Pension Reform & Federal Funding, TAP, Expo Light Rail, Value of Public Transit, 710, OC I-405, Bikes, Self Driving Cars, WTS Scholarships, and more...

L.A. Transportation Headlines Metro Transportation Research Library: Aggregating transit and transportation news via Twitter & select RSS feeds, curated on weekdays. Published by Metro Library 15 August 2013 Read paper → Education Leisure Environment Society Stories #500policies #transportation Feds Owe California Mass Transit Agencies $2 Billion - capradio.org Shared by Metro Library www­.capradio.org - Sacramento Regional Transit says the federal government is holding back $60 million in owed matching funds and the amount could more than double by the end of the year.  Two billion dollars have al... Perez's Pension Power Play - PointOfLaw Forum Shared by Metro Library www­.pointoflaw.com - Newly-confirmed Labor Secretary Thomas Perez seems to certainly have no problem with courting controversy. After his widely-publicized quid pro quo with the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, which was d... Public Transit Is Worth Way More to a City Than You Might Think - Eric Jaffe - The Atlantic Cities Shared by Metro Library www­.theatlanticcities.com - Planning scholar Daniel Chatman of the University of California at Berkeley has been thinking a lot lately about "agglomeration." Don't let the technical word throw you. All it really means is more... Metro’s TAP problems – Bus Driver Training Shared by Metro Library transitwatchla­.wordpress.com - Metro has received a lot of attention lately because of the implementation of their TAP – Transit Access Pass fare collection system. CityWatch published a pretty accurate list of TAP issues that f... Bus 7448 on Flickr. Southern California Rapid... Shared by Metro Library lacmtalibrary­.tumblr.com - The Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the largest transit operator research collection in the US. We are part... A Midnight Ride Up to Sac Gives 710 Communities the (Possibility) to Breathe Shared by la.streetsblog.org la­.streetsblog.org - It should be no shock that Sen. Ricardo Lara–who represents the 33rd Senate District spanning Long Beach to Huntington Park–has a vast interest in protecting neighborhoods that line the 710 as it g... Antelope Valley Line Shared by Metrolink metrolinktrains­.com - More Service, Better Connections, Same Great Value Starts August 17 and 18 Beginning on August 17 and 18, Metrolink will operate additional trains on the Antelope Valley Line to provide more servic... Big Blue Bus To Implement Service Changes Starting Sunday, August 25 Shared by Metro Library www­.smmirror.com - Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus has announced its August Service Change will begin Sunday, August 25 and Monday, August 26. The transit authority said it had taken feedback from bus users and implement... GG NineNet jazz band to perform at Union Station August 16 Shared by Metrolink thesource­.metro.net - GG NineNet jazz band will hold a free performance at Union Station on Friday, August 16, 2013. The performance is part of Metro’s new program of arts and cultural events for the iconic station in a... Expo line construction in full swing along Santa Monica's Colorado Avenue, The Lookout News Shared by Metro Library www­.surfsantamonica.com - Originally, the City had committed $10 million to fund the plan but had to reduce its commitment by half after the State shut down California's 400 redevelopment agencies (RDAs), a significant sour... With federal transit funds at risk, Moody’s considers downgrading credit rating of some California transit agencies Shared by thesource.metro.net thesource­.metro.net - Many of you are probably aware of this ongoing issue: Unions representing transit workers have complained to the U.S. Department of Labor that pension reform in California violates their collective... Stations rising for Expo Line Phase 2; new construction pics Shared by Metro ExpressLanes thesource­.metro.net - It is with a bit of sadness that we today post the final three photos of Expo Line Phase 2 construction from Expo Line Fan, who for the past few years has been faithfully chronicling the project’s ... Infographic: Public transportation promotes physical activity | Articles Shared by Omnitrans www­.healthcarecommunication.com - I recently spent a week with my daughter, who lives in a big-city suburb with tree-lined streets. I found it was a delight to get out and walk, and loved how convenient it was to