Five articles curated by the Wagner Planner staff: Here’s what the Wagner Planner staff is reading. This week: Ecuador’s first metro line, a transit model for rural areas, no parking minimums in Montgomery County (MD), Hawaii taking notes on Asian TOD strategies, and a Vision Zero success story in Hoboken.
Ecuador Inaugurates First Subway Transportation System (TeleSur) English “The Quito Metro will run from north to south along 22.6 kilometers, is 100 percent inclusive, with accessibility measures for people with disabilities, and is expected to mobilize some 400 000 people per day. At a cost of 2 061 million dollars, the system will be operated by the consortium formed by the companies Metro de Medellín, from Colombia, and Transdev, from France, until 2028. Construction began in 2010 by the Spanish company Acciona.”
What Can Public Transit Deserts Learn From Paris, Texas? (TexasMonthly) “Texas Parisians view the bus network as a family, with the bus drivers invited to every reunion—“Especially those whose names start with a K!” declared one rider. The driver, Kevin, took down his microphone: “I know y’all ain’t talking about me back there.” Some elderly people ride the bus daily, not only to get from point A to point B, but also to see their fellow passengers; a man on the bus wearing yellow sunglasses and a cross necklace said that it’s how he socializes.”
No Parking Minimums: Montgomery Co. Considers Easing Rules on Housing Near Transit (Wtop News) “Council member Marilyn Balcombe referred to the county as “overparked,” noting that in some areas, large expanses of parking go unused. Balcombe told her colleagues, “Any time I can support a market-driven approach,” she would. “I think that this is common sense and I support it.””
How Hong Kong and Singapore could Inspire Hawaii’s Transit-Oriented Development Plans (Hawaii News Now) “Singapore and Hong Kong are bustling mega-cities. Both smaller in square footage than Oahu but with five to seven times the population. That population density means public transportation is a must for many, and when you look at how affordable housing is built — it shows.”
Traffic Fatalities Are Up Almost Everywhere, But Hoboken Hasnt’t Had One In Nearly 7 Years (JALOPNIK) “The plan boils down to a few simple changes in the tiny city on the Hudson; lower speed limits, protected bike lanes, improved crosswalks, and curb extensions. That’s it. Some signs, a bit of paint, and some concrete curbing has completely slashed road deaths in the city to zero. The city’s goal isn’t ending there, however, as Vision Zero hopes to achieve zero traffic injuries by 2030. It’s definitely an ambitious, but worthy, goal.”