Transit

Will Free Rides Make Firm Believers In Transit?

Transit agencies around the U.S. offered free rides on a single day, and large crowds follow. But observers aren't sure they'll stick around when they have to pay again.

June 26, 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

Would Starbucks and Designer Interiors Get You to Ride Transit?

Toronto's Metrolink brings together city and transportation planners to brainstorm the transit of the future.

June 25, 2008 - The Toronto Star

U.S. House Debates Smart Growth

The House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming met Thursday to discuss smart growth and its ability to reduce energy use and emissions.

June 22, 2008 - Grist

Transit Struggling To Keep Up

Transit use is surging, but operators are facing the same fuel crunch as consumers and public monies for new investments aren't up to addressing the new demand.

June 17, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

A Billion Dollars in Injuries Makes Transit Pricey

Riders of the New York MTA hit the transit agency with $1.2 billion in injury and damaged property claims, seriously impacting the affordability of transit.

June 13, 2008 - Reuters

Are transit ridership numbers more pomp than substance?

The American Public Transit Association reports that transit ridership climbed to 10.3 billion trips during the first quarter of 2008, the “highest number of trips taken in fifty years.” That represents a 3.3 percent increase overall over the previous year while vehicle miles traveled, a measure of demand for car travel, fell by 2.3 percent, they observe.

June 11, 2008 - Samuel Staley

Ad Hoc Ferry System Keeps Businesses Afloat

After MNDOT closed the Highway 43 bridge connecting Winona, MN to western Wisconsin, locals worried about the economic fallout from an extended closure. Within a week, a ferry and bus system was put in place.

June 11, 2008 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Robert Reich Stumps for Transit

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich gives his two cents about the need to expand public transit.

June 7, 2008 - Robert Reich's Blog

Politicians Call on Seattle to Think Creatively About Freeway Problem

In this guest column, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and King County Executive Ron Sims argue that Seattle needs to find a creative solution to the problem posed by its aging inner-city freeway.

May 30, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Latest Culprit of Housing Crisis: Transit Expansion

Falling revenues from real estate taxes could impact transit expansion plans as New York's MTA faces a sharp decline.

May 24, 2008 - Tim Halbur

Trains on the Brooklyn Bridge?

In the early days, trolleys and trains carried 400,000 passengers a day over the Brooklyn Bridge. With continued growth in pedestrian traffic, a former transit commissioner says a rail renaissance might not be so far-fetched.

May 23, 2008 - NY1 News

The Double and Triple Whammy – Rising Fuel, Transit Reductions, and the Presidential Election

Three whammy’s are pressing America’s luck this spring as the nation engages in one of the most exciting presidential elections in my lifetime. The problem is that the only solution that has been proposed at the national-level has been a gas tax holiday. A gas tax holiday would have the effect of starving our increasingly troubled transportation system of the necessary funds to maintain and improve infrastructure and service.

May 21, 2008 - John Renne

Jumping On The Jitney

Rising gasoline prices are breathing new life into the Miami's niche jitney service.

May 20, 2008 - The Miami Herald

Is Chicago Reaching For The Stick Before Offering A Carrot?

Chicago shouldn't be surprised if drivers don't take to transit once its new pricing scheme is enacted. No matter the cost, most motorists won't make the switch until the city's transit system is more reliable, argues a recent column.

May 16, 2008 - The Chicago Tribune

Myth and Reality About European Sprawl

Some commentators argue that sprawl is an inevitable result of affluence, based on European development patterns. These pundits tell a simple story: European urban cores are losing population and becoming more automobile-dependent - just like American cities. So if Europe can’t beat sprawl, neither can America.

May 13, 2008 - Michael Lewyn

New York City's Abstract Subway Map

New York City's controversial subway map of 1972 is being updated in the current edition of Men's Vogue.

May 2, 2008 - The New York Times

The Next Steps Toward A Sustainable Sacramento

The Sacramento region has become a national model for smart growth planning. But what, asks Bill Fulton, will it take to make the region sustainable for decades to come?

April 28, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Gas Prices Continue To Push Motorists Onto Transit

In the sprawling Atlanta region, some and bus lines are experiencing overcrowding due to the soaring number of transit commuters.

April 19, 2008 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

German City a Model for 'Sane Transportation'

The German city of Bremen has lessons to teach North American cities about sustainable transportation, according to this article from The Toronto Star.

April 18, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Using Fees On Motorists To Fund Public Transit

A bill introduced in Sacramento could pave the way for Los Angeles County to raise $400 million dollars a year for public transit from motorists -- who'd pay more for gas or vehicle registration.

April 2, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

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