Congestion

by Dave MindemanFederal Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Governor Pawlenty were all smiles yesterday as the Feds handed over $133 million in Transportation aid to reduce congestion on I-35. This is great news and several elements of the plan will benefit mass transit for the South Metro and other Twin Cities commuters.But it came with a bit of a string attatched. Several of these nationa

The New York Times Quotation of the Day:"It’s very clear that a significant portion of the increase in transit use is directly caused by people who are looking for alternatives to paying $3.50 a gallon for gas."WILLIAM MILLAR, president of the American Public Transportation Association.From The New York Times Business section:Gas Prices Send Surge of Riders to Mass TransitSince Mayor Bloomberg c

As a New Yorker and someone that lives in Brooklyn a big victory was won today. Today the New York State Assembly rejected a "congestion pricing" proposal by Mayor Bloomberg(recently passed by the NY City Council)that would have charged cars and commercial vehicles 8 dollars and trucks 21 dollars to enter certain zones within Manhattan during peak hours from 6am - 6pm. The plan was seen as an environmental plan to reduce pollution. The money collected from congestion pricing would theoretically have been used to pay for upgrades and more service within the MTA.The NY Daily News reports the major contributing as factor to why the congestion pricing plan was killed: Its fate was sealed after Bloomberg refused to negotiate major changes in his plan to charge cars $8 to enter Manhattan below

The introduction of the higher London congestion charge could leave Porsche nursing tens of millions of pounds in lost sales, the sports car maker said yesterday as it stepped up its attempt to have the higher tax overturned.   Porsche and other claimants, including London businesses and residents, yesterday formally launched a High Court challenge to London Mayor Ken Livingstone's plan to hike the congestion charge in the capital from £8 to £25 for gas-guzzling vehicles.   ~ more... ~  

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy hasn’t always been known for his intelligence. So it should come as no surprise the leader of the state’s second-largest city, and pal to New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, supports Bloomie’s congestion-pricing plan.Healy commented on the plan in today’s Jersey Journal.Have a look for yourself by clicking here. I’ll have my own comments shortly.

New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, D-Hoboken, says he may sue to halt New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's plan to charge to drive in certain parts of Manhattan, The New York Post reports on its Web site tonight. Click here for the report.Bloomberg's plan, though not official, has recently gained serious support, including Gov. David Paterson, of New York.Of course, the irony of all of this is that Corzine is himself in the midst of attempting to implement an absurd toll plan of his own to close the state's budget gap. I wonder — does he realize his plan would hurt New Yorkers just as unfairly as Bloomie's plan would hurt Garden Staters?At any rate, despite the obvious hypocrisy, I am glad to hear Corz is considering trying to stop all this.

Despite the congestion charge London is still renowned as having traffic problems, problems that are only going to get worse over the coming years.So what should be done?The Conservatives believe that the solution lies in adjusting traffic lights as Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Minister, has said:"We will have to look closely at traffic management. The Ken Livingstone way is to actively try to clog up traffic with no commensurate benefit to the pedestrian or cyclist. To tackle congestion we need to look at traffic light re-phasing and getting rid of traffic lights that actually cause congestion."And they may have a point. Only recently research was done highlighting the benefits of removing traffic lights, suggesting that this would reduce congestion and save lives. Radical thinking

Infant congestion is due to the stuffy nose (nasal congestion). You will be confused that this stuffy nose is caused due to the thick mucus in the nose. But this is not true. Infant congestion is due to the thickening of the tissue lining of the nose by the inflammation of blood vessels. This is [...]

