In the Loop: July 20, 2012
Steven Vance
CTA's new Morgan Station
In the Loop: July 20, 2012
In the Loop is your Friday round-up of what's going on in the transportation world, posted in conjunction with Talking Transit.
@ mpc
Your guide to the new federal transportation reauthorization. "The Cities That Work": a discussion between the mayors of Chicago, Milwaukee, Wis., and Gary, Ind., on strategies for addressing the infrastructure, employment and environmental issues facing the tri-state region.
elsewhere
CTA to invest $205 million to modernize bus and rail maintenance facilities, the Red Line’s Granville station gets a facelift, and the Green and Pink Line’s new Morgan Station opens. IDOT authorizes $1.6 billion in Illinois Jobs Now capital program bonds, $800 million will go toward transit projects. Metra wants your help with its strategic plan.
Oakland’s $150 million bus rapid transit approved. PA Governor signs PPP for transportation bill into law. Atlanta and Charleston, SC, gear up for vote on sales tax increase for transportation. New CNG busses will cut DART’s fuel bill by 60 percent. Brooklyn’s tech corridor’s growth only confined by the lack of space and access to mass transit, and Manhattan proposal would allow developers to build higher if they pony up for pedestrian improvements.
CBO lays out how a federal infrastructure bank would work, which the U.S. might consider because local infrastructure spending is at its lowest point in seven years. Jobs move to the suburbs, unfortunately transit does not follow.
Wow, a lot of people ride the tramways in France. Forward-thinking Denmark builds a bike “superhighway” because every three miles biked eliminates 3-1/2 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and saves nine cents in health care costs (and makes people happy!) Australia lays everything on the table to finance its $700 billion in infrastructure needs. Congestion pricing reduces Singapore’s traffic gridlock by 13 percent. Comparing cycling in Berlin, Bogota and Houston.
Check out the corresponding edition of Talking Transit, about how the new federal transportation reauthorization affects public transportation.