Comments on: MTA Deal Approaches; California HSR Under Threat in Peninsula

By: Ian Leighton

Ian Leighton — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:07:24 +0000

“accept minimal negative affects” should emphasize there are positive affects that far outweigh the former.

plus the Palo Alto city council has been spoon-fed the “Berlin Wall” grade separation argument, when in reality HSR grade separations could make Palo Alto look nicer than it does today.
[see California HSR Blog's post on grade separation for some beautiful pictures].

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:40:18 +0000

Yonah. Why do you combine all the day’s posts into one? It seems to me if you did separate posts on each topic, the results would be easier to organise and search, and the comments thread would make more sense.

By: Kyle - Boston

Kyle - Boston — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:55:18 +0000

It’s good to hear about the MTA funding. I know the rejection last year in Albany was a major setback. Hopefully this can get things moving and promote further transit investment in NY.

By: Jordan Hare

Jordan Hare — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:32:53 +0000

FANTASTIC news about the Ravitch compromise. It’s better than nothing and sets the stage for eventual further increases – which will be an effective tool to migrate more riders onto mass transit.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:03:52 +0000

Hi. Great postings. Perhaps you meant to mention the RFK bridge above? Thankfully, the G.W. Bridge is a Port Authority of NY and NJ crossing … out of the NY State Assembly’s reach.

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:18:49 +0000

As an American transit consultant working in Australia — where local government is powerless and irrelevant — I often pitch the virtues of stronger local government, because it’s where ordinary citizens can get engaged in political action.

Palo Alto’s action is certainly an embarrassment on that score. In fact, it’s the sort of action that Australians will cite in defense of their system. In that system, state governments have all the power, while city councils have only the powers that the state doesn’t want — e.g. trash collection, approving minor home improvements, and arranging community festivals.