Month: February 2011

Hasn’t it felt lately like Capitol Hill is in some kind of bizarre vortex?

Tell that to Americorps volunteers, who will see their entire program eliminated, along with the entire federal allocation for public broadcasting and family planning and about 60 other government programs, according to the Associated Press. The plan takes an enormous bite out of transportation programs, eliminating $1 billion for high-speed rail and $224 million for Amtrak (notably, not as severe a cut as the one proposed by the conservative Republican Study Committee, which would have axed Amtrak’s entire federal subsidy). The HUD Community Development Fund stands to lose $530 million. Energy and environmental programs are taking a big hit too, with many EPA programs on the chopping block.

Studies have long linked cycling safety to the number of cyclists on the street -- the old safety-in-numbers maxim in action.

More headlines at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

A standing room only audience descended on the Fashion Institute of Design on South Grand Street to listen to a presentation from the embattled Community Redevelopment Agency for a ground breaking and popular proposal to transform the South Figueroa Corridor.  When people discuss Los Angeles' streets, they usually use terms such as "car-oriented" or "ugly."  The new South Figueroa, aka My Figueroa, would be a truly beautiful street designed for people to walk, bike wait for transit or just enjoy life outside as well as a way to shuffle cars from one area to another.

Last week, we reported on an effort to add a proposed extension to the South Bay Bike Path through Venice Beach and away from Washington Boulevard.  There was some confusion as to how that extension would work, and yesterday Jim Kennedy provided images that better explain the path.

Link to the Streetsblog t-shirt online order form : https://livablestreets.wufoo.com/forms/order-your-very-own-streetsblog-la-tshirt/

Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement of a $53 billion infusion for high-speed rail has fallen like a lead balloon on the ears of some key GOP leaders. House Transportation Committee Chair John L. Mica (R-FL) and Railroads Subcommittee Chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) expressed “extreme reservations” about the plan.