Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.

Are Dense Weho Developments a Problem Without Subway? (WeHo Daily)

WeHo Daily asks the question in response to a flurry of media stories painting planned mixed use developments in WeHo as the catalyst for a traffic nightmare without the subway. WeHo Daily takes a somewhat contrarian view on the matter – noting that even without the subway denser, mixed-use development may be just what’s needed to keep WeHo residents out of their cars.

Subways Threaten LA’s Residential Character (CityWatch)

Richard Lee Abrams continues his fight against the Westside subway over at CityWatch. In this article he presents Angelenos with a dire choice: do you want a home for your family or a subway? Abrams believes that “nice residential neighborhoods” and subways are incompatible due to the density required to make subways an effective investment. Abrams presents one interesting observation: the density of the planned mixed-use development along the 9.5-mile Westside subway is the equivalent of 225 miles of single family homes. Sounds like a good solution to sprawl to me.

Rapid bus transit a cheaper alternative to rail (Marketplace)

Marketplace takes a look at a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Cleveland. It cost $200 million (an equivalent rail line would have cost four times that) and has spurred an estimated $4 billion in development investment around the line. While buses still carry the stigma of being, well, buses in the general populace, BRT lines could be the way to bridge that  gap and offer a rail-like experience with bus-like infrastructure costs. The cost savings is something cash-strapped transit agencies like a lot — and even the Federal Transit Adminsrtation has asked agencies to consider BRT over rail.