Blogosphere: Lawmakers Want HSR $ for Freeways
February 22, 2011|California HSR Blog
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A new threat to California's bullet train plans surfaced Thursday as lawmakers including Congressman Kevin McCarthy introduced legislation that seeks to take away more than $2 billion in federal stimulus money set aside for the project and spend it making repairs to Highway 99..
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Quote of the Day
February 22, 2011|San Diego Union Tribune
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"They are the "sweet spot for redevelopment," according to Patrick Phillips. "They have a distinct urban feel but not quite the urban grit. They are close to transit, jobs, cultural and entertainment facilities. They are walkable, architecturally interesting -- and they are employment centers."
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San Francisco: Crime Lower During World Series Run
February 18, 2011|San Francisco Chronicle
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A budding young Nancy Drew at Noe Valley's St. Philip School has come up with this finding based on her research for a science fair: Thefts of cars and auto break-ins went down in San Francisco last fall while the Giants were marching their way through the playoffs to their World Series crown...
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Los Angeles: City Council Kills Garage Lease Plan
February 18, 2011|Los Angeles Times
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The Los Angeles City Council killed a plan Wednesday for leasing nine public parking garages to a private company, ignoring a demand from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to keep the plan as a strategy for solving this year's budget crisis...
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Bay Area: Station Celebration Could be Its Last
February 18, 2011|Pleasanton Weekly
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At last, the costly, wrongly-built overhead steel pedestrian walkways have been carted away from the I-580 freeway shoulders at the new BART-West station, just in time for the opening celebration of this $100-million-plus project. ..
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Research: Low Transit Rates from Lower Immigration
February 18, 2011|TRB TRID
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Immigrants have a large impact on public transportation. In California they comprise just over a quarter of the population but they make up more than half of all transit commuters. The author suggests that immigration has been responsible for almost all ridership growth since the 1980s...
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Research: LA Expo Line Integration with TOD
February 18, 2011|TRB TRID
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Scholarly research, FTA New Starts evaluation criteria, the Urban Land Institute's (ULI's) principles, and prevailing opinion of elected officials suggest that transit-oriented developments (TODs) at major transit stops have become the default solution to land available in the vicinity of urban transit stations...
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Quote of the Day
February 18, 2011|Systemic Failure
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"last Tuesday, council was presented the Staff recommendation. And as you read this, keep in mind they hired consultants, and did over one year of public outreach meetings to come up with this 1-line recommendation: Parking goals only, no proposed changes to current code""
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Driving Change Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in California
February 16, 2011|Public Policy Institute of California
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Summary
Senate Bill (SB) 375, adopted in 2008, calls on regional transportation planning agencies and local governments to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Three specific strategies, traditionally used to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, are to be employed to help reduce emissions:
Higher-density development, particularly in areas well-served by transit;
Investments in alternatives to solo driving, such as transit, biking, walking, and carpooling; and
Pricing policies that raise the cost of driving and parking.
Although SB 375 is expected to reduce emissions only modestly relative to vehicle efficiency standards and low-carbon fuels, it is also expected to improve public health and reduce energy and water use by encouraging denser development and more “livable” communities. The integration of these three approaches is consistent with an emerging research…
Sacramento: Streetcar Planning Starts
February 14, 2011|Sacramento Bee
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It's been 70 years since streetcars navigated the streets of Sacramento. The city is about to begin the process of potentially bringing them back. Next month, a consultant team will begin a year-long streetcar planning study to evaluate routes throughout the city...
