October 2, 2013

A new mural for Dewey Square
A new mural for Dewey Sq
(Photo courtesy of WBUR)
 

New ‘Restrained’ Mural Replaces Controversial Painting In Dewey Square WBUR

Andrea Shea-- Boston’s newest—and most gargantuan—public mural is now complete. Designed by New York artist Matthew Ritchie, it’s taken over the Big Dig ventilation building that was until recently occupied by the colorful, controversial boy in pajamas painted by the Brazilian street artists known as Os Gemeos.

 

Transportation issues garner high profile in mayoral race Boston.com

Martine Powers-- It’s the promise almost every mayoral candidate wants to make: bring late-night MBTA service to Boston. Though they have bandied about ideas on how to help finance extended T hours — solicit money from universities, hospitals, and corporations or lobby state legislators for the extra cash — it’s a tall order for any candidate to deliver, considering that the T is a state-managed entity.

 

Packed transportation forum touches on the T, parking, and cycle tracks Boston Globe

At a Tuesday night candidate’s forum at the Boston Public Library on transportation and livable streets, more than 450 people filled an auditorium — and more were turned away from the overflow room — to watch eight of the mayoral race’s 12 candidates spar on issues ranging from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, minimum parking requirements, Seaport District traffic, speed limits, bus lanes, the state’s transportation finance plan, and, of course, the oft-discussed separated bike facility known as the “cycle track,” perhaps the most popular topic of the night.

 

Ten Questions (and Answers) About Oregon¹s New VMT Charge DC StreetsBlog

Tanya Snyder-- This summer, Oregon’s legislature passed a bill creating a vehicle-miles-traveled fee. For those who recognize the shortcomings of the gas tax for charging for road use, it was a big victory. But the program authorized by the state is a modest one, creating a voluntary program for just 5,000 drivers of high-efficiency vehicles.

 

Car-Crazy Thailand, the 'Detroit of Southeast Asia,' Emulates the Motor City in More Ways Than One Atlantic Cities

Newly Purnell-- A generous car-buying incentive program has hit a major pothole in Thailand, which touts itself as the Detroit of Southeast Asia—presumably referring to the auto manufacturing, not crushing levels of government debt—in the latest in a string of questionable stimulus programs.

The $2.5 billion car-buying scheme was similar to the U.S. "cash for clunkers" plan, but without the clunkers—first-time buyers simply received a tax refund of up to $3,200 in an attempt to encourage lower-income Thais to buy domestically made cars.

 

The local flavor of mobility in São Paulo The City Fix

Luisa Zottis-- Innovative and sustainable urban mobility is in the spotlight this week in São Paulo, Brazil, after the Virada Da Mobilidade (Turn of Mobility) alternative transport festival concluded yesterday. The good news from São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, is that bicycles and public bus transport systems are emerging as top players on city streets – including bike sharing systems and dedicated bus lanes. However, locals have plenty of suggestions for how the city can still improve its transport infrastructure to make it easier for residents to incorporate sustainable mobility options into their daily lives.

 

"Streets"

  • Cambridge Residents Alliance presents platform for livable, affordable, diverse Cambridge Cambridge Day
  • Narrowing down new navigation aids, and what's in a name? Boston.com
  • The Storrow Of Tomorrow Dirty Old Boston Photo Blog Boston.com
  • See how people take back their streets on Park(ing) Day Better Cities
  • Boston City Hall should be torn down Boston Globe
  • Selectmen: New Horace James Rotary signage, markings making matters worse Wicked Local
  • Davis Square Pin-Up Ideas: 1 of 7 Somerville by Design
  • Arlington neighbors work together for improvements Wicked Local

Walking

  • Letter: Too many bike v. pedestrian close calls Wicked Local
  • Woman, 19, from Pennsylvania is struck and killed by car in Cambridge Boston.com
  • Letter: Impose speed limit on sidewalks Wicked Local

