Illinois - Greater Greater Washington

And...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:38:00 EDT

Chicago's bikeshare system Divvy will start in June. (Chicago Tribune) ... Is it White Flint or North Bethesda? (BethesdaNow) ... Hearings on the Wheaton Costco gas station start today. (Patch, Dan. S) ... Hertz On Demand joins ZipCar in Bethesda. (RD@BR)

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Chicago will do BRT

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:37:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Chicago plans to convert car lanes to BRT on a major avenue. Can Montgomery County, or DC, muster the fortitude to do the same? (wbez, Ben Ross)

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And...

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:28:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Georgetown's West Heating Plant building might not be worth much unless the preservation process allows adding windows. (Post) ... Is it possible to build a green downtown parking garage, or is it just greenwashing? (Grid Chicago)

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WMATA readying software for Farragut "virtual tunnel" (Dec 11, 2010)
Ask GGW: Why is Farragut Crossing longer on weekends? (Nov 16, 2011)
New art planned for Takoma, Farragut West (Feb 17, 2010)
Pop the top or pack 'em in the back? (Apr 23, 2008)
Even more fantastic WMATA fantasy map (Feb 19, 2008)

And...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:20:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Halloween is the second most dangerous holiday for pedestrians, mainly thanks to drunk drivers. (Patch) ... WMATA adds a disclaimer to the controversial "Defeat Jihad" ad. (DCist) ... Is it possible to build a green downtown parking garage? (Grid Chicago)

Comment

Pedestrian safety slogan exhorts but does not educate (Apr 6, 2012)
WMATA reaches agreement to use DC USA garage (Apr 21, 2010)
Metro plans to share parking with Marriott hotel (Nov 17, 2008)
Pedestrians and drivers: Can't we all just get along? (Oct 6, 2008)
Council passes fine for blocking bike lane (Sep 16, 2008)

Amtrak speeds up in the Midwest

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:31:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

An Amtrak train in Illinois hit 111 mph in a demonstration run, faster than any Amtrak train outside the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak says 75% of the Chicago-St. Louis route will be high speed by 2015. (Grid Chicago)

Comment

Amtrak celebrates 40 years today (May 1, 2011)
Northeast, California win big in high speed rail grants (May 9, 2011)
Gas prices: Obama still gets it; Friedman slams Clinton (Apr 30, 2008)
Amtrak makes no little plans with Union Station vision (Jul 26, 2012)
Why isn't an Amtrak ticket cheaper in the Northeast? (Aug 22, 2011)

Windy City wants safer walking

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:32:00 EDT

by Steven Yates

Gabe Klein released details on Chicago's plan to reduce pedestrian deaths to zero in 10 years through traffic calming, longer pedestrian crossing times, better connectivity. (Streetsblog)

Comment

New York and Chicago's bike sharing delayed

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 08:39:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Bike sharing in New York and Chicago, both slated to open this summer, have been substantially delayed. Alta Bicycle Share, which runs Capital Bikeshare, is managing both systems. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Comment

American bike sharing systems more than doubled in 2011 (Dec 30, 2011)
NPS hasn't asked its concessionaire about bike sharing (Oct 19, 2010)
Suburbs are the next frontier for bike sharing (Oct 5, 2011)
Bike sharing maps multiply (Jul 21, 2010)
Capital Bikeshare releases anonymous trip data (Jan 11, 2012)

Only some city brands stick

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:35:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

In the history of city branding, there have been some failures, like Chicago, and some successes, like Indianapolis. Success seems to come with apparent authenticity and avoiding a generic-seeming brand. (Salon)

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Chicago is stumbling

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:52:00 EDT

by Thaddeus Bell

Not all American cities are booming and returning to the urban core. Chicago has faced population loss and other crises over the past decade, a contrast with most of largest American cities. (City Journal)

Comment

Byron Brown on cities in politics (Jan 4, 2008)
Google paid for NYC data (or not); Chicago removed indemnification (Aug 20, 2009)
Chicago trains officers on cycling laws (Sep 12, 2009)
Walkability's comeback (Feb 4, 2008)
The soul-crushing emptiness of downtown DC (Dec 1, 2007)

And...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:45:00 EDT

by David Alpert

A Seoul train gets a beach. (BeyondDC) ... Chicago will shut down an entire line for 5 months for repairs. (Tribune, Ben Ross) ... 2 die on the Wilson Bridge. (Post)

Comment

Chicago pushes ahead without feds

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:04:00 EDT

by David Edmondson

Chicago Mayor Emanuel announced a $7 billion infrastructure investment, revamping the city's utilities and public transportation on a scale not seen in a generation—all without federal help. (Transport Politic)

Comment

Challenges lie ahead for a strong education team (Dec 23, 2010)
High-speed rail, here we come (Feb 12, 2009)
Chicago trains officers on cycling laws (Sep 12, 2009)
Stimulus compromise won't cut transit (Feb 7, 2009)
Transit starts show we're making progress (Jan 4, 2012)

Night of the walking dead

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:08:00 EDT

by Eric Fidler

As one part of a pedestrian safety initiative, Gabe Klein has installed 32 mannequins around Chicago to represent the 32 pedestrians who died on Chicago's streets last year. (Chicago Tribune)

