April 4, 2013

 

Boston's new harbinger of spring: Hubway!

(Photo Courtesy of  Boston Magazine)

 

Highlights 

House-Senate Plan Would Raise $500 Million For Transportation CBS Local

The Massachusetts House and Senate have agreed on a plan to raise $500 million to fund the state’s transportation system.

The plan announced Tuesday rejects a $1.9 billion revenue plan proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick that included a hike in the state income tax to pay not only for modernizing the state’s transportation system, but also for new education initiatives.

The joint House-Senate transportation financing plan announced Tuesday calls for a three cent hike in the state gas tax.

 

T announces summer Cape Cod train service WCVB

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is launching a new summer rail service from Boston to the Cape. 

The Cape Flyer seasonal weekend service will originate at South Station and make stops Braintree, Middleborough, Buzzards Bay and Hyannis. It will use existing railroads with current MBTA equipment.

It kicks off Memorial Day and aims to help reduce traffic and boost the Cape's economy. The service will run through Labor Day in September.

 

A Blind Rider's Long Commute, or How Transit Cuts Hit Those Who Need It Most Transportation Nation

By Derek Wang-- Like thousands of other residents of Pierce and King counties, Yates depends on a transit system that’s been turned sideways by the recession. More changes are on the way. As Pierce Transit prepares for its third round of reductions since 2009 and as King County Metro Transit warns of cutbacks next year, Yates is worried that he and his wife may have fewer transportation options. That could affect everything from where they work to where they live. Yates says he wishes he could work closer to home but he hasn’t been able to find a job. “A lot of places won’t hire blind people,” he says. “They think we’re too stupid because we can’t see.”

 

In S.F., an uphill battle for a 'freeway for bikes' LA Times

By Maria L. La Ganga-- An ambitious street redesign that many residents and business owners say could strip the majority of curbside parking spots from a 20-block commercial stretch, replacing them with bike lanes and miniature parks.

To urban planners and bicycle enthusiasts, Polk Street is a key to San Francisco's 4-decade-old "transit-first" policy, designed to reduce the reliance on private cars in the second-most-densely populated city in the U.S.

But to the more than 300 vocal denizens of Polk Gulch, who packed a standing-room-only neighborhood meeting last week, the proposal is a commerce killer, one that would create "a freeway for bikes," with little benefit to shops along the route.

 

Congress to U.S. DOT: The Roads Aren't Safe Until They're Safe For Everyone DC StreetsBlog

Tanya Snyder-- Yes, traffic fatalities have been (mostly) going down, but as long as cyclist and pedestrian fatalities keep going up, we can’t truly say our streets and roads are getting safer. That’s the message from 68 members of Congress to one pretty receptive audience: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

In their letter to LaHood, sent on Saturday, the 68 lawmakers – including nine Republicans — note that between 2010 and 2011, driving got safer: Roadway fatalities dropped 2 percent overall; 4.6 percent for occupants of cars and light trucks. But bicyclist fatalists went up 9 percent and pedestrian deaths rose 3 percent in the same time period.

 

"Streets"

  • More Comm Ave changes coming BU
  • North End Segway company faces another hurdle Boston Globe
  • Op-Ed: Untangling Boston’s mini-highways Boston Globe
  • Op-Ed: Boston isn’t a world-class city? Boston Globe
  • Framing the argument on Beacon Street Boston Streets
  • Mayor Defends Street Improvements that Don't Emphasize Parking Somerville Patch
  • "There is a very strong element of psychology behind traffic patterns." Walking Bostonian
  • New Study is First to Show that Traffic Pollution Causes Childhood Asthma Planetizen
  • Arlington Center plan has skinny lanes, new crossing Word on the Street
  • What You See is What You Get PPS
  • WIDENING MELNEA CASS BOULEVARD: When an Old Vision Blocks Future Progress LivableStreets
  • LivableStreets hosts a T-riffic night of T Trivia Transit Matters
  • Downtown pushcarts may get BRA reprieve Boston Herald
  • Change Comes to Dangerous Intersection Near Tufts Somerville Patch
  • Lots of Cars and Trucks, No Traffic Signs or Lights: Chaos or Calm? Atlantic Cities

Walking/ Parks

  • $1.5 million grant from Tiffany Foundation to fund landscaping for new Greenway carousel Boston Globe
  • Downtown View: Trees Tops in Boston North End Waterfront
  • Winter storms more than an inconvenience for people with disabilities Boston.com
  • This Could Be the World's Most Uncomfortable Pedestrian Crossing Atlantic Cities
  • Review: Walkable City Walking Bostonian
  • Esplanade's Eliot Memorial Project Could Be Finished by Year's End Back Bay Patch
  • Shovel This: Belmont Seeks Sidewalk Snow Removal Ordinance Belmont Patch
  • Peace Garden redesign discussed JP Gazette
  • Foot Soldier Alissa Walker Explains Why Shes Better Off Ped LA Mag

