Andrea Bernstein

Photo: Daniel Tucker

(Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation) The fanfare has been incessant -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg did no less than FOUR live interviews this morning about it. Perhaps because it's been a season of relentless bad news for local budgets, which means major infrastructure completions are totally rare these days. Perhaps it's because this project has been so vivid -- a bridge floated down the Hudson River from Albany to Bayonne, NJ, tweaked, then sent up the East River by barge to its Bronx home. But we're suckers for it anyway, we can't help ourselves, it's catnip for journalists, irresistible especially these slow August news days. So here it is, the new Willis Avenue Bridge, getting ready to be moved into place in the Bronx.

(New York -- Ailsa Chang, WNYC) Anthony Trocchia used to go to Manhattan every weekend – to shop, go to the movies, people-watch in the park and visit his best friend in the East Village. But since the B39 bus was cut June 27, Trocchia has been to Manhattan only once. Listen here:

"I think about what’s involved,” says Trocchia, “and I say to myself, ‘Well, you know, the movie – I can wait for the DVD, and I’ll get it from Netflix. If I have to do some shopping, --ahh -- there’s, you know, the Internet.”

Trocchia was born with muscular dystrophy and has been in a wheelchair for 30 years.

If he wanted to take the bus into Manhattan now, it would mean taking three separate bus routes that zigzag him from Williamsburg into Queens, over to the Upper East Side and down to the East Village.

It’s been more than a month since the New York City MTA cut 38 bus lines and reduced service on another 76. Now, disability rights activists say they're preparing several lawsuits, because they say, disabled New Yorkers have been hit particularly hard by the cuts.

(Billings, MT -- Jackie Yamanaka, Yellowstone Public Radio) Yellowstone National Park officials today announced July set a new record for visitation -- at more than 957-thousand people. That's the largest number to ever visit the park in any month and comes on the heels of a new visitation record for June.
It's also the first time in Yellowstone's history that the number of visitors for the first seven months of the year has topped the 2-million mark.

Yellowstone officials are struggling to cope with the record traffic -- the story here.

Photos here.

(Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation) U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Detroit on Monday, just a couple days after President Barack Obama visited a car factory, drove a Volt, and otherwise touted the revival of the auto industry.

LaHood was there talking about another mode of transportation, entirely. "You build a bus line, a transit line, a light rail line, people will come, they will use it, and it will become an economic engine," LaHood said at a press conference announcing the U.S. DOT is backing an environmental review for the proposed Woodward Avenue light rail line, the linchpin of a plan to revive downtown Detroit.

The light rail, LaHood said, "will give people a new choice or maybe a  first chance to get from one place to another, from home to school, to work, to the store, to see family and friends, or a doctor. They will help make Detroit a model for livable communities. A place where transit brings housing in close proximity to jobs and businesses. A place where sidewalks and bike paths are usable, inviting, and safe."

"Woodward Avenue was the first street paved with concrete any place in the world. What an extraordinary piece of history. Its traffic was among the first to be managed by public stop lights which a Detroit police officer invented in 191," LaHood said. "And while the community is rightfully proud of its history as the birthplace of the freeway and automobile, Woodward Avenue was also once upon a time the backbone of a streetcar network and transit system replicated in cities across the United States."

Sounds like a joke for transpo wonks, but it's not. "Ray LaHood's Transpo-Looza" was a Jeopardy category. It's the perfect marriage of geekdom and pop culture. Giving an answer like "What is Dulles?" gets you $800. I won't tell you the rest of the answers -- you can watch the segment here at Lahood's blog. The only sad thing? You don't get to see the contest for "Janet Reno's Dance Party." I am not making this up! -- Andrea Bernstein

(New York -- Kate Hinds, WNYC)  As part of its $508 million rehabilitation, the Brooklyn Bridge will get wrapped in canvas beginning in about two months.

Hasan Ahmed, who oversees the Brooklyn Bridge for the New York City Department of Transportation, says workers will install a huge canvas shield that will protect motorists while the bridge is repainted. "It will be lots of material."

Workers will repaint five million square feet of steel -- and first the old leaded paint has to be removed. Hence the need for a canvas shield. And that necessitates a lot more than throwing down a drop cloth.

"In a couple of months you will see a major difference in the outlook of the bridge," Ahmed tells WNYC's Kate Hinds. "When the containment is styled to creep up from one side ittle by little a whole section of the bridge will be covered."

The canvas won’t cover the bridge’s wood-plank pedestrian walkway, which is elevated above the road.  But the drive across the span will soon change.

