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Monthly archive for December, 2009
The Morning Dig: High-Speed Turmoil Edition
Friday, December 4th, 2009
• California’s high-speed rail plans are in a legal tangle again, now that the Rail Authority has rescinded its approval of the Environmental Impact Report for the SF-LA line. A blogger parses out the myriad details of what this means Read more ›
The Evening Dig: Jobs and TARP Funds and Parking, Oh My!
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
• “Given my druthers,” said Congress’s Transportation/Infrastructure chairman, “$69 billion would be a nice down payment [for highways and other projects].” Ok, then how ’bout verification of his claim that the stimulus created 340,000 construction jobs? (Reuters) • Speaking of Read more ›
Should Obama Create Public Infrastructure Jobs? A Debate Overview
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
With unemployment reaching levels high enough to terrify the hardiest soul, the debate is brewing about whether Washington needs to jump in and create infrastructure jobs through a public-service employment program a la the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration. With Read more ›
The Morning Dig: Crumbling Bridges and Job Summits Edition
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
• “A staggering number of the 89 city bridges and crossings used by Amtrak trains have parts that are in crumbling condition.” Eek. (NY Post) • The Brookings Institute calls for Obama to push hard for a National Infrastructure Bank Read more ›
The Evening Dig: Superproject Void Redux
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
• An academic offers another response to the Times‘ piece about a “Superproject Void” (see ours here). He calls attention to the enormous projects the U.S. has undertaken overseas — embassies, military bases, etc. — which drain our resources. (Foreign Read more ›
Why More Women Don’t Ride Bikes (And What We Can Do About It)
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
In the last decade, biking has exploded in popularity (in fact, as our commenters recently demonstrated, it’s even gaining support over driving as a primary form of transportation). Yet one stubborn fact has plagued the cycling ranks since, well, since Read more ›
The Morning Dig: Electric Car Jackpot Edition
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
• Denmark is offering a minimum $40,000 tax break on each new electric car. The Danes are uniquely suited to take advantage of an enormous wind power industry for electric; the question is whether people are willing to make the Read more ›
The Evening Dig: “Beauty and the Bike” Edition
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
• In the U.K., a book/documentary/bike-share program called “Beauty and the Bike” portrays the rediscovery of cycling by young women (who often shun bikes — more on this later) as a “liberating” process. (Northern Echo) • A spokesman for the Read more ›
Dubai: So Long, and Thanks For All the Infrastructure
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
. Yes, it’s ostentatious. Yes, it’s unsustainable. And yes, it’s teetering under billions of dollars of debt that it can’t pay back. But as much as we’ve secretly taken pleasure in its fall, we can’t deny that Dubai is an Read more ›
The Daily Dig: Critter Crossing Edition
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
• Secretary LaHood floated an increase in the gas tax as a way to pay for a robust transportation bill. The idea was taboo under Bush, but now LaHood wants Congress to consider increasing it gradually over time. (Star-Telegram) • Read more ›
