Month: June 2011
Streetsblog LA
One Way to Cure Congestion: Urban Abandonment
Jeff Wood at Reconnecting America attended the Congress for the New Urbanism's annual gathering in Madison last week, and he recently posted this short Q&A with CNU President John Norquist. It happens to be a pretty timely and snappy interview.
June 10, 2011
Another Way to Avoid “Carmaggedon,” Stop Widening Highways
While I was away, one story seemed to dominate the transportation news coverage, the 52 hour closure of a stretch of the I-405 from July 16 to early in the morning of July 18 that is part of the Sepulveda Pass Widening Project. News casters broadcast breathless reports of impending doom, reporters seemed to produce oracle-like pieces and politicians held press conferences warning constituents to stay far-far away. Even after hanging out with the web team for Metro last night at the LA Weekly Party, I'm not entirely sure whether or not Metro is teasing with the "Countdown to Closure" ticking clock on their website.
June 10, 2011
“Right-Sizing” Detroit Should Start With Its Sprawling Suburbs
The problem with Detroit is almost always framed as one of Rust Belt deindustrialization, namely the decline of the American auto industry. But Detroit has another big problem, one that deserves an equally large share of the blame: sprawl.
June 10, 2011
A Third Greuel Parking Audit Shows DOT in Dissaray
It is doubtful that the media will give the same attention to today's report, "Audit of the City’s Parking Meter Collection Process" by City Comptroller Wendy Greuel as it did the "Gold Card" report a couple of weeks ago or the "Parking Cops Taking Part in a Porn Video" report on NBC from earlier this year, but the most recent report might be the most damning. The city really doesn't know how many parking meters it has? Among the findings:
June 9, 2011
Behind the Politics of Yestedays Split Decision on Bus Only Lanes
(Thanks to Sunyoung Yang at the Bus Riders Union, Bart Reed with the Transit Coalition, and Ray Klein with the Brentwood Community Council for help researching this article. Also, The Source had a review of the meeting up yesterday for more background.)
June 9, 2011
Can High-Speed Rail Reduce Air Travel and Highway Expansion?
Well, it’s unanimous – everyone agrees the country needs a significant hike in the gas tax. Everyone outside of Congress, that is. Last week, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson told The Detroit News that a higher gas tax would help solidify the market for more fuel-efficient cars.
June 9, 2011
GM CEO: “We Ought to Just Slap a Dollar Tax on a Gallon of Gas”
Well, it’s unanimous – everyone agrees the country needs a significant hike in the gas tax. Everyone outside of Congress, that is. Last week, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson told The Detroit News that a higher gas tax would help solidify the market for more fuel-efficient cars.
June 9, 2011
Leapfrog Development Rears Its Ugly Head Outside of Fresno
Of all the unsustainable forms sprawl can take, one type stands out as the worst-of-the-worst: the leapfrog development.
June 9, 2011