Move SD News - March 14, 2010

MoveSD News

MoveSD and T4 America Partners Call For More Funding for Public Transportation

On February 19, 2010, several of Move San Diego's allies in the national Transportation For America campaign were able to get the microphone at the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Reauthorization Outreach Tour in Los Angeles, hosted by Senator Boxer, and DOT Secretary Ray La Hood. Advocates from around the state gathered in LA above Union Station to call for a new direction in transportation policy that will get California and moving again.

Approximately 300 stakeholders listened to remarks by Senator Boxer before the open mic Town Hall session began. Transportation Advocate Erin Steva of CALPIRG (a Move San Diego coalition partner) asked the million-dollar question: What will the Senator do to increase transit funding from 20% to 40% in the next transportation bill?

"Well, that's quite a lot," the Senator replied. The Senator asked for a show of hands how many in the room believed that more transportation money should go to transit. Overwhelmingly, attendees indicated they want more money for transit. The Senator reminded the crowd that it takes 60 votes to make things happen in the Senate. With her leadership, it is more likely to happen. Be sure to let your Senators know you support transit funding in the Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

Transportation advocates in California are building a strong and diverse coalition to help reform the federal transportation bill, and Move San Diego is participating as an ally with T4 America. Find out more about the T4 America campaign. It's about transit and land use solutions that will improve transportation efficiency and affordability; reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions; strengthen our economy; and improve quality of life.

Move SD is working locally to build coalition partners for a transit oriented Sustainable Communities Strategy element in SANDAG's Regional Transportation Plan update. Contact Elyse Lowe, MoveSD Executive Director to learn more at elowe@movesandiego.org.

National

The 10 Most Expensive Transit Projects of the Decade
The Infrastructurist

The Decade's Top Hits
The Transport Politic, March 11, 2010

During the 2000s, the top ten places (and their suburbs) for overall transit investments were:

Los Angeles – $4.15 b
Seattle – $3.84 b
Vancouver – $2.86 b
San Juan – $2.63 b
San Francisco – $2.43 b
Northern New Jersey – $2.20 b
Washington – $1.92 b
Phoenix – $1.88 b
New York City – $1.36 b
Philadelphia – $1.31 b

I reviewed the biggest transit projects completed in the United States and Canada between 2000 and 2009 on the Infrastructurist a few days ago, but I thought it would be useful to provide a bit more information about how I compiled the data and give readers a glance at all of the major transit projects I can identify.

MoveSD Note: The 5.9 mile Mission Valley East trolley extension completed in 2005 is listed as costing $477 million with a cost-per-mile of $81 million (21st most expensive out of 100 projects on the chart). The 22-mile Oceanside-Escondido Sprinter, completed in 2008 is listed as costing $479 million for a cost-per-mile of $22 million (54th most expensive out of 100 projects). The lowest cost-per-mile was a Commuter Rail project in Nashville that came in at a mere $1 million/mile. The top 3 most expensive comparative projects were LA's Metro Rail at $627 million/mile following by projects in Toronto and Boston for $315 million/mile. Eight out of the ten most expensive project were metro rail.

Innovation

Bicycling Directions, Trails Comes to Google Maps
ReadWriteWeb.com, March 10, 2010

Google has added bicycling directions, lanes and routes to Google Maps, meaning you no longer have to drive, walk or bus to get directions. ... Google worked with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to bring more than 12,000 miles of biking trails to its map, along with bike lanes and recommended streets for 150 cities across the country.

Fast Facts

BRT can provide environmental benefits (reduce local pollutants, greenhouse gases, and fuel use) by diverting low-occupancy private car travel to high-capacity public transit vehicle travel.
Source: Center for Urban Transportation Research

MoveNews #92 was edited by Carolyn Chase and published by Move San Diego, Inc. as a service to our members. You may subscribe, unsubscribe, or send article suggestions by sending an email request to: info@movesandiego.org

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