find bus stops loc... I-405 Full Shutdown Planned For ‘Bridge Bash’ in Orange County Aug. 17-18 Shared by OCTA Marketing blog­.octa.net - Orange County’s "Bridge Bash" will be a 20-hour closure of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in both directions from 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, between the San Gabri... LAPD Encourages Safe Driving During ‘School Zone Crosswalk Awareness Detail’ « CBS Los Angeles Shared by Metro Library losangeles­.cbslocal.com - VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles police Wednesday held a back-to-school safety and crossing guard awareness event. The School Zone Crosswalk Awareness Detail began at 7:30 a.m. at the intersectio... Los Angeles To Upgrade To Continental Crosswalks For Pedestrian Safety « CBS Los Angeles Shared by Carter Rubin losangeles­.cbslocal.com - LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The city’s crosswalks are about to receive a makeover with the intention of making them safer. While the newer, bigger crosswalks are statistically safer than conventional... Even If the Trust Fund Were Flush, We Should Still Switch to a VMT Fee Shared by Metro Library dc­.streetsblog.org - By now the problems with the gas tax are well reported. Revenues from the tax have been declining for years because of improved fuel economy and alternative-fuel vehicles. The result is a growing g... Australian Government Estimates Every 20-Minute Bike Commute Saves $21 Shared by Metro Library dc­.streetsblog.org - Every bike ride to work, and every walking commute, is as good as money in the bank for the Australian economy, according to a new government report. A policy statement released by Deputy Prime Min... Transit in the News - California Transit Association Shared by CalTransit caltransit­.org - Home   >  News & Publications   >  Transit in the News Transit in the News August 14, 2013 RT breaks ground on new Franklin Boulevard station August 14, 2013 Editorial: Obama official needs to free... The World's 25 Busiest Airports Shared by Esri Transportation storymaps­.esri.com - Every day, containers of consumer goods and raw materials are hauled on trucks and trains, stacked by the thousands onto freighters and ferried on ships from port to port across the globe. This int... British Politicians Aim To Ban Non-Hybrid Cars By 2040 - Gas 2 Shared by Metro Library gas2­.org - While some American politicians may take issue with the government’s investment in green automobiles, it pales in comparison to the debates taking place in England. There, the Liberal Democrats hav... Council nixes higher heights for Downtown study - Santa Monica Daily PressSanta Monica Daily Press Shared by Metro Library smdp­.com - CITY HALL — In a move that should please frustrated residents concerned about the height and density of development Downtown, the City Council Tuesday threw out heights of 120 to 135 feet and inste... Utah transit completes rail project early, $300M under budget - News - METRO Magazine Shared by Metro Library www­.metro-magazine.com - SALT LAKE CITY — According to the Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) blog, Urban Ticket, the transit system is more than two years ahead of schedule and $300 million under budget on its FrontLines 2015... Rich Cheviot Hills Doesn't Want You Driving Through - Hot Ticket - Curbed LA Shared by Metro Library la­.curbed.com - Today the LA Times profiles the intersection of Motor Avenue and National Boulevard on the edge of Palms, where the city has "installed traffic islands, and added stop signs and speed humps." That ...   - CityThink - Los Angeles magazine Shared by L.A. as Subject www­.lamag.com - Q: I saw some pictures of a Seattle airport that had been disguised during WWII. Did we do that with our airports?  A: We did, and we did it better, thanks to Disney, Paramount, and 20th Century Fo... Rail Series - Dodgers vs. Padres Shared by Metrolink metrolinktrains­.com - Metrolink will once again offer special train service from Oceanside to L.A. Union Station for the August 30 and August 31 San Diego Padres versus Dodgers baseball games at Dodger Stadium.  