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.

Mass transit connector to LAX moves forward, but should it? (KCET SoCal Focus)

A provocative post from writer Matthew Fleischer argues that connecting the Crenshaw/LAX line and Green Line to LAX’s central terminal area is an overly expensive proposition given that the Metro Rail network doesn’t have enough reach to deliver the masses to the airport. What’s needed to justify the cost of something like a people mover, he writes, is a north-south 405 line connecting LAX to the San Fernando Valley and connecting with the future Westside Subway Extension and Expo Lines.

Measure R/710 lawsuit rejected (Neon Tommy)

An appeals court judge last week ruled that it was legal for Measure R to provide funding for a project to alleviate traffic in the area of the 710 gap between Pasadena and Alhambra. The cities of South Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge had sued, alleging that it was illegal for Measure R to set aside $780 million for the project without having done an environmental review. The gist of the ruling is that providing funding for a potential project is legal as long as proper environmental review is done. That makes sense, as Measure R — like many other similar measures across the nation — raised funds for projects that could only be built after they endured a long state or federal environmental process.

Growth and the Washington Metro (The Transport Politic)

A very smart post looks at development patterns and population growth near new Metro stations in the DC area and finds…in many cases, there has been relatively little growth. The conclusion: “In the case of many of these stations, land was not available, zoning was not free enough, and the neighborhoods were not attractive enough to see substantial change, at least over the past ten years.” Not surprisingly, the blog urges better planning efforts since building transit isn’t exactly a cheap proposition.