Transportation headlines, Wednesday, Nov. 11

Wilshire bus lane projectI’ve long argued that when planning mass transit, the most important thing to many people — especially those who have the option to drive — is to make sure that mass transit is competitive time-wise with the car. That’s why I encourage all transit planners to read Lina Chung’s opinion piece in the Daily Bruin about the proposed Wilshire bus lanes.
Chung supports the lanes and explains why: her two-mile bus ride  and walk to UCLA was such a time-muncher — often taking 45 minutes or more — that she found carpooling was more efficient. Chung supports the bus lane project — it’s in the environmental study phase — and says it will make for more efficient commutes to campus for students. She also doesn’t buy the arguments of bus lane critics that it will worsen auto traffic on Wilshire and only provide a tiny improvement to the time that bus travel requires. The bus lanes, by the way, are being designed for use during the rush hours and not at all times.
I got a hoot out of Wired’s piece on “road trains” — when cars with common destinations come together nose-to-end and travel together on freeways. The lead car controls the ones behind it using high-tech gizmos. I laughed because, well, let’s just say I’m extremely skeptical this can be done without causing NASCAR-style pileups.
There are, however, some interesting developments in the car-to-car communications world. The New York Times’ Wheels blog looks at a device that warns subscribers of places where police are stationed to look for traffic violations. I wonder how much of a market there really is for such services — I’d rather know about traffic conditions.
Here’s the full list of today’s headlines, courtesy of the take-no-prisoners Metro library:

All Aboard For A Tour Of Little Tokyo And East L.A. — Next Stop: Foodie Nirvana
Los Angeles Times

Are Wireless Road Trains The Cure For Traffic Congestion?
Fast Company

“Clever Commute” A Clever Idea For Easing Traffic Pains: A Crowdsourcing Success
Oh My Gov!

Connecting Cars To Avoid Speeding Tickets
New York Times

CSULB Gets Grant To Improve Ocean Transport
Long Beach Press-Telegram

DASH Restructuring: Prologue
MetroRider LA

Gold line To East Los Angeles To Open This Weekend
Pasadena Star-News

LA Hikes Taxes To Fund Jobs Program (Transcript of “Your World With Neil Cavuto” interview with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, including Measure R discussion)
Fox News

LA New Transportation Plan: Too Westside Oriented?
KCET

L.A. Underperforms In Stimulus Grant Awards, City Councilman Wants Answers
USC Annenberg Digital News

Metro’s Bus-Only Lane Project Will Increase Efficiency And Reduce High Traffic, Smog
Daily Bruin

Mixed Reviews On Crenshaw Corridor LRT Plan From Community Leaders
LA StreetsBlog

MTA Backs Light Rail For Crenshaw Corridor: Proposed Line Would Run From Exposition Boulevard To Near LAX — Rail Would Offer A Faster, Cleaner Alternative To Buses, Supporters Say
Los Angeles Times

Omnitrans Envisions Inland Rapid Bus Lines
Contra Costa Times

Planes, Trains, And Automobiles: Transportation @ MIT Rethinks Everything
Architecture Boston

Port Of Los Angeles Environmental Team Earns Top Honors for San Pedro Waterfront Document
Journal Of Commerce

Project Would Shut Streets For Cyclists
ABC-7

Riding Public Transit Saves Individuals $9,190 Annually: Yearly Transit Savings Over $250 Higher Than This Time Last Year
APTA

Santa Monica Pier To Be Named Route 66’s Western Point
LAist

Will L.A. Have Its Ciclovia? Signs Are Pointing To Yes
LA StreetsBlog

With Road Trains, Highways Become Public Transportation
Wired

Without A Car In The World Public Program 3: Walking In LA With DJ Waldie Tonight
LA StreetsBlog

Work On 405 Carpool Lane To Begin In January
Daily News

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