Posted on Monday July 6th by Jebediah Reed | 656
- Ray LaHood says the US will “absolutely” need new sources revenue for transportation and “likes” Rep. DeFazio’s idea of putting a small tax on oil futures trading. Also, he is a cyclist but doesn’t feel safe riding on the street, so he and his wife stick to bike paths. (Mapes on Politics)
- An accident on Disney World’s monorail killed a conductor, the first fatality on the system in its 38-year history. Based on number of users, the monorail qualifies as America’s 9th largest transit line. (AP and Transport Politic)
- The NY Times Magazine offers a stunning portfolio of half-built structures and communities that were abandoned after the real estate bubble popped. The photo above is a luxury condo development in Phoenix.
- The MTA is considering a plan to pump nature sounds into the busy subway station at 96th and Broadway in NYC. (NYT)
- Opinion: States should be allowed to opt out the federal Highway Trust Fund and pay for and look after their transportation infrastructure as they see fit. Hmm… (WSJ)
- The federal government designated a swath of land along I-15 as a high speed corridor linking Las Vegas and Southern California. The move gives momentum to the proposed DesertXpress rail line between high desert hellhole Victorville and Sin City. (LA Times)
- Opponents of Cincinnati’s proposed 8-mile streetcar loop claim they have enough signatures to put it up for voter approval this fall. (Cincinnati.com)
- Meet the sublimely named Lord Adonis, Britain’s transport secretary and the man in charge of that country’s train network. To friends and enemies alike, he’s known as “Muscles.” (Independent)
- In LA, “water cops” patrol the city, gently confronting–but sometimes fining–people who water their lawns during daytime hours in violation of current usage rules. (NPR)
July 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Trade taxing needed ’cause we’re desperate?: “I’m not endorsing it,..I like the idea because it can raise a lot of money” and said he favored tolling on new roads and bridges. Only on NEW infrastructure? We refuse to CHANGE.
July 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Thanks for reporting on the Cincinnati Streetcar issue. Unfortunately, the ballot initiative pushed by Streetcar opponents would amend the city’s charter to block not only the Streetcar, but ALL passenger rail projects within city limits. This includes the Ohio 3C corridor project, the Eastern Corridor commuter rail project, and any future light rail system. The initiative is a huge step in the wrong direction for the city of Cincinnati. Unfortunately, our local media keeps reporting that this ballot initiative is just about the Streetcar, when it is in fact about all rail transit.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Regarding the unfinished housing in the Phoenix area: Here in Southern Calif. we’ve had unfinished housing developments bulldozed to prevent them from becoming “attractive nuisances” and fire hazards.
Regarding Cincinnati: The late Jim Murray, prizewinner sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, used to “roast” Cincinnati and Baltimore in his column, finding neither city to have much appeal. I used to joke that he was unlikely to get the “key to the city” from either place. At least Baltimore has light rail and a rudimentary rapid transit line. Cincinnati gets credit for saving its Union station, but is infamous in electric railway circles for its “ghost subway”.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:42 am
That WSJ piece is great. Obviously the suburb is the pinnacle of modern living, and any departure from that would be completely undesirable. And because of our pea sized brains, the only we we can think of to keep people from driving everywhere is to put a cop outside threatening arrest for anyone that drives too much. Putting all the shops nearby so you can walk or take one driving trip to reach them? Now that’s just plain crazy talk.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Hey Infrastructurist! Long time reader, first time commenter. Lots of us Cincinnatians have mobilized to fight off those pesky rail transit opponents. Glad to see this issue pushed up to a national spotlight. Keep up the good work.
XOXOXOXO,
N O R T O N