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.

Tackling transportation’s triple-threat to the nation (NRDC Switchboard)

NRDC Federal Transportation Policy Director Deron Lovaas recommends adopting a “fix-it-first” rule, requiring that funding goes to repairing current transportation infrastructure before we build new highways. He would also like to see a national oil conservation program and innovating financing for passenger and freight rail.

Give cyclists 3 feet…drive bike friendly (Be a Green Commuter)

Source contributor Sirinya sent along word that UCLA is launching its own bicycling safety and awareness campaign called “Give Cyclists 3 feet…Drive Bike Friendly.” The program represents a partnership with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. At the state level, State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) is introducing a bill that would legally require motorists to give bikes at least 3 feet of passing distance.

$1 Million for streetcar project up for council vote on Friday (Blogdowntown)

On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council will vote on allocating $1 million to the proposed downtown streetcar’s preliminary engineering and environmental impact reports. The money would come from the city’s annual take of Measure R “local return” funds. Those are the funds that are sent back to all 88 cities in L.A. County each year for local transportation projects.