Bicycling

  • Letter: Roads too dangerous to ban bikes from sidewalks Wicked Local
  • Buca Boot on Kickstarter: Secure, Stylish Bike Storage BostInno
  • Boston Bike Lobby brings mayoral candidates to their knees Boston Streets
  • FreeBike Project Aims to Give Students in Boston a New Set of Wheels BostInno
  • Cycle track around Public Garden discussed at meeting Boston.com
  • Separated Cycle Lanes on Columbus Avenue? Bike Commuter
  • Supporting Healthy Communities: Focusing on the Built Environment Mass Bike
  • Springfield Considers City's First Bike Lanes Mass Bike
  • Bicycling the Dutch Way Boston Globe
  • TD Mayor's Cup and Hub on Wheels: Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 BostInno
  • Hub On Wheels Recap Boston Biker
  • CYCLING ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS: Connecting With Nature, and Why We Need Urban Greenways LivableStreets
  • Candidates Bike Agenda Southie Bikes
  • Unlicensed driver charged in deaths of bicyclists Metro
  • Letter: Brookline hostile to bicycles Wicked Local
  • Incidental Justice For Two Dead Cyclists Isolate Cyclists
  • Hubway comes to JP, community input unclear JP Gazette
  • Boston Bike Network: An ambitious trek Boston Globe

Transit

  • MBTA switching to simpler Twitter handle Metro
  • Mayoral candidates responses to transportation questionnaire Boston Globe
  • The MBTA's Green Line Is Getting 'Next Train' Signs Boston Magazine
  • Packed transportation forum touches on the T, parking, and cycle tracks Boston Globe
  • So now Kenmore commuters know the what, if not the when Universal Hub
  • Boston officials plans to install 20 miles of cycle tracks by 2018 Boston Globe
  • First electronic message board installed by MBTA for aging Green Line Daily Free Press
  • Can Mass Transit Solve City Sprawl? WGBH
  • MBTA map-making contest garners 17,000 votes Boston.com
  • An Investment In Public Transportation Is An Investment In The Future WBUR
  • South Coast Rail: State officials announce strides in $1.8 billion commuter train project Metro
  • MBTA: $14.9m redesign of Yawkey commuter rail station to be finished this fall Boston.com
  • Green Line "Train Arrival" signs: How they work Boston to a T
  • Fung Wah, Lucky Star may be on the road again soon Boston Globe, Metro
  • Quincy Center MBTA redesign takes next steps Boston.com
  • How @mbta got its Twitter groove back Boston.com

Cars/Parking

  • LETTER: Please obey traffic laws Wicked Local
  • If Vehicle Miles Traveled Is Declining, Why Does Traffic Keep Getting Worse LivableStreets
  • Study will reward drivers for driving less Wicked Local
  • Big crash shuts major Allston intersection at rush hour Universal Hub
  • Massachusetts Car-Free Week Routes Motorists Toward Alternative Transit Ecori
  • OH: Do Car Sharers Get Share of On-Street Parking? Mass Transit Mag
  • West Roxbury teenager charged in Arborway crash that injured six Boston.com
  • Somerville by Design sums up parking ideas for Davis Square The Somerville News
  • Brookline taxi medallion plan approved Wicked Local

Transportation financing/Government

  • Transportation issues garner high profile in mayoral race Boston.com
  • Boston Transportation & Livable Communities Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire: Mayoral Candidate Responses Transportation Forum
  • Late BRA appointments could extend Mayor Menino’s influence after he leaves City Hall Boston Globe
  • RMV birthday greetings make a comeback Boston.com
  • State approves $393m for three new stations on Green Line Boston.com

Parks

Development projects

  • 83 condos planned for former Herald property Boston Globe
  • Op-Ed: Filene’s redevelopment: Boston’s new relationship with its downtown Boston Globe
  • Mass. program fixes bridges, but more need repair Telegram
  • Somerville aldermen demand guarantees of commercial development at North Point Wicked Local
  • Controversial Mass. Ave. project in Arlington put out to bid Boston.com
  • New Balance breaks ground on new headquarters -- sports, health district set for along Pike​ Boston Globe
  • Letters: Key in Chinatown is for affordable housing to keep pace with market developments Boston Globe
  • West End condo building without parking space s proposed by Related/Beal for Lovejoy Wharf near TD Garden​​ Boston Globe

Land Use/Planning

  • Marty Walsh pushes City Hall redevelopment Herald
  • A little less money, but vote maintains formula for housing, Magazine Beach Cambridge Day
  • Second meeting scheduled to review city’s accessibility Self-Evaluation Plan Somerville Times
  • Harvard campus in Allston: Big vision gives way to caution Boston Globe
  • Red Sox and city redevelopment authority reach $7.3m deal for use of Lansdowne St., Yawkey Way Boston.com
  • Mass. Ave. plan approved for bidding Word on the Street
  • Somerville aldermen urge reversing unpopular CCD55 zoning Wicked Local
  • Boston Finance Commission says Red Sox deal for street use is a bad deal for the city Boston.com
  • Groups plan protest, call for greater BRA accountability​ Boston Herald