Today AAA released the results of a suprising new study.  The study reveals that the societal cost of crashes is a staggering $164.2 billion annually, nearly two and a half times greater than the $67.6 billion price tag for congestion. We have placed the report, ?Crashes vs. Congestion: What?s the Cost to Society?,? in our firm's online library.  The report demonstrates that traffic safety issues warrant increased attention from the public and policymakers, particularly as Congress prepares to reauthorize federal transportation programs in 2009. According to the study, the $164.2 billion cost for crashes equates to an annual per person cost of $1,051, compared to $430 per person annually for congestion. These safety costs include medical, emergency and police services, proper

My 3 year old got sick over the weekend. He woke up Saturday morning with a really mucousy cough. By the end of the day he had a fever and runny nose. He's had a flu shot so I'm assuming it's the cold his father had a few weeks ago. If he's not better in the next day or two, I'm going to take him to the doctor just to be safe. To treat the fever, I'm giving him Motrin Children's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer for Ages 2 to 11 when he gets up in the morning and before bedtime. I'm giving him Tylenol Children's Pain Reliever/fever Reducer, for Ages 2 to 11, Stage 2 before his morning snack and before his afternoon snack. For his cold symptoms, I'm giving him Hyland's Sniffles & Sneezes 4 Kids tablets before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner. I'm not real sure yet if these are helping hi

The Delhi State government is evidently taking advice from Mayor Ken Livingston of London, on how to deal with global warming. The Mayor will probably encourage Delhi’s government to use a congestion tax to reduce the number of cars that run on Delhi roads. However, what the Delhi bureaucrats should keep in mind is the fact that London can afford to tax private transport because it has (compared to Delhi) an excellent transport system. You can easily plan your journey online from one part of the UK to another, without a hitch. However, Delhi just does not have the same facilities. Our Blueline and DTC buses are better known as agents of manslaughter than as a part of a well-thought-out public transport system. And a very small section of the Metro has been completed to date. So, insistin

President Bush, citing “an epidemic of airline delays,” announced today that the U.S. military will open up air space to civilian airlines on the U.S. East Coast during the Thanksgiving holiday period. In response to the worsening congestion, Bush announced a series of steps in advance of the Thanksgiving holidays, when 27 million passengers are expected to fly, and called on Congress to pass reforms for the long-term. Among the other measures announced today, Bush said that the government would set up a website — www.fly.faa.gov — that would give passengers real-time information about delays, and would promulgate new regulations to double compensation for passengers — up to $800 - who are bumped from flights. The Federal Aviation Administration, he said, will also impose a holiday moratorium on nonessential maintenance projects, allowing all FAA personnel and equipment to focus on the task at hand. The administration is also asking airlines to spread out

Η υποθεση φωναζει απο μακρια ΕΛΛΗΝΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΡΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΑΣ!!!!Δεν μπορω να πιστεψω οτι βρεθηκε εστω κ ενας Βρετανος που να σκεφτικε τετοια κομπινα!!! Ελληναρας....100% Ελληνικη κομπινα!UK: Register Your Rolls-Royce As A Cab And Shun London’s Congestion Charge!When there’s a will, there’s a way. Brit site “Cleangreencars” has concluded an investigation concerning a large number of expensive luxury cars that have been registered as private hire vehicles in London to avoid paying the Congestion Charge. All it takes is to pay an £82 ($170 or €117) application fee and £27 ($56 or €38) per year licence, and the owner of an Aston Martin can avoid paying a daily £8 ($16 or €11) Congestion Charge –planned to rise to £25 ($52 or €36) per day for such vehicles in 2008! -Continued after the jump Below is a list of luxury models that

Open your fists and release what you’ve been hanging on to. Let go. Your prosperity can only come into an open, empty hand. Get rid of the clutter and congestion. It’s blocking the flow of prosperity to you More: continued here

The Heartland Institute did a report on traffic, freight and otherwise. They are a group that focuses on transportation issues. In this report they outline the value of increasing rail usage for freight carriers nationwide. One of the benefits is traffic congestion. Another one is wear and tear on the highways.How many times have you been on a highway to find that 18-wheelers are slowing traffic considerably? They need to be on the roads (I tell myself), because we all need our goods and services. But it can get aggravating. When I lived in the DC area there were almost daily gridlock situations due to heavy truck traffic. The NJ Turnpike even has separate lanes for trucks for this reason.They point out that a National focus should be improved rail quality because......".... there are signs the growth cannot continue with the nation's current rail infrastructure. Freight train average operating speeds dropped from 24 miles per hour in 1990 to 21 miles per hour in 2000, reflecting at l

