Why we need #occupypensacola and #occupywallstreet

Owensboro Transit System offers free rides during holidays - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

Owensboro Transit System offers free rides during holidays - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro: "OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) -
Owensboro Transit System will offer free bus rides during the Twelve Days of Christmas, starting Saturday morning.

Owensboro Transit System has offered these rides right before the holidays for years now, and with cold weather setting in, people like Richard Harrison plan to take advantage of it.

"I got to, I got to. It helps a whole lot of elderly people."

Starting December 10th, through Friday, December 23rd, anyone can ride any route absolutely free."

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Baton Rouge - #transit needs dedicated revenue

Civic group to push bus tax | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA: "“Ultimately, we have recommended that there must be a dedicated revenue stream to keep us from this endless cycle of insanity that we have found ourselves in year after year after year,” said the Rev. Raymond Jetson, a coalition member and the former chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission."

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#occupynola stops sheriffs sale of stolen homes

Car-dependent cities will become ghost towns

Unified transit will lift region | ajc.com: "So when comparing our region to other successful regions of China, Japan, Germany and the United States, we do find one glaring factor that we can’t offer our residents and visitors — a seamless, unified transit network that offers efficient travel without a car."

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#occupywallstreet is working, shaking loose #transit funds

FTA - Press Releases - U.S. Department of Transportation Signs $900 Million Funding Agreements Advancing Light Rail in Houston: "HOUSTON – U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today sealed two agreements providing $900 million in federal funds to extend Houston’s major light rail system by an additional 12 miles.

The two projects being funded, the North and Southeast lines, are already under construction, with over 400 workers on the job now and 1,800 additional jobs expected over the next two years."

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Durham-Orange #transit wins! Free-transit advocate Bell re-elected

Bill Bell - free-transit advocate

WRAL.com:

DURHAM, N.C. — Voters in two counties approved sales tax hikes to support transit and education initiatives, while incumbents and challengers battled for mayoral seats across the region Tuesday.
...Incumbent Bill Bell was elected to his sixth term, "
...Bell supported two referendums for local sales taxes on the ballot. A countywide measure for a half-cent sales tax increase to be used for transit needs, including commuter rail to Wake County and light rail to Orange County, passed by 60 percent with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

Regions with #transit will flourish economically

Spare change for change | The Chronicle: "over the long term, each $1 billion investment in public transportation added a whopping $3.5 billion to GDP. It’s time that we stop asking blanket questions like “Are taxes too high or too low?” and instead ask “Is this particular expenditure a good use of taxpayer money?” In the case of this public transportation tax, that question can be answered with a resounding yes! Durham’s system is already good, but because of network effects, the more that routes are connected and that service is expanded, the more the existing routes become used—the benefits keep compounding until you reach a point where people find it so convenient that they free themselves from their car entirely."

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Jacksonville #transit blog is back!

JACKSONVILLE TRANSIT: "we've been going in the wrong direction, with what amounts to a developer ponzi scheme. Eventually as development reaches further into the countryside the expenses become too much to bear and the whole economy collapses, note the current economic conditions. Red hot sprawling development outran our ability to sustain it and the key expense in new development is the automobile. If we learn to internalize our new developments and build on what is already in place we will be able to continuously improve our financial conditions. And to build internally, within the urbanized areas we are talking about mass transit."

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Cost of fatal car accidents averages $6 million, says AAA | Florence KY Personal Injury Attorneys Blog

Cost of fatal car accidents averages $6 million, says AAA | Florence KY Personal Injury Attorneys Blog: " AAA found that American society loses nearly $98 billion every year to traffic congestion. This is a huge loss, but it pales in comparison to the nearly $300 billion lost in medical bills, legal bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses associated with car accidents."

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The case for Durham-Orange #transit

It’s time to build world-class transit

Durham is at a historical crossroads. Our way of life, our prosperity, and that of our children is at stake. With our projected population boom, people and businesses will be plagued with long commutes, congestion and lack of transportation choices. Building more roads is not the answer. The regions that we are competing with for new industry and better jobs are already investing in transit. For Durham to compete, we need a transit system that will move people, goods and services quickly and dependably. 

As we sprawl, we are devouring farm land, forests and open space. We are polluting our air and water. We are harming our health and ruining what makes Durham a great place to live and raise a family. As we sprawl, infrastructure costs are draining our the financial resources for basic services, as well as for the arts and cultural amenities. We need a transit system which will encourage good land use.

Our family budgets are being squeezed by the costs of commuting. Many people cannot afford to commute by car. Many people cannot become productive members of our society because they lack basic transportation. We need a transit system that will move everyone efficiently and economically.