Out-of-state

  • NY
    • A safer city for all pedestrians NY Daily News
    • Morningside Avenue Traffic Calming Awaits Support From Two Harlem CBs StreetsBlog
    • Running Down Five Children on a Sidewalk Is Legal in New York City StreetsBlog
    • Why Driving on the Sidewalk Doesn't Automatically Result in a Ticket WNYC
    • NYPD: 'No Evidence of Wrongdoing' in Curb-Jump Crash That Killed Senior StreetsBlog
    • A Plan to Revamp Subway Entryways Has Elements of Disneyland and Feng Shui NY Times
    • Census: NYC Reaches 1% Threshold for Regular Bike-Only Commuters StreetsBlog
    • Will New York's New Highway "Texting Stops" Curb Distracted Driving? Gizmodo
    • A way forward in the bike war NY Daily News
  • CA
    • SAN FRANCISCO: Cyclists want temporary bike path to be permanent KTVU
    • Smooth sailing so far on Bay Bridge's new bike and pedestrian path SF Examiner
    • CEQA Reform Update: Is This the End for LOS? LA StreetsBlog
    • Eyes on the Street: Goodbye Green LA StreetsBlog
    • Time to Talk About a Freeway-Free San Francisco SF StreetsBlog
  • PA
    • Today's Philadelphia Inquirer article about women and cycling Philly.com
  • AZ
  • DC
    • How D.C. Set 3 Bad Bike Lane Precedents With a Single Decision Atlantic Cities
    • Survey: Majority in Washington D.C. area support more bike lanes Tree Hugger
  • MI
    • Detroit to Add 50 Miles of Bike Lanes This Year StreetsBlog
  • MO
    • St. Louis Aims to Get More Walkable Development Out of Its Rail System StreetsBlog
  • RI
    • Providence’s New Bike Plan Embraces Pedal Power Ecori
  • OR
    • Ten Questions (and Answers) About Oregon¹s New VMT Charge DC StreetsBlog
    • Portland takes note as NACTO releases 'Urban Street Design Guide' Bike Portland
  • TN

National trends

  • Urban guerrillas work to make cities safe for bicycles The City Fix
  • Walkable Streets Guide Gets Federal Endorsement Planetizen
  • The Long, Painful History of Terrible Parking Policy in One 71-Second Cartoon StreetsBlog
  • Friday Fun: 589 reasons to bicycle to work The City Fix
  • Apartment Blockers Sight Line
  • BRT and Urban Transit Development Sustainable Cities Collective
  • Alan Durning on Reasons to Be Optimistic About Parking Reform DC StreetsBlog
  • Streets with Scarce Auto Parking are the Best Places to Remove Auto Parking Green Lane Project
  • On planes and trains, everyone prefers to sit next to women Slate
  • Moving off the Road: Study on decline of driving in the US TRB
  • Alan Durning on the 'Ruinous, Vicious Circle' of Underpriced Parking DC StreetsBlog
  • New Report: Winning Bike-Ped Ballot Measures Bike League
  • Is There Such Thing as an "Urban Freeway"? Planetizen
  • Visualizing Road Safety DataMediashift PBS
  • Healthy Community Design Toolkit PVPC
  • A Fantastically Clear, Concise Explanation of Why Traffic Happens Atlantic Cities
  • Public Transportation Affects Home Values Fox Business
  • NACTO Urban Street Design Guide Sets Out to Change the DNA of Our Cities DC StreetsBlog
  • Anatomy of a Public Space Atlantic Cities
  • Bad Urban Planning Is Why You're Fat Fast.co
  • The People Who Text While Driving the Most Are Also the Worst at It Atlantic Cities

International news

  • How to Design a City for Women Atlantic Cities
  • Toronto hopes to revitalize its many postwar highrises The Globe and Mail
  • The Heart of London Adopts 20 MPH Speed Limit StreetsBlog
  • Urban planning for women: Let’s all move to Vienna Slate
  • Businesses in Groningen, the Netherlands: More Bike Traffic, Please StreetsBlog
  • There are side guards on every truck in China, yet they are too expensive for North America? Tree Hugger
  • Speedy Trains Transform China NY Times
  • The local flavor of mobility in São Paulo The City Fix
  • Roads Kill: Mapping the Automobile¹s Global Body Count DC StreetsBlog
  • Moscow Ghel Cities for People
  • Car-Crazy Thailand, the 'Detroit of Southeast Asia,' Emulates the Motor City in More Ways Than One Atlantic Cities