The cos... The Day Pass Diary: Riding the Red Line, Family Style Shared by thesource.metro.net thesource­.metro.net - Summer is almost over which means that kids will be going back to school. Organizing a last minute summer getaway does not have to be difficult, time consuming, or expensive. An easy way to jam pac... Metro: OCTA enforcing 20-hr closure of I-405 this weekend - LA Sentinel Shared by L.A. Sentinel News lasentinel­.net - In addition to our weekly outreach efforts, the WCC team has canvassed more than 67,000 homes and businesses immediately adjacent to the project corridor to notify the public about this major closu... BRT Has Had a Pretty Good Week So Far – Next City Shared by ITDP nextcity­.org - Nashville, Detroit | 08/13/2013 2:57pm | Comments Matt Bevilacqua | Next City The HealthLine in Cleveland, at present one of the only BRT systems in the U.S. Credit: EMBARQ Brazil Bus rapid transit... Join us to celebrate 500 Complete Streets policies Shared by Alliance4Bike&Walk www­.smartgrowthamerica.org - Over the past eight years, the National Complete Streets Coalition has helped communities across the United States make their streets safer and more accessible for everyone who uses them. Even more... Bay Area Bike Share To Launch This Month With 700 Bikes At 70 Stations Shared by Metro Los Angeles sfappeal­.com - A Bay Area bike share program in San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, Mountain View and Palo Alto will begin operating on Aug. 28 August 29, according to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Aut... Reminder 8/20 Meeting - San Bernardino County Active Transportation Network Shared by SRTSNP-CA hosted-p0­.vresp.com - The San Bernardino County Active Transportation Network (SBCATN) is hosting a public feedback meeting to gather feedback about walking and bicycling for the Community Vital Signs Initiative, give u... 6 Questions States Need to Ask About Self-Driving Cars Shared by Metro Library www­.govtech.com - A growing number of states are taking up legislation that addresses self-driving vehicles in an effort to make it easier for researchers to explore the technology. But most of the legislation deals... We Need to Rethink Our Definition of a 'Sustainable City' - Kaid Benfield - The Atlantic Cities Shared by Metro Library www­.theatlanticcities.com - I’m obsessed with trying to find just the right set of goals to define urban sustainability. Professionally, the world of smart growth has been my professional base for two decades – since before w... U.S. Congressmen launch Caucus on Public-Private Partnerships Shared by Metro Library infrapppworld­.com - U.S. Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) announced in early August that they are forming the Congressional Caucus on Public-Private Partnerships, or the Congressional P3 C... Riding in Riverside: Riverside Gets Streetcar Money Shared by Metro Library www­.ridinginriverside.org - Riverside Gets Streetcar Money InlandEmpire.US, which appears to be an IE PR newswire, is reporting (along with the PE and CBS, but IE.US is running the full press release and everyone else seems t... You May Never Need to Pay Cash at a Tollbooth Again - Eric Jaffe - The Atlantic Cities Shared by Metro Library www­.theatlanticcities.com - North Carolina and Florida recently announced that their toll transponders — those little dashboard or windshield devices that pay your tolls electronically — are now interchangeable. The agreement... Millennial Train to Arrive in Chicago | Amtrak Blog Shared by Leah Harnack blog­.amtrak.com - The Millennial Trains Project we told you about last week will be pulling into Chicago this afternoon, capping the group’s trip on the California Zephyr route that began last Friday in California. ... WTS-LA Scholarships Shared by WTS Los Angeles www­.wtsinternational.org - The WTS LA Scholarship Committee oversees the distribution of more than $20,000 in competitive academic scholarships each year to women in high school, certificate, undergraduate and graduate progr... Human Transit: is texting+driving pushing people toward transit? Shared by Metro Library www­.humantransit.org - is texting+driving pushing people toward transit? I used to ride a motorcycle to work. Cyclists and motorcyclists are extremely aware of driver behavior because we’re so much more vulnerable than d... Nice feature on photographer who really digs the Expo Line Shared by thesource.metro.net thesource­.metro.net - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s website posted a fun read today on photographer Dwight Sturtevant, aka Expo Line Fan — the guy who has been chronicling the construction of the Expo Line for many years... A route around a BART strike - latimes.com Shared by Metro Library www­.latimes.com - In most public transit labor disputes, unless binding arbitration is substituted for the injunction, state