February 5, 2014

 

Havard Sign

Comic Error on Ha'vard Bridge

(Photo courtesy of Boston.com)

 

Northeastern students develop 'smart bike' tech to curb cycling deaths BizJournals

A group of mechanical engineering students at Northeastern University are working on new technology for bicycles that aims to decrease fatalities among cyclists in urban cities. The project is called the Interactive Bicyclist Accident Prevention System — and informally known as the "smart bike." The technology uses sensors that detect the distance of a bicycle to cars on the street.

 

The history behind Boston¹s race to build America's first subway Boston Globe

Doug Most—The workers wore baggy pants, suspenders, long-sleeve shirts with the sleeves rolled up their forearms, and hats to protect their hair and eyes from flying dirt and rocks. They started at the corner of Boylston and Tremont and made their way toward Charles Street. The carts with their big wooden wheels were slowly pulled out of the hole by horses and replaced by empty carts, which were quickly filled and pulled away just the same. It was tedious, but in the course of a nine- or 10-hour day, with more than three dozen men applying their muscle nonstop except for a 30-minute lunch break, progress was fast.

 

South End group renews push for ban on post-storm space savers Universal Hub

Neighborhood organizers in the South End are renewing their push for an exemption to the current citywide space-saver rule now that there's a new administration in City Hall. South End Forum member Stephen Fox says the group, which represents smaller neighborhood groups, is hoping to convince Walshites at a Feb. 11 meeting to let the neighborhood ban space savers after storms - and maybe even let other neighborhoods request their own bans on the cones, chairs, statuary and potted plants that fill local streets and lead to the occasional violent outburst and vandalism.

 

Fact Sheet: Summary of MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan T4MA

In January 2014, MassDOT released their Capital Investment Plan (CIP), a fiscally-constrained plan allocating $12.4 billion in federal and state transportation funds for FY14-FY18. Highway, public transportation, local road, bike and pedestrian projects are all included in the plan.

 

What Happens When a Suburb Can't Afford Its Roads Atlantic Cities

Eric Jaffe— Facing an annual funding gap of more than more than $1 million, Long Grove trustees have twice in recent months affirmed a plan that could privatize nearly half of the village’s public roads—transferring the cost of upkeep and plowing to the residents in the process

 

Will raising Beijing's subway fare be enough to improve service quality and combat mounting subsidies? The City Fix

Lulu Xue—Although raising the city’s subway fare is, as we argued, economically, socially, and financially justifiable, it is not enough solve the system’s problems on its own. Complementary measures with long-term vision – namely diversifying transport services and increasing revenue sources in the city – are vital to providing a high-quality, integrated network of transport services throughout Beijing, supported by stable and diverse funding sources.

 

"Streets"

  • Somerville's Cross Street bridge to re-open Jan. 21 Wicked Local
  • More than 2,000 Boston potholes filled in two weeks Metro
  • Calls, photos, texts get quick action Boston.com
  • A disappointing, flawed plan for performance metrics that will repeat the mistakes of the past Walking Bostonian
  • Glitch or gag? Road sign typo highlights tried-and-true Bay State-ism Boston.com
  • Boston's narrow streets are safest for walking and riding a bike: wide streets are the most dangerous. Walking Bostonian

Walking

  • Walk audit of Union Square, Allston and suggestions for the future Walking Bostonian
  • The term "jaywalker" is a slur Walking Bostonian
  • Work Continues to Develop Springfield's Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan MassBike
  • On Cambridge's Hawthorn Street, a long-awaited pedestrian signal Boston.com
  • Walk Score Ranks Boston Third Best U.S. City for Public Transit BostInno

Bicycling

  • Boston Innovation District: Firm Plans 2 Hubway Stations BostInno
  • Welcoming the winter cycle Boston Globe
  • New Report Illustrates Westfield's Bikeability MassBike
  • Boston's Bike-friendly Transformation Monumentum Mag
  • Northeastern students develop 'smart bike' tech to curb cycling deaths BizJournals

Transit

  • Alternative Mobility Choices Beacon Hill Times
  • Green Line Extension Art Program Announced Mass Transit Blog
  • MBTA: Commuter Rail Schedule Delayed by Yawkey Station Work BostInno
  • MBTA Bus Skipped Your Stop? Here's Why WGBH
  • The history behind Boston¹s race to build America's first subway Boston Globe
  • Forest Hill's white elephant of a bus yard Boston Globe
  • Report: New MBTA Commuter Rail Cars In Need of Repair BostInno
  • MBTA Fully Installs Countdown Clocks at 53 Stations BostInno
  • Nicer Transit Stations Attract More Riders Atlantic Cities

Cars/Parking

  • I-93 Viaduct: New Lights, Parking Mass Transit Blog
  • Arlington Center parking talks begin Wicked Local
  • Marty Walsh Talks East Boston Traffic Signals BostInno
  • South End group renews push for ban on post-storm space savers Universal Hub
  • The Dangers Of Drivers Who Trivialize Car Crashes Isolate Cyclist
  • Safe Driving Bill makes everyone safer Somerville Times
  • Uber Expands to the North Shore: Celebrate with Free Rides, Food & Local Celebrities BostInno
  • Tired of RMV hold music? Opt for a call-back Boston.com