Bicycling

  • Wellesley considers creating bike lanes after 2012 death of cyclist Boston.com
  • BU Introduces New Cycling Safety Measures Along Comm. Ave WBUR
  • Things You Can Find In The Bike Lane Pug Velo
  • Hubway looks to add new Davis Square terminal Boston.com
  • South Coast Bikeway aims to connect Swansea, Wareham Taunton Gazette
  • JP Hubway is Close; System to Reopen in April JP Gazette
  • Hubway Leader Speaks at Arlington Bicycle Winter Social Wicked Local
  • New Hubway Station Coming, MassDOT Contract Extended Brookline Patch
  • STREETFACTS #1: Bike Lanes Not Just For Big Cities StreetFilms
  • Redesign of the Day: A Truck That Won't Kill Cyclists Atlantic Cities
  • The New Sign of Spring: The Hubway Installations Begin Boston Magazine
  • Studies show that bike commuting is one of the best ways to stay healthy Grist
  • How Much Driving Is Avoided When Someone Rides a Bike? DC StreetsBlog
  • MASSDOT reversal could spell good news for South Coast Bikeway Herald News

Transit

  • MBTA Improves Security At Pedal & Parks Boston Biker
  • Survey on MBTA late-night service draws thousands of responses Boston.com
  • Late night service on the T Walking Bostonian
  • MBTA gets set to lay tracks Somerville News
  • Seeking fare solutions Gloucester Times
  • New MBTA commuter rail cars expected in April Metro
  • Study: Homes Near Transit Were Insulated From the Housing Crash DC StreetsBlog
  • Ethanol train gets stamp of approval from MassDOT Somerville News
  • MBTA Police Nab Over 1K Fare Evaders So Far in 2013 JP Patch
  • State Wants Green Line Extension Lawsuit Dismissed Somerville Patch
  • The 'T' Plans to Close 8 Bus Stops in Watertown Watertown Patch
  • Under the Hood of the Massachusetts Transportation System: Can our current transportation system serve our future needs? CLF
  • Falling concrete at station might have been prevented JP Gazette
  • Buses still parking in illegal former stop JP Gazette
  • A Blind Rider's Long Commute, or How Transit Cuts Hit Those Who Need It Most Transportation Nation
  • T announces summer Cape Cod train service WCVB
  • New MBTA campaign warns: Sexual harassment on the T has consequences Metro

Cars/Parking

  • Closing Streets to Cars for Good Copehagenize
  • How Many Cars Were Towed in Somerville Last Night? Somerville Patch
  • Somerville aldermen look at health effects from I-93 Wicked Local
  • Planner: Somerville needs a 'parking problem' Wicked Local
  • Taxi medallion plan in Brookline not hailed by all Wicked Local
  • How Park-and-Ride Encourages Car Use Atlantic Cities
  • Miles-Driven Could Replace Gasoline Tax, LaTourette Says Bloomberg
  • Letter: Save parking spots for Beacon Street residents in Somerville Wicked Local
  • LETTER: Lack of parking burdens residents Wicked Local
  • Mass. Seeks To Eliminate Tollbooths For Cashless System WBUR
  • Scrapped Canadian study found early promise for safer truck design Globe and Mail
  • Bribes are a common routine for Boston taxi drivers Boston.com
  • Mass. To Install High Speed, Cashless Toll System South End Patch
  • Somerville Parking Rule One Alderman Calls 'Unwelcoming' and 'Frustrating' Somerville Patch
  • Somerville aldermen look to relax 48-hour parking rule Wicked Local
  • Get a Backbone! Cut the Bulls**t Off-Street Parking Transit Matters
  • Mayor Thomas M. Menino orders review of taxi oversight in Boston Boston.com
  • Study: Loosening Parking Mandates Leads to More Affordable Housing StreetsBlog

Transportation financing/Government

  • Engineers Report Small Gains in Nation’s Infrastructure NY Times
  • MAKING COMM. AVE. SAFER City Proposals Are A Good Start; TurnPike Overpass Is Next Issue LivableStreets
  • Budget Battle
    • Davey defends transportation plan, renews commitment to Green Line extension Boston.com
    • Two expansion projects will add $60 million to MBTA budget Wicked Local
    • Forum touches on taxes, transit Telegram
    • COLUMN: Investing in transportation is investing in our future Wicked Local
    • Silver Line Talk Stops in Chelsea Chelsea Record
    • MBTA Could Raise Fares, Defer Maintenance Back Bay Patch
    • MBTA chief favors fare hikes over service cuts Metro
    • MassDOT strikes back, and your weekly construction Boston.com
    • Quincy Street corridor revamp now on track for public review DOT News
    • MBTA officials recommend $1.8 billion budget aimed at closing deficit; hope to avoid fare hikes Boston.com
    • $118 million MBTA bailout advances in Legislature; fare hikes still possible Wicked Local
    • Opponents try to derail $850M South Station expansion plan Boston Herald
    • House-Senate Plan Would Raise $500 Million For Transportation CBS Local
  • When the State DOT Stands in the Way of Local Progress StreetsBlog
  • City Testing Silly Putty, 'Green' Material to Fill Potholes This Spring South End Patch
  • Mayor Menino
    • Op-Ed: Menino made development work outside downtown Boston Globe
    • Op-Ed: Menino let progress happen Boston Globe
    • Menino blazed trail on protecting historic buildings Boston Globe
  • Excellence in Commuter Options Awards Announced MA Transport Blog
  • EDITORIAL: Roundtable should have been televised Wicked Local

