A study by DePaul University found that people are so in love with their wi-fi that they can be lured into taking the bus if they know that means they can surf the internet during said bus trip, so says the Chicago Sun Times. In case you missed the recent news, Metro is moving ahead with plans to allow cell phone companies provide service in the subway. That means you can read witty posts like this — or slay your Facebook friends at Scrabble while going to work!
First, the Kings are toppled by the Sharks last night and now this news: in San Jose, commuters are choosing their cars over mass transit because gas prices are down (really?), transit fares are up, transit service is less frequent and traffic is down thanks to the Great Recession, according to the Mercury News. More folks are working from home to save money, a shift in habits I cannot criticize.
The Legislature’s nonpartisan analyst took a look at the business plan recently put together by the California High Rail Authority and found a criticism: what if 41 million people don’t ride the bullet train each year? Can the line stay solvent with fewer riders? The analyst sound skeptical. LAT’s L.A. Now blog has the news.
The rest of today’s headlines, compiled by the Metro library, are after the jump.
2010 High-Speed Rail In The United States: An International Practicum On System Implementation (Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles : February 11-13, 2010)
APTA
Ballot Initiative Barring State From Taking Local Funds Gains Steam
Daily Breeze
Beyond Neo-Victorianism: A Call For Design Diversity (advocating a return to the post-war mixed-use districts that provided pedestrian scale but encouraged automobiles and parking)
New Geography
Buses, Trains Are Plugging In To The Times With Wi-Fi
Chicago Sun-Times
City Attorney To Weigh Options On Bicyclist Anti-Harassment Ordinance
LAist
City Council Public Safety Committee Blows Easy Chance To Support Cyclists
LA StreetsBlog
Commuters Are Leaving Mass Transit For Their Cars, And They Have Their Reasons
San Jose Mercury News
Concerns Raised As Expo Rail Construction Continues
USC Daily Trojan
Editorial: L.A. Needs A Long-Term Plan – The Poorly Managed City Needs A Road Map For The Future For Land Use, For Its Government Workforce And For Finances
Los Angeles Times
Final Draft Of APTA 2010-2014 Strategic Plan Available For Member Comment
APTA
Full-text report of The First Steps To Transitvision 2050 (31p. PDF)
Full 405 Freeway Closures Begin Early Wednesday Morning
LAist
High-Speed Rail Plan Flawed, Says Legislature’s Financial Analyst
Los Angeles Times
LADOT Outlines Massive Cuts, Fare Hikes, For DASH
LA StreetsBlog
LADOT Recommends Cutting 11 Bus Lines, Doubling Cash Fares
LAist
More Cuts To O.C. Bus Service Might Be In Store
Orange County Register
MTA Bus Drivers Indicted
Culver City News
Obama Administration Working On Its Own Six-Year Transportation Bill
LA StreetsBlog
On The Subway In Their Skivvies: No Pants Day 2010
LAist
A Picture Is Worth: Advertising By Amtrak In TSA Security Line
Treehugger
Schwarzenegger Budget Tallies $397 Million From Traffic Camera Tickets
Sacramento Bee
Stop Yawning And Start Building Trains And Other Infrastructure
Huffington Post
Time Warner Cable Offers Customers A Solution To Southern California’s Traffic Woes
Triangle Software
Wave Of Imports Lifts Ports: Cargo Volume In December, Including At L.A. And Long Beach Facilities, Suggests A Recovery Is Underway
Los Angeles Times
White House And Congress Take Issue With AP’s Transport Stimulus Claims
DC StreetsBlog
World Warming To Greener Train Travel
CNN
Categories: Transportation News