Our challenge is to build a transit system which makes us a world class place to live, work and raise a family. We cannot wait because it is only going to get worse and the costs will only go up. Transit — it works for all of us. 

http://www.durhamorangefriendsoftransit.org/ 
 Robert Bo Glenn

Durham

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Letters Sept 1 

Piedmont #transit strikes back against critics

Supporting PART is good investment | JournalNow.com: "But perhaps the most misleading criticism PART receives is that the service we provide affects only those who actually ride our buses, and that tax dollars should never be used to support regional transportation. Nothing could be further from the truth. PART stimulates the economy by helping to attract new industry to the area, and then providing a means of getting workers to those new jobs. PART also reduces traffic congestion and saves lives by reducing the number of accidents. PART has helped to improve our air quality and enables our "choice riders" to save lots of money, which stays in our local economy."

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Angry, but positive. #occupyaustin

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyAustinTx

http://occupyaustin.org/

TEN stands with Rep. Carnahan on transit funding

TEN stands with Rep. Carnahan on transit funding: "Our transit systems are the lifeblood of our metropolitan regions. This bill would let communities spend a portion of their federal transit dollars to avoid transit fare hikes and service cuts. It would also support jobs by helping avert layoffs at transit agencies. TEN supported the initial version of the bill that Rep. Carnahan introduced last year with 144 co-sponsors, and we're very happy to see the bill re-introduced today with strong bipartisan support."

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Mother Nature is talking. Are we listening?

Dust Storm, Lubbock, Texas. October 2011

More southern love for public #transit

The oil industry has counted on tea-party types and a phony "fiscal crisis" to fool people into opposing public transit. The strategy is not working in the south!

A national fervor about government debt didn't stop Raleigh voters from approving $56 million in transportation and affordable housing bonds Tuesday.
Based on preliminary results, the new transportation debt secured a broad endorsement - 67 percent of the vote - and the affordable housing bond won by a solid margin, receiving 62 percent support.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/10/12/1559040/voters-ok-road-housing-bonds.html#ixzz1aaEeYlfb

#occupywallstreet in 72 cities

Chattanooga, TN (http://chattanoogapulse.com/)

http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2011/10/08/4092153-photo-of-the-day-john-lewis-at-occupy-atlanta

Asheville, NC (occupyasheville.org)

Austin, TX (stevehopson.com)

via http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/cities-that-have-joined-the-occupied-movement

East Cooper CARTA Riders - We're Going Somewhere Together

East Cooper CARTA Riders - We're Going Somewhere Together: "Mount Pleasant, SC- East Cooper Residents will join their neighbors for a convenient, CARTA Transit enabled trip downtown on Sunday, October 9th. to enjoy the Second Sunday on King Street Festival, which will include a photo op and online elements for folks making the trip."

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TTI Report Says Public Transit Saved 796 Million Hours of Delay on our Nation’s Roads

TTI Report Says Public Transit Saved 796 Million Hours of Delay on our Nation’s Roads: "Public transportation’s value as a solution to relieving congestion was validated once again by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) 2011 Urban Mobility Report. The report which was released today looks at road congestion in 439 United States urban areas and notes that relieving congestion will be critical to keep up with job growth as the economy rebounds. As in past years, the data overwhelmingly shows the importance of public transportation in relieving congestion. (See the table below for the top 40 urban areas)."

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Ridership on Norfolk's light rail is exceeding expectations | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Ridership on Norfolk's light rail is exceeding expectations | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com: "It takes Bobby Parks an extra 20 minutes to commute to work and an extra $50 for a monthly pass to ride The Tide. Still, he's hooked.

"To me, not having to drive (Interstate) 264 is worth it," he said. "It makes me cringe with the potholes and bumps. ... Light rail is less stressful and, with traffic, it's more consistent.""

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APTA Expo - Thousands converge in New Orleans

At EXPO 2011, you can discover solutions for every aspect of public transit and every division of your system, from procurement to maintenance, to engineering and operations, all from the industry’s leading manufacturers. You won’t get a better opportunity to see all the latest transportation technologies, products and services gathered together for another three years. For those at your system charged with growing, enhancing and securing public mobility, attending EXPO 2011 will be the key to moving these initiatives forward.

Climate delayers would have you believe this is not happening

New Photos Reveal Terrible Depth of Texas Drought | Texas Weather & Wildfires | Dried-Up Lakes & Dead Fish & Starving Wildlife | LiveScience: "In Texas, there's no avoiding this year's record drought. Trees, parched of water, are dying. Fires are springing up in areas used to moist, almost swampy, conditions. Without enough grass to eat, even the longhorns are growing scrawny, their ribs showing through their hides."

