Dallas Morning News
Micheal Lindenberger // February 10, 2010
As vehicles get more efficient, they will travel further on each gallon of gas. So each year, each driver will pay less in gas taxes, even as they drive as much or more on the roads that must be kept up. TxDOT chief Amadeo Saenz likes to say his old Suburban got 12 miles to the gallon and his newer one gets 24.
The big idea:So what to do it about? Increasingly, what we're told is that the future should include a tax on miles driven. There are lots of ways to do this, but none are simple.
So what to do? Easy enough: If the politicians believe more revenue is needed to pay for transportation, index the rate to keep up with both construction costs increases. If they believe it's being eroded by efficiency, simply index it to the increase in miles per gallon of the average car in Texas. Lawmakers could simply establish a baseline for the average fuel efficiency of the Texas fleet. The feds already track this here, and lawmakers could set the gas tax rate to increase every couple of years by an amount that is equal to the average increase in fuel efficiency.
MORE
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Gas Tax Versus a VMT Tax: Is ‘All of the Above’ an Option?
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Elana Schor // February 10, 2010
The prospect of an eventual move away from the gas tax and towards a fee on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has sparked consternation from some well-known bloggers this week, with Matt Yglesiasasserting that "a VMT [tax] has no advantages whatsoever over higher gasoline taxes" and Andrew Samwick suggesting that declining fuel tax revenues mean that tax rates need to go even higher.
That absence of a "direct nexus to road use" is a concept not easily understood by many Americans, especially drivers long inundated with misleading claims that the gas tax constitutes a user fee. As Ryan Avent has explained on this page, a user fee assumes that everyone on the road pays for the time they spend and the burden they place on it.
Elana Schor // February 10, 2010
The prospect of an eventual move away from the gas tax and towards a fee on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has sparked consternation from some well-known bloggers this week, with Matt Yglesiasasserting that "a VMT [tax] has no advantages whatsoever over higher gasoline taxes" and Andrew Samwick suggesting that declining fuel tax revenues mean that tax rates need to go even higher.
That absence of a "direct nexus to road use" is a concept not easily understood by many Americans, especially drivers long inundated with misleading claims that the gas tax constitutes a user fee. As Ryan Avent has explained on this page, a user fee assumes that everyone on the road pays for the time they spend and the burden they place on it.
But while 25 gallons of taxed gas will last for an estimated 725 miles in a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid SUV (at a combined 29 miles per gallon), the lighter 2010 Ford Mustang (estimated at 19 miles per gallon) would go just 425 miles while paying the same amount of gas tax. The heavier car ends up putting more stress on the road while paying less for it. Is that an equitable system of maintaining the transportation network?
MORE“Smaller homes, urban lifestyles and sustainable communities will shape development”
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield // February 9, 2010
Younger generations looking for smaller homes, urban lifestyles and sustainable communities are among the forces that will shape the future of real estate development.” Frampton continued: “Some of the shifts in demand are related to demographics and were emerging before the economy sank, the speakers said. Others are results of new, post-recession values.
MORE
Kaid Benfield // February 9, 2010
Younger generations looking for smaller homes, urban lifestyles and sustainable communities are among the forces that will shape the future of real estate development.” Frampton continued: “Some of the shifts in demand are related to demographics and were emerging before the economy sank, the speakers said. Others are results of new, post-recession values.
MORE
Vehicle Miles Travelled Tax??
The Washington Post
Ashley Halsey III
February 7, 2010
Within a few years, a driver who pulls up to the gas pump may pay two bills with a single swipe of the credit card: one for the gas and the other for each mile driven since the last fill-up.
That may be the result of what many transportation experts see as an inevitable revolution in the way Americans pay for their highways.
MORE
Ashley Halsey III
February 7, 2010
Within a few years, a driver who pulls up to the gas pump may pay two bills with a single swipe of the credit card: one for the gas and the other for each mile driven since the last fill-up.
That may be the result of what many transportation experts see as an inevitable revolution in the way Americans pay for their highways.