The Department of Transportation has agreed to release $354 million to support Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, says DOT Secretary Mary Peters. The money will only be allocated to New York City assumingBloomberg's plan, which would charge cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m, has strong opposition from State Assemblyman and State Senators from the outer boroughs and near suburbs, where many upper middle class workers commute to Manhattan via car instead of subway, bus or commuter rail.Opposition is strong in many parts of the city that does not have direct access to Manhattan via public transportation, such as Bergen Beach and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, Glendale and Whitestone, Queens and Throggs Neck, Bronx where many commuters to Manhattan commute via car.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is known for touting his environmental policies and the rather infamous “congestion charge” on automobiles entering the city, but it has been revealed the likely presidential candidate travels in two pollution-heavy SUVs every morning. While the newly-registered independent — he had been a Republican and a Democrat before that –has made it a point to ride public transport to his office each day, the New York Times reports Wednesday that Bloomberg travels a rather lengthy distance from his house to the subway station. On mornings that he takes the subway from home, Mr. Bloomberg is picked up at his Upper East Side town house by a pair of king-size Chevrolet Suburbans. The mayor is driven 22 blocks to the subway station at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, where he can board an express train to City Hall. His drivers zip past his neighborhood station, a local subway stop a five-minute walk away. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Tra

I just saw a piece on Fox 5 with Arnold Diaz uncovering a parking scam on the Upper West Side at The Landmark Beacon Theatre on Broadway. My office is on Columbus Avenue between 75th and 76th Street two blocks away.There was a Stealy Dan concert a couple of weeks ago. Parking is tight so employees of the Avis rent a car at the corner were selling parking spaces in the street for $25. The reporter went undercover and caught them on tape moving the Avis cars from the spots on the street and charging concert goers for the spots.It is illegal to sell street parking, scalping tickets at concerts is illegal too. I'm not condoning it but the concert goers didn't seem to be complaining about the Valet Parking.Traffic and parking in Manhattan is a major issue. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has a plan to charge motorists to drive below 86th Street in Manhattan.If approved, many real estate brokers are already saying it may do more than simply reduce traffic, noise and pollution in the Manhattan b

Adding Scooters to Traffic Mix Could Save New Yorkers Time and Money Lost to Traffic Delays, and Reduce Emissions That Contribute to Global WarmingData from a new traffic model released today demonstrates that the ation's largest city could significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a key factor in the global warming debate, and reduce fuel consumption while saving a great deal of time lost to congestion by simply incorporating more motor scooters into the commuting vehicle mix. The results of this study directly respond to growing concerns about traffic congestion in New York City. In his December 2006 sustainability speech, Mayor Michael Bloomberg discussed the City's growing congestion challenges and set a goal to reduce New York's emissions by 30 percent.The traffic model, examining a central section of midtown Manhattan in New York City, was developed by transportation engineering and planning firm Sam Schwartz PLLC using Synchro/Sim Traffic 6.0 -- an industry-standa

Found an interesting message board / parenting community called Mommy Break Time. I just thought it was a message board, but it appears there is more to it than just that. Here's an excerpt from the latest update sent:Each person is a Newborn when they first join. As Newborns you only see the Welcome Center and all the boards in there. We actually have alot more stuff here. Once you've posted 20 posts in the Welcome Center your rank will go up to Baby. You will then see TONS more boards! You can then go forth and start posting on the new boards you now have axcess to. When you reach 75 post your rank will go up to Toddler. Thats when you can join in on swaps, be added to the pen-pals list, enter photo contests, and be eligible for Member Of The Month. We have ways to win stuff each month. We have a Virtual Lotto going on this month.My son is a bit congested and refuses to let me help him blow his nose, so I'm in pursuit of some home remedies. I just gave him a bath & the warm steam

The spotlight is on Manchester's winning bid for the first Super Casino and the heat is on the government to reverse their decision. The chances of this are slim, and the Super Casino is destined to stay. Blackpool deserves it, but it's not going to happen. There's a good reason why we should be cheering that. Forget about the jobs, the money and the redevelopment of Eastlands....The Government Loves Manchester!Manchester's got a hell of a successful past. We put on the Commonwealth Games and everything went smoothly. The redevelopment of the City Centre has gone well - with a few notable exceptions - and we were graceful enough to let Salford win a BBC building. We don't mind! We'll turn their old offices on Oxford Road in to award winning apartments. Our public transport is great, if a little OTT at times, and we have an awesome nightlife. We built the UK's tallest residential tower, and we did it on time. It's still standing. almost six months later. The government needs suc