Comment

Struck in DC this week: 8 pedestrians, 4 cyclists (Aug 8, 2010)
What's your experience walking on Connecticut Avenue? (Mar 30, 2010)
Serious business (Mar 31, 2010)
Struck in DC this week: 4 pedestrians, 1 cyclist (Sep 5, 2010)
Struck in DC this week: 7 pedestrians, 2 cyclists (Aug 22, 2010)

Chicago's poor attempt at congestion pricing

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:04:00 EDT

by Eric Fidler

Mayor Emanuel wants a $2 surcharge on parking in city-owned lots and garages. The surcharge, which will not apply to street meters, may just encourage more drivers to hunt for street parking instead. (NPR)

Comment

Market-rate parking comes to SF. What can DC learn? (Apr 11, 2011)
Where are DC's downtown surface parking lots? (Jun 6, 2011)
Bring performance parking to Georgetown (Mar 18, 2009)
Arlington pilots new meters (Sep 16, 2009)
Metro parking prices should reflect crowding (May 13, 2010)

Bike bits

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:48:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Is Chicago neglecting poorer neighborhoods and not giving the public input into bike plans? (NY Times) ... Keep up with the latest summary of CaBi expansion. (WashCycle) ... DC was a cycling paradise in 1888. (DCist)

Comment

What's the best bike for CaBi lovers? (Jun 15, 2011)
Suburbs are the next frontier for bike sharing (Oct 5, 2011)
Even bike owners will benefit from joining Capital Bikeshare (Sep 16, 2010)
Lincoln Park CaBi station canceled after complaints (Sep 30, 2010)
DDOT will place CaBi station on NE corner of Lincoln Park (Oct 23, 2010)

Gabe & others for Chicago BRT

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:54:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Gabe Klein is pushing for new BRT lines in Chicago, though a local advocacy group has an even more ambitious program. Some criticized DDOT when he headed it for not making bus priority much of a priority. (TTP)

Comment

Live chat with Gabe Klein (Oct 5, 2010)
Gabe Klein leaving DDOT (Dec 8, 2010)
Join GGW, Gabe Klein and others next Tuesday for a holiday bike ride and happy hour (Dec 14, 2010)
Streetcars now on the front burner (Aug 7, 2009)
Thank you, Gabe! (Dec 8, 2010)

Interesting transit ideas

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:20:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Should Metro institute "quiet cars" like Metra is doing in Chicago? (TBD) ... Should transit systems have loyalty programs like airlines' frequent flyer programs? Singapore may try it. (The Atlantic, ChrisB)

Comment

Why airlines charge extra to check bags (Jun 21, 2010)
WMATA directions now on Google Transit! (May 11, 2011)
SmarTrip's delayed, but at least we're not San Francisco (Nov 13, 2009)
How should the region's transit grow? (Oct 12, 2010)
Integrate bus and rail by making transfers free? (Jun 8, 2011)

Really, Wrigley doesn't need more parking

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 09:30:38 EDT

by David Alpert

While advocating for a new stadium for the Chicago Cubs (itself a controversial view), a Sports Illustrated writer also requests more parking. Given that Wrigley is always packed despite not being surrounded by seas of parking lots, the status quo seems just fine. (Adam S.)

Comment

Stadium opens without parking, world doesn't end (Apr 2, 2008)
That parking the Nats couldn't live without? Never mind. (Apr 22, 2008)
Popular parking at the Poplar park? (Feb 17, 2008)
DC versus New York (Mar 6, 2008)
H Street United? (Apr 9, 2009)

Klein bringing bus shelter screens to Chicago

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Beyond building cycle tracks, Gabe Klein wants to put real-time displays in bus shelters like the ones he piloted in DC. They'll show bus arrivals, nearby car sharing and more. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Comment

Klein demands better plan for 14th & U (Oct 14, 2010)
Gabe Klein leaving DDOT (Dec 8, 2010)
Klein aims to build DDOT's credibility (Jan 27, 2009)
Arlington chair says keep Tregoning and Klein (Sep 16, 2010)
Live chat with Gabe Klein (Oct 5, 2010)

Gabe putting in bike lanes

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:51:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gabe Klein talk about protected bike lanes, the first of which are now going in. Emanuel promised 100 miles of them in 4 years, and discusses the value to businesses of bringing more people into and around downtown by bike. (NBC Chicago)

Comment

Join GGW, Gabe Klein and others next Tuesday for a holiday bike ride and happy hour (Dec 14, 2010)
DDOT supporters feeling burned by Penn. Ave. lanes (Jun 9, 2010)
Thank you, Gabe! (Dec 8, 2010)
Bike to work tomorrow, tour DC and Arlington this weekend (May 20, 2010)
New York sees similar bike and communication debates as DC (Mar 5, 2011)

Walmart a wash for jobs

Mon, 09 May 2011 09:44:23 EDT

by David Alpert

2 years after a Walmart opened in a Chicago neighborhood, the number of jobs lost by businesses that closed was essentially equal to the number of jobs created by Walmart. The businesses that closed also had paid similar wages and benefits to the new Walmart jobs. (Post)

