More beltway-billion madness. Will we ever learn?

Taxpayer's Dollars, Developers' Dream Road - Piedmont Environmental Council: "This designation places the sprawl-inducing Outer Beltway above real transportation solutions that would relieve traffic problems in Northern Virginia if constructed. The cost of building this segment of the Outer Beltway would run in the billions of dollars, depending on whether the road is four, six, or eight lanes wide. This past General Assembly Session, Governor McDonnell introduced a bill that gives VDOT access to extraordinary amounts of funding for new transportation projects. This legislation allows the state to borrow up to $4 billion for new construction."

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It’s time we stopped living with roads that are killing us - Greater Greater Washington

It’s time we stopped living with roads that are killing us - Greater Greater Washington: "Where does the blame rest? The sad fact is that we—our society as a whole—created this problem. That's because we relentlessly build communities that aren't safe to walk in."

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Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended

Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended: "We must connect our urban centers by rapid bus and rail transit systems and accelerate construction of the Corridor Cities Transitway and the Purple Line.  "

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Think voting doesn't make a difference? Watch this

Why voting matters.

A Disappointing Presidential Debate For Energy And Climate | ThinkProgress: "Although he advocates an “all of the above” energy mix that includes oil, gas and coal, President Obama wants to move the United States further down the road to a clean energy economy. He envisions a country that gets 80% of its energy from clean  resources by 2035, that transmits electricity over smart grids, that connects major cities with high-speed rail, that puts 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, and that emits 80% less greenhouse gases by 2050.
In stark contrast, Romney’s position paper calls for the United States to become an “energy superpower” by rapidly expanding its production of coal, oil and natural gas, the fossil fuels that are responsible for climate change. Romney’s 21-page position paper gives only six words to renewable energy and says nothing at all about energy efficiency – the two best hopes for a low-carbon future. His paper doesn’t mention climate change."

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Democracy over, but voting still sends a message

Poll deals climate change blow for Mitt Romney - environment - 25 September 2012 - New Scientist: "Of the 1061 people polled, about three-quarters are judged likely to vote, based on their registration, stated intentions and past turnout. Among them, just 27 per cent of Romney backers believed global warming was human-caused, compared to 65 per cent of the Obama supporters."

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Who wants more public transit choices? Most Americans, it turns out

Who wants more public transit choices? Most Americans, it turns out: "Three out of four Americans are frustrated with the lack of transportation options that forces them to drive more than they would prefer, according to a new nationwide public opinion survey released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). According to the poll results, two out of three support government investment in to expand and improve public transportation and twice as many people favor new transit – buses, trains and light rail – rather than new highways as the best way to solve America’s traffic woes."

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SoMdNews.com: Fix bus service while awaiting trains

SoMdNews.com: Fix bus service while awaiting trains: "For those who rely on these commuter buses this is vital service; attention must be paid. There’s a town hall meeting for commuters next Tuesday, Sept. 18, with MTA and the local bus companies at Regency Furniture Stadium on St. Linus Drive in Waldorf from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Solutions can’t wait until the train pulls into the station in Waldorf many years from now."

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DOT "State of Good Repair" money - good investments

With transit investments, a surge of dividends across America - Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation: "In Baltimore, I had the pleasure of announcing a $40 million State Of Good Repair grant to the Maryland Department of Transportation. MDOT will replace Baltimore's 65-year-old Kirk bus facility with new, environmentally sustainable facilities that will make it easier and more cost-effective to manage all the buses that serve Greater Baltimore. This project will create good local construction jobs in Northeast Baltimore, and it will help more than 350 local Maryland Transit Authority employees do an even better job maintaining a growing fleet of energy-efficient buses."

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Libor Rate-Rigging Scandal Sets Off Legal Fights for Restitution - NYTimes.com

Libor Rate-Rigging Scandal Sets Off Legal Fights for Restitution - NYTimes.com: "As unemployment climbed and tax revenue fell, the city of Baltimore laid off employees and cut services in the midst of the financial crisis. Its leaders now say the city’s troubles were aggravated by bankers’ manipulation of a key interest rate linked to hundreds of millions of dollars the city had borrowed.

Baltimore has been leading a battle in Manhattan federal court against the banks that determine the interest rate, the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, which serves as a benchmark for global borrowing and stands at the center of the latest banking scandal. Now cities, states and municipal agencies nationwide, including Massachusetts, Nassau County on Long Island, and California’s public pension system, are looking at whether they suffered similar losses and are weighing legal action."

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More oil war to come. Include these costs when pricing oil.

U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, a Signal to Iran - NYTimes.com: "WASHINGTON — The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates."

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#Transpo bill sucks. What did you expect?

