Transportation headlines, Thursday, Dec. 10

by Fred Camino , December 10, 2009

The Pasadena Star-News throws in its support for the Downtown Regional Connector project now that the Gold Line Foothill Extension is becoming a reality. The paper supports the idea proposed by Metro that each of the five subregions in L.A. county pay one-fifth of the start-up costs. It seems as if the idea of a seamless ride from deep in the San Gabriel Valley to the heart of Downtown (maybe with a stop at Disney Hall, please?) is an attractive idea to the paper. I can’t say I disagree.

Here’s an innovative idea out of Toronto to help promote transit ridership and boost downtown condo sales. The city recently passed a law that requires condos in central Toronto to give new buyers one year of free transit rides. In the future the city would like the to up the requirement to four years of free transit. Toronto officials say it doesn’t cost the condo builders anything because they can buy transit passes in bulk at a discount and write the expense off on their taxes. Plus, more people riding transit means less parking spaces, another high cost item of condo builders. Toronto is the first city in the world with such a law.

What goes around comes around. The Infrastructurist takes a look at the growing interest in streetcar lines across the United States. There are now more than 40 cities that are working on creating streetcar lines, Los Angeles is included amongst these cities. In the first half of the 20th century L.A. had over 1,100 miles of streetcar track.

The rest of the headlines after the jump. Don’t forget you can follow the Metro Library on Facebook and Twitter.

Board Delays Diesel Rules
Sacramento Bee

Buy A Condominium In Toronto, Get One Year Of Free Transit Rides (new city law requires all condos purchases to come with public transit passes)
Digital Journal

Cargo Bikes: Go Ahead And Bring The Kitchen Sink
National Public Radio

Cities For Cycling (project launch to catalog, promote and implement the world’s best bicycle transportation practices in American municipalities)
National Association Of City Transportation Officials

Clearing Up Los Angeles Traffic Myths
CBS2

Diagram For Route 2 “Hybrid” Option Unveiled Before Tomorrow’s Metro Vote
LA StreetsBlog

Dubai? No, Condo Glut’s Stalling Grand Avenue
Los Angeles Business Journal

The Future Of American Streetcars: Are They Coming To Your City?
Infrastructurist

Grand Ave Project Should Be Abandoned, Says Planner
Curbed LA

House And Senate Agree On $2.5B For High-Speed Rail – And More
DC StreetsBlog

Is The U.S. In A Superproject Void?
Infrastructurist

The Jobs Bill: Transit Operations Funding Will Save Green Jobs
EDF Way2Go

Just 15% Favor Higher Gas Tax To Fund More Transportation Projects
Rasmussen Reports

A Message From Copenhagen: Climate Plan Must Include Walkable Urbanism
LA StreetsBlog

More Sharrows Appear, This Time In Glendale
LA StreetsBlog

Our View: Regional Connector Will Link Up Our Region
Pasadena Star-News

Pedaling Toward National Bicycle Planning Guidelines
The City Fix