Meghan Plans Transit

This National Transportation Week, celebrate America's opportunity network - Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:12 -0400

This National Transportation Week, celebrate America's opportunity network - Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation:

That’s right, it’s #TransitThursday during National Transportation Week. HOLY MOLY!

What a better way to celebrate #transit than with a #transpohaiku?! We all know that @RayLaHood Loves haikus! Right @cctgirl?

Show your love for #transit by writing a haiku!

Haiku? Say what?!

That’s 5-7-5 syllables.
Clap it out.
Write it.
Tweet it.
Don’t forget the hashtag #TransitThursday or we can’t hear you!

I bet @enri_zoltz has a few he can share! Don’t know Gary Memi? Well, let me introduce you to this awesome poet laureate:

http://railroadpoetry.blogspot.com/

Gary writes poems during his daily commute on the LIRR. He calls himself the self-appointed poet laureate of the Long Island Railroad.

Another great poet to check out is William Reagan:

http://williamreagan.com/transit-haiku/

Get inspired! Go check out their poems.Then come back and share with us your haiku to celebrate and show your #transit love!

Happy #Transit Thursday, y’all!

#TransitThursday Celebrate Moms in Transit!

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:37:13 -0400

This Sunday is Mother’s Day!

((hint)) ((hint)) if you haven’t bought your mother’s day card yet.

Many of our moms, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends that are moms rely on transit every day. So I thought, what a better way to celebrate transit this #TransitThursday than to celebrate the many Moms in Transit!

Some moms in transit even blog about their experiences, like Carla Saulter AKA @SeattleBusChick. If you don’t follow her tweets or her blog http://www.buschick.com/blog/, I highly recommend checking her out! Streetfilms has even featured her before: http://www.streetfilms.org/meet-seattles-bus-chick/

I LOVE that more and more moms are choosing transit over driving giant minivans or SUVs as a viable way to cart the kids around, run errands and to travel to work.

There’s even a Mom in Portland who has ditched her car and uses her bike to cart around her SIX kids!!! http://www.today.com/moms/biker-mama-mother-six-ditches-suv-super-sized-bike-998748 Now that’s awesome —> http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/28/with-six-kids-and-no-car-this-mom-does-it-all-by-bike-73731

So let’s celebrate the moms who ride transit! Share blogs and twitter handles or pics of moms who ride transit; tell their story! Share about your moms, sisters, aunts, cousins, or even your friends that are moms who rely on transit. How do they do it? Why do they do it?

Don’t have a story about a mom who rides transit? That’s OK! Share your story of where you plan to take your favorite mom this weekend using transit? Where are you going? What route will you take?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I hope you are well celebrated on this glorious #TransitThursday! :-)

#TransitThursday Celebrations

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:41:41 -0400

Justin (@BJustin) and I must be on the same wavelength today! Great #Transit minds MUST think alike ;-)

I sat down to write this post this morning thinking about all of the cool things to celebrate this week about transit. I started pulling together all of the celebrations, events and news stories that have happened this week and that are happening this month:

@Amtrak turned 42 yesterday. Happy Birthday @Amtrak!
@triangletransit turned 20 on April 30th. Happy Birthday @triangletransit! Love that video by @inkspotcrow http://t.co/h4tW0uLrqQ
@GrandCentralNYC continues to celebrate its 100th Birthday with great exhibits and awesome events, like yesterday’s World’s Largest Bake Sale!
Happy 2nd Anniversary to Larry Ehl’s @Transpo_Issues http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com — an awesome news source for all things transportation!
The POTUS announced his nomination for U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mayor of Charlotte, NC s @MayorFoxx @AnthonyFoxx. A mayor that has been supportive of all forms of transportation, including the LYNX Blue Line Extension light rail transit project.
National Train Day @NatlTrainDay is coming up! w00t! http://www.nationaltrainday.com
Bike month is going on! http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/ (Not #Transit exactly, but cycling is a force multiplier for transit or as @ajfroggie says transit is a force multiplier for cycling; either way, bicycling is still a very important mode for our transportation community)

I needed to find a link I came across about celebrations this week, so I went to twitter. Right there on my #TransitThursday hashtag list were Justin’s tweets:

@BJustin Happy May #Holidays: @Amtrak’s 42nd BDay (1st), National #Bike Month, National #Train Day (11th), & Bike to Work Day (16th) #TransitThursday

@BJustin: Hope everybody celebrates the joy & positive impact of transportation everywhere throughout May & everyday! #TransitThursday

GREAT #TRANSIT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!!

There is really just much to celebrate in the transit world this week! Justin is right!!! While totally awesome transit and transportation-related events are happening this week and this month, we should celebrate the joy and positive impact of transportation everywhere…and not just #TransitThursday!

…EVERY DAY!

So for today’s topic:

#TransitThursday - Tell us what’s going on in YOUR community to celebrate #Transit! Share the news, the videos, the events, the announcements, the birthdays, the meetups, the pictures…whatever! Just don’t forget the hashtag #TransitThursday otherwise we can’t hear you!

