2004 Reports and News
DECEMBER 2004
STPP
Releases Mean Streets Report
A new report reveals that walking remains the most dangerous mode
of transportation, and some areas of the country are becoming markedly
more dangerous.
OCTOBER 2004
Wendell
Cox & His Techniques
Written by Leroy Demery, this paper takes a brief look
at some of the tactics used by pro-road, pro-auto, and pro-sprawl
advocate, Wendell Cox.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Runzheimer
Report on Cost of Car Ownership
A new report, released from Runzheimer International, a firm specializing
in transportation reimbursement, examines the costliest places to
own a car. The report finds that, based on insurance premiums, Detroit
is the most expensive place in the nation to own a car.
Texas
Transportation Institute 2004 Urban Mobility Study
Released annually, the TTI Urban Mobility Study shows quantitative
analysis of how transportation systems in 85 US cities measure up
in terms of relieving congestion, time delay savings, and the costs
associated with them. For the second year in a row, the report also
measures the benefits of public transportation.
AUGUST 2004
The
Changing Urban Geography of Poverty and Service Provision
A new report that examines poverty and the spatial disparity with
social service provision has been released by the Brookings Institution.
The report looked at Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC and
found that urban areas with high rates of poverty had better access
to social services than those populations in suburban areas.
Fixing
It First: Targeting Infrastructure Investments to Improve State
Economies and Invigorate Existing Communities
The National Governors Association has released a new report that
examines how states are shifting from building new roads, schools,
and utilities and are instead turning to fixing and enhancing existing
infrastructure as a way to control government spending, create and
retain jobs, and revitalize communities.
JULY 2004
Surface
Transportation: Many Factors Affect Investment Decisions
The General Accounting Office has released a new report that examines
surface transportation decision-making structures across the country
and the factors that influence them. This is a great resource for
exploring the ‘beyond-the-textbook’ processes involved
with infrastructure investments.
FTA
Needs to Better Define and Assess Impact of Certain Policies on
New Starts Program
The General Accounting Office has released a new report that assesses
the Federal Transit Administration’s policies on New Starts
transit projects. The report, titled “FTA Needs to Better
Define and Assess Impact of Certain Policies on New Starts Program,”
recommends that the FTA make their policies that apply to Full Funding
Grant Agreements more transparent.
JUNE 2004
Missing
the Train: How Bush Is Derailing Transit
A new report from the Sierra Club highlights how the Bush Administration's
transportation proposal threatens jobs, commutes, and public transit
ridership. The report, titled "Missing the Train," recommends
that the funding ratios between highways and transit remain the
same.
Washington's
Metro: Deficits by Design
A new report by Robert Puentes of the Brookings Institution
examines the unusual financial structure of the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority (WMATA), specifically, the underutilization
of a dedicated funding source and overreliance on municipal general
fund revenues. Puentes recommends that a dedicated funding source
is needed.
MAY 2004
Does
A Mile In A Car Equal A Mile On A Train?
Critics of public transportation like to claim that one passenger-mile
traveled on transit is equal to one vehicle-mile traveled (VMT).
In a report titled, “Does a Mile In A Car Equal A Mile
On a Train? Exploring Public Transit’s Effectiveness In Reducing
Driving,” Dr. John Holtzclaw of the Sierra Club disagrees.
Particularly, Holtzclaw shows that "major transit improvements
could well alter destinations, walking/bicycling/transit/driving
choices and routes, and land uses.
Aging
Americans Left With Little Choice
A new report from the Surface Transportation Policy Project, titled
“Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options,”
looks at the limited available transportation options for Americans
aged 65 and older, a sect that is expected to nearly double by 2025.
APRIL 2004
The
Rise of the Creative Class
If you don’t have time to read Richard Florida’s book,
“The Rise of the Creative Class,” don’t worry
because he is offering parsed versions on his website. In case you
haven’t heard, Florida’s book describes why cities that
don’t have gay-friendly communities, vibrant music scenes,
and yes, modern and convenient public transportation, are losing
the economic development race. Chock full of information to combat
the critics with!
Beware
of LRT Oversell
A new report from the folks at the www.publictransit.us
blog offers an easy to understand analysis of traffic density thresholds
for successful light rail service. For corridors that do not currently
have adequate traffic densities, the report shows why other means
can justify the investment. A must read for anyone looking to add
light rail to their transportation mix.
MARCH 2004
Houston
MetroRail Safety Assessment
As you’ve probably heard, or will undoubtedly hear from transit
critics, Houston’s new light rail system has had 30 incidents
in the past 3 months. The Texas Transportation Institute recently
produced a report highlighting the commendable features of the system,
and opportunities for safety enhancements.
The
Need For Regional Anti-Congestion Policies
The Brookings Institution has recently released a new report, “The
Need for Regional Anti-Congestion Policies.” The report’s
author, Anthony Downs, describes the implementation inadequacies
of anti-congestion policies, and offers new policy paradigms on
the regional level.
Americans
Support Public Transportation Growth and Investment
A new survey from the American Public Transportation Association
shows that Americans view increased quality of life benefits from
investments in public transportation, that Americans want transportation
legislation passes immediately, and that Americans view investments
in transportation will stimulate the economy more than tax cuts
will.
Setting
the Record Straight About San Jose's Light Rail Performance
Former deputy secretary of transportation for the State of Pennsylvania,
and transportation consultant Edson Tennyson sets the record straight
about San Jose's Light Rail performance and current problems. This
system has been scrutinized recently by a host of transit critics.
Thanks to LightRailNow (www.lightrailnow.org)
for letting us post this informative piece.
Characteristics
and Performance of Regional Transportation Systems
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report that examined
13 regional transportation systems and found that regions 'that
have more route choices, better pedestrian environments, and more
transit availability, also display lower vehicle miles of travel
per capita, shorter vehicle trip length, less congestion, more transit
trips and fewer emissions compared to their peers.'
FEBRUARY 2004
America
Bikes ‘Complete The Streets’ Initiative
America Bikes has launched this program to inform decision-makers
that complete streets improves the safety, convenience, efficiency
and accessibility of the transportation system for all users.
STPP
Report on Jobs and Investments in Transit
The Surface Transportation Policy Project has released
their 11th decoder, this one focusing on job creation as a result
in investments in transit and road and bridge maintenance. The report
shows evidence that more jobs are created when investments are made
in transit and maintenance, as opposed to building new roads.
2005
New Starts Report
The Federal Transit Administration relesed its "Annual Report
on New Starts," which includes a proposal on the allocation
of amounts to be made available to finance grants and loans for
capital projects for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to
existing fixed guideway systems (“New Starts”).
JANUARY 2004
The
New Transit Town: Best Practices in Transit-Oriented Development
Edited by Hank Dittmar and Gloria Ohland of Reconnecting
America, this book examines the past 25 years of transit-oriented
development and offers ways to move TOD forward. Authored by experts
in transportation, planning, and sustainable design, the book offers
topics on financing TOD, the barriers involved with implementing
TOD, as well as case studies of where transit-oriented developments
have taken place.
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