Development projects

  • Mass Ave Project
  • Longfellow Bridge Project Public Hearing MA Transport Blog
  • Boston seeks bids for green housing project -- City to promote blocks of green housing Boston Globe
  • South Station Expansion: Environmental Review MA Transport Blog
  • Councillors cast doubts as Kendall Square petition counts down (corrected) Cambridge Day
  • Update: S. Huntington Draft Guidelines Out Early Next Week JP Patch
  • Special Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Commission MA Transport Blog
  • Massachusetts Plan Starts Small for Big Upgrade to Rail System NY Times
  • Micro apartments a tight squeeze but livable Boston Globe
  • Somerville developers denounce 'scurrilous' flier criticizing McGrath project Wicked Local
  • Bridge along Memorial Drive in Cambridge to close for 6 months Boston.com
  • Vision for the South Huntington Avenue Corridor Released BRA News
  • Editorial: Build future with new people, not old Boston Globe
  • Parklet site changed to Hyde Sq. JP Gazette
  • Op-Ed: A Downtown Crossing worth the wait Boston Globe
  • Bates Bridge Project Advances in Spring 2013 MA Transport Blog

Land Use/Planning

  • Boston Redevelopment Authority launches waterfront district zoning process Boston.com
  • Developer for Boston Greenway’s Parcel 9 to be chosen soon Boston Globe
  • City Plans to Overhaul Zoning Ordinance, Forms Advisory Committee Somerville News
  • How Can Medford Square Be Improved? Medford Patch
  • Letter to the Editor: Reject IKEA Site Zoning Change in Assembly Square Somerville Patch
  • Does Main Street in Watertown Need Changes, Upgrades? Watertown Patch
  • S. Huntington Guidelines Highlight Special Height Zones JP Patch
  • LETTER: Time to move forward with MIT proposal Wicked Local
  • An empire built of ambition and a very hard edge Boston Globe

Out-of-state

  • IN
    • Metro Indianapolis mass transit plan to face opposition from Tea party Indy Star
  • OR
    • Dilemma for bike-crazy Portland: Parking for cars Boston.com
  • MD
    • At UMD panel, speakers detail need for better bus service in region Herald News
  • CA
    • In S.F., an uphill battle for a 'freeway for bikes' LA Times
    • Eyes on the Street: At Last, Red Transit Lanes on Church SF StreetsBlog
    • MyFigueroa Unveils New Designs: Promises Cycletracks, Transit Lanes and More for South Fig, MLK, and 11th LA StreetsBlog
    • Bike Sharing is Coming to San Francisco and Silicon Valley Transportation Nation
    • At 40 Years, San Francisco's Transit-First Policy Still Struggles for Traction SF StreetsBlog
    • Your Bike Goes Here: BART Welcoming Bikes on Trains All Week Transportation Nation
    • 10 reasons to salute L.A.'s promising transportation future LA Times
    • San Francisco's Stunning New Transit Hub Is One Beautiful Slice of Future Gizmodo
    • The great Red Car conspiracy of Los Angeles: Is it real? SCPR
    • They Paved Paradise, Parking In Santa Monica LA StreetsBlog
    • 85 Percent of People on Polk Street Arrive Without a Car SF StreetsBlog
    • To Fight Gridlock, Los Angeles Synchronizes Every Red Light NY Times
  • NY
    • Development soars along Metro Rail Buffalo News
    • Sheridan Alternatives Offer Hope for Surface Road in Place of Expressway StreetsBlog
    • To Replace Old Cobblestones, Old-Looking Cobblestones NY Times
    • NYPD: No Charges for Driver Who Hit 10 People, Leaving Boy Brain Dead StreetsBlog
    • Pilot program offers the disabled with alternatives to Access-A-Ride NYDN
  • MN
  • MI
    • What happened to a place in Michigan when cars were banned for 115 years? Bike DE
  • GA
    • A more walkable Atlanta equals a healthier and more prosperous city Saporta Report
  • WA

National trends

  • Can Private Intercity Passenger Rail Make a Comeback? Atlantic Cities
  • How about a mass-transit lobby? MSNBC
  • Advertisers Look to Bicycling to Leverage a Health & Happiness Message StreetFilms
  • Midwestern Cities Race to Adopt, and Grow, Bike-Share DC StreetsBlog
  • Why Our Cities Look and Work the Way They Do Atlantic Cities
  • Who landed fliers with gadget ban? Politico
  • Public Transportation Does Relieve Traffic Congestion, Just Not Everywhere Atlantic Cities
  • Kansas City Residents to Missouri DOT: Enough With the Highways Already StreetsBlog
  • Congress to U.S. DOT: The Roads Aren't Safe Until They're Safe For Everyone DC StreetsBlog

International news