Worker Shuttle Not Total Transit Fix
Riverside Press-Enterprise

Full Cornfield Park Project Finally Moving Forward
Curbed LA

Here's Mayoral Candidate Austin Beutner On Planning In LA
Curbed LA

Highway Bill Outlook Bleak, Ray LaHood Says
Politico

House GOP Regroups While Senate Dems Tackle Amendments
StreetsBlog DC

How Many Los Angeleans Are Stealing Subway Fare? (Los Angeleans??)
Christian Science Monitor

Integration Of Analysis Methods And Development Of Analysis Plan (138p. PDF)
Strategic Highway Research Program

Long-Term Transportation Bill Faces Detours
Politico

Metro Diaries: 6 Stops With Daniel The Candy Man
StreetsBlog LA

Metro Reaches For The Emergency Brake On South L.A. Bus Line
Southern California Public Radio

Metro To Host 710 Meetings ("Officials say the meetings will provide residents with an opportunity to share info and contribute ideas regarding transportation alternatives being considered for the SR-710 Study.")
Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch

Mineta National Transit Research Consortium Now Operating Under $3.49 Million Grant From US Department Of Transportation
Market Watch

Most Weekend Subway Riders In New York Since 1947
New York Daily News

MTA Proposes Cut To Westwood Bus Service
Westwood-Century City Patch

New Fears Over Revamped Transportation Bill
Transportation Nation

Photo: The Polka Dot Pedestrian Plaza Of Silver Lake
LAist

Ray LaHood Gives Senate Transportation Bill A Boost
Washington Post

The Road To An America Built To Last
U.S. DOT Fast Lane Blog

SF Set To Adopt New Plan To Promote Bike Commuting
San Francisco Chronicle

Southern California's Mobility 21 Fights For Transportation, Jobs In Washington, D.C. ("Mobility 21 will fight to protect federal funding for transportation, putting thousands to work across the Southland.")
Market Watch

There's Nothing Free About A Freeway Extension
StreetsBlog Network

This Week: Highway Bill Faces More Delay
The Hill

The True Price Of Gasoline ("A short film breaking down the true price of a gallon of gasoline purchased and used in Los Angeles.")
StreetsBlog LA

Unblocking The Box: Congestion Relief May Be Coming Soon To A City Near You ("Twenty years ago, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes were virtually the only politically acceptable way to add freeway capacity. But now it is becoming politically palatable to add capacity with high occupancy toll (HOT) or express toll lanes, which are open to toll-paying vehicles and usually some form of high-occupancy vehicle -- bus, vanpool, or carpool.")
Reason

U.S. Mayors Discuss National Port Infrastructure Plans
Financial News & Daily Record

Will There Ever Be A Long-Term Highway Bill? ("What happened to the original idea that surface transportation legislation was revamped every five to six years? Is it impossible now to pass a long-term highway bill? What is the rationale for a longer-term bill? Can the transportation community subsist on shorter-term bills like the Senate proposal? What would happen if there never was another five-year bill?")
National Journal Transportation Experts Blog

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

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

2/27/2012

Fare Gates, OC ARTIC, I-5 Project, HOT Lanes, DesertXpress, Metro Line 305, LAX Bikeway, Gold Line & More

February 27: This Date In Los Angeles Transportation History (A landmark date regarding CNG fueling stations as part of Metro's conversion to alternative fuel vehicles)
Metro Transportation Library Primary Resources Blog

Access To The Car Pool Lane Can Be Yours, For A Price (High occupancy toll (HOT) lanes around the country)
New York Times

The American Bus Revival
BBC News Magazine

ARTIC Project Receives Federal Nod To Proceed: The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center Has Cleared Another Hurdle Towards Construction
OC Metro

Caltrans Seeking To Finish Massive I-5 Corridor Project Early: Millions In Incentives Could Shave A Year From Construction Timeline
La Canada Valley Sun

A Century Old Lesson On Trains
Riverside Press-Enterprise

City Wants In On High-Speed Train: Officials Say Impact To Local Transport Systems Needs To Be Recognized
Glendale News Press