Special thanks to @BJustin for inspiring today’s #TransitThursday topic!

#TransitThursday - Beauty Around Us! Yesterday Brandi at...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:45:27 -0400

#TransitThursday - Beauty Around Us!

Yesterday Brandi at @gotriangle posted about the things she notices at her bus stop.

RT @gotriangle: Things I notice at my bus stops: 1) Lovely patch of clover wanting to be searched over for luck at #5206 2) A nesting bird at #1030 -BB

Brandi’s post had me thinking…there is just so much beauty in transit, but we often forget about the little things that make us smile while we wait for our bus, train, ferry, funicular, trolley, lift, elevator or tram.

What a great topic for #TransitThursday!

Above is a picture of the beautiful things I spotted at my #transit stop:

Art
A tree growing new spring leaves
The pattern of the pavers
A small flower growing through the concrete

Share with us:

What’s beautiful that you notice at your #transit stop?

Big or small, let’s hear them all! But don’t forget the hashtag #TransitThursday or we can’t hear you!

Photo

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:20:08 -0400

Above is a cool little infographic based on the responses we...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:10:09 -0400

Above is a cool little infographic based on the responses we received from yesterday’s #TransitThursday topic: What’s Your Go-To Transit Accessory?

So, check out the infographic and the storify! Was your response posted?

http://storify.com/mamakoid/transitthursday-what-s-your-go-to-transit-accesso

A good reminder about Transit Accessories:

While we all rely on our cool transit accessories to enhance our transit experience, it is always a good reminder to be smart with your electronic devices.

Here’s a little PSA from @CATSRideTransit that applies to all of your accessories… no matter where you ride transit.

BE SMART with your SMART devices:

http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/about/safety/Pages/default.aspx

Thank you for your participation in another successful #TransitThursday

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO TRANSIT ACCESSORY? Your phone? Your...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:55:00 -0400

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO TRANSIT ACCESSORY?

Your phone?
Your laptop?
The newspaper?
A journal?

What is your go-to, must-have accessory that you always carry with you during your transit trip?

Tell us, but don’t forget to use the hashtag #TransitThursday or we can’t hear about your awesome go-to #transit accessories!

Please be sure to thank @advantageburns for today’s #TransitThursday topic!

Happy #TransitThursday y’all!

ICYMI: Governor McCrory announced a new Strategic Mobility Funding Formula for NC this morning

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:50:00 -0400

ICYMI: Governor McCrory announced a new Strategic Mobility Funding Formula for NC this morning.

Listen to the video here:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2164066/events/2036881/videos/16703241

My summary based on the video presentation:

Strategic Mobility Formula breaks funding allocation for projects into project categories 40% State 40% Regional and 20% Local. Allows all modes compete for funding
Claims that it will create 240k jobs as compared to the 175k jobs in the current plan with the same amount of funding

State Tiered projects

o   40% of revenue allocated to State Tiered Projects

o   “100% data driven.” Evaluates benefit-cost, e.g. reduced travel time v. project costs

o   All modes compete

o   Evaluated on existing congestion, economic competitiveness, freight & multi-modal criteria

Regional Tiered Projects

o   40% of revenue allocated to Regional Tiered Projects

o   Regions pair 14 divisions into 7 regions.

o   All modes compete

o   70% data driven, 30% local decision-making (MPO, RPO, etc. nominated projects)

o   Regional Tiered Projects will be evaluated on benefit-cost, connectivity, congestion, economic competitiveness & safety criteria

Division Tiered Projects

o   Receive remainder of the money (20%)

o   Funding would be split evenly over 10 years across all 14 divisions

o   Division Projects would be evaluated 50% data / 50% local input.

o   Criteria: benefit-cost, connectivity, shoulder width? & safety

Here is a copy of the official @NCDOT press release:

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=8105

What can #Transit do for you this #TransitThursday?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:45:00 -0400

It’s tough to come up with great #TransitThursday topics every week. What I mean to say is that there are just so many possibilities, I really have a tough time deciding just which topic to pick each week. This is why I am so thankful for the awesome people in the #TransitThursday twitterverse! Y’all rock!

Today’s topic was inspired by two #TransitThursday tweets from @ZiaJD and @RDQ_geography. Thanks y’all for your inspiration!

@ZiaJD: #transitthursday MT @ChrisCQuinn: One other effective ways that NYC can expand transit access is through Bus Rapid Transit. #cqtransit

Bus Rapid Transit can help expand access to NYC!

@RDQ_geography: #transitthursday Heading into historic #chinatown area on @metrolosangeles rt 94. #transit can help you see what you’ve missed

Transit can help you see what you’ve missed!

So tell us, WHAT CAN TRANSIT DO FOR YOU? Don’t forget the hashtag #TransitThursday — otherwise we can’t hear you! :-)

#TransitCan create jobs! #TransitThursday

Happy #TransitThursday y’all!

massurban: GOOD: “Vacancy to Vibrancy: How Pop-Ups Invigorated...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:36:13 -0400

massurban:

GOOD:

“Vacancy to Vibrancy: How Pop-Ups Invigorated a San Francisco Neighborhood

Despite big names moving into the neighborhood, San Francisco’s Mid-Market—and many neighborhoods across the country—is still full of vacant spaces. Millions of square feet are going unused. SquareFoot is putting that space to use, connecting entrepreneurs to underutilized space, and using pop-ups as a vehicle for neighborhood revitalization.