MORE
Update on Urban Projects Around the Trinity River
Dallas Morning News
Rudolph Bush // February 8, 2010
Rudolph Bush // February 8, 2010
Here they are in a nutshell.
West Dallas Plan - Brent Brown's CityDesign Studio has largely completed a development plan for West Dallas aimed at reawakening forgotten parts of the city while preserving important neighborhoods like La Bajada.
Continental Bridge - The design process for the pedestrian transformation is just underway, architect Don Raines said.
Texas Horse Park - Almost all of the land for the 500-acre Horse Park near the Trinity River Audubon Center has been acquired.
Trinity River Audubon Center - Open for some 18 months, the center is one of the biggest attractions related to the Trinity. 50,000 people have been through the doors but efforts are aimed toward bringing in many more.
Ffighting Words about Sprawl
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield // February 4, 2010
Kaid Benfield // February 4, 2010
“The biggest fight I think we’ll see in the next ten years is the fight between people in cities who are trying to transform them into ‘bright green’ cities and those economic interests in the [outer-ring] suburbs who see that as a threat to their livelihoods, and in some cases just despise it on ideological grounds.”
So says “bright green” advocate Alex Steffen, executive editor of WorldChanging, in an interview with Grist’s Jonathan Hiskes.
Climate Change is All About Land Use
At Lincoln House
February 3, 2010
A recent report has some timely advice for local government officials -- take steps in land use planning, linking development and transportation and energy efficiency, that are appealing because they save money. The fact that the measures also address climate change is best left as an unheralded bonus.
The report, Planning for Climate Change in the West, by Rebecca Carter and Susan Culp, acknowledges the critical role of local planners in confronting challenges posed by climate change. It also addresses the region’s many political, cultural, demographic, and geographic factors that can be barriers to innovation and effectiveness.
MORE
February 3, 2010
A recent report has some timely advice for local government officials -- take steps in land use planning, linking development and transportation and energy efficiency, that are appealing because they save money. The fact that the measures also address climate change is best left as an unheralded bonus.
The report, Planning for Climate Change in the West, by Rebecca Carter and Susan Culp, acknowledges the critical role of local planners in confronting challenges posed by climate change. It also addresses the region’s many political, cultural, demographic, and geographic factors that can be barriers to innovation and effectiveness.
MORE
The First Urban Decade
New Urban News
Robert Steuteville
The last half of the 20th Century was dominated by suburbia, but cities made a comeback in the first decade of the new millennium.
MORE
Robert Steuteville
The last half of the 20th Century was dominated by suburbia, but cities made a comeback in the first decade of the new millennium.
MORE
Suburban Poverty and the Transit Connection
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Sarah Goodyear // January 22, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic looks at the new Brookings Institution report on suburban poverty levels and the connection to future transportation planning in those regions. Freemark, who recently wrote about how the city of Paris is extending its transit infrastructure to its traditionally lower-income suburbs, points out that the challenges to transit in American suburbs are greater. The infrastructure of American suburbs, as well as the governmental planning mechanisms, present significant challenges to reducing automobile dependence -- a dependence that weighs especially heavily on people with low incomes.
MORE
Sarah Goodyear // January 22, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic looks at the new Brookings Institution report on suburban poverty levels and the connection to future transportation planning in those regions. Freemark, who recently wrote about how the city of Paris is extending its transit infrastructure to its traditionally lower-income suburbs, points out that the challenges to transit in American suburbs are greater. The infrastructure of American suburbs, as well as the governmental planning mechanisms, present significant challenges to reducing automobile dependence -- a dependence that weighs especially heavily on people with low incomes.
MORE
U.S. DOT Previews How New Transit Rules Could Define ‘Livability’
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Elana Schor // January 21, 2010
Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, assistant transport secretary for policy Polly Trottenberg was asked by the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, to outline how the agency might "quantify livability" in its upcoming rulemaking.
Trottenberg said U.S. DOT learned decision-making lessons from the TIGER grants, a $1.5 billion competitive program in the stimulus law that she said called for extra sets of hands from the EPA and HUD.