Comment

How much will Walmart cost DC taxpayers? (Apr 18, 2011)
Ward 7's Walmart could be walkable and help small business (Mar 31, 2011)
Wal-Mart, urban design, Main Street, jobs, and eye care (Nov 19, 2010)
Walmart shows conceptual renderings for Ward 7 store (Dec 29, 2010)
DC's employment stable yet unemployment rising (Nov 2, 2009)

Developer gives away cars to home buyers

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:40:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

A Chicagoland developer has taken a page from the streetcar suburb developer playbook by offering to subsidize potential homebuyers' transportation. The problem: he's offering to buy them all cars. (Grist)

Comment

"No more cars" vs. "not more cars" (Aug 11, 2009)

Suburbs dying?

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:33:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Sales of new single-family homes are extremely slow—outside Chicago, down 90% from the peak—while townhouse sales are strong as people choose smaller and closer to work over large and distant. (NYT) ... If the future isn't in suburbs, why are policymakers cutting transit rather than investing in it? (Boston Globe)

Comment

Westwood Station (Jan 21, 2006)
Ed Glaeser: level the playing field (Mar 3, 2008)
Arlington rental proposal brings out immigrant phobia (May 14, 2008)
Tune up DC's tax system: Theater tickets (Jul 10, 2009)
Trains and the election (Oct 6, 2008)

Gabe Klein going to Chicago

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:14:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Chicago's next mayor, Rahm Emanuel, has nominated Gabe Klein to run that city's DOT. Emanuel has committed to build 100 miles of bike lanes in his first term, and ran on a strong pro-transit platform.

Mike DeBonis notes that Klein won't have much authority over parking meters, since the city gave away its control over parking for a one-time budget fix; Lydia DePillis writes, "I'd say this'll last until Emanuel manages to get thrown out, but that city is used to high-handed, forward-thinking mayors."

12 comments

Gabe Klein leaving DDOT (Dec 8, 2010)
Fenty nominates Gabe Klein for DDOT (Dec 31, 2008)
Zoning Commission too important for thoughtless pick (Jun 28, 2010)
Join GGW, Gabe Klein and others next Tuesday for a holiday bike ride and happy hour (Dec 14, 2010)
Klein aims to build DDOT's credibility (Jan 27, 2009)

Diffrent Democrats' attitudes on bike lanes

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:59:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Former Congressman and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, now a candidate for Chicago mayor, wants to build new bike lanes including cycle tracks as a major portion of his platform. Meanwhile, New York Senator Chuck Schumer is lobbying hard against a popular bike lane on Prospect Park West in Brooklyn, where he lives. (Streetsblog)

Comment

And...

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:53:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

Abu Dhabi owns Chicago's parking meters (Atlantic, charlie) ... You've heard of elevator music, well, Rosslyn makes escalator music (Ode Street Tribune) ... Michelle Rhee got a job offer to be state education head in New Jersey. (Post)

Comment

Flashy architecture often has problems

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:19:00 EDT

by David Alpert

A Chicago museum is suing its architects for a building that won two awards for excellence. That's because the flashy modern architecture that pushes the envelope both gets attention and also often has big flaws because of the untested materials or design principles. We discussed the same issues with the National Gallery's East Wing last year. (WSJ)

Comment

Stranded at O'Hare

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:46:00 EDT

by David Alpert

I know you all wish there were some rain, but instead it all hit Chicago, which I had the bad judgment to try to connect through from Las Vegas. As a result, I'm stuck overnight in air travel purgatory. (Chicago Weather Center)

It's ironic to get stranded by our air travel system the day after interviewing Ray LaHood. At the panel, he got the most applause when he talked about new restrictions on airlines stranding passengers and the like. Sadly, USDOT can't make new rules ordering the weather to stop being so extreme, and the Senate won't address the larger problem.

Comment

Automated garages

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:42:11 EDT

by David Alpert

A maker of automated parking systems produced a video of their garage located under a public square in Budapest. (Erik W) ... A new automated parking garage in Chicago's Bucktown may be the first to get LEED Gold, touted as "emissions free," though the car traffic it generates won't be. (Government Technology, Bryan)

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Jail time needed for cycle assault?

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:43:39 EDT

by David Alpert

Following an extremely light sentence for two drivers who intentionally hit two cyclists, Chicago advocates are pushing prosecutors to push harder for jail time. (Adam Voiland/DC Bicycle Transportation Examiner)

Comment

Hit cyclists intentionally, don't go to jail

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:35:03 EDT

by David Alpert

2 drunk Chicago men deliberately hunted down and hit bicyclists in their car. They pled guilty, but got zero jail time for one (and two years probation) and just 10 days in jail for the other. (Streetsblog)

Comment

$8 billion, high-speed

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:28:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The Obama administration awarded $8 billion for high speed rail, primarily to California, Tampa-Orlando, and the Midwest.

The Washington region got some smaller grants, like $75 million for a third track in Prince William and Stafford Counties and various small projects on the Northeast Corridor. (The Transport Politic, Fredericksburg.com, Scott, Gavin Baker, mcs)

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