It was Arsenal Vs Blackburn tonight and it was very much disappointing. A 0-0 draw was which means a replay. Last thing we wanted. The squad included only Almunia and Toure from the bolton match in starting XI, but we were looking very tired. Blackburn were back from their midweek fixture and they were tired too.Now onto the match report. Arsenal started with Henry and Alliadiere upfront and Cesc and flamini in the middle with freddy and walcott on the wings. Senderos returned after the ban to the centre of defence with Toure. Hoyte and Gallas, who returned after a long time filled in as fullbacks. Almunia was on goal. This looked a fairly strong squad. Actually it is a strong squad.The match started with Arsenal dictating possession with some slick passing and we had a good chance early in the first half. Henry had a high ball feeded into his legs but he skied his shot. Not very typical of him. At that time it looked like signs of things to come with the 6-2 win over em still in mind.

The sinuses are hollow spaces located inside the bones in the skull to either side of the nose, behind and in between the eyes, in the forehead and at the back of the nasal cavity. The sinuses are lined with a moist, thin layer of tissue called a mucous membrane, which not only humidifies the air as you breathe it in, but also produces mucus to trap irritants such as dust, pollen and bacteria. The sinuses are lined with microscopic hairs called cilia. The function of cilia is to move mucus to flush the sinuses and nasal passageways of trapped irritants. Sinus congestion is the blockage of one or more of the nasal passageways as a result of inflammation and swelling of the sinus tissues, secretion of mucus or a deviated septum (meaning obstruction of the nasal passage by the membranous ridge of cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils). Sinus congestion leads to impaired flow of mucus out of the sinuses. The build up of mucus in the sinuses causes inc

The sinuses are hollow spaces located inside the bones in the skull to either side of the nose, behind and in between the eyes, in the forehead and at the back of the nasal cavity. The sinuses are lined with a moist, thin layer of tissue called a mucous membrane, which not only humidifies the air as you breathe it in, but also produces mucus to trap irritants such as dust, pollen and bacteria. The sinuses are lined with microscopic hairs called cilia. The function of cilia is to move mucus to flush the sinuses and nasal passageways of trapped irritants. Sinus congestion is the blockage of one or more of the nasal passageways as a result of inflammation and swelling of the sinus tissues, secretion of mucus or a deviated septum (meaning obstruction of the nasal passage by the membranous ridge of cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils). Sinus congestion leads to impaired flow of mucus out of the sinuses. The build up of mucus in the sinuses causes inc

Don't worry, you're not about to be slapped in the face and the wallet with additional charges. Well, not just yet. There is, however, an interesting article in today's Crewe Chronicle (by Marc Waddington) about government plans to introduce pay-as-you-go charges to roads in and around Crewe. As many of you will know, certain cities around the country already have tracking systems either inside cars or linked to high-powered cameras that record registration plate data. The big question is whether such systems can help Crewe's already gridlocked road system. And it it, whichever way you dress it. A significant increase in the local population, more housing in central areas, increased car ownership, more students etc. It all adds up to more vehicles on the road. And when you have a town built around railway lines (and, subsequently, railway bridges) it's obvious that there will be massive bottlenecks. Well, that's what most would assume. You have to wonder if the town's planners h

Even good things are subject to the “law of unintended consequences.”  The removal of the tolls this past week on the I-190 has led to increased traffic and slowdowns for commuters.  Traffic jams at those sites continue. And although the increased volume has eased, both locations now have so much traffic that they are “near capacity,” said Thruway spokesman Patrick Noonan. The Thruway Authority is no in the process of evaluating the shifting traffic patterns.  I would think that the physical removal of the toll booths, combined with 2 lanes of traffic that doesn’t have to slow down, would alleviate most of the problem. Advertisement: Unique and Original Buffalo Themed Gifts

