Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Protecting NYC Transit From the Next Storm: Searching for Specifics

false

Today on the Streetsblog Network:

Known Unknowns. Ben Kabak at Second Avenue Sagas examines the capital funding request from New York MTA staff to its board, which estimates that nearly $5 billion is needed to restore the city's transit system to pre-Sandy working order. Missing from the document, Kabak writes, is a plan to protect transit infrastructure from the next major storm -- because the agency doesn't yet know what those measures will be, or how much they will cost. "It’s important in the short term to bring the transit system back to where it was before the end of October ... But that conversation needs to happen. It should happen as repair work moves forward, and it should happen after repairs are completed. The next storm will come, and it can’t cost $5 billion each time."

Taking the Dearborn Lane. This weekend Brendan Kevenides, a.k.a. the Chicago Bicycle Advocate, took his first ride on the new Dearborn Street bike lane -- a protected, two-way thoroughfare through the heart of downtown. The verdict? "It was down right luxurious to have space to ride through the Loop that I as a bicyclist could call my own. That said, the new bike lane is definitely in beta, and as such, great caution should be taken when riding it. Many pedestrians and motorists clearly do not know how to deal with the new infrastructure." If you haven't had the pleasure yourself, Kevenides brought along his helmet cam. Have a look.

Stop the Presses. More positive news from Kansas City, where BikeWalkKC reports that the KC Star is calling for additional bike infrastructure, which the paper says is key to the ongoing revitalization of downtown. "The Bike Share KC program was a start, putting almost 100 bikes for rent on the street," reads a Star editorial. "Adding bike lanes on streets would encourage ridership while alerting motorists to their presence. And don’t forget more bike racks." How about that.

Elsewhere today: Streets.mn says Minneapolis needs fewer sidewalks to nowhere; Biking Toronto asks how best to separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic; and UrbanReviewSTL has separate run-ins with Mercedes-driving sociopaths.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Turn Back the Clock

The Trump administration is undoing decades of progress on transportation emissions and safety — progress that many would argue was too modest to begin with.

March 14, 2025

Friday Video: Welcome to the War on ‘Woke’ Transportation

Overwhelmed by weeks of federal attacks on green and equitable transportation? Catch up with this explainer and plug in to the fight.

March 14, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Annual Yonah Freemark Show, Part II

Yonah Freemark of the Urban Institute is back again for Part II of his annual "Talking Headways" discussion.

March 13, 2025

What if the ‘Tesla Takedown’ Is Only the Beginning?

Tesla's cars have become symbols of Elon Musk's controversial role in U.S. politics — but they're also instruments of a violent system that long predates his time in the White House.

March 13, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Are Hard-Driving

To paraphrase Billy Idol: Get out of my car, get into my dreams. Wired shows us examples of cities cutting down on driving that most of us can only fantasize about.

March 13, 2025
See all posts