The transit and TOD news items below are collected daily by Jeff Wood, Reconnecting America’s GIS specialist and a passionate transit advocate. Jeff distributes a daily email newsletter plus commentary to members of Reconnecting America (to join visit our Get Connected page). The first five articles from Jeff’s newsletter (which sometimes contains as many as two dozen links) are posted here without his commentary.
Salt Lake City: Transit, Density Concern Citizens
Salt Lake Tribune
While areas of this South Davis County community adjacent to the freeway have exploded with big-box growth, the future of the city's old Main Street is in question. For several months, city planners have worked with consultants and the community to refine a land-use plan for the one-mile corridor between Parrish and Pages Lanes...
Read On
(September 2, 2010)
Quote of the Day
Salt Lake Tribune
Resident Lynn Sessions drew hearty applause by suggesting that Main Street should be allowed to revert to single-family dwellings.
Read On
(September 2, 2010)
National: Recession Weakens NIMBY Resistance
Costar
Even as the level of new development and construction has fallen to historic lows nationally, a recent study suggests that recession-stung Americans appear to be more willing to support new commercial projects in their communities. ..
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(September 1, 2010)
Quote of the Day
Donald Shoup
Does the Antiplanner, who is "dedicated to the sunset of government planning," really believe that government planners know exactly how many parking spaces to require for every economic activity at every site in every city, no matter how much the required parking spaces may cost and no matter how little drivers may be willing to pay to use them?
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(September 1, 2010)
Illinois: Legislators Don't Want Slow HSR
Chicago Tribune
A revolt is building against what some public officials mistakenly consider high-speed rail. You can't blame anybody who has experienced riding aboard bullet trains for being completely unimpressed by the current goal to have passenger trains traverse the Midwest at top speeds of 110 mph, up from 79 mph on Amtrak today...
(August 31, 2010)
National: Transit Easier to Predict with Smart Phones
USA Today
This issue of Community Investments explores the growing practice of transit-oriented development (TOD) and its implications for community development. The articles provide an introduction to basic TOD concepts and also explore issues such as how transit affects economic opportunities for LMI workers and the interrelationship between transit and schools...
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(August 31, 2010)
Blogosphere: A Different Model for Transit Lines
Next American City + Must Read
Blame Portland. Before Oregon's biggest city had the gall to spend its own money constructing a streetcar line running through downtown, few were particularly interested in bringing back what was considered, for better or worse, an antiquated mode of transportation....
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(August 31, 2010)
Quote of the Day
Charlotte Business Journal
"The whole plan is a mess. We've got to go back to scratch here. I am totally in favor of transit, but I'm not in favor of investing in idiotic ideas."
Read On
(August 31, 2010)
International: The Brewing European HSR War
Economist
AT THE Gare de l'Est in Paris, Franco-German co-operation seems on track. Deutsche Bahn inter-city express (ICE) trains glide in from Frankfurt and SNCF sends trains deep into Germany, thanks to a joint venture between the two firms. Every train has a French and a German controller on board...
(August 30, 2010)
National: Family Urban Apts Would Help Smart Growth
Washington Post
If you are a middle-class family with school-age children interested in urban rather than suburban living, and if you prefer an apartment rather than a house, then your chances of finding a dwelling that meets your needs are practically zero...
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(August 30, 2010)