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LETTER: Disabled residents need transit | The Carrboro Citizen

LETTER: Disabled residents need transit | The Carrboro Citizen: "I am a medically disabled woman, living within the legal boundaries of Chapel Hill. I live alone and cannot afford a car. My sole transportation is provided by Orange County Transportation (OCT), and limited to medical appointments during the week.
I may use the city’s free public transportation, but the closest bus stop to my home is a dangerous 2-mile walk, which prohibits me from riding Chapel Hill’s public buses. I have qualified for EZ Rider, Chapel Hill’s system for the poor and/or disabled, but EZ Rider refuses me their assistance."

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Transit Riders Union of St. Louis | Putting the Public Back in Public Transit

Transit Riders Union of St. Louis | Putting the Public Back in Public Transit: "We fight for the needs of all transit riders in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area using MetroBus, MetroLink, Call-A-Ride or Madison County Transit."

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Margaret Banyan, Ph.D.: [Florida] Transportation plan already obsolete | The News-Press | news-press.com

Margaret Banyan, Ph.D.: Transportation plan already obsolete | The News-Press | news-press.com: "Ultimately, Gov. Scott's plan is a big-government, top-down approach that would take choice and control away from local communities. Promoted as an engine of economic revival, it is anything but. Scott's plan will encourage sprawl and serve special interests, at taxpayer expense. Ultimately, it is the same failed approach that has caused Florida's housing and economic downturn."

Greenway fare-free on #carfree day - 22-September

http://www.mygreenway.org/home.html

Thumbs up, thumbs down | Hickory Daily Record: "THUMBS UP to Greenway Public Transportation for giving the public a day of free fare. Greenway is the name of public bus system of Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority. Next Thursday, September 22, you can ride for free on any of the fixed routes that serve Hickory, Newton and Conover. “Car Free Day” is a promotion for Greenway, but it’s a great opportunity for people to discover the convenience and cost-savings of riding the bus instead of taking a car everywhere you need or want to go. And, Greenway buses are handicap-friendly. You don’t have to spend a dime to find out if riding the bus is right for you. Go to www.mygreenway.org for a schedule. It’s a good way to scoot around the county."

Transit: Some of us ride it, all of us need it

Transit: Some of us ride it, all of us need it: "In a struggling economy, we need to provide transit options as a function of job creation and economic development. Our elected officials cannot take steps to create jobs, but then take away the services that take people to those jobs. The boards of HART and PSTA will likely have a final approval for their new millage rates to maintain funding for transit. Moving forward, they can follow the leadership demonstrated by our largest employers, in believing that while some of us ride transit, but all of us need it."

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief warns of further extreme weather - The Denver Post

Debris from a home and garage are embedded in a tree near Locust Grove, Oka. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. Severe thunderstorms rolled across Oklahoma for a second straight night, killing one person. (TULSA WORLD | Jeff Lautenberger)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief warns of further extreme weather - The Denver Post: "Extreme weather is becoming the new normal, with tornado, flood, wildfire and drought records broken and $35 billion in damages this year, the National Weather Service said Wednesday in launching a new readiness campaign."

Read more:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief warns of further extreme weather - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18704533#ixzz1XioxNxKf
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

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Hit-run victim's mom crusades for safer roads

Hit-run victim's mom crusades for safer roads: "Nelson’s situation has stirred outrage nationwide. Not only did the Georgia mother lose her son but also she faced three years' imprisonment. This is because she was helping her children across the street when the driver hit and killed the boy. Though Nelson was a pedestrian and the driver got away, the prosecutor charged her with vehicular homicide."

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Fair Share for Transit Campaign | Citizens for Progressive Transit | Atlanta, GA

Fair Share for Transit Campaign | Citizens for Progressive Transit | Atlanta, GA: "Citizens for Progressive Transit has joined the Livable Communities Coalition along with dozens of other groups to support the Fair Share for Transit campaign, an collaborative effort to ensure that funding for transit is represented in the Transportation Investment Act to be voted on in 2012 (Click Read More below to continue reading). The Atlanta Regional Roundtable is just beginning the process of picking which projects will be included on the list to be funded from the nearly $8 billion that would be generated from the one cent sales tax in the ten county metro region and we need your help in supporting transit. Please "like" the new fan page for the Fair Share campaign and follow us on Twitter to find out more about the Transportation Investment Act and how you can be involved in ensuring the expansion of transit in the region."

