On Monday, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $1.58 billion in funding for 27 major transit projects. The funding is from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program, which provides capital funding for new or expanded transit construction projects including light rail, streetcars, subways and bus rapid transit projects. Projects receiving funding range from new systems in smaller regions, like a bus rapid transit line in Roaring Fork Valley, CO, to major investments in established transit regions such as New York and Salt Lake City.  A complete list of funded projects can be found here.

People are tired of hearing about Portland.  But I asked Charlie Hales what he liked best about the region and he mentioned all of the unsung heros that work behind the scenes to make it an amazing place.  Of course Portland has its problems and its blemishes just like anyone else, but you have to give their civic infrastructure credit, they do a great job up there.

Researchers at the University of California campus at Merced have found that introduction of an urban rail transit system can reduce the level of carbon monoxide pollution and nitrogen oxides in the air.

Tom Low of DPZ in Charlotte discusses the initial places where New Urbanists thought more sustainable infrastructure could be used.  He also talks a bit about how to deal with engineers that will try to gold plate the infrastructure as well as the acceptance of more environmental principles. 

Jeff Tumlin gives his thoughts on private corporate transportation, such as tech buses in Silicon Valley and Seattle.  In his opinion, it's an interesting solution to the problem of job sprawl that we see happening all over the country.  But the areas have to be dense and in some instances, you'll see real estate agents noting the proximity of a property to the tech bus stop locations.  You'll want to check this video out.

(Original Here)

A report examining development opportunites along 64 miles of King County Metro Transit's future bus rapid transit corridors has been added to the Best Practices research articles.

Anyone else ready for the Transportation Bill to be finished?  I know I am.  But folks like Charlie Hales, currently with HDR Engineering but soon to be running for Mayor of Portland, seem to be happy with what we've gotten out of this administration so far.  Over $400 million for streetcars via TIGER and Urban Circulator grants?  Sure, we'll take it, even if it is a system somewhat held together with chewing gum and bailing wire as Charlie states in this interview from CNU 19 in Madison.