From yanivbin at gmail.com Wed Apr 1 03:48:30 2015 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 00:18:30 +0530 Subject: [sustran] =?utf-8?Q?Stand_up_for_pedestrians_=E2=80=93_the_forgot?= =?utf-8?Q?ten_travellers?= Message-ID: http://theconversation.com/stand-up-for-pedestrians-the-forgotten-travellers-37766 Stand up for pedestrians ? the forgotten travellers AUTHOR 1. Colin Pooley Emeritus Professor of Social and Historical Geography at Lancaster University DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Colin Pooley has received funding from UK research councils (EPSRC, ESRC). He is a member of Greenpeace [image: Lancaster University] Provides funding as a Founding Partner of The Conversation UK. lancaster.ac.uk These streets were made for driving. Matt Cornock , CC BY Almost all of us walk somewhere every day of our lives. According to the UK?s most recent National Travel Survey 22% of all trips are undertaken on foot ? and walking continues to be the second-most important form of transport for all journeys after travel by car or van. For short trips of less than a mile, walking is totally dominant accounting for over 78% of all such travel. One third of all trips less than five miles in length are also on foot. By contrast, cycling accounts for just 1.5% of all journeys. Even if we only look at all trips under five miles, cycling still makes up less than 2% of journeys. But you wouldn?t get this impression from listening to politicians, reading policy documents, or observing investment in infrastructure. While both cycling and walking improve personal health and the environment, one gets far more attention than the other. The government has just released its response to a major consultation on its ?vision for cycling and walking?, for instance. The document?s name? Cycling Delivery Plan . Although walking is given some consideration in the detail of the document, the priority is clear. While cycling is being actively promoted as a healthy and sustainable form of urban transport, walking remains largely neglected in terms of active policy and investment. Look at London?s ?cycle superhighways ?, for instance, announced earlier this year to much fanfare. These highways follow significant increases in trips by bike in central London following investment in new infrastructure promoted by the London mayor . Such investment is of course welcome and long overdue, and much remains to be done as cycle infrastructure remains poor in most other parts of the country. But the fact cycling is beginning to be considered an important form of urban transport that needs to be planned for highlights the fact that travel on foot is not given such recognition. Walking wounded It can, of course, be argued that pedestrians do already have their own dedicated infrastructure ? in urban areas at least ? in the form of pavements, pedestrian zones, and crossings. For the most part we accept these conditions as adequate and do not question how they might be better, however a closer look suggests that this is rarely the case. Do as you?re told. Elliott Brown , CC BY In most locations, road space continues to be dominated by, and planned for, motor vehicles and people on foot are crammed on to pavements that are often too narrow. Pedestrians are made to wait for long periods to cross busy roads, exposed to traffic noise and emissions, and then given insufficient time to cross before the lights change to keep the traffic moving. Poorly placed (and often unnecessary) street furniture, together with inconsiderately (and potentially illegally) parked cars often obstruct the pavement, while pedestrian surfaces are often poorly maintained and rarely cleared of leaves or snow and ice. Try to negotiate the average urban pavement with a child?s buggy or in a wheelchair and the difficulties become all too obvious. Poor pedestrian infrastructure disadvantages all those who do not have access to, or choose not to use, a motor vehicle. Sleepwalking into car cities We?ve got into this situation because walking is taken for granted. Such a simple activity has been largely ignored in the planning process; it is seen as making few demands on the environment and thus needs only a minimum of facilities. In contrast, because motor vehicles make much greater demands on the environment their needs have been prioritised. Pedestrians also suffer from being classed as ?walkers? ? those who walk for pleasure rather than as a means of transport. The cultural dominance and convenience of the motor vehicle has meant that urban space has been disproportionately allocated towards cars and away from pedestrians. When walking for anything other than recreation is increasingly seen as abnormal, cars will always win. I recently headed some research in four English cities which clearly demonstrated this. As one respondent in Leeds said ?you feel unusual walking?. Most respondents enjoyed walking, and did walk sometimes, but they frequently encountered unnecessary difficulties and inconveniences. The problem was summarised neatly by a Lancaster respondent: ?That road is awful, the pavement is very narrow, and in autumn it?s covered in leaves so you slip over half the time, it?s terrifying. But by car the road is fine?. Walking is a cheap, simple, healthy and environmentally friendly way of travelling short distances. It is something most people enjoy doing, but our cities are built in ways that often make life difficult and unpleasant for pedestrians. Walking needs to be taken more seriously as a means of transport (and not only as a form of exercise or leisure) ? and should be actively planned for and given priority, as is beginning to happen with cycling. If more people walked and fewer people drove, it would not only benefit personal health but also cities would be more pleasant for all. From patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com Sun Apr 5 15:04:22 2015 From: patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2015 11:34:22 +0530 Subject: [sustran] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Six Homilies on Delhi BRT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Message-ID: An excellent article on Delhi's BRT. Do read. -- Sujit -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ? *Parisar* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parisar: www.parisar.org Mudra: www.mudraweb.com Behance Page: https://www.behance.net/mudraweb --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20150405/9fb42679/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 17934 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20150405/9fb42679/ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Six Homilies on Delhi BRT_Shreekant Gupta.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 17039 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20150405/9fb42679/SixHomiliesonDelhiBRT_ShreekantGupta.pdf From patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com Thu Apr 16 20:50:39 2015 From: patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:20:39 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Fwd: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Hindu_More buses, fewer cars please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *More buses, fewer cars please* http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/delhi-bus-rapid-transit-corridor/article7106091.ece An excellent article in the Hindu. Do read. -- Sujit PS: Please also read the comments... shows how many readers are supporting the BRT for a change !!!!!!!!! *The most common point of criticism has been that the road is too narrow and has too much vehicular traffic to be able to afford two dedicated lanes for buses. Assuming that vehicular traffic is indeed slower when the BRT is operational (which is not always true), we must recognise that making the additional lane available for vehicular traffic is only a temporary solution to the problem of traffic congestion. The root cause of congestion is the increasing use of cars. Buses along this stretch carry twice the number of people as cars do, while occupying much less road space. Public transportation is the long-term solution to the problem of traffic congestion, and the BRT encourages it.* -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ? *Parisar* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parisar: www.parisar.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 17934 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20150416/117a5d42/ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg From litman at vtpi.org Wed Apr 22 14:36:03 2015 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Litman) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 22:36:03 -0700 Subject: [sustran] VTPI NEWS - Spring 2015 Message-ID: <029201d07cbf$24041730$6c0c4590$@vtpi.