Public Transit

In Salt Lake City, advocates for bus riders have asked the state attorney general to investigate whether the Utah Transit Authority has skewed its ridership figures to gain public support for major investments, which they say is a misuse of funding.

March 26, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

A recently announced $12.5 billion metropolitan rail system plan for Sydney has many in the region excited about finally getting a good mass transit system. But they are also wary, as many other proposals promising similar services were never kept.

March 24, 2008 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Assuming everything is fine in its long-time relationship with America, the car comes home to an unhappy surprise in this cartoon from Streetsblog.

March 21, 2008 - Streetsblog

A proposal to place tolls on many of the highways around Washington D.C. is being blasted by critics, who say planners should place more emphasis on providing better transit services than charging commuters left with few options.

March 21, 2008 - The Washington Post

San Diego's downtown trolley service is becoming too popular, causing officials to propose equipment upgrades to handle the rising crowds. But the bigger trolleys will take out some car lanes and affect traffic lights, and many are unhappy about it.

March 21, 2008 - San Diego City Beat

With a newly formed regional transit authority, Tampa Bay, Florida, may be ready for a regional transit system. Many want to do it right.

March 19, 2008 - The Tampa Tribune

Residents in the small town of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island are starting a citywide carpooling program to help provide for people without cars after the city's underused public transit system was shut down.

March 17, 2008 - The Vancouver Sun

This piece from the San Francisco Chronicle argues that the best way to improve the city's sluggish public transit system is to put it underground.

March 12, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Plans were recently announced for a $4 billion revamping and extension of the public transportation system in Ottawa.

March 12, 2008 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

Metrolink is Southern California's regional rail system linking several counties. The 15-year old system with 7 lines, 54 stations, and 388 route miles serves over 40,000 passengers in the Southland. Metrolink says its mission is "to provide the people of Southern California safe, reliable and environmentally friendly commute option." Sure, but can it also serve as an interesting venue to host a 4-year old's birthday party? One birthday boy in particular loves trains and is a fan of a popular TV series featuring trains. His mother told me that their family trips were often planned around using rail transit to get to destinations in Central and Southern California. So what better way to celebrate his birthday than to invite his friends -- accompanied by parents of course -- for a trip on a commuter train? Children that age are probably more used to birthday parties where they are entertained by clowns or magicians. Would these children, growing up in Southern California's car-centric culture be entertained at a party where the view through a train window was the main attraction?

December 14, 2007 - Abhijeet Chavan

Free off-peak transportation on buses and trains in Connecticut has generated interest and support, but some seniors would prefer that greater funding be devoted to existing dial-a-ride services that are already in place across the state.

May 14, 2007 - The New York Times

BEIJING--When I first learned that I wouldn't be able to rent a car in Beijing, I was disappointed. That's how I usually break away from the business "bubble" to learn something about a city. But, it didn't take more than an hour to realize that I was better off with a local driver than tackling it myself.  Driving habits, combined with roads choking with pedestrians, cars, buses, and taxis, convinced me I needed to leave the driving to a "pro".

May 9, 2007 - Samuel Staley