Says Ahmed "When you are driving on the bridge, you will not see the sky, because you will see a while or off-white or light brown shield on the top of you."

Photo: Jackie Yamanaka, Yellowstone Public Radio

(Yellowstone National Park -- Jackie Yamanaka, Yellowstone Public Radio) It's been a record-setting summer at the world's first national park.   In June Yellowstone hit 700,000 visitors, and July is also expected to shatter attendance numbers.

With gas prices off their all-time highs of two summers ago,  but the economy still clouded, AAA says driving vacations have become more popular this summer.

Because of  its rural surroundings most visitors arrive in Yellowstone by personal vehicle, whether that’s a car, pick-up pulling a trailer, or a recreational vehicle (RV).

Yellowstone officials say the world’s first national park wasn’t designed to accommodate large vehicles. Eleanor Clark is Yellowstone’s chief comprehensive planner. She says the roads are narrow and there’s no designated RV parking at the developed areas, like Old Faithful, leaving the big rigs no choice but to park in up to 10 parking spaces.

Narrow roads are also an issue when visitors spot wildlife. A lone bison bull grazing just off the road will cause visitors to pull over, when possible, or simply stop in the middle of the road to take pictures or video. Such a bison-jam (or it could be an elk, moose, wolf, marmot, or bear) can back up traffic for miles.

"Critter Jam" at Yellowstone National Park

Summer-time is also prime construction time in Yellowstone. It’s a never-ending task to deal with the frost-heaves, erosion from geothermal features, and crumbling asphalt that is routine maintenance in a high-elevation park. Large construction projects, such as the moving of a road across the Gibbon River between Norris Junction and Madison Junction, has meant travel delays of up to 30-minutes and closure of that section of road at night.

Richard and Debbie Leonard drove to Yellowstone from their home in Ocala, Florida.

Richard Leonard takes the traffic delays in stride.

“Every time we turn the corner it’s a ‘wow’ moment,” he says.  “I’ve been taking pictures all day long and can never get enough.”

Debbie Leonard adds when people come to the park they need to be patient, “If it says expect delays. Don’t get upset.”

More from the President's Michigan Trip, from the pool report:

After driving the black Volt earlier, POTUS signed the hood of a white Volt   Terry Quigley, the GM plant manager, said she plans to save the hood of the car. “I’m going to keep that hood as a memento for my workforce,” she said. She said she was struck in her one-on-one conversation with the president about how interested he was in the details of the plant, characterizing his attitude as “no B.S.” She added, “He’s a pretty good driver.”

Another Volt update: White House aides say other than driving at the Secret Service training facility that POTUS hasn’t driven since spring 2007, when he got Secret Service protection. The Obamas most recently had a Ford Escape hybrid but turned it in after its lease ran (don’t have dates on this).

One interesting interview with a GM plant worker following the president’s remarks: Robert Allen, 62, an electrician with 25 years at GM, said he voted for John McCain in 2008 and doesn’t consider himself an Obama supporter today, largely because he sees the health care overhaul and some of the administration’s other policies as too much big government. But he sees the auto bailout differently, saying “it’s kept a lot of plants open.”

“Sometimes the government needs to help out,” Allen said. But he hoped the government could get out of the auto business soon, “I’m hoping next year.”

Asked whether he thinks the Volt can succeed at $41,000, Allen said, "Yes I do" because it will be cheaper "within a few years" and "there's a lot of people that are very interested in the environment that I think will buy it."

-- Transportation Nation

The President's Remarks in Detroit:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release July 30, 2010

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

ON THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY

Chrysler Jefferson North Assembly Plant

Detroit, Michigan

12:16 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Detroit! (Applause.)

Well, it is good to be here. Everybody, if you have a seat, have a seat. (Laughter.) It is good -- it’s good to be back.

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

THE PRESIDENT: It’s good to be back. First off, give it up -- give it up to Leah for that wonderful introduction. (Applause.)

We’ve got some special guests here that I want to acknowledge. First of all, your Secretary of Transportation, who has helped to make sure that we are guiding this process of rebuilding the American auto industry and is doing an outstanding job, from Peoria, Illinois, Secretary Ray Lahood. Give him a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Because of a funeral, she couldn’t be here, but I want everybody to give a huge round of applause to one of the best governors in very tough times that exists anywhere in the country, Jennifer Granholm. She’s doing a great job. (Applause.)

Your outstanding new mayor and close to my heart, NBA Hall of Famer, Dave Bing is in the house. (Applause.)

Two of the hardest working senators anywhere. And they are always thinking about Michigan and Michigan manufacturing, making stuff right here in the United States of America, Carl Levine and Debbie Stabenow. (Applause.)