Though Trottenberg was careful not to predict the content of still-unwritten regulations, she described some livability questions that came into play last year and could be a factor as the agency writes its new transit funding rules.
"Is this project going to include all modes?" she said. "[Will the project] help boost businesses on Main Street?"
MORE
Elana Schor // January 21, 2010
Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, assistant transport secretary for policy Polly Trottenberg was asked by the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, to outline how the agency might "quantify livability" in its upcoming rulemaking.
Trottenberg said U.S. DOT learned decision-making lessons from the TIGER grants, a $1.5 billion competitive program in the stimulus law that she said called for extra sets of hands from the EPA and HUD.
Though Trottenberg was careful not to predict the content of still-unwritten regulations, she described some livability questions that came into play last year and could be a factor as the agency writes its new transit funding rules.
"Is this project going to include all modes?" she said. "[Will the project] help boost businesses on Main Street?"
MORE
Big Boxes vs. Local Retail
Birmingham News
MIchael Tomberlin // January 20, 2010
MANY OF THE LARGEST Birmingham area retail centers are feeling the pain as the industry's big-box era moves into retreat, a closely watched real estate survey shows.
Retail space in the area is stinging from the large number of anchor, or so-called "big box," vacancies at high-profile centers. The small "neighborhood" centers, typically featuring a supermarket and small retailers, actually saw occupancy rise in 2009.
MORE
MIchael Tomberlin // January 20, 2010
MANY OF THE LARGEST Birmingham area retail centers are feeling the pain as the industry's big-box era moves into retreat, a closely watched real estate survey shows.
Retail space in the area is stinging from the large number of anchor, or so-called "big box," vacancies at high-profile centers. The small "neighborhood" centers, typically featuring a supermarket and small retailers, actually saw occupancy rise in 2009.
MORE
The War Against Suburbia
The American
Joel Kotkin // January 21, 2010
Joel Kotkin // January 21, 2010
A year into the Obama administration, America’s dominant geography, suburbia, is now in open revolt against an urban-centric regime that many perceive threatens their way of life, values, and economic future. Scott Brown’s huge upset victory by 5 percent in Massachusetts, which supported Obama by 26 percentage points in 2008, largely was propelled by a wave of support from middle-income suburbs all around Boston. The contrast with 2008 could not be plainer.
Browns’s triumph followed similar wins by Republican gubernatorial contenders last November in Virginia and New Jersey. In those races suburban voters in places like Middlesex County, New Jersey and Loudoun County, Virginia—which had support President Obama just a year earlier—deserted the Democats in droves. Also in November, voters in Nassau County, New York upset Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, an attractive Democrat who had carefully cultivated suburban voters.
The lesson here is that political movements ignore suburbanites at their peril. For the better part of a century, Americans have been voting with their feet, moving inexorably away from the central cities and towards the suburban periphery. Today a solid majority of Americans live in suburbs and exurbs, more than countryside residents and urbanites combined.
MOREDallas Downtown Plan - Paved with Good Intentions?
Dallas Observer
Robert Willonsky // January 21, 2010
The real issue that plagues real downtown redevelopment: "the inner ring highway loop."
"The city of districts is alive and well in Dallas," and insisted Downtown Dallas 360 would be about connecting those districts into one "seamless" city. How? Transit-oriented developments, of course, as evidenced by its 179-page presentation on the subject.
MORE
Robert Willonsky // January 21, 2010
The real issue that plagues real downtown redevelopment: "the inner ring highway loop."
"The city of districts is alive and well in Dallas," and insisted Downtown Dallas 360 would be about connecting those districts into one "seamless" city. How? Transit-oriented developments, of course, as evidenced by its 179-page presentation on the subject.
MORE
Suburbia vs. the Planet
Huffington Post
Seth Bauer // January 18, 2010
Seth Bauer // January 18, 2010
A really good rant takes a rare combination of passion, knowledge, wit, and intelligence. Recently, in a long phone conversation with Andres Duany, the architect and urban planner, I was privy to one of the best I've ever heard.