Transportation financing/Government

  • Tommy Tinlin Caught in Southie
  • MassDOT Capital Plan Meetings Begin January 29 Mass Transpo Blog
  • Fact Sheet: Summary of MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan T4MA
    • Transportation for Massachusetts Statement on 5-Year Transportation Capital Plan T4MA
  • Could state DOTs provide better service for less money? Smart Growth America
  • Mass. Holds Hearings On $12B Transportation Spending Plan WBUR
  • Marty Walsh Announces Cabinet Reorganization BostInno
  • Mayor Marty Walsh set to transfer staff from ISD to DPW Boston Herald
  • Beverly Scott becomes first MBTA chief to use The Ride Boston.com

Parks

Development projects

  • Once more into the fray Arborway Matters
  • Grounding McGrath Final Report Available Mass Transpo Blog
  • Burns Bridge Project Ahead of Schedule Mass Transpo Blog
  • Open Letter to Massachusetts Historical Commission re: Shea Circle Arborway Matters
  • Fenway Center developer John Rosenthal, rebuffed by Mayor Menino, asks new Boston mayor for$7.8M in tax breaks over 13 years Boston Globe
  • Train Bridge Reconstruction Starts in April Mass Transit Mag
  • Article FYI: Neighbors urge more changes to plan to rebuild Cambridge Street overpass in Allston Boston.com
  • Casey project delayed again JP Gazette
  • Possible compromise pauses suit over Somerville development Boston.com
  • MBTA Dishes Out $24 Million Contract for Bridge Repair BostInno

Land Use/Planning

  • Fields Corner residents press Lucky Strike developer on parking, traffic DOT News
  • Hancock Village plans draw laughter from residents at ZBA Wicked Local
  • BRA: Article 90 Zoning for Newmarket Land Area BostInno
  • Op-Ed: Path to BRA transparency is a bit unclear Boston Globe
  • A Primer on Types of Zoning Codes Planetizen
  • Improving South Station, Shaping Neighborhood Mass Transpo Blog
  • MAPC study says more affordable housing needed to spur future growth Boston Globe
  • Boston's South Station may be renamed The Mike Dukakis Transportation Center Metro
  • Tufts University to Conduct Another Study for Everett Everett Independent
  • JPNC Zoning Committee denies residential project JP Gazette
  • Urbanica hosts Parcel U meetings JP Gazette

Out-of-state

  • NY
    • Cops bloody old man for jaywalking NY Post
    • NYC Parking Meters Set to Get Smart Planetizen
    • The 2013 NYC Streetsies, Part 1 StreetsBlog
    • The 2013 NYC Streetsies, Part 2 StreetsBlog
    • De Blasio's 'Vision Zero' Plan Could Set a New Standard for Traffic Safety Atlantic Cities
    • In New York, a Heated, Beach-Themed Bus Stop to Escape the Dreary Winter Atlantic Cities
    • NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Calls for More Local Control of Transpo Funds DC StreetsBlog
    • The Fuzzy Logic of a Jaywalking Crackdown in New York Atlantic Cities
    • 25 of New York City’s Most Transformative Road Diets Arch Paper
    • When Pedestrians Get Mixed Signals NY Times
    • NYC's 6 Speed Cameras Ticket 900 Drivers In Two Weeks Gothamist
  • IL
  • CA
    • The 2013 Streetsie Awards SF StreetsBlog
    • LAPD Crackdowns and Complete Streets: City's Pedestrian Advisory Committee Puts its Foot Down LA StreetsBlog
    • What Would Google Bus Commuters Do if the Google Bus Didn't Exist? Atlantic Cities
  • OR
    • Bike-friendly Portland had zero cyclist fatalities in 2013! (Not for the first time, either) TreeHugger
  • TX
    • Houston-Dallas High-Speed Rail + Tearing Down I-345 = A Big Win StreetsBlog
  • DC
    • Sidewalk-Jumping Driver Claims Children He Hurt Were "Reckless" DC StreetsBlog
    • After streetcar line opens, $18B in development expected in D.C. Washington Post
  • NC
    • City Spends $12 Million In Hunt For Streetcar Grant WFAE

National trends

International news

  • Beijing's subway fare increase, justified The City Fix
  • Copenhagen's Design Manual for Bicycle Infrastructure and Parking Copenhagenize
  • Sneckdown: Using snow to design safer streets BBC
  • Jeremy Clarkson – like too many drivers – doesn't understand cyclists taking the lane The Guardian
  • Very Cool Streetfilms News From The Ukraine! StreetFilms
  • Does Europe Build Streetcars? Not Quite Next City
  • Will raising Beijing's subway fare be enough to improve service quality and combat mounting subsidies? The City Fix
  • The Unique Genius of Hong Kong's Public Transportation System Atlantic Cities
  • The Largest Free Mass Transit Experiment in the World Atlantic Cities
  • In Mexico, a City's Scar Becomes its Most Prized Park Atlantic Cities