Outstanding member of Congress, Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. (Applause.) UAW President Bob King is in the house. (Applause.) And Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. (Applause.) Sergio is modest. He doesn’t stand up. (Laughter.) But he’s doing a great job.

So I just had a tour of this outstanding plant with Sergio and Pat Walsh, your plant manager; General Holiefield -- now, that's a name right there -- (Laughter.) General Holiefield, vice president of the UAW. (Applause.) Cynthia Holland, your local UAW president. (Applause.)

And it was great to see the work that you’re doing and the cars that you’re building. Especially when you consider the fact that just over a year ago, the future here seemed very much in doubt.

Now, before I make my remarks, I’ve got to disclose, I’m a little biased here because the first new car that I ever bought was a Grand Cherokee. (Applause.) First new car.

From the White House Press Pool:

Hamtramck, Mich.
GM plant
1:15 pm

Your pooler will send Chrysler plant report shortly but breaking news from second stop is that POTUS just drove  (after consultations w Secret Service and Robert Gibbs' voiced hope that the electric Volt had an airbag)

He stepped excitedly into a Black Chevy Volt, behind the wheel, buckled himself in and haltingly drove perhaps 10 feet at a crawling speed. "Pretty smooth," he concluded.

Presidents don't get to drive themselves anywhere, and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed this was a highly unusual though not unprecedented opportunity for Obama.

Gibbs said he believes the last time Obama drove was 3-4 months ago, when he drove a Dodge Charger at a Secret Service training facility (off-camera and hopefully much faster).

BTW: The Volt Will Cost $41,000 .  Times Op-Ed Calls it "GE's Electric Lemon."

--Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation

(AP, WASHINGTON) — The AP reports that "Congress on Friday approved far-reaching aviation safety legislation developed in response to a deadly commuter airline crash in western New York last year.

The safety measures apply to all airlines and are the first comprehensive attempt in decades to revise rules governing pilots. They would force airlines to hire more experienced pilots, investigate pilots' previous employment more thoroughly and train them better. The legislation also requires a major overhaul of rules governing pilot work schedules to prevent fatigue.

The Senate approved the measure without debate, following similar action by the House late Thursday night. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill before Sunday.

The impetus for the safety measures was the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport on Feb. 12, 2009. All 49 people aboard and one man in a house were killed. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation faulted actions by the flight's pilots and deficiencies in pilot hiring and training by Colgan Air, the regional carrier that operated the flight for Continental Airlines.

All of the past six fatal airline accidents in the U.S. involved regional carriers. Pilot performance was a contributing factor in four of those cases.

Major airlines are increasingly outsourcing short-haul flights to regional carriers, which now account for more than half of all domestic flights."

Full story here.

Photo: MPR

(Minneapolis -- Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio)   Minneapolis city officials say bike lanes have made biking safer -- but cyclists say new routes are confusing, and the number of cyclists along those routes is actually down.

Minneapolis is known as one of the more bike-friendly cities in the U.S. and has the largest-scale bike-share program in the U.S.

The city's report examined data from the first six months following the changes. The report found that the number of bicycle crashes on the downtown stretch of Hennepin and First Avenues dropped from a yearly average of about 12 to zero in the past six months.

"Although a longer study is needed, the data so far shows greatly improved bicycle safety in the corridor," city officials said in a statement accompanying Tuesday's report.

Despite the improved safety record, the report found that six months after the changes, bicycle ridership on the downtown blocks of Hennepin Avenue had dropped by more than 50 percent.

Oregon transit takes away parking spaces from crowded park and ride garage -- and puts in 74 biking parking spots.  Look at it this way, officials say:  you haven't lost eight spots --you've gained 74 bike spots!  (Oregon live)

Los Angeles Schools Chief, in reversal, says school athletes will NOT have to pay $24 towards transportation to sporting events.  He'll find "other financial options" to foot the $650,000 bill.  Good luck! (Los Angeles Times)

LaHood, Wisconisin Governor Doyle, get ready for "big announcement" on High Speed Rail Thursday. (Business Week).

The phone will be ringing off the hook: New York subway tunnels will also get wifi. (New York Daily News)

Self service "subway-style" scanners being tested at Houston airport.  Bloomberg

Suburban Nassau county sues NYC MTA for bus funding.  MTA says Nassau has been a deadbeat for a decade, Nassau says too bad, we're broke!  Buses could go private. (Long Island Press)

And crosswalks lights from around the world art installation graces Lower Manhattan construction zone:  (jaunted.com)

h/Crosswalk+Lights+from+Around+the+World

Graphic: White House

This in from the White House today.    As the Takeaway reported last week, the auto industry, near death just a little over a year ago, is on the upswing.     Now, as the White House struggles to argue there IS indeed, an economic recovery -- the President travels to Detroit Friday     -- Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 29, 2010

REPORT: Rebuilding the American Auto Industry

WASHINGTON – The statement below was posted today on http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog.

