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Streetsblog LA
City Considering Free Parking for Zero Emission Vehicles
Some ideas just refuse to die. Less than a year after the City of Los Angeles moved to end it's free-meter parking for hybrids program, a new proposal to allow only the highest tech and cleanest cars to park for free has resurfaced. The Council resolution asking LADOT to study the program was introduced by Council President Eric Garcetti and sponsored by Downtown Council Woman Eric Garcetti and "Tom LaBonge for Bill Rosendahl." Despite the presence of LaBonge and Rosendahl as sponsors of the legislation, they led Transportation Committee in expressing concerns with the newest free-parking for expensive, high-tech, cars scheme.
October 16, 2009
Transport Debate Still Stalled As Oberstar Decries ‘Lack of Political Will’
Halfway through the extra month
that Congress gave itself to resolve a long-simmering dispute over
funding the nation's transportation system, Democratic leaders remain
deadlocked over whether -- and how long -- to wait before debating a
broad reform of federal infrastructure policy.
October 16, 2009
The Oversight Gap in Team Obama’s High-Speed Rail Plan
The White House's economic stimulus law included several large new spending programs, from $4 billion for broadband to $2.4 billion for electric car batteries. But nothing has aroused so much interest -- and criticism -- as the $8 billion for American high-speed rail.
October 15, 2009
Senate Climate Bill Delayed Yet Again As Obama Takes Nobel
As my colleague Ryan wrote earlier, the congressional climate change bill no represents the most meaningful path for urbanists, and advocates for clean transportation in general, to make their voices heard in the national debate. President Obama, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize today. (Photo: AP) So it bears repeating that the bill is losing momentum, … Continued
October 9, 2009
Streetsblog Q&A: Bush DOT Chief Backs Transport Tech Funding
Former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who served for eight
years in George W. Bush's DOT, sat down with Streetsblog Capitol Hill
yesterday to urge that Congress add a dedicated funding stream of $1
billion each year for transportation technology to the next long-term
infrastructure bill.
October 9, 2009
Obama’s Engaged With Transit More in 9 Months than Bush Did in 8 Years
The Obama administration has brought both good news and bad news to transit riders. But here’s a positive sign you haven’t heard before, straight from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Peter Rogoff: In the nine months of the new presidency, the FTA has fielded more requests for information “directly from the White House” than in … Continued
October 7, 2009
Introducing Today’s Guest Writer: Enci
Much like Enci's husband Stephen Box last week, Enci probably needs no introduction to any regular reader of Los Angeles
Streetsblog. Enci has a long list of groups and projects that she
works on related to the push for Livable Streets including the green
production company "Rebel Without a Car," and the oft-discussed Bike
Writers Collective. But even putting aside these groups Enci lives a
car-free life style, proving one can be a successful part of "The
Business" without her own, personal, internal-combustion engine.
October 6, 2009
Is a Bigger Transportation Bill — This Year — Back on the Table?
That's the suggestion that an anonymous "Senate aide" made to Bloomberg News
this morning, recounting a possible White House change of heart as
mounting job losses stoke new debate over a second stimulus bill:
October 6, 2009
LaHood’s Twelve-Word Definition of ‘Livability’
The White House's effort to promote sustainable communities has prompted serious (and inadvertently humorous) hand-wringing
from conservative pundits who fear the concept of livability will
translate into governmental edicts on lifestyle choices. What's the
best way to counter such tactics?
October 5, 2009
SF’s Newsom: Let’s Not Extend Parking Meter Hours in a Recession
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has snagged some high-profile
support for his nascent California gubernatorial bid, but he may have
some trouble with the transit-riding, congestion-weary constituency. My
colleagues Matthew Roth and Bryan Goebel have the story over at Streetsblog San Fran:
October 2, 2009