The origin of global warming. The cause of American cultural malaise. The inanity of our planning, zoning, transportation, political, and community processes. Duany has a lot to rant about. Ostensibly our conversation was about the carefully distilled, practical advice contained handbook-style in his new release, The Smart Growth Manual, published by McGraw Hill. But our conversation about the book showed why Duany and his coauthors, Jeff Speck and Mike Lydon, had to pare down to core concepts: Otherwise, Duany was just going to explode with it all.
Duany began by identifying three concurrent crises that he traced directly to the American lifestyle: Peak oil (the likelihood that we've already consumed more than half the planet's petroleum in barely 100 years), the housing bubble, and global climate change. "It's where we live, the size of our houses, the distances we drive for work, commerce, play--everything."
MOREThursday, February 4, 2010
Dallas May Get Subway Downtown
WiredPRNews.com
February 2, 2010
Dallas city planners are considering plans for further developments in the area that may include a subway station downtown. As reported by NBC DFW News, the subway plans of Dallas Area Rapid Transit are being considered as a possible means to relieve congestion in the downtown area.
MORE
February 2, 2010
Dallas city planners are considering plans for further developments in the area that may include a subway station downtown. As reported by NBC DFW News, the subway plans of Dallas Area Rapid Transit are being considered as a possible means to relieve congestion in the downtown area.
MORE
How to Create Livable & Sustainable Communities
Greg Lindsay has a new column in Fast Company entitled "The Master Plan" explaining how we can create more livable and environmentally sustainable communities.
Urbanist bloggers who make me think
Kaid Benfield at NRDC Switchboard suggests some urban bloggers to follow
Urbanist bloggers who make me think
Urbanist bloggers who make me think
North TX Leaders to Take Another Stab at Local Transit Option Bill
Dallas Morning News
Michael Lindenberger // February 2, 2010
The Star-Telegram reports that after the hearing North Texas leaders laid out their plans for another run at the local-option tax bill that would allow local communities to vote to raise their own fees or taxes to pay for additional transportation investment.
MORE
Michael Lindenberger // February 2, 2010
The Star-Telegram reports that after the hearing North Texas leaders laid out their plans for another run at the local-option tax bill that would allow local communities to vote to raise their own fees or taxes to pay for additional transportation investment.
MORE
Pentagon: ‘Climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked’
grist.org
Brad Johnson / February 1, 2010
Climate change and energy are two key issues that will play a significant role in shaping the future security environment. Although they produce distinct types of challenges, climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked.
MORE
Brad Johnson / February 1, 2010
Climate change and energy are two key issues that will play a significant role in shaping the future security environment. Although they produce distinct types of challenges, climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked.
MORE
Cities versus Suburbs Political Conflict
grist.org
Jonathan Hiskes // January 29, 2010
Alex Steffen—futurist, Worldchanging editor, tallperson—makes the provocative argument that there’s really no way to make outer-ring suburbs sustainable. He thinks cities vs. suburbs is the political conflict that will define the next decade.
MORE
Jonathan Hiskes // January 29, 2010
Alex Steffen—futurist, Worldchanging editor, tallperson—makes the provocative argument that there’s really no way to make outer-ring suburbs sustainable. He thinks cities vs. suburbs is the political conflict that will define the next decade.
MORE
The Obama Urban Vision - How Can We Make it Come to Pass?
citiwire.net
William Hudnut // February 1, 2010
How do we get the region’s top players on the same page when it comes to such critical issues as land use, transportation and housing?
Some are willing to take the lead to create new ways of approaching regional problems–quite far ahead of most political leaders, I might add, who too often are little more than self-protecting institutionalists, or so rigidly ideological that pragmatism has fled them.
MORE
William Hudnut // February 1, 2010
How do we get the region’s top players on the same page when it comes to such critical issues as land use, transportation and housing?
Some are willing to take the lead to create new ways of approaching regional problems–quite far ahead of most political leaders, I might add, who too often are little more than self-protecting institutionalists, or so rigidly ideological that pragmatism has fled them.