Congress Fiddles While Our Infrastructure Burns ("In California, 65 percent of transportation dollars come from local sources; in the Southern California Association of Governments region, it’s as high as 74 percent. Regions as diverse as Los Angeles and Orange County have approved tax increases to fund repairs to roads and bridges, maintain highways and develop mass transit systems. However, it’s not enough.")
Fox And Hounds Daily

County Planning 158 Miles Of New Bikeways In SCV
Santa Clarita Valley News

DesertXpress Project To California Faces Rising Costs
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Encouraging News On Transit, But Serious Flaws Remain In House Transpo Bill
StreetsBlog DC

Expanding The LAX Bikeway Network
LADOT Bike Blog

Gold Line Clears Major Hurdle With $56 Million Deal For Monrovia Yard
Pasadena Star-News

House Unlikely To Vote On Reworked Highway Bill Upon Return From Recess
The Hill

It's Time For Americans To Chill Out About Gas Prices
GOOD

L.A. River Excursion: Arroyo Seco Bike Path
KCET

L.A. Transit Advocates Urge National Infrastructure Spending Bill
USC Annenberg Neon Tommy

Lobbying Our Government: A Citizen's Plan For Safer Streets
KCET

A Long Commute Can Put A Short Strain On A Relationship Or Marriage
CBS Los Angeles

Looks Like All Systems Go For Central Subway
San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles Times Launches New Membership Program ("Starting March 5, online readers will be asked to buy a digital subscription at an initial rate of 99 cents for four weeks. Readers who do not subscribe will be able to read 15 stories in a 30-day period for free.")
Los Angeles Times

Master Of Lights: The Man Who Controls Over 4,000 Signal Lights In Los Angeles
USC Annenberg Neon Tommy

Metro Punts On Regional Connector Hearing
Los Angeles Downtown News

Metro To Begin Community Meetings On 710 Freeway Extension
Los Angeles Wave

Metro To Lock All Fare Gates Within 6 Months
LAist

Moving Sustainably ("In this video, you'll hear from Brendon Harrington, Transportation Operations Manager at Google, about various innovative transportation solutions at Google, which strive to keep employees commuting as sustainably as possible.")
Google via YouTube
Google Green Website

MTA Targets Bus Line Serving Westside Workers Who Live In South L.A. ("The 305 line runs for about 20 miles from Willowbrook to Westwood, allowing some to make the journey without changing seats. Transit advocates say that cutting this and other lines after the Expo Line opens would subject commuters to expensive, time-consuming transfers.")
Los Angeles Times

MTA To Lock Long-Open Gates And Turnstiles
KABC Los Angeles

Multimodal Transportation Indicators, February 2012
Research And Innovative Technology Administration / Bureau Of Labor Statistics

Museum Of Flying Reopens At Santa Monica Airport ("About two dozen flying machines, along with exhibits on the Southland's aviation and aerospace industry, are featured in the third iteration of the museum, founded in 1974.")
Los Angeles Times

Needs Of Older Drivers Not Yet Met By Our Roadways And Vehicles
Consumer Reports

New Wetlands Park Made Possible By Environmental Justice Lawsuit
Natural Reosurces Defense Council Switchboard Blog

Our View: Metro's Crackdown On Fare Dodgers On Track
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Palm Tree Shuffle "A Big Cover-Up," Resident Says ("Caltrans says it got the culprits to return and replant palm trees removed from public land. But area residents are still furious, because they suspect a Caltrans employee was involved.")
NBC Los Angeles

Planning For Community Engagement In Urban Planning
StreetsBlog LA

Public Meetings On 710 Fwy. Extension Proposals Set To Begin
La Canada Valley Sun

SANDAG Joins In $1 Billion Bid For High-Speed Rail Funds
U-T San Diego

Sex Crimes Pass Under The Radar On Public Transit
New York Times

SR-710 Environmental Studies
StreetsBlog LA

Transit Union Hires Democratic Lobbying Firm To Help End Bus-Driver Fatigue
The Hill

Transportation Bill Faces A Wall Of Opposition From Both Parties
New York Times

Up In The Air: The Fight For Clean Air In Boyle Heights
KCET

Westside Rises Up Against Bergamot Project
Santa Monica Daily Press

What Does A Subway Entrance Say About Its City?
The Atlantic: Cities

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

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