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.

Putting the mute in commute (Boston Globe)

In response to passenger complaints about other noisy passengers, the T is trying something novel: a quiet car on some of its lines in which riders are encouraged to act like they’re in a library. In other words, no loud music leaking out of headphones, no jabbering on cell phones and no sustained conversations with other passengers. What do you think, Metro Rail passengers?

Time running out for development on Little Tokyo lot (blogdowntown)

A 5.6-acre plot on the northeast corner of Alameda and First in Little Tokyo — which is adjacent to the Gold Line station — will likely need a new developer if anything is to get build there. A large mixed-use development was planned but it appears that the economy has tanked that for now and the city of Los Angeles will need to search for a new developer.

Putting cost of high-speed rail in perspective (Urban Insights LA)

Blogger Adam Christian crunches the numbers and reports that the cost per mile of the 65-mile segment of bullet train tracks to be built between Borden and Corcoran in the San Joaquin Valley is less than bullet train tracks in other countries. His calculation required taking cost estimates from this 2005 British report on high-speed rail and making a bunch of conversations. Even if his calculations are not precise, his work suggests that California’s bullet train may be expensive, but not more so than in other countries.

Schools chief plans to fight subway (Beverly Hills Patch)

Lisa Korbatov, the incoming president of the Beverly Hills Unified School District, says in an interview that her top priority will be ensuring the Westside Subway Extension doesn’t tunnel under Beverly Hills High School. Of course, the decision on the route in that part of town has yet to be made.

New tower approved for Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood (Curbed LA)

The City Council gave the okay Wednesday to a 29-story tower at Wilshire & Gayley in Westwood that would either be a hotel or condo building. And it will be adjacent to the Westside Subway Extension station in the area — whether it’s built at Wilshire & Westwood or under UCLA parking lot 36.