MORE
Downtown Dallas Plan Hinges on Public Space & Transportation
Dallas Morning News
Rudolph Bush // February 1, 2010
Theresa O'Donnell, director of Dallas' development department, said there's also focus on really capitalizing on Union Station, which she said could be a catalyst project for redevelopment.
The trick will be developing around rail stations and building up public spaces and public amenities or 'animating the public realm.'
The transportation element is major. DART's new lines are expected to work in concert with an as yet unfunded streetcar system.
In the long run, the most important transportation element, though, will be feet and how downtown accommodates them.
MORE
Rudolph Bush // February 1, 2010
Theresa O'Donnell, director of Dallas' development department, said there's also focus on really capitalizing on Union Station, which she said could be a catalyst project for redevelopment.
The trick will be developing around rail stations and building up public spaces and public amenities or 'animating the public realm.'
The transportation element is major. DART's new lines are expected to work in concert with an as yet unfunded streetcar system.
In the long run, the most important transportation element, though, will be feet and how downtown accommodates them.
MORE
Transit-oriented development requires more than transit and development
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield // January 25, 2010
Mr. Benfield makes the argument that that we have really defined only transit-served development locations. The design process of orienting the development to transit requires more. For instance, there must be adequate density and a walkable environment; the densest, most walkable portions of the development should be placed closest to the transit stop; commercial and mixed-use buildings should also be close to the stop, with their primary entrances highly accessible to transit passengers, to facilitate multi-purpose trips; buildings and public spaces should be designed to make the area around the transit station or stop feel inviting, comfortable, and secure; design should make it easy for transit and bicycle transfers and vehicle drop-offs; single-family residences may be placed a bit farther away; and so forth
MORE
Kaid Benfield // January 25, 2010
Mr. Benfield makes the argument that that we have really defined only transit-served development locations. The design process of orienting the development to transit requires more. For instance, there must be adequate density and a walkable environment; the densest, most walkable portions of the development should be placed closest to the transit stop; commercial and mixed-use buildings should also be close to the stop, with their primary entrances highly accessible to transit passengers, to facilitate multi-purpose trips; buildings and public spaces should be designed to make the area around the transit station or stop feel inviting, comfortable, and secure; design should make it easy for transit and bicycle transfers and vehicle drop-offs; single-family residences may be placed a bit farther away; and so forth
MORE
New EPA rules may aid proposed transit projects
Fort Worth Business Press
Leslie Wimmer // January 25, 2010
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed lowering of ozone emission standards may put a stronger focus on North Texas transportation projects as a way to improve air quality across the region.
Area transportation officials expect the EPA’s proposal to focus attention on speeding up transportation efforts, including highway expansion and public transportation projects, as a way to keep traffic moving and to help meet the proposed new, lower ozone standard.
MORE
Leslie Wimmer // January 25, 2010
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed lowering of ozone emission standards may put a stronger focus on North Texas transportation projects as a way to improve air quality across the region.
Area transportation officials expect the EPA’s proposal to focus attention on speeding up transportation efforts, including highway expansion and public transportation projects, as a way to keep traffic moving and to help meet the proposed new, lower ozone standard.
MORE
Urban Core as Regional Economic Indicator
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Sarah Goodyear / January 25, 2010
The importance of core urban areas to a region's economy is the subject of a post today from the always thoughtful Aaron Renn, who blogs at The Urbanophile. Renn examines data that suggest job growth (or decline) in a metro region's core counties is a good indicator for the overall health of those regions. Renn argues that it's important to keep a close eye on what's happening in the urban core in order to forestall the kind of catastrophic decline we've seen in places like Detroit and Cleveland.
MORE
Sarah Goodyear / January 25, 2010
The importance of core urban areas to a region's economy is the subject of a post today from the always thoughtful Aaron Renn, who blogs at The Urbanophile. Renn examines data that suggest job growth (or decline) in a metro region's core counties is a good indicator for the overall health of those regions. Renn argues that it's important to keep a close eye on what's happening in the urban core in order to forestall the kind of catastrophic decline we've seen in places like Detroit and Cleveland.
