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Streetsblog LA
Oberstar to Back 3-Month Delay in Transport Bill As Soon As Next Week
House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is readying
a proposal to extend current infrastructure law by three months -- 15
months less than the delay preferred by the White House -- and could introduce the legislation as soon as next week, his office said today.
September 17, 2009
Disability Activists Sue Caltrans for Negelcting Crosswalks and Sidewalks
A coalition of activists for seniors and the disabled went to federal court to try and force Caltrans to meet federal safety standards for sidewalk, intersection and other pedestrian amenities. The group charges that when doing road construction, our state DOT is ignoring the federally mandated fixes and upgrades that are required by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
September 17, 2009
Introducing: The Bill Rosendahl Interview Series
Over Los Angeles Streetsblog's first six months I had the opportunity to interview City Council Transportation Committee Chair Wendy Greul for a Streetfilm and Councilman Tom LaBonge after a trip to Europe. With the changing of the leadership of the committee, I wanted to get a chance to sit down with the new Committee Chair, and one of my favorite Councilmen, Bill Rosendahl before my upcoming paternity leave.
September 16, 2009
The New White House Fuel Efficiency Rule: Count the Loopholes
The final fuel-efficiency rule released by the Obama administration
this morning includes what some lobbyists have nicknamed "the German
provision," giving automakers that sell less than 400,000 vehicles in
the U.S. an exemption for 25 percent of their fleet.
September 15, 2009
Why Are Metro Station’s “No-Man’s Lands?”
Last Saturday night, transportation activists Stephen and Enci Box arrived at the Hollywood and Western Metro Red Line station and found the station in shambles. A homeless encampment had moved onto the top floor, five of the six escalators were out of order and the "emergency intercom" was broken.
September 15, 2009
City Celebrates Expanded Zip Car Near UCLA and USC
Earlier today Mayor Villaraigosa, city officials, and representatives from Zipcar, UCLA and USC celebrated the arrival of 12 new off-campus parking spaces reserved specifically for car-sharing near the two college campuses. The hope is that if these spaces prove profitable for the car-sharing company than they can partner with the city for more of these types of spaces in places other than on or adjacent to college campuses.
September 14, 2009
McCain’s List of Wasteful Transit Includes Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes and Gold Line Extension
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a self-styled foe of what he labels wasteful government spending, has launched a broadside against transit projects in the U.S. DOT’s 2010 spending bill, which is slated for a vote this week in the upper chamber of Congress. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (Photo: Scrape TV) McCain had proposed more than 20 … Continued
September 14, 2009
Oberstar Stands Firm on Transportation Bill, Gets Industry Backup
In case any doubts
remained about his willingness to challenge the White House and the
Senate on prompt passage of a long-term infrastructure bill, House
transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-MN) op-ed in the Politico this morning should clear them up:
September 14, 2009
Daily News Highlights How City Blew Opportunity When Raising Meter Costs
In the late fall of 2008 and early in 2009, the City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa decided to fill a hole in the city's budget by raising the cost of parking curbside at city-owned parking meters. The wildly unpopular move is estimated to generate $18 million dollars for the city, but the backlash from constituents has turned several Councilman who voted for the raise into "low-cost-parking" advocates including Tom LaBonge and Dennis Zine.
September 8, 2009
Bike Path Cleanup, New Parking Meter Attendents, and LADOT’s Organization: The Rest of Next Week’s Transportation Committee Agenda
Yesterday we reported on the ongoing debate over the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes, but that's hardly the only item of interest on next Wednesday's City Council Transportation Committee Agenda.
September 4, 2009