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Greening the Empire State: Exploring New York's Energy Options

Baruch School of Public Affairs
Gotham Gazette
Topics / Transportation
Transportation Newsletter
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The Topic
Transportation: All the ways that you can get around -- auto, subway, bus, taxi, airplane, train, car service, limousine, walking and biking.
The Context
With 18.9 million residents in the metropolitan area, NYC has particularly high demands on its public transportation system and its roads.

This Month's Article ...

The intercity buses save New Yorkers energy and money. But the boom in bus travel also clogs streets, jam already crowded sidewalks and pollute the air.

Recent Transportation Articles from the Gotham Gazette:

The Downside of Low-Cost Buses | Encouraging New Yorkers to Park -- and Drive | Making Way for New York's Scooter Surge | Albany Puts the Brakes on Faster Buses

Researching Transportation ...

Healthier School Buses
The Environmental Defense Fund proposes a $30 million retrofit program for the city's school buses over three years. The program would upgrade the bus fleet's diesel engines so that 90 percent of their pollution would be eliminated. Pollution is five times higher inside buses than it is outside, according to the report. (October 3, 2008)

The Regional Economy
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has released its first report on the metro region's economy since 2000. The report covers the health of Port Authority facilities, the regional economy, and has special sections on exports from the area as well as on demographic changes. (October 2, 2008)

Vehicle Occupancy Rates of Commuters
In 2006 an average 2.4 million passengers and 1.2 million vehicles entered the central business district each work day, according to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. Private cars averaged 1.3 people per car and taxis averaged 1.5 people. (September 5, 2008)

Olympic-Sized Infrastructure
A new brief from the Center for an Urban Future argues New York City and the country must invest in its urban infrastructure to compete in a global economy. According to the center, the northeast region could see an additional 18 million residents by 2050. As China begins to invest in its infrastructure, the brief argues New York must make a similar investment to keep up. (August 27, 2008)

How Parking Requirements Lead to More Driving
This study from Transportation Alternatives, a pedestrian and bicyling advocacy group, finds that New York City’s residential off-street parking requirements encourage car ownership and use, and contradict city sustainability goals which seek to reduce traffic, air pollution and carbon emissions. (August 19, 2008)


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Money for Transit Systems to Increase

Straphangers Campaign
This revamped and expanded site offers a ton of information on subway ratings by line and other reports, upcoming service diversions and ways to take action to improve transit service. My favorite: "riders diaries"--often fascinating and even useful exchanges between riders using the same lines you take!

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Bridge Tolls Now
Timely primer on a topic that will gain increasing attention as the mayor pursues new money-raising methods.
Subway Blogger
Subway Blogger is a prolific blog about the daily grind of the subway rider. The site is far from the only transportation blog in the city (We have suggested several other blogs in the past), but this blog claims that it is unique because the posts are actually written and posted while the author is actually riding the subway, via Blackberry. So be careful the next time you're making fun of a straphanger furiously typing on one of those tiny keyboards -- they may be making fun of you.
Transportation Alternatives Street Beat
Transportation Alternatives encourages New Yorkers to take up bicycling, walking, and public transportation instead of driving. Its bi-monthly newsletter gives marching orders to potential activists who want to do things like lobby their councilmembers about bike licensing legislation, or let the Department of City Planning know how dangerous it is to cross Delancey Street.
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
The latest on NY-area transportation developments and events, subscribe to Tri-State's excellent e-mail weekly newsletter! Also, reports, press releases and public statements.
Auto-Free New York
Auto-Free New York is an organization favoring alternatives to the automobile. Its website offers information and opinions about achieving the "devehicularization" of New York, intended to arm the anti-car activist with ammunition.
New York City Department of Transportation
Useful information although not always easy to find. Keep up with current ferry services and alternative side parking calendar.

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