Today’s Headlines
U.S. Needs Long Term Vision for Stimulus Spending on Transpo Infrastructure (Bloomberg) Oberstar: Transit Pushed Aside for Tax Cuts in Stimulus Bill (TPM) House Stimulus Bill Would Give CA $2.8B for Roads, $950M for Transit (LA Times) Schwarzenegger lobbies DC for CA Tailpipe Restrictions, Enviros Thrilled (NY Times) Chronicle Editorial Supports Gov’s Bid to Enforce … Continued
January 23, 2009
Today’s Headlines
LaHood Gets Softball Questions at Confirmation Hearing (WaPo, NYT, AP) Senate Coalition to Push for More Transit Funding in Stimulus Bill (Open Left) CA High Speed Rail Chair Calls for Better Commuter Rail at Transpo Forum (NL Times) Schwarzenegger Asks Obama for Tougher Tailpipe Emissions Restrictions (SF Gate) SFO Launches “Green” Rental Car Program, Incentives … Continued
January 22, 2009
Drivers Are Running the Red Light at Fell/Masonic, Imperiling Cyclists
Last September, San Francisco's city attorney asked Judge Peter Busch to allow an exemption to the long-standing bicycle injunction so the MTA could improve the city’s second most dangerous intersection for cyclists, where Fell Street meets Masonic Street. Even after the MTA adjusted signalization and gave cyclists a separate green light, cars are running the red light and hitting cyclists.
January 21, 2009
Unlocking San Francisco’s Privately Owned Public Open Spaces
“Here was a territory that existed for which there was no map,” said Rebar’s Blaine Merker. “We kept seeing little plaques that said these were public spaces, but you had to go past security guards and up elevators to get to them. We felt that art could be a form of urban research, but we needed to create art that was equally as absurd as the spaces.”
January 20, 2009
Volunteers Clean Up the Streets for National Day of Service
In honor of Martin Luther King's birthday, groups around the country are heeding President-elect Obama's call for a National Day of Service.
January 19, 2009
Disabilities Advocates Launch Campaign to End Sidewalk Parking
The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Independent Living Resource Center and the Senior Action Network launched a new campaign with Supervisor Carmen Chu today to draw attention to illegal sidewalk parking, which is rampant in District 4. Sidewalks are for Everyone (SAFE) kicked it off with a walking tour of the Sunset, pointing out the numerous dangers not necessarily obvious to able pedestrians, let alone vehicle owners.
January 16, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Transportation Gets Less Than Expected in Federal Stimulus Bill (WSJ) Details of the Transportation Segment Reviewed (Transport Politic via Streetsblog.net) Governors Unhappy Bill Doesn’t Give More to Road Projects (Politico) Former BART Officer Pleads “Not-Guilty” in Shooting of Oscar Grant (SF Chronicle) Caltrans to Pay $7 Million to Transit for Right to Add Carpool Lanes … Continued
January 16, 2009
Media Too Often Blame the Victim in Pedestrian Crashes
The SF Examiner published an excellent editorial from Walk San Francisco Director Manish Champsee today that calls on the city and the media to improve conditions for pedestrians and not immediately blame the victim in crashes. When a vehicle killed 87-year-old Victor Cinti in mid-December, the Examiner ran a front-page headline "Jaywalker Killed." Sells papers, sure, but the headline and the article missed the details of the story and found culpability where they shouldn't, argues Champsee.
January 15, 2009
Supervisor Dufty Argues 299 Valencia Vote Sets No Precedent
The San Francisco Bay Guardian has suggested that Supervisor Bevan Dufty swung to the right with his votes not to override the Mayor’s veto on legislation that would have required conditional use (CU) permits and hearings when housing units are being eliminated and his refusal to support an appeal of the 299 Valencia Street CU. In the halls after the vote several people who spoke in favor of the 299 Valencia appeal speculated Dufty was angling for higher office and couldn’t appear anti-developer.
January 15, 2009
Obama Nominee Ray LaHood Appropriated Big Money to Road Lobby
Streetsblog Network blogger Hugh Bartling has a great post on the brewing turmoil surrounding President-elect Obama's choice for Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood. LaHood's confirmation hearing was delayed today after the Washington Post reported that in his position on the House Appropriations Committee he steered at least $9 million dollars to campaign donors last year.
January 14, 2009