MoveNews #98 for the week of April 25, 2010

MoveSD Alert

Tell Congress about how transit cuts have affected you!

We don't know about you, but our friends are feeling it - cutbacks in funding local transit have meant longer commutes, fewer transit routes, increased fares, and a lot of frustration. It?s not just us - eight out of 10 transit agencies have had to either trim down service or raise prices over the last few years, and the effects trickle down to everyone.

Move SD has shared our story about how transit cuts have affected our daily routines with the folks at Transportation for America. They?re collecting as many stories as they can so they can make sure our members of Congress know what it?s like and can pass laws to fix it. Will you join us in taking action?

Just follow this link and share your story, too: http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/t/3224/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=475

Thanks - We really appreciate your help!

Regional

The Inland area has been a destination for Southern California residents looking for cheaper housing, but local homes are much more expensive when transportation costs are included, national researchers have found.

Gasoline prices and darting from home to work to school to shopping not only clogs area roads, officials said, but adds to families' personal expenses. The recently released information, which many said is not surprising, indicates there is greater urgency in changing how closely people live to where they travel every day, federal and local officials say. ... The study's authors estimated families should spend no more than 45 percent of their income on housing and transportation, based on previous standards set by economists.

Only housing in the downtowns and adjacent neighborhoods in Inland cities remain under the 45 percent threshold when housing and transportation costs are considered, the report's researchers found. ... Changes in where residents want to live and the expected population explosion from 4 million to 6 million people by 2030 in the area "suggest that large-lot detached suburban houses segregated from urban amenities aren't a particularly good long-term investment," Schuiling said.

NATIONAL CITY - An unhealthy mix of single-family homes and auto-repair and paint shops that has been allowed to coexist for decades in National City's dense Westside will soon be coming to an end. ... City officials say the document will preserve the residential character of the area and allow for new development compatible with the neighborhood. Higher-density development will be permitted along busier community corridors. The plan will allow a mix of uses, but ones that complement Westside homes with goods and services, recreation and public transit.

National

It's been a rough couple of years for the San Diego region's two public transit agencies: the North County Transit District and the Metropolitan Transit System. Both have had to limit or cut service on many bus routes and increase fares, largely due to a collapse in state funding and a decline in sales tax revenue tied to transportation. The agencies are not alone. Transportation for America, a transit advocacy group, has posted a new online tool showing how other communities - from Seattle to New York City - are being rocked by budget cuts. It's not a pretty portrait.

Mapping the transit funding crisis: LINK: http://t4america.org/resources/transitfundingcrisis/

Fast Facts

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) has been shown to reduce congestion and improve overall traffic speeds, which can improve vehicle fuel economy and lower vehicle emissions.
      Source: Center for Urban Transportation Research

NOTE: if there is no link provided to an item, then there is no additional content on that item. All links were current as of the date of publication.