intervention is unlikely to solve the deeper problems and may only put off an eventual wor... Teens Use Twitter To Thumb Rides - capradio.org Shared by Metro Library www­.capradio.org - Part of a series of stories produced in collaboration with Youth Radio on the changing car culture in America. Back in the 1970s, my mom turned 18 and got her dream car. "A Super Beetle, silver, wi... SunBus service set to roll Sept. 2 in North Shore | The Desert Sun Shared by Metro Library www­.mydesert.com - NORTH SHORE — SunLine Transit Agency launches its Line 95 service in North Shore beginning Sept. 2 and there will be six stops for riders to catch a bus in this community near the Salton Sea. The b... Expo shutterbug says so long Shared by Metro Library zev­.lacounty.gov - By profession, he’s a television engineer. But when he dons a fluorescent yellow vest and picks up his Canon EOS 40D camera, Dwight Sturtevant transforms into…Expo Line Fan. After nearly three year... Education Businesses, Commuters Warn Of ‘Ticket Trap’ At Busy Palms Intersection « CBS Los Angeles Shared by KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO Environmental streamline bill advances despite business opposition - latimes.com Shared by LA Times CA Politics Los Angeles River Health and Environmental Justice | Green Justice | Land of Sunshine Shared by KCET-TV SoCal Development of Electrical Maintenance Training Module for Bus Transit Technicians | Blurbs Shared by Metro Library Jarrett Walker: Empty Buses Serve a Purpose Shared by Metro Library Human-scale transit planning and design, with Jarrett Walker Shared by Metro Library More Education → Leisure Railroad Days The Santa Barbara Independent Shared by SB Independent Will MTA's Metro <em>ever</em make it to LAX? - latimes.com Shared by L.A. Times Opinion Big Bear's New Skyline Trail is a First in Decades | National Forests | SoCal Wanderer Shared by Metro Library Living in the Not-So-Fast Lane Shared by Metro Library Metro Adventures: What To Do On The Red Line (Part 2): LAist Shared by Metro Library 10 iconic train excursions Shared by Amtrak More Leisure → Photos Shared by flickr.com Shared by OCTA Marketing Shared by flickr.com More photos → Environment Public Transit=Richer Cities - Curbed LA Shared by Metro Library Tunneling Begins on HNTB-Designed SR 99 Tunnel With Launch of World’s Largest Tunnel Boring Machine Shared by Metro Library Tunneling Begins on HNTB-Designed SR 99 Tunnel With Launch of World’s Largest Tunnel Boring Machine - Press Release - Digital Journal Shared by Metro Library Further Evidence That Road Diets Don’t Hurt Businesses Shared by Metro Library The Law of Traffic Congestion, according to "The Flash!" | Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network Shared by Brent Toderian AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium* | Blurbs Shared by TRB More Environment → Society Could Saudi Arabia's New Subway Unleash a Social Revolution? | Planetizen: The Urban Planning, Design, and Development Network Shared by Metro Library Stop texting and driving! (Here's a video that can help) - latimes.com Shared by Metro ExpressLanes State Senate Democrats flex their supermajority to revive bills - latimes.com Shared by Metro Library Meet TOD: The Way Obama Wants You to Live Shared by Metro Library Brown gives reprieve from tickets at broken meters Shared by Metro Library More Society → Stories Riding in Riverside: The IE Transit Challenge, Part 1 Shared by Metro Library California "Skunk Train" to resume regular service Saturday - TRAINS Magazine Shared by Trains Magazine California Big Boy to star in August night photo session - TRAINS Magazine Shared by Trains Magazine To Prevent Crashes, Your Future Car Will Chat With Other Vehicles | Autopia Shared by Metro Library Human Transit: the urbanism speakeasy interview Shared by Metro Library More Stories → Metrolink to double Antelope Valley Line service on Sundays beginning August 17th Shared by thesource.metro.net Foothill Transit Shared by Foothill Transit Orange County Transportation Authority Shared by OC Share The Ride I-405 Freeway Will Close For 20 Hours In Bridge Demolition Preparation Shared by Metro Library More → #500policies Alliance for Biking & Walking: PeoplePoweredMovement.org Shared by Alliance4Bike&Walk More #500policies → #transportation For Bike Lanes, Design Makes All The Difference Shared by Brent Toderian More #transportation → Education • Leisure • Environment • Society • Stories • • #500policies • #transportation Read paper →