Transit union says highway bill will raise public transportation fares for riders - The Hill's Transportation Report: ""This transportation bill is a death blow to public transportation; it not only does nothing to address the American mass transit crisis, but will make it much worse,” Hanley said in a statement released by the union.

“It’s actually a tax increasing bill that will impose hidden taxes on commuters and transit riders by raising fares while forcing cash-strapped transit systems to cut more service,” he continued."

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It is time to change priorities in Montgomery County - Action Committee for #Transit

Action Committee for Transit-: "The Action Committee for Transit has a vision of a Montgomery County where it is easier to travel and more pleasant to live -- a county built for people and not for automobiles.

Years of experience have shown, and studies prove, that building highways leads to more traffic and more congestion. Affordable, convenient transit gives us a way to get past the traffic jams and fosters a better quality of life in our neighborhoods.

It is time to change priorities:

Connect our communities with a network of rail lines.
Redesign our streets to make it easier and safer to walk and to ride a bike.
Create the kind of neighborhoods we want to live in."

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Oil trolls in congress hold up #transit funding. Hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake.

A dead end on transportation - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com: "The organization representing the nation’s civil engineers says the U.S. road system rates a D-minus as conditions deteriorate “to the point at which Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic at a cost of $78.2 billion a year in wasted time and fuel costs — $710 per motorist.” The poor condition of roads adds another $67 billion in repairs and operating costs to the bill."

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Plenty of money for banks, no money for #publictransit?

http://ht.ly/bnKD4

Victims of bailed-out banks are evicted with automatic weapons. While no bankers have even been arrested.

Seventy Percent of Americans want fossil-fuel subsidy to stop

Everything you need to know about fossil fuel subsidies in one image. | 350.org: "Watching that bottom number tick up with every passing second is pretty outrageous, but there’s good news: we now have an opening to end these taxpayer handouts to corporate polluters. A new poll revealed that 70% of Americans — including majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — support ending fossil fuel subsidies."

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Public transportation is habit-forming — and that’s a problem! - The Washington Post

Getting their daily fix of transit. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post)

Public transportation is habit-forming — and that’s a problem! - The Washington Post: "But what happens when gas prices start sinking back down — something that’s happening right now? Evidence suggests that many of those riders will keep taking transit anyway. One 2011 study of New York City, for instance, found that transit ridership “seems to respond to rises in gasoline prices, but not to falls.” A 2009 study in Philadelphia found a similar phenomenon. “This sustained growth,” the authors of the latter study note, “could be evidence that once prices compel people to form new transit habits, some find a reason to keep them.”"

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Gas & Oil Party will kill the economy to force you back in your car

Hostage-taking on the Silver Line - The Washington Post: "If you want a perfect example of why government has become dysfunctional, look no further than the Board of Supervisors of Loudoun County, Va."

A majority of the newly elected, all-Republican board has threatened to derail the extension of Metrorail out to Dulles Airport and beyond because of a requirement that the general contractor for the project negotiate a “project labor agreement” with local construction unions.

Free bus overwhelming success in Baltimore

The Charm City Circulator and the Case for Baltimore’s Own Transit Authority « Bmore Urban: "The Charm City Circulator‘s ridership numbers have been increasing steadily for over a year. This should come as no surprise to those who live or work near its routes. What may come as a surprise is that Baltimore City is actually responsible for a successful transit program. As of March 2012, the Circulator transported about 350,000 per month. This may not seem like a huge number of riders but consider that in March of 2011, the Circulator transported only 188,000 riders per month. Transit use is increasing rapidly across the U.S., but very few municipalities can boast an 83% ridership increase over the course of one year*."

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10,000 retire every day - let's keep them off the roads

Active Living for All Ages: Creating Neighborhoods Around Transit - AARP: "Arlington, Virginia—a walkable, mixed-use community with access to a variety of public transit options, entertainment and recreation, and basic services such as shopping and medical services. "

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Small Streets Make A Big Difference | Car Free Baltimore

Small Streets Make A Big Difference | Car Free Baltimore: "Could you find Hanover Street on a map of downtown Baltimore? I didn’t think so. This small street is just as obscure on the ground as it is on maps, but it has a secret importance. Hanover Street is a direct link between two downtown public spaces; Hopkins Plaza and Center Plaza. "

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Report Calls for More Transportation Funds - Odenton-Severn, MD Patch

Report Calls for More Transportation Funds - Odenton-Severn, MD Patch: "They acknowledged that being heard will be hard in an election year, especially with the recent "extreme political polarization and intense resistance to public spending of all kinds."

The ultimate goal, they said, was for the public to become aware of the dangers of an underfunded transportation system."

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Vibrant downtowns linked to greater transit use - News - METRO Magazine

Report: Vibrant downtowns linked to greater transit use - News - METRO Magazine: "Vibrant downtown areas are linked to greater public transit use and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from driving, according to a new report."