As Albany legislators head for an 11th hour decision on whether or not to authorize an as-yet-undetermined congestion charging scheme for New York City, anti-charge activists in Manchester [UK] claim that a clear majority of local residents oppose Manchester City Council's plans to implement road tolls. The Association of British Drivers (ABD) reveals that Manchester Against Road Tolls (MART) members hit the streets with an anti-charging petition. Some 81% of 1577 households signed. ABD Manchester Coordinator Sean Corker said "The Manchester authorities have spent £400,000 of tax payers money on glossy leaflets and American models featured in bogus case studies. Despite the huge propaganda campaign, this survey by ordinary people of ordinary people clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of residents object to the imposition of a congestion charge." Will NYC face a similar groundswell? Watch this space.   

The Daily Mail reports that London's Congestion Charge (CC) is quickly morphing into a pollution tax. Mayor "Red" Ken Livingston is set to modify The City's congestion fees, levying up to £6,500 a year on drivers living within the charging zone who helm larger (i.e. more CO2-emitting) vehicles. Visitors to central London piloting SUVs, minivans or full-size luxury cars will be hit with a £25 a day fee. Mr. Livingston, a man known to keep taxis waiting for hours at taxpayer's expense, has little sympathy for people who "can afford to choose from pretty much the whole of the mainstream car market but have chosen to buy one of the most polluting vehicles." More surprisingly, The Mail says that after a 33 percent decline in traffic levels, the congestion charge now only accounts for eight percent traffic reduction compared to pre-CC levels.

With the deadline for $354m in federal matching funds for New York City congestion charging (CG) looming (April 7), the New York Times ongoing support for the plan is approaching fever pitch. In the ironically titled Op Ed "Moment of Truth on Congestion Pricing," the Old Gray Lady argues that "The only way to ensure the [City's mass transit] system will continue to work is to move forward on congestion pricing." In the lead up to this "do or die" conclusion, the Times' rhetoric [once again] flies in the face of the facts. "What it [the M.T.A.] needs is a reliable source of income. As London and Stockholm have discovered, congestion pricing could provide that— and cleaner air and less gridlock." Anyway, "the M.T.A. has developed detailed

The New York state legislature has shot down NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed $8 congestion charge on vehicles entering Manhattan. Wired News reports that the proposal which was to be a career-capper for Bloomberg was doomed by heavy-handed tactics by the Mayor's office. En route to telling state legislators that "You're either for this historic change in New York or you're against it," Bloomberg's transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan was pulled over by state police for speeding and improperly using her lights and sirens. This obviously affected how representatives received the proposal. "When [she] was coming up here telling me I can't drive," said Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, "she was busy being driven in a cit

London's controversial congestion charge suffered a setback last week, when Transport For London (TFL) admitted that the charges to enter central London have not improved traffic. Although TFL claimed that the £8 daily charge had produced a thirty percent improvement in congestion after its introduction in 2003, gains have been rolled back to the point where improvements have been reversed. The Automobile Association explains the conundrum to Courier Exchange, saying "The trouble is, by closing off side streets and short cuts and re-phasing traffic lights for pedestrians - all for laudable reasons - TfL has stifled traffic. Add to that pavement build-outs, re-engineered junctions, and you can see why congestion is rising." This likely comes as bad news to London M

London has voted out Mayor Ken Livingstone. While the BBC frame the election of Conservative Boris Johnson as London's new mayor in the context of a widespread shift of support from Labour to Tory, "Red Ken's" call for increased congestion charges (to $50/day) and 20mph speed limits in residential areas helped turn the tide in Johnson's favour. Johnson has pledged to review the congestion charge scheme, particularly in London's West End. Note: review and adjust. Not eliminate. Yes, there's little doubt that the UK motorists will continue to be targeted by revenue-building environmental measures, including Ye Olde CG. How long before New York City or Seattle of Portland or San Francisco revive this idea?

Well, here's some counter-intuitive thinking to challenge TTAC's Best and Brightest and/or infuriate The New York Times' Editorial Board (sorry, Wilkinson, it's true): new highways are less environmentally damaging than new mass transit. "“Each mile of urban highway typically provides far more passenger miles of travel than a mile of light-rail transit line. The average m