MORE
A Shot Across the Bow for Transport Equity?
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Elana Schor // January 27, 2010
The Obama administration's warning that the Bay Area has jeopardized federal stimulus funding for its Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project could have national consequences for other urban transit proposals that risk harming low-income riders, civil rights and transit advocates predicted yesterday.
Several Bay Area advocacy groups briefed the media on the civil-rights complaint they filed against the OAC, which the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) heeded last week in a letter [PDF] that threatened to yank $70 million in stimulus money from the project unless planners comply with federal equity rules.
Stuart Cohen, executive director of TransForm, said advocates' victorious bid to push Bay Area's transit planners to examine more cost-effective and equitable alternatives to the OAC would "have a ripple effect" as other cities re-examine how their transit plans would affect lower-income and minority riders.
MORE
Elana Schor // January 27, 2010
The Obama administration's warning that the Bay Area has jeopardized federal stimulus funding for its Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project could have national consequences for other urban transit proposals that risk harming low-income riders, civil rights and transit advocates predicted yesterday.
Several Bay Area advocacy groups briefed the media on the civil-rights complaint they filed against the OAC, which the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) heeded last week in a letter [PDF] that threatened to yank $70 million in stimulus money from the project unless planners comply with federal equity rules.
Stuart Cohen, executive director of TransForm, said advocates' victorious bid to push Bay Area's transit planners to examine more cost-effective and equitable alternatives to the OAC would "have a ripple effect" as other cities re-examine how their transit plans would affect lower-income and minority riders.
MORE
New Report Links Homeowners’ Auto Dependence With Foreclosure Risk
DCStreetsBlog.org
Elana Schor // January 28, 2010
Homeowners in car-dependent areas without access to alternative transportation are at greater risk of foreclosure, according to a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that calls for mortgage underwriting standards to begin taking so-called "location-efficiency" into account.
MORE
Elana Schor // January 28, 2010
Homeowners in car-dependent areas without access to alternative transportation are at greater risk of foreclosure, according to a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that calls for mortgage underwriting standards to begin taking so-called "location-efficiency" into account.
MORE
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
Not really a Texas mixed use deal, but I worked two years on this project -- so have to share news of the Grand Opening!!!
15-story, $600-million development combines on a single L-shaped site the W's hotel and condominium towers with a 375-unit apartment block called 1600 Vine.
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
15-story, $600-million development combines on a single L-shaped site the W's hotel and condominium towers with a 375-unit apartment block called 1600 Vine.
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
Commuter Rail Success Stories
Empire Report
Jack C. Swearengen // January 28, 2010
Dallas’ DART light-rail system, which has an average weekday ridership of 70,000 trips, registered an increase of more than 8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 and more than 10 percent for the year. "People who were used to driving did the math and figured they could buy a monthly pass ($50) for less than a tank of gas," said Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. As gasoline prices fell, other benefits became more apparent. Instead of traffic-clogged drives that could take up to an hour, riders could be on the train for 35 to 40 minutes and do work or relax. "When you have to start making decisions about all the little things, other little things become equally important," he said.
MORE
Jack C. Swearengen // January 28, 2010
Dallas’ DART light-rail system, which has an average weekday ridership of 70,000 trips, registered an increase of more than 8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 and more than 10 percent for the year. "People who were used to driving did the math and figured they could buy a monthly pass ($50) for less than a tank of gas," said Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. As gasoline prices fell, other benefits became more apparent. Instead of traffic-clogged drives that could take up to an hour, riders could be on the train for 35 to 40 minutes and do work or relax. "When you have to start making decisions about all the little things, other little things become equally important," he said.
MORE
DART, TRE land FRA funds for double-track project
ProgressiveRailroading.com
January 29, 2010
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) announced they will receive about $7.2 million in federal funds to help fund the construction of a five-mile section of double track between the West Irving and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations.
MORE
January 29, 2010
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) announced they will receive about $7.2 million in federal funds to help fund the construction of a five-mile section of double track between the West Irving and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations.
