U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood often doesn’t mince words — as people who attended last month’s town hall meeting with him at Metro headquarters already know. So when airline officials complained to him recently about so much federal money going to high-speed rail — which they view as potential competition — LaHood offered this advice: “People want alternatives. People are still going to fly, but we need alternatives. So get with the program.’’ Wall Street Journal
The combined impacts of state budget cuts, declining ridership and falling sales tax revenues has resulted in more reductions in bus service run by the Orange County Transportation Authority, reports the Register. It’s a story that seems frequently repeated across California these days.
Speaking of high-speed rail, Chinese officials want to build a network of lines that connects London, Shanghai and Singapore, with stops in India and Pakistan, reports the Telegraph. If built, officials say it will take two days to travel between London and Shanghai, a journey of more than 5,000 miles.
The rest of today’s headlines, collected and disseminated by the Metro library, reside after the jump.
Los Angeles Times
Archiving Angeles: Wilshire & Crenshaw (1934 photo)MetBlogs LA
Bikes Are More Than A Part Of Life, They Are A Way Of Living (Initiative of Bikes Belong is gathering a million names of support, to speak with one powerful voice – to make bicycling safer, more convenient and appealing for everyone)
People For Bikes
Budget Cuts Could Curtail Street Service: Repair, Cleaning Of Roadways May Be Affected
Los Angeles Daily News
Bus Service Between Union Station And Dodger Stadium Is Back
LAist
Could Shamu Station Be Around Bend? Transit Officials Weigh Selling Naming Rights
San Diego Union-Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Downtown Streetcar Campaign, Downtown Park At Ninth And Hill
Curbed LA
Early Estimate Of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities In 2009 (If projections are realized, fatalities will be lowest since record-keeping began in 1954; 2p. PDF)
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Expo Authority Says It Will “Vigorously” Defend Line In Lawsuit
Curbed LA
How L.A. Could Build 12 Major Transit Projects In 10 Years
LAist
Is 2010 The Year For Federal Bike Aid? The Answer: A Big “Maybe”
StreetsBlog DC
It’s Lights Out For Late-Night Bus Service
Orange County Register
King’s Cross To Beijing In Two Days On New High-Speed Rail Network (China announces ambitious plan to build high-speed rail across Asia and Europe to England)
Telegraph (London)
LaHood To Airlines: Get Onboard The High-Speed Rail
Wall Street Journal
Map Of The Day: What Streets Have Been Repaved So Far This Year? (liberating city data for residents)
LAist
Nine Years Later, Angels Flight Opening To Riders
Curbed LA
Los Angeles Times
Opposition Intensifies For 710 Freeway Tunnel Plan
Los Angeles Times
Panelists Stress Need to Constantly Monitor 24-Hour News Cycle
AASHTO Journal
Petition To Kill California’s Anti-Pollution Legislation Is Off To A Rocky, Slimy Start
Huffington Post
Ray LaHood Rocks Summit Crowd With Tabletop Speech
Bike Portland
Redevelopment Field Trip: Past, Present & Future (Past: Old Town Pasadena; Present: Los Angeles Downtown Arts & Old Bank Districts; Future: North Hollywood)
California Planning & Development Report
Testifying On Our 30/10 Plan (Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa)
Huffington Post
Think Renewables Need Huge Subsidies? Federal Energy Subsidies Visualized (President Obama has proposed eliminating federal subsidies for fossil fuels in 2011, but for now they’re still a $72 billion piece of the pie. Solar, wind and geothermal? $12.2 billion)
Ecopolitology
Train To (Near) LAX To Begin Exploratory Drilling On Monday
LAist
Transit Authority Responds To Lawsuit Against Train From Culver City To Santa Monica
LAist
Categories: Transportation News