Our slightly-delayed news and views roundup shows that going green does save green, that oil production may peak sooner than expected, and that LaHood’s thinking is still on the right track.
Implementing a number of known practices for cutting carbon emissions from transportation would actually save money within 15 years, with savings increasing as time goes on, finds a new report on the subject. Nearly a year in the works, the paper contains necessarily limited cost-benefit analyses of various strategies, including expanding public transportation offerings, without bias towards any particular method. It is geared mainly towards transportation within metropolitan areas, but also looks at high-speed rail and highway tolling ideas for intercity travel.
The International Energy Agency’s chief economist says that the impending oil crisis will come sooner than expected, with production peaking in 10 years. Petroleum prices will escalate rapidly as the remaining oil becomes harder and more costly to extract, stunting the recovery of the economy. All the more reason to ramp up efforts to ready our transportation system to move more people and goods on little or no oil.
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus reminds us that re-training America will take not just more and better trains, but policies that make driving less attractive and cities and towns more compact.
Streetsblog uncovers some pieces that seem to be missing from a Harvard economics professor’s analysis of a theoretical Texas high-speed rail line—primarily that he neglected to seriously consider the less palatable alternatives: more highway and airport capacity.
In a speech to the National Association of Counties, Transportation Secretary LaHood reiterates his commitment to reducing the number of miles Americans travel by automobile and to greater parity between highway and non-highway investments. Giving local governments more say in where transportation dollars are spent generally results in less of a bias towards asphalt.
American journalists marvel at China’s new high-speed train, which are a testament to the impact a major investment can have.
LCL: Trains for America gives a tongue-in-cheek endorsement to our call for full 2010 Amtrak funding; on the Pere Marquette‘s 25th anniversary, officials, businesspeople and residents along the line express their desires for additional service; an Ogden, Utah, columnist enumerates why riding the California Zephyr from to Chicago beats flying, and longs for the Pioneer to call once again at his hometown; the Allegheny Trail Alliance has a survey with which it hopes to demonstrate the demand for being able to bring bikes on board Amtrak trains, even to or from unstaffed stations; NARP Council member Jim Loomis reports on his latest Amtrak journeys—including a tight Chicago connection and some good reasons to head to the Quiet Car; yet another little-known danger lurking on the highways; and a travel writer’s look at the plethora of fun rail trips that can be taken in southern California.
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