MORE
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Congress & Transportation Reform - Is Anyone Listening?
citiwire.net
Neal Pierce // January 16, 2010
Most everyone agrees that efficient roads, rails and air service are vital for our economy and our quality of life. Most of us see that without them, America will have a hard time competing against rising powers worldwide.
So why is Congress stalling? Representatives and senators know well that the federal transportation program expired last September. They keep passing temporary extensions without facing up to core issues–for example the federal gas tax stuck at 18.4 cents a gallon, unchanged for 17 years, despite escalating asphalt and concrete prices.
MORE
Neal Pierce // January 16, 2010
Most everyone agrees that efficient roads, rails and air service are vital for our economy and our quality of life. Most of us see that without them, America will have a hard time competing against rising powers worldwide.
So why is Congress stalling? Representatives and senators know well that the federal transportation program expired last September. They keep passing temporary extensions without facing up to core issues–for example the federal gas tax stuck at 18.4 cents a gallon, unchanged for 17 years, despite escalating asphalt and concrete prices.
MORE
Impact of Pollution on Student Attendance
Fort Worth Star Telegram
Mike Lee // January 18, 2010
Children in Texas are more likely to miss school when certain types of air pollution increase — even when the levels are below the limit set by the federal government, a new study says.
The research also shows that absences decrease significantly when pollution decreases.
The study is unusual because it tracks the impact on a large group: 39 of the biggest school districts in Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth. In El Paso, which has some of the state’s worst air pollution, the reduction in carbon monoxide levels resulted in a 0.8 percent decrease in the rate of absences.
MORE
Mike Lee // January 18, 2010
Children in Texas are more likely to miss school when certain types of air pollution increase — even when the levels are below the limit set by the federal government, a new study says.
The research also shows that absences decrease significantly when pollution decreases.
The study is unusual because it tracks the impact on a large group: 39 of the biggest school districts in Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth. In El Paso, which has some of the state’s worst air pollution, the reduction in carbon monoxide levels resulted in a 0.8 percent decrease in the rate of absences.
MORE
How Can We Promote Zero Car Households
DCStreetsBlog.org
Sarah Goodyear // January 20, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, a fascinating look at the top 50 "low-car cities" in the United States -- that is, cities in which a high proportion of households do not own a car at all. Human Transit's Jarrett Walker digs into a list (from Wikipedia) of the US cities with populations over 100,000 with the highest percentage of zero-car households.
New York City, unsurprisingly, ranks first, with 55.7 percent. Seattle is number 50, with 16.32. Looking at the entire list, Walker comes to the conclusion that each municipality on it has at least one of three factors in play: age (older cities were in great part designed before automobiles came into use); poverty; and/or the presence of a large university.
Walker poses an important question: for those of us who see a "low-car" future as something to strive for, what conditions need to come into play in communities without those big three factors? He writes:
So here's the question: How long will it take for a city that lacks age, poverty, or dominant universities to achieve the kind of low car ownership that these 50 demonstrate? How soon, for example, will a city be able to create a combination of density, design, and mixture of uses that yields the same performance as an old city that naturally has those features?
MORE
Sarah Goodyear // January 20, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, a fascinating look at the top 50 "low-car cities" in the United States -- that is, cities in which a high proportion of households do not own a car at all. Human Transit's Jarrett Walker digs into a list (from Wikipedia) of the US cities with populations over 100,000 with the highest percentage of zero-car households.
New York City, unsurprisingly, ranks first, with 55.7 percent. Seattle is number 50, with 16.32. Looking at the entire list, Walker comes to the conclusion that each municipality on it has at least one of three factors in play: age (older cities were in great part designed before automobiles came into use); poverty; and/or the presence of a large university.
Walker poses an important question: for those of us who see a "low-car" future as something to strive for, what conditions need to come into play in communities without those big three factors? He writes:
So here's the question: How long will it take for a city that lacks age, poverty, or dominant universities to achieve the kind of low car ownership that these 50 demonstrate? How soon, for example, will a city be able to create a combination of density, design, and mixture of uses that yields the same performance as an old city that naturally has those features?
MORE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