Pop-ups can be about more than high concept dining or a fresh Japanese retail concept: Short-term leases give residents a chance to invigorate the neighborhood and initiate new connections, spurring growth from the bottom-up. They give creative entrepreneurs a platform to prototype new ideas, unencumbered by the cost and red tape of long-term leases. Rapid experimentation can shift the assumptions we have about how we use our neighborhood spaces, helping us envision new possibilities while also creating a space for the local community to strengthen bulwarks against displacement by the rising tide of property values.”

Photo: Original Image via (cc) flickr user Randolph Gardner

Cute! nprfreshair: Apparently “eye-bombing” is a thing in the...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:34:30 -0400

Cute!

nprfreshair:

Apparently “eye-bombing” is a thing in the street art movement.

via Design Taxi

Might have to make one of these charts for a future...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:52:05 -0400

Might have to make one of these charts for a future #TransitThursday!

ilovecharts:

-decomposingclassroom

RAP GEOGRAPHY! LOVE THIS! FAIR WARNING. Some language used in...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:31:00 -0400

RAP GEOGRAPHY! LOVE THIS!

FAIR WARNING. Some language used in this video is NSFW.

georgiamoon:

Geography of rap quotes. (via “Rap Quotes,” Placemaking and the Geography of Hip Hop | Groundswell)

XKCD YOU COMPLETE ME! http://xkcd.com/1196/

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:27:04 -0400

XKCD YOU COMPLETE ME!

http://xkcd.com/1196/

All you need is love…and more coffee. Especially the...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:52:18 -0400

All you need is love…and more coffee. Especially the coffee

via amyvernon:

If only… Palmgracht, Jordaan, Amsterdam Excellent shot of...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:46:15 -0400

If only…

Palmgracht, Jordaan, Amsterdam

Excellent shot of a liveable street! Narrow roads for slow speeds, clear corners for better vision, play spaces, trees…

photo: Thomas Schlijper

via irishboyinlondon:

COOL! Amazing view of the bike-making process at Tom’s Cargo...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:43:17 -0400

COOL!

Amazing view of the bike-making process at Tom’s Cargo Bikes.

via nickgrossman:

Your #TransitThursday mix tape. Press play & enjoy! WOW!...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:50:00 -0400

Your #TransitThursday mix tape. Press play & enjoy!

WOW! It’s really amazing to find out just how many songs are about trains, Amtrak, subways, trolleys, streetcars, buses, rail, railways, people riding transit, people you meet in transit, bus stops, train stations, or even about the ride. There’s practically a song for every genre and musical preference. So go ahead and listen! You might even hear your own #TransitThursday Mix Tape suggestion! :-) I threw in a few bonus transit sound clips and songs to boot!

Press play & enjoy!

Thanks again everyone for your participation in another successful #TransitThursday celebration! Without you, these weekly celebrations would not be possible!

Happy #TransitThursday!

Before the Harlem Shake or the Electric Slide, there was a great...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:07:12 -0400

Before the Harlem Shake or the Electric Slide, there was a great group dance song by The Fatback Band called The Bus Stop. It’s a song about the dance you do while you’re waiting for the bus.

There are so many great songs about transit, whether it be Blackfoot’s - Train, Train or The Hollies - Bus Stop. So share your favorite songs about transit & let’s make a great mix tape! Don’t forget use the hashtag #TransitThursday or we won’t hear you’re awesome songs!

Let the music move you as you thank @chrismillerwbt for this awesome #TransitThursday topic!

Living Wall These vegetated surfaces don’t just look pretty....

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:24:59 -0400

Living Wall

These vegetated surfaces don’t just look pretty. They have other benefits as well, including cooling city blocks, reducing loud noises, and improving a building’s energy efficiency.What’s more, a recent modeling study shows that green walls can potentially reduce large amounts of air pollution in what’s called a “street canyon,” or the corridor between tall buildings.

For the study, Thomas Pugh, a biogeochemist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, and his colleagues created a computer model of a green wall with generic vegetation in a Western European city. Then they recorded chemical reactions based on a variety of factors, such as wind speed and building placement.

The simulation revealed a clear pattern: A green wall in a street canyon trapped or absorbed large amounts of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter—both pollutants harmful to people, said Pugh. Compared with reducing emissions from cars, little attention has been focused on how to trap or take up more of the pollutants, added Pugh, whose study was published last year in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

That’s why the green-wall study is “putting forward an alternative solution that might allow [governments] to improve air quality in these problem hot spots,” he said.Compared with reducing emissions from cars, little attention has been focused on how to trap or take up more of the pollutants, added Pugh, whose study was published last year in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

That’s why the green-wall study is “putting forward an alternative solution that might allow [governments] to improve air quality in these problem hot spots,” he said.

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