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 Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.
Public transit celebrates near record year but is D.C. listening? (Politico)
Last year was a good one for transit — ridership in the U.S. was the second highest since 1957 even with Hurricane Sandy sidelining service on the East Coast for a time. The question Politico poses: while cities and states continue to pursue transit, will politicians in D.C. come along for the ride?
New trends could mean fewer international flights to LAX (Daily News)
LAX is a busy airport and likely to remain busy for years to come with flights to many international airports. But this is also true: with little investment in its infrastructure for two decades until recently, LAX is facing competition from many smaller airports that now can handle overseas flights thanks to new, more efficient airplanes.
Closer look at DTLA’s streetcar-adjacent Olympic/Hill development (Curbed LA)
The new mixed-use development will help fill in a stretch of South Park that’s riddled with parking lots — supplying far more parking to the area than is actually needed. Curbed points out the building will be on downtown’s streetcar route, which they see as a near certainty. Perhaps — but it will require the feds ponying up $60-million-plus at a time when D.C. and Congress is struggling to achieve much on the transportation front.
Categories: Transportation Headlines
Last I heard, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was having problems with the batteries overheating causing sudden fires. I think for the time being people will still continue to fly what’s safe than risking being in an airplane that catches fire midair.
Link for the LAX headline is broken.
Hi David;
Thanks for heads up. It’s fixed — and here’s correct link: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22774767/new-trends-could-mean-fewer-international-flights-at
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
I am glad that public transit is doing better. Its a huge sign that people are fed up with literally burning off dollars. My economics are rather dusty, but if i’m not mistaken, in this climate cars are good to be sold, however it is a double edged sword since they can suck up so many consumer dollars with gas, maintanance, etc.
It would seem that politicians would rather have people spend less on travel, and more on consumption; i.e. nights out to the movies, shopping etc (spending in more areas of commerce). While sprawl may have super sized our economy from the 70s,80s,90s, and early 2000s, the new generation just doesn’t seem to want to live that way in my opinion. Many would rather take a train into the city, connect, stay over night, and make it a small vacation. That really pumps dollars into cities. Ive stated this before; if agencies realize public transit is not just for people to get to work, you’ll find more people taking these mini vacations from say L.A. to San Juan Capistrano, or vice versa.
The only way cities like Riverside, San Bernardino, Palm Springs, etc will see a better boom, is when people don’t have to drive to these places, and can be entertained upon their arrival, but first we must make the trip and destinations more attractive. So hopefully Washington can look at areas like Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, New York (with its almost century long success), or the eastern sea board for that matter seem to understand, people will use it if it is there, and if it makes economical sense.
Stalling dollars will just keep people at home, since gas gets ridiculous, and most systems, with the exception of the east, have horrible options. I also feel the east has the best transit due to its age, and close proximity to the capital of our country. So lets get building, put people to work, get people to work, and get people out to have a good time.