Fair Share for Transit Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fair-Share-for-Transit/215341275161192

Fair Share for Transit Twitter Feed: http://Twitter.com/cctgirl

Thank you for your support of expanding transit in our region!

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Durham-Orange - What you can get for 1/2 cent

Durham-Orange Friends of Transit:

• Expanded Bus Service - new buses and better service in first two years
• Express/Commuter Rail - Miles of new Commuter Rail service to maximize the use of Amtrak, High Speed Rail and NC Commuter Rail. Express Rail links commuters with job centers, pulling two sides of region closer together
• Light Rail - Miles of new Light Rail service. Light rail links neighborhoods for intra-city travel, short trips.

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Mass transit, don't pass us by, East Nashville residents say | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

 Fare-Free Music City Circulators

Mass transit, don't pass us by, East Nashville residents say | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: "“Having streetcars running to East Nashville will ensure the overall system’s success by linking our densest growing neighborhoods to the employers that the vast majority of people in East Nashville travel to every day,” said state Rep. Mike Stewart, one of about 50 people who attended a public meeting Thursday evening.

Stewart said East Nashville is “full of people who have already shown a willingness to use, and an excitement about, public transportation.”"

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Businesses plead for more public transit

St. Petersburg Times: Clearwater's Jolley Trolley is Weekends-Only for Now: Jolley Trolley officials say business owners along the new North Pinellas route have been clamoring to expand the three-day weekend service's hours of operation to include Thursday.

Give South Florida more choices on transportation - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Give South Florida more choices on transportation - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: Years ago, an elderly woman shared with me that her greatest desire was to enjoy ice cream once again. What was keeping her from this simple pleasure? Believe it or not, it was transportation. Apparently, the bus ride to the grocery store took 20 minutes, but the return trip took an hour — by the time she made it home, the ice cream had melted. To fix the problem, Broward County partnered with cities to create a network of smaller, more nimble local buses with flexible routes.

Few issues have larger consequences for our lives than transportation — how we move people and goods impacts all of us. It affects how we do business, where we choose to live, how we budget our money and ultimately, our quality of life.

Raquel Nelson - Victim of Autosprawl

photo

Raquel's taxes pay to subsidize the auto-system. If public transit were fare-free, ridership would increase and service would improve. The critical-mass of the auto-system would be broken and the unfairness of its massive subsidy would be seen for the burden that it is. And maybe there would be justice for a change.

Walking Is Healthy, So Why Isn't It Safer? - Kaid Benfield - Life - The Atlantic 

No End In Sight For Texas Drought, Says National Weather Service : TreeHugger

No End In Sight For Texas Drought, Says National Weather Service : TreeHugger: "All of north Texas is now in at least severe drought (D2)...with the vast majority of the region in extreme or exceptional drought. Water resources have decreased dramatically this summer...and crop losses will likely set record dollar amounts.
The heat is expected to continue the remainder of the summer...with the drought continuing unabated well into the upcoming autumn. With the potential for another La Niña winter...there is little to suggest any end to the drought."

New trolley routes start, more riders expected | wbir.com

New trolley routes start, more riders expected | wbir.com: "New routes and new times could make Knoxville's trolley system a lot easier to use.

If you've taken a ride on one of the Knoxville Area Transit Trolleys before Monday, the red, orange, or blue line may have gotten you close to your destination. From now on, you'll have to hop on the Downtown Loop, the Vol Line, or the Gay Street Line.

'We feel that the names of the trolley routes themselves will help people understand where the service goes on that particular route,' said Cindy McGinnis, General Manager of Knoxville Area Transit."

Can't walk even in the country? Ain't cars great?

Rural areas' lack of sidewalks fuel obesity | TBO.com: "RUSKIN --
Tractor-trailers and school buses routinely speed past Liz Pless' home along rural 15th Street Southeast in Ruskin.

There's no safe place on the busy two-lane street to ride a bike or go for a walk.

Her mailbox stands precariously at the edge of a storm-water trench, and the sidewalk is across the busy street. There are frequent gaps in the walkway, which sits too close to the fast-moving traffic for Pless — or her 11-year-old grandson, Justin — to use.

'When the kids come home, they have to walk down there, in the ditch,' said Pless, 55. 'We don't even have bikes anymore.'"

Seniors increasingly stranded | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Seniors increasingly stranded | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: "Nashville, where transportation projects are hurting for consistency and for the quality of service needed by the most isolated and frail seniors. A report this summer by Transportation for America ranked Nashville among the least prepared metro areas of 1 million to 3 million people when it comes to senior citizen transit. About 150,000 seniors in the region — 86 percent — will not have access to adequate transportation by 2015, the report concluded."

