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November 17, 2008


Proposal for Northern Ave Bridge in Boston (Photo courtesy Boston Globe)

Highlights

  • Big Dig pushed bottlenecks outward (Boston Globe)
    By Sean P. Murphy -- BOSTON -- Susan Scribner was pumping gas just off Interstate 93 and getting ready to rejoin the sea of red brake lights flowing north. She had already been inching along the highway for 30 minutes. "Look at it - traffic is worse than ever," said Scribner, an accountant who, since 1994, has commuted between her home in North Reading and Cambridge. "It's worse since the Big Dig - totally worse." She's right.


Proposal for Northern Ave Bridge in Boston (Photo courtesy Boston Globe)

Highlights

  • Big Dig pushed bottlenecks outward (Boston Globe)
    By Sean P. Murphy -- BOSTON -- Susan Scribner was pumping gas just off Interstate 93 and getting ready to rejoin the sea of red brake lights flowing north. She had already been inching along the highway for 30 minutes. "Look at it - traffic is worse than ever," said Scribner, an accountant who, since 1994, has commuted between her home in North Reading and Cambridge. "It's worse since the Big Dig - totally worse." She's right.

     

  • Riding a bike on a sidewalk in a business district? That's $20 please (Somerville Journal)
    SOMERVILLE -- Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Chief of Police Anthony Holloway, and Director of Traffic and Parking Jim Kotzuba announced that the Somerville Police Department, in cooperation with T&P, will be increasing enforcement of the Traffic Commission’s regulations pertaining to bicycles. Section 13-5 of the Commission’s regulations details the locations where riding bicycles on sidewalks is strictly prohibited; and Section 13-9 notes fines of $20 - $50, for various infractions.

     

  • Patrick outlines transportation plans (State House News Service)
    By Jim O'Sullivan and Michael Norton -- BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday asked the public’s support for providing new revenues for the state’s transportation system, while promising he would take steps immediately to eliminate the Mass. Turnpike Authority, restructuring Big Dig debt and redistributing the agency’s roadway oversight to the Mass. Port Authority and the Highway Department.
    See additional coverage below in Transportation Financing/Government section

     

  • City Planning Unveils Bike-Friendly Zoning Regs (Streetsblog)
    By Ben Fried -- NEW YORK, NY -- The Department of City Planning revealed a zoning amendment today that would require new buildings to include space for secure bike parking. The lack of indoor parking is one of the biggest obstacles for would-be bike commuters, and the proposed zoning joins other initiatives to improve parking in existing office buildings. DCP's amendment includes requirements for residential and retail construction as well.

     

  • No respect for speed limits (New York Times)
    When it comes to speeding, many American motorists don’t worry about safety. They just worry about getting caught. Those are the findings by researchers from Purdue University who surveyed nearly 1,000 motorists about speed limits and driving habits. They found that many drivers are cynical about the safety benefits of driving within speed limits, and many think they can drive safely while speeding as long as they won’t get caught, according to the report in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.

     

  • China to have 1,700 km of urban rail lines by 2015 (China Daily)
    BEIJING -- Urban rail transportation would play an increasingly important role in public transportation in Chinese cities, said an official. Fifteen major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, have planned the construction of more than 60 urban rail lines recently, Liu Shijin, vice director of Development Research Center of the State Council, said at a forum on urbanization and rail transportation  here on Friday.

"Streets"

Walking

Bicycling

Transit

Cars/Parking

Parks

Development projects

Transportation financing/Government

Out-of-state

National trends

International news

  • Green spaces 'reduce health gap' (BBC News)
  • China to have 1,700 km of urban rail lines by 2015 (China Daily)
  • European Support for Bicycles Promotes Sharing of the Wheels (New York Times)
  • Scramble (WashCycle)
  • European tram makers stand to gain from U.S. streetcar push (IHT)