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Monthly archive for March, 2011
Rush Hour Read: New Study Says Florida High-Speed Rail Line Would Have Been Very Profitable
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Florida’s high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando, originally set to be the model for the nation, has come and gone. But interest in the project continues to have an afterlife. A new posthumous report on the line, released by Read more ›
New Research: Do Cities Foster Positive Social Behavior?
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
There may be some debate about whether or not cities are gaining or losing population. What is clear from the academic literature, however, is that cities stimulate innovation and economic productivity. Previous research has shown that the larger a metropolitan Read more ›
The Morning Dig: The ‘Mad Men’ Come to Bat for High-Speed Rail
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Mad Men On Trains from Rich Sommer • Vincent Kartheiser and Rich Somme, two actors from the hit TV show Mad Men, have made a cool video (above) to sell Americans on the benefits of HSR. • Because of the Read more ›
Want to Save $825 This Month? Ride Public Transit
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
With gas prices near $3.50 and rising, the American Public Transportation Association took the opportunity to calculate how much Americans can save by switching to public transportation. Based on fuel costs of March 4, 2011, those savings average out to Read more ›
The Morning Dig: Making the Case for High-Speed Rail in the Northeast
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Why Build High-Speed Rail in the Northeast? from Regional Plan Association on Vimeo. • A video (above) from the Regional Planning Association lays out the case for high-speed rail where we arguably need it most. • Thousands celebrated Mardi Gras Read more ›
Rush Hour Read: High-Speed Rail Could Topple Michelangelo’s David
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Apparently Michelangelo’s David isn’t as solid as he looks. The 16th century masterpiece has many small cracks, particularly at its ankles. Various experts fear that the planned construction of a high-speed rail tunnel in Florence, where the statue resides, could Read more ›
George Will (and Others) Playing Politics With Transportation
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Last week we told you that George Will considers high-speed rail not just a bad investment for the United States, but also a step toward the ultimate liberal goal of “diminishing Americans’ individualism.” (A simple “wrong” would have done just Read more ›
The Morning Dig: The Heartbreaking Rise of Homeless Children
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
• A very sad 60 Minutes piece (video above) tells the story of the recession’s effect on children, leading to record numbers of homeless kids. • Northern New England and New York were affected on Monday by heavy late-winter snows Read more ›
Are Cities Gaining or Losing Population?
Monday, March 7th, 2011
People are leaving the suburbs and returning to the cities. That is the conventional urbanist wisdom right now. As Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan said last year, America has “reached the limits of suburban development.” But emerging 2010 Census data reveal Read more ›
The Morning Dig: Skyrocketing Gas Prices Brutalize Drivers
Monday, March 7th, 2011
• Drivers who live in the exurbs are feeling the pain of rising gas prices, caused by the crisis in Libya. (WSJ) (AP) • A Cairo architecture professor discusses the design of the famous Tahrir, or Liberation Square in an Read more ›
The World’s 10 Tallest Towers Under Construction
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Earlier this week the Architectural Record posted a slideshow of the tallest buildings going up around the world. Tall new buildings are great for cities, as the above picture suggests, because they immediately bestow serenity and greenery upon their surroundings, Read more ›
The Morning Dig: New York Stock Exchange Sold to Germans
Friday, March 4th, 2011
• A video (above) provides a view of LA from a plane traversing the city as it makes its way to LAX. • Some city residents are marking the sale of the New York Stock Exchange, an “icon” of Manhattan, Read more ›
Rush Hour Read: Japan Considers Paying Half of California High-Speed Rail Costs
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Japan certainly enjoys a good bullet train. Now it wants to make sure California does too — so much so, that it appears willing to foot a significant portion of the state’s high-speed rail bill. Japan’s ambassador to the United Read more ›
New Reports: Americans Drove 3 Trillion Miles in 2010; Fix-It-First Means Smart Road Spending
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
America’s roadways may be getting older, but they’re still as active as ever. Last year drivers in the United States racked up nearly 3 trillion vehicle-miles traveled. That’s 20.5 billion miles more than were driven the previous year. It’s also Read more ›
The Morning Dig: The Deadly Results of Distracted Driving
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
• A relatively new video (above) provides a powerful look at the serious consequences when drivers text behind the wheel and neglect to focus their eyes on the road. • An article profiles the janitors of the Wisconsin State Capitol Read more ›
Top World Bank Economist: U.S. Should Invest in Infrastructure
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
In a recent report, the McKinsey institute argued that America’s poor infrastructure is holding back its economic development. The top economist at the World Bank, Justin Lin, appears to agree. Earlier this week Lin said playing catch-up with China’s infrastructure Read more ›
The Morning Dig: 2,000 Squatters in Venezuelan Skyscraper
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
• A video (above) and article describe how and why a 45-story skyscraper in Venezuela is being used by more than 2,000 squatters, showcasing the country’s severe housing crisis. (NYT) • While there’s a perception that America has lost its Read more ›
Public Poll Shows Bipartisan Support for Public Rail Funding
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
“How do you feel about state funds being used for High-speed Rail” As transportation minds over at the National Journal continue to debate the cancellation of Florida’s high-speed rail project — which, strictly speaking, remains on life support — the Read more ›
The Morning Dig: The Hidden Dangers of Natural Gas Drilling
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
• An investigation into how fracking causes tainted waters to be dumped in the nation’s rivers. (NYT) • A new mine in the Mojave Desert is ramping up production of rare earth metals, which are critical for powering green technology Read more ›
