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 Transportation Headlines online newspaper, which you can also access viaemail subscription (visit the newspaper site) or RSS feed.
BART photo by Peter Ehrlich/Flickr
BART strike: Commuters find creative ways to get to work (Los Angeles Times)
In Oakland, news helicopters began rumbling overhead by 4 a.m. today, assessing the mounting congestion on the tangle of freeways that feed the Bay Bridge because of the BART strike … the first of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in 16 years.
Here’s an amazing redesign of the L.A. freeway map (Curbed L.A.)
Admittedly, we’re more into bus and rail maps than highways but we have to admit that this is pretty cool. Boston-based designer Peter Dunn decided to try his hand at creating a new map of LA’s highway system to include 31 freeways, 75 interchanges and more than 850 exits. (Who knew we had that many?)
Big Blue Bus to operate Sunday schedule July 4 (Santa Monica Mirror)
Heads up, beach lovers. Our good friend the Big Blue Bus will still be available for transport to the ocean on the Fourth (along with a variety of Metro buses, including 720 Rapid down Wilshire Blvd.) but make sure you check the schedule before leaving home. In fact, check all transit schedules, since some others may be running on holiday/Sunday times … as Metro is.
Don’t text and walk: Pedestrians step in front of trains (USA Today)
It’s happening with increasing frequency around the nation: Someone distracted by his or her cellphone. “What we are seeing in subway environments are people preoccupied, distracted with their electronic devices, coming too close and in some cases falling off subway platforms,” says Greg Hull, vice president for public safety, operations and technical services at the American Public Transportation Association. In addition, he says, “people are putting themselves at risk as pedestrians when they cross at grade crossings, be it light rail or commuter rail.” Please don’t.
Categories: Transportation Headlines
Government workers have absolutely no right to strike for their own selfish financial gain. They are paid by us taxpayers, therefore they work and answer to us.
[…] Source Article from http://thesource.metro.net/2013/07/01/transportation-headlines-monday-july-1/ […]
The BART strike presents a contrived situation that lets us observe crisis management in action. Among other things, it’s the first real test for the Water Emergency Transportation Authority [www.watertransit.org].
It’s fascinating to see all the opportunists coming out of the woodwork: everything from ridesharing services to bail bondsmen (advertising discounts for union members).
BART labor and management both claim they’d like to see a swift resolution; things are likely to turn ugly if the service disruption drags on for any length of time. (The brutal heat wave isn’t helping matters.) While I agree with a few things the striking unions are asking for (like restoring the station restrooms that were closed during the post-9/11 hysteria), this is really about people who already enjoy excessive compensation, and unparalleled benefits, making some truly outlandish demands.
There are still a few variables left in this experiment (e.g. ATU-represented AC Transit workers could join the picket lines).
A thought, given this “teachable moment”: Transit strikes in the mid-1960s led to New York’s Taylor Law, which effectively penalizes striking public employees two days pay for every day they walk off the job. Perhaps it’s time for California to consider enacting similar legislation.