The American Auto Industry: A Comeback Story

Posted by Ron Bloom and Ed Montgomery on July 29, 2010 at 1:31 PM EDT

Over the next week, the President will travel to Detroit and Chicago where he will meet with auto workers and tour plants of each of the big three auto makers.  His trips offer an opportunity to take stock of where the industry stands this summer.

A little more than one year ago, the entire industry was on the edge of failure.  Plants were being closed, jobs were being lost, and America’s future role as a leading producer of vehicles in the global marketplace was in question. We’re now starting to see real signs of recovery. 

(Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation).  A rash of studies (here and here, to list just two) in the last several years keep pointing to the same phenomenon:  homes are worth more near transit.

Now the Regional Plan Association, a New York-New Jersey planning group, has modeled the values of some 45,000 homes and found that New Jerseyans will gain $18 billion in value when the new Trans-Hudson tunnel is complete in 2018.

New Jersey is a transit-rich state, but it's also got the most roads per land mass of any state, and the current Hudson River transit crossings have hit capacity.  The new tunnel will vastly increase transit capacity, enabling huge numbers of New Jerseyans who now drive to take the train.

Plans call for the so-called ARC tunnel -- (short for Access to the Region's Core, very un-catchy) to emerge around Herald Square, near Macy's in Midtown Manhattan. It will be connected via pedestrian-tunnel to Penn Station, and passengers will emerge to a a new river-to-river Bus Rapid Transit line, a bus that will be physically separated from cars.  Under NYC DOT plans, only buses will travel river to river.

Four fifths of the pedestrian plazas where automobiles used to travel down the Great White Way...are now painted in shades of blue - to reflect the NASA heat map of the area. Slide show here -- the last block gets painted next week -- Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation.

With all the talk about wasteful earmarks, it might come as a surprise that some $6 billion has been left unspent -- disappeamarks, as it's called. PBS's Blueprint America reports that Atlanta residents say they could really use the money to make safer pedestrian crossings.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

With all the news of the newNYC MTA fare hike proposals, it's hard to remember last year's effort to bail out the MTA. Richard Ravitch (now the Lt. Governor) had been commissioned by New York Governor David Paterson to develop a plan to bail out the MTA. That proposal included two main sections -- a 0.34 percent tax on employers in the suburban counties surrounding New York, or about $200 per employee making $60,000 a year, and bridge tolls on some East River bridges. For reasons understood fully only by Robert Moses, some New York City bridges across that river are free, others, owned by the MTA, are tolled.

The bridge toll proposal went nowhere. But the tax was passed, and New Yorkers who make even the tiniest amount of freelance income get an unpleasant quarterly reminder from the New York tax department that their MTA mobility tax is due. Not that most New Yorker' love the MTA as it is.

Now a Westchester County newspaper, The Times Herald-Record has asked two of the candidates for governor what they think of that tax (Hat tip: Tri-State Transportation Campaign's Mobilizing the Region blog). Republican Rick Lazio, a former Congressman  says, flatly, he's against the tax. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democrat  says:

(Washington, DC -- Todd Zwillich, Transportation Nation) Senate Democrats have released a scaled-back energy bill that cracks down on BP and other oil drillers but avoids hoped-for debate over controlling carbon emissions across the economy.

The bill includes several new incentives and investments for cleaner-energy vehicles. That includes rebate programs and loan guarantees designed to encourage companies to convert their trucking fleets to natural gas-burning vehicles. It would also spend millions to encourage the installation of natural gas pumping stations to service those fleet

Plug-in hybrids and electric cars also get a nod, to the tune of about $5 billion. The package of incentives and grants for plug-in hybrids and high-capacity battery development reported here several weeks ago have made it into the bill, according the Senate Democratic aides. The package includes the development of at least a dozen demonstration communities where car-charging infrastructure would be piloted. It also contains a taxpayer-funded $10 million prize for the first firm to develop a battery capable of driving a car 500 miles on a single charge.

Matthew Schuerman, Reporter, WNYC Radio, and Andrea Bernstein, WNYC reporter and director of the Transportation Nation blog, discuss the MTA's proposal for fare hikes on buses, trains and EZ pass users (tolls).

Weigh in on the fare hikes.