Curbed LA reports that the Expo Line Construction Authority is working with the Los Angeles Police Department to restore its right to work around-the-clock, when necessary. The LAPD revoked Expo’s night-time work permit recently amid noise complaints.

The downtown streetcar project championed by Los Angeles Councilman Jose Huizar, who is also a Metro Board member, has applied for a $25 million federal grant that recently became available, according to blogdowntown. The line would run along Broadway and other streets and is expected to cost about $100 million. If all the money can be secured, backers hope to open the line by 2014. Here’s a link to a set of three maps showing possible routes on the L.A. Streetcar website.

The Pasadena Star News’ editorial board praises Metro CEO Art Leahy and Board Chairman Ara Najarian (the Glendale City Councilman) for helping move along the Foothill Extension of the Gold Line toward a hopeful June groundbreaking. The editorial correctly notes that relations between Metro and the Foothill Construction Authority — an independent agency created to build the line — have mostly been less than cordial over the years but a confluence of factors has seemingly changed  that. I hope they’re right. A divided Los Angeles County delegation in Congress will not help secure federal funding for any Metro project.

The rest of today’s transportation headlines, compiled by the Metro library, are after the jump.
AASHTO Stimulus Report Omits Jobs Data Comparing Transit With Roads
DC StreetsBlog

Advocates Love The Bicycling Backbone Network
LA StreetsBlog

Alternate Ways To Fund U.S. Transportation System (Congress should take the opportunity provided by the pending re-authorization of the federal transportation bill to consider new ways to fund the U.S. transportation system, shifting from indirect fees such as fuel taxes to ones that charge drivers directly for the miles they travel)
Rand Corporation
Report Summary (14p. PDF)
Full-Text Report (151p. PDF)

Boxer, LaHood, Coming To Metro To Discuss Transportation Funding Bill
LA StreetsBlog

CA Senate Democrats Include HSR In Jobs Package: Will US Senate Dems Do It Too?
California High Speed Rail Blog

Caltrans Picks New Boss For L.A. And Ventura Counties
Los Angeles Times

The Clean Air Act’s Investment Returns Rival Warren Buffet’s
National Resources Defense Council Switchboard
EPA Study Abstract (2p. PDF)
Full-Text EPA Study

Expo Authority Finds Compromise, Has A Lot Of Work To Do
LA Curbed

Free Airport Wi-Fi Takes Off (advertising and sponsorship may be the future for transportation-related hot-spots)
USA Today

The Gas Tax Versus A VMT Tax: Is “All Of The Above” An Option?
DC StreetsBlog

Gold Line Station Ceremony (sign unveiled to mark location of future Aracadia station)
Arcadia’s Best

Governor Gearing Up To Sell Ads On Freeway Electronic Signs
Sacramento Bee

L.A. County 10 Years Later: “A Tale Of Two Cities, One Future” Unveils Threatened Social And Economic Climate In County
United Way Of Greater Los Angeles

OCTA To Axe 130 Jobs, Cut Bus Service In March, Likely Cut More Service In September
TransitRiderOC

Officials Say No To Parking Plan: Proposed Bill Steps On Local Transportation Administrators’ Toes, Leaders Say
Glendale News Press

Our View: Keeping Gold Line Extension On Track
Pasadena Star-News

Ports Of L.A., Long Beach Expected To see Imports Surge: National Retail Federation Forecasts A Jump In Imports Of As Much As 28% For The First Half Of 2010 As The Economy Recovers
Los Angeles Times

Proposal Would Lower Fines For Red-Light Violations In L.A.: Councilman Says Drivers’ Fines Will Go Down And City Revenue Will Go Up If The City Processes Its Own Tickets
Los Angeles Times

Quantifying The Value Of Biking
GOOD

Streetcar Sends $25 Million Request To Feds (Los Angeles Streetcar)
Blog Downtown