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Transit getting more Americans where they need to go - Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Transit getting more Americans where they need to go - Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation: "Some people can't afford to own a reliable car.  Some are unable to drive. Others choose not to drive--to avoid the pinch they feel at the pump, the frustration of roadway congestion, or the hassle of finding a parking space.  Still others like being able to read the morning paper or do some work while riding.

Whatever the reason, more Americans are choosing to ride transit."

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Walking and biking counter high gas prices and bad health: PART I | Washington Times Communities

Active Transport (Part 1): Walking and biking counter high gas prices and bad health: PART I | Washington Times Communities: "WASHINGTON, March 31. 2012 – Your worst enemy has four tires, an engine, windshield wipers, and is thirsty for oil.  Whether it is an import or domestic, SUV or sedan, hybrid or gas, your car is becoming your biggest liability.  "

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MARC commuter trains set record in February; average weekday ridership was 35,210 - The Washington Post

MARC commuter trains set record in February; average weekday ridership was 35,210 - The Washington Post: "BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration says MARC trains have set a ridership record.

The commuter service had an average weekday ridership of 35,210 in February. The MTA says MARC’s previous high for ridership was 34,618 in November 2011."

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Car-free Diet Show

Transit Union Endorses Occupy’s National Day of Action for Public Transportation - Amalgamated Transit Union

http://twitpic.com/8vrnas 

Transit Union Endorses Occupy’s National Day of Action for Public Transportation - Amalgamated Transit Union: "Washington, DC – Acknowledging their mutual concern about the crisis in mass transit, the General Executive Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) has endorsed the National Day of Action for Public Transportation called by Occupy Boston to take place, April 4, in cities all over America."

More people support transit than new or wider highways - Greater Greater Washington

Photo by MyEyeSees on Flickr.

More people support transit than new or wider highways - Greater Greater Washington: "Over 90% of area residents want more public transportation options, walkable neighborhoods, and jobs close to housing, a WTOP poll found."

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Oil political power continues its slide

Daily Planning News: "WASHINGTON - After years of procrastination, the White House and Congress have suddenly boosted a long-term plan to improve the nation's roads, bridges and transit systems to the top of the political agenda. "

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Keep public #transit public

http://transportationequity.org/

Do you love rural beauty? Then support urban #transit

Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended: "You have already heard from hundreds of citizens living along the proposed alternatives for Mid-County Highway Extended who don’t want this road to go through their properties. From Germantown down through Montgomery Village, the Council has heard residents’ voices loud and clear for three decades say: “Remove this highway. We don’t want it built. M-83 would disturb our home setting and ruin our property values.” "

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DOT rules have been tilted against public #transit - but you knew that

Mass transit vs. highways: The Department of Transportation rule that is killing American cities. - Slate Magazine: "The existing rule, sadly, evaluates proposals almost exclusively on the basis of how much time a new rail line shaves off commutes. But taking a train station-to-station rather than driving a car door-to-door is guaranteed to be slower unless traffic jams are severe. This has biased new mass-transit construction in favor of a very particular kind of project: First identify a highway that’s already extremely congested and where widening it is either politically or logistically impossible. Then build commuter-rail tracks in the highway median. Put the stations far apart from one another so that trains can cruise at maximum speed for a long time. Surround the stations with parking lots. Driving your car to a park-and-ride station and taking the train downtown is now cheaper and perhaps faster than the average trip on the congested highway."

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Traffic Makes U.S. Less Energy Secure | Rob Perks's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Traffic Makes U.S. Less Energy Secure | Rob Perks's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC: "According to SAFE, in 2010 drivers in U.S. urban areas were estimated to have wasted 1.9 billion gallons of fuel -- equivalent to approximately 4 entire days of highway petroleum consumption -- idling in traffic for 4.8 billion hours. (Over the past decade, that wasted time and fuel cost us almost $1 trillion!) By 2030, SAFE estimates that more than 3 billion gallons of fuel will be wasted in the U.S. each year by commuters."

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Got #transit? If not, you are not ready for the future

Red Line Now: Moving Baltimore into the 21st Century: "It's just common sense. More transit is good for everyone. The cities able to compete in today's economy are those that invest in efficient, well connected transit systems that tie residents and jobs together. Cities that do not invest in transit will be left behind."

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What You didn’t See on the News Last Night- Protesters March to Mark GITMO 10th Anniversary

What You didn’t See on the News Last Night- Protesters March to Mark GITMO 10th Anniversary: "What you probably didn’t see last night on the news amid all of the VERY important new madness coming out of the Republican Presidential primary in South Carolina were the demonstrations timed to note the tenth anniversary of the shame that is GITMO. "

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Occupy Congress #Jan17 #j17

http://www.occupyyourcongress.info/
http://wiki.occupyyourcongress.info/index.php?title=Main_Page