Southern states break U.S. heat record in July | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Southern states break U.S. heat record in July | MNN - Mother Nature Network: "WASHINGTON — The southern United States in July endured the hottest single month ever recorded in any climate region nationwide, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday."

Transit is easy and free in Durango, Colorado

The Durango Herald 08/06/2011 | Easy and free: "'It's very convenient,' resident Florence King said of the free trolley service available along Main Avenue.

King, who moved to Durango from Gallup, N.M., a few years ago, has found that public transit here is free from the negative image and complicated schedules and fees that plague other cities' transit systems.

Whether it's these reasons, the economy or both, one thing is clear: Usage of Durango's public transit service is up dramatically.

Since the City Council voted in 2009 to make the Main Avenue trolley free, ridership numbers have seen double-digit increases."

Transportation For America » Prosecuting the victim, absolving the perpetrators

This photo shows the bus stops (located on both sides) of Austell Road, and the path taken by Raquel Nelson across Austell Road to get from the bus stop to her apartment complex across the street. No marked crossings are visible in the photo.

Transportation For America » Prosecuting the victim, absolving the perpetrators:
July 18, 2011
By David Goldberg

This is an advocacy blog, but typically we’re rather measured in our tone. Sometimes, however, we see something so utterly outrageous, so emblematic of the failure of our current transportation system, that “measured” just won’t cut it."

Floridians love public transit

Gas prices fuel mass-transit surge - Business - MiamiHerald.com: "From 1995 to 2009, national use of public transit increased by 34 percent, according to a report by the American Public Transportation Association, a nonpartisan group that promotes mass-transit improvement. South Florida saw an increase of 37 percent from 2000 to 2009. In the state with the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities, venturing out of a car is especially risky. Miami residents’ commute time is also five minutes longer than the national average. But in the city that was recently ranked the eighth-most “walkable” in the country, people are willing to do it."

When design kills: The criminalization of walking | Grist

When design kills: The criminalization of walking | Grist: "That's right. It's not a matter of aesthetics, or of politics, or of opinion. It's a plain fact: When you design streets solely for cars, people die as a result. The underlying conditions that are responsible for those deaths are rarely or never challenged. The victims often get blamed for their own injuries or deaths."

CapitalClimate: Savannah Smashes Sweltering Streak: Consecutive 90°+ Days Exceed Old Record By Nearly 2 Weeks

CapitalClimate: Savannah Smashes Sweltering Streak: Consecutive 90°+ Days Exceed Old Record By Nearly 2 Weeks: "The National Weather Service reports that the record string of consecutive days at Savannah, Georgia with 90° or higher temperatures ended on Friday (July 15) at 56 days. This broke the previous record by 12 days:"

Transportation Nation | Back of the Bus: Race, Mass Transit and Inequality

Transportation Nation | Back of the Bus: Race, Mass Transit and Inequality: "Fifty-six-year-old Carolyn McMillan considers herself lucky. To get to work, she can drive to the Home Depot parking lot on Jonesboro road in Clayton County Georgia, then take a bus to her clerical job in downtown Atlanta.
“I’m just barely making it,” McMillan says. “Because I have to put gas in the car. I’m just barely making it.” Not too long ago, McMillan could take a local bus before switching to the Atlanta system, or MARTA. But Clayton County isn’t part of MARTA, and last year, Clayton eliminated all bus service. Today it stretches south of Atlanta in an endless string of fried chicken joints, tattoo parlors, check-cashing stores and used car lots."

14 States Suffering Under Drought - NYTimes.com

14 States Suffering Under Drought - NYTimes.com: "The pain has spread across 14 states, from Florida, where severe water restrictions are in place, to Arizona, where ranchers could be forced to sell off entire herds of cattle because they simply cannot feed them.

In Texas, where the drought is the worst, virtually no part of the state has been untouched. City dwellers and ranchers have been tormented by excessive heat and high winds. In the Southwest, wildfires are chewing through millions of acres."

Texas is vulnerable to warming #climate « GCC News Brief

Texas is vulnerable to warming #climate « GCC News Brief: "The changes in temperature and precipitation, along with rising sea levels, will leave no part of Texas unchanged. This includes both the natural landscape and the cities, the wildlife and important economic sectors, like agriculture. While climate change may be good for some parts of the globe (e.g., Siberia, northern Canada), Texas is most definitely not one of them. Rather, the vulnerability of Texas is more akin to that of the low-lying island states of the Pacific that are going to be inundated by sea-level rise over the coming century.
This makes the refusal of our leaders in Austin to take action on climate change that much more unfortunate."

