Elana Schor
Recent Posts
Bus vs. Rail: Transit’s Quiet Culture Clash?
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The question of running buses or building rail has preoccupied transit planners in many an American town, with Maryland’s Montgomery County being the latest locality to choose between trains and bus rapid transit (BRT), which tends to be the less expensive option. Bogota’s Transmilenio BRT has won praise for its roomy coaches and well-designed stations. […]
‘Cash for Clunkers’ Backer Sutton Steps it Up for Ohio Transit
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Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) was one of the prime movers behind the economically and environmentally misguided "cash for clunkers" program, but she is switching gears to help save transit in Lorain County, Ohio, where bus service could be canceled in 2010 after voters rejected a sales tax increase to raise operating funds. Rep. Betty Sutton […]
Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Bypassing States on New Jobs Bill
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As the $787 billion stimulus law nears its one-year anniversary, Congress’ choice to route the lion’s share of recovery funds through state capitals — including state DOTs where misplaced priorities are all too common — remains a sore spot for mayors and urban advocates. CBC Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (Photo: AP) Today the Congressional […]
McCain & Coburn: Inadvertent Transportation Reformers?
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Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) are no fans of dedicated federal spending on cleaner transportation. From bike and pedestrian safety to local transit funds, the duo has made a habit of attacking non-road projects as wasteful "pork." Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (Composite Photo: City-Data.com) And yesterday was no exception, as McCain and […]
House and Senate Agree on $2.5B for High-Speed Rail — And More
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After lengthy negotiations, the House and Senate agreed last night on a massive "omnibus" spending bill [PDF] that includes $2.5 billion for high-speed rail — a compromise between the two chambers — as well as $150 million for the Obama administration’s sustainable communities effort and $150 million for the Washington D.C. Metro system. Rep. John […]
NY’s Sadik-Khan Joins Blumenauer, Byrne for “Cities for Cycling” Launch
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Addressing a packed house in Washington last night, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus, posed a Zen-like ‘universalist cyclist question’. Photo: Cities for Cycling "How many people, right now," he asked, "are stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike in a health club?" The quip got a big […]
White House Backs $50B For ‘Merit-Based Infrastructure Investment’
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President Obama today threw his weight behind significant new transportation spending as part of a broad jobs bill taking shape in Congress, with $50 billion slated for transit, roads, bridges, and ports and the administration endorsing "merit-based infrastructure investment that leverages federal dollars." President Obama gave a high-profile jobs speech today. (Photo: NYT) During his […]
White House Unveils Transit Safety Bill to Cautious Praise on the Hill
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Lawmakers on the House transportation committee today greeted details of the Obama administration’s transit safety plan with approval, but some sounded skeptical notes about the costs of state compliance with new federal rules even as transit agencies cope with billions of dollars in maintenance and repair backlogs. Washington D.C.’s transit safety oversight agency has less […]
Wall Street Bailout Money For Infrastructure? Maybe Not
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President Obama will deliver a speech on job creation this morning in Washington, but one tactic that has won over quite a few Democrats of late — redirecting unspent money from last year’s financial bailout to transportation — may not be as possible as lawmakers had thought. White House economic adviser Larry Summers promised earlier […]
NY and CA: How Did They Spend Transportation Stimulus Money?
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In an economic recovery report released today by New York Gov. David Paterson (D), the state broke down its plans for the estimated $31 billion it received as part of the Obama administration’s first stimulus law. New York spent more than half of its transport stimulus money on transit. (Photo: PlanetWare) A chart of New […]
EPA Makes it Official: Emissions Threaten Public Health
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Acting under a Supreme Court mandate, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled today that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and contribute to the harmful environmental effects of climate change, paving the way for pollution regulations under the Clean Air Act. (Photo: TreeHugger) "Today, EPA announced that greenhouse gases threaten the health and welfare of […]
Rendell: National Infrastructure Bank Could Move as Part of New Jobs Bill
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Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who is in Washington today continuing his push for a "front-loaded" federal transportation bill, told Streetsblog Capitol Hill that he sees momentum building for a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) to be created as part of the jobs bill now moving forward in Congress. Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) (Photo: Post-Gazette) Rendell, […]