U.S. High-Speed Rail plan looks as if intended to fail

JACKSONVILLE TRANSIT: "In his view, the Obama plan suffers from these critical flaws:

• Routes were poorly chosen. The Orlando-to-Tampa line — 84 miles mostly in an Interstate highway corridor — would have run from one city that’s “not a model of transit” to another city with the same transit deficiency. Said Babbitt: “Frankly, it’s not surprising that the governor of Florida [when offered 90 percent of the funds to construct the line] turned it down.”"

Phoenix, Arizona, engulfed by dust storm - | World news | guardian.co.uk

Phoenix, Arizona, engulfed by dust storm - video | World news | guardian.co.uk: "A blinding dust storm temporarily closed Phoenix Sky Harbour airport, while motorists were forced to pull over due to extremely poor visibility"

Red states, ignored by oil trolls, can quietly go green

CleanEnergy Footprints » Archive » Tennessee grows its green economy.: "The recent release of the Tennessee Green Jobs Report from Tennessee’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development reveals an expanding workforce in the state’s green economy. 43,804 green jobs were counted in 2010 with 3,645 green job vacancies across the state. If just these jobs are filled over the next year, that would represent an 8% annual growth rate for green jobs, far surpassing the recent statewide average of about 3%. And these numbers do not include the thousands of jobs coming over the next few years from solar manufacturing giants such as Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie, or the jobs created by the planned Nissan lithium battery plant."

Mother Nature laughing at human hubris - Will we ever learn?

Photo from High Country News direct photo link

- The Washington Post: "LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — A wildfire burning near the desert birthplace of the atomic bomb advanced on the Los Alamos laboratory and thousands of outdoor drums of plutonium-contaminated waste Tuesday as authorities stepped up efforts to protect the site and monitor the air for radiation."

Public transit funding needs to grow, also | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com

Public transit funding needs to grow, also | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com: "The recent study released by Transportation for America, “Aging in Place, Stuck without Options: Fixing the Mobility Crisis Threatening the Baby Boom Generation,” predicts that 85 percent of Nashville-area seniors will have poor access to transit in 2015. It is also predicted that this number will grow well beyond 2030, when the last of the baby boomers turn 65."

Norman, Oklahoma: We are affordable, we are green

OUDaily.com | CART event encourages use of buses: "Free bus fare and free T-shirts will be given out throughout the day.

A major goal of Dump the Pump is to increase visibility for Norman’s public transportation system, CART spokeswoman Vicky Holland said.

“We are affordable, we are green,” Holland said.

The CART public transit system is vital to many individuals in the Norman community, Holland said.

“We have people that we take daily to doctor’s appointments and the grocery store,” Holland said of CART. “We’re their only mode of transportation. There are people who rely on us.”"

Salisbury Transit System Offering Free Bus Rides on Orange and Red Ozone Action Days

Mayor Susan Kluttz, speaking on behalf of the Salisbury City Council said, “Public transportation is a vital element in our nation’s efforts to speak to economic, environmental, and energy-related challenges. Public transportation offers an affordable and convenient alternative to driving. By utilizing our public transit system, citizens are able to take advantage of all aspects of our local environment. Our transit system allows riders to travel to work, conduct business, reach medical facilities, and participate in community events.” Kluttz notes that the environmental impact of choosing public transit s significant. “Ground-level ozone and smog can emerge when cars and household products generate hazardous emissions. In comparison to private vehicles, public transportation generates 95% less carbon monoxide. The free bus fare program offers a wonderful opportunity for citizens to help improve air quality, lessen greenhouse gas emissions, and support our nation’s efforts to become less reliant on foreign oil.”

http://www.salisburync.gov/

This is what the auto culture has brought us - climate disruption

Joplin, Missouri, Tornado Pictures: "WWII" Devastation: "The tornado tore a path roughly a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide and six miles (9.6 kilometers) long, destroying a hospital, flattening a school, and slamming cars into buildings, the Associated Press reported."

Red State free transit is a big success, and growing bigger.

Edmond’s Citylink to get new buses | NewsOK.com: EDMOND — Citylink, Edmond’s free public transit system, is getting three new buses as ridership continues to grow.
The bus order has been sent to the vendor, National Bus Sales, Edmond community development manager Shannon Entz told members of the Edmond Public Transportation Committee this week.
...The additional buses also give Citylink the option to increase its number of routes.
For the first 10 month of this fiscal year, Citylink has provided 147,362 rides. For the entire 12 months last year, there were 109,156 rides recorded.

Read more: http://newsok.com/edmonds-citylink-to-get-new-buses/article/3568004

Tempe, AZ - Youth ride transit free

Youth Bus Pass Program: "The Tempe Youth Transit Pass Program allows all eligible Tempe youth ages 6 to 18 to ride regional and local Valley Metro bus routes and the METRO light rail for free. "

RTA claims increase in use of public transportation | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

RTA claims increase in use of public transportation | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: "The Regional Transportation Authority reports increases in the use of public transportation in March for both bus and commuter rail service in Middle Tennessee.

The Music City Star train reported a record 25,321 passenger trips in March, an increase of 30 percent from the same month in 2010."

Mother Nature ignores climate delayers -- attacks Tuscaloosa

Frank Jackalone: Public transit would give Florida answer to sprawl, congestion | The News-Press | news-press.com

Frank Jackalone: Public transit would give Florida answer to sprawl, congestion | The News-Press | news-press.com: "It is ironic that in the 21st century, public transit has not expanded sufficiently to meet transportation needs of that development. Instead of moving forward with fuel-efficient transportation choices, such as improved public transit, Florida has taken a step backward by promoting more oil drilling to fuel more cars on more highways."

Happy Mayor, Happy Town... why? FREE public transit

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt discussed the issue of alternative transportation with Carl Schuler, ofUNC Hospitals, at the Starbucks on Franklin Street Wednesday. Kleinschmidt rode Chapel Hill Transit to talk to bus riders about the transportation system.

The Daily Tar Heel :: Kleinschmidt tests transit system; talks with residents: While enjoying complementary coffee and treats, about 15 Chapel Hill residents were able to give the mayor and other Chapel Hill Transit officials feedback about the transportation system.
...The Chapel Hill “fare-free” transit system was first implemented in January 2002, said Brian Litchfield, assistant transit director for Chapel Hill Transit. Since then its ridership has increased every year, reaching nearly 7.5 million in 2009, he said.

More US southern love for fare-free transit

Hickory NC: Greenway Public Transportation is offering Free Fares on April 20, 2011: "Greenway Public Transportation is offering a Free Fare day on
Wednesday April 20, 2011 in celebration of Earth Day 2011.

The free fare will be on the fixed route service located in
the cities of Conover, Hickory, and Newton.

For more information call 828-464-9444
or visit mygreenway.org to download a brochure"

GOP: Climate disruption not happening, please send disaster funds

Fires burn 1.5 million acres in Texas, fueled by record dry conditions | ClimateSignals: "As of April 18, 23 large wildfires were burning in Texas. So far in 2011, the Texas has responded to 7,807 fires, which burned 1,528,714 acres of land and 244 structures, said Governor Rick Perry in an April 16 request to President Obama that the state be declared a major disaster."

Simple Single Mom: Carfree

Simple Single Mom: Carfree: "We love not having a car. We've gotten to know our neighbors by walking past them, instead of just pulling out of our driveway each morning. Riding the bus with a preschooler is especially fun since I don't have to pay attention to traffic it really is quality time. We save money; I save about $12,000 each year by not owning a car. Best of all, my weekends aren't devoted to maintenance & repairs."

Red states love free public transit

Bus drivers Clifton Godbold and Chris Mitchem talking with Shannon Entz, Edmond community development manager, during bus driver appreciation day for Edmond citylink bus drivers Friday, March 18, 2011. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman

A woman gets on one of Edmond’s Citylink buses. She’s in labor. Her contractions are five minutes apart. She needs to go 16 miles to an Oklahoma City hospital to have her baby.

It’s just another day in the life of Christy Reid, a bus operator for Edmond’s free public transit system.

Read more: http://newsok.com/edmond-bus-drivers-have-stories-to-tell/article/3551295#ixzz1HWJRaBTY

Board signs agreement for [fare-free] town bus route

The Hillsborough Town Council approved a formal agreement with Orange County at its Monday, March 14, meeting, officially accepting and acknowledging the assignment of responsibilities placed upon both entities for operation on the Hillsborough circulator bus route.

The route—which swoops in a large figure eight across the town—will run free of charge for residents and will connect with Triangle Transit Authority’s 420 route at Durham County Technical College.

America's automobile mania | Linh Dinh | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

America's automobile mania | Linh Dinh | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Driving her kids to school, a South Carolina woman, Amy Lynn Stewart, encountered a group of teens walking in the middle of the road. She honked but they would not get out of the way, so she plowed into them, hitting four. They were 12, 13, 13 and 14 years old."

It's time for sustainable transit choices » The Commercial Appeal

Guest Column: It's time for sustainable transit choices » The Commercial Appeal: "'In the Memphis metropolitan community, we have many neighborhoods where working-class folks cannot get to their place of employment, cannot get to the doctor's office, or even to a full-scale grocery store or vegetable market because there is not adequate transportation that easily connects them to the facilities they need for a healthy quality of life,' says Rita Harris, environmental justice community organizer with the Sierra Club for Memphis and the surrounding area. 'As we make decisions for future transportation planning, the needs of people in our low-income and working-class areas must be factored into the plans.'"

MARTA Rocks!

MARTA Rocks!: "The FTA is meeting with MARTA and the county commissioners of Clayton to discuss using revenue generated from the sales tax in the Clayton section on the airport to fund service. This would generate approximately 2.5 million in funds to restore the bus system once run by CTran. This would not be a level of service as great as CTran once was, which operated on 6 million a year, but it’s something. If they can reach an agreement, meaning if the commission doesn’t shoot them down, then buses may be rolling down those streets as soon as July 1st."

WR Takes First Step Towards Mass Transit

WR Takes First Step Towards Mass Transit: "Warner Robins City Council members were all in favor of applying for grants that would fund an in-depth study on the needs to Middle Georgia commuters.
The leaders have taken the first steps towards trying to obtain a mass transit system in the area."

Forward-thinking Durham mayor proposes free transit - again.

Durham mayor reiterates support for Rolling Hills redevelopment - Durham County - NewsObserver.com: "Regarding other priorities, Bell said the city should 'create a business and environmentally friendly atmosphere' to encourage businesses to grow and entice outside firms to locate in Durham. He said he is asking City Manager Tom Bonfield to set a 'reasonable goal' of jobs to be created in 2011 through city efforts.

Converting the DATA bus system to fare-free operation is one means for enhancing public transit that Bell wants the city administration to investigate, he said."

High Gas Prices Boost Light Rail Ridership - News Story - WSOC Charlotte

High Gas Prices Boost Light Rail Ridership - News Story - WSOC Charlotte: "Charlotte Area Transit said 24 million people rode CATS mass transit last year. This year, there is already a two percent increase and the numbers are expected to rise as gas prices increase.
“We see that in stages, typically $3 a gallon is one stage, around $3.50 is another. Above $3.50, starts people to really ramp up.' CATS spokesman Olaf Kinard said.
CATS officials said some drivers can as much as $100 a month by riding the light rail."

TARC trolley rides to remain free through at least August | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

TARC trolley rides to remain free through at least August | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal: "Pledges of subsidies from four downtown-friendly agencies have helped convince the Transit Authority of River City to keep rides on the Fourth Street and Main-Market trolleys free, at least through Aug. 31.

“The trolleys will remain free and continue to run frequently,” said TARC Executive Director Barry Barker. “It’s a great example of folks working together to make something a success.”"

Let someone else drive: Mass transit options | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Let someone else drive: Mass transit options | The Tennessean | tennessean.com:

TRAIN: MUSIC CITY STAR

This commuter rail service operated by the Regional Transit Authority serves Lebanon, Martha, Mt. Juliet, Hermitage and Donelson."

View from the trolley: More than a free ride - CharlotteObserver.com

View from the trolley: More than a free ride - CharlotteObserver.com: "I hopped on the Gold Rush rolling trolley Monday mid-morning to see if people were riding it to stay warm - for free - in this bitter cold.

I got off two hours later with a fresh view of Charlotte and a dose of humility."

Bus rides free - and crowded | The Augusta Chronicle

Michael Holahan/Staff

During a week of free rides, the Augusta Transit Office

 saw a steady increase in ridership on its buses,

 reaching 5,152 riders on Wednesday.

Bus rides free - and crowded | The Augusta Chronicle: "Augusta Public Transit let passengers ride for free Monday through Friday in a promotion it called Try Transit week. And try it Augusta residents did.
Bus driver Rebecca Brown said her morning east Augusta route was at least 50 percent busier than usual. Her Kmart route was packed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m."

Death toll from New Year's Eve tornadoes now seven - KansasCity.com

Photo Credit Jack Times

Death toll from New Year's Eve tornadoes now seven - KansasCity.com: "Six of the victims — three in Missouri and three in Arkansas — died Friday as tornadoes fueled by unusually warm air pummeled the South and Midwest. A seventh victim who was injured Friday near the south-central Missouri town of Rolla died Saturday at a hospital in Columbia, said Bruce Southard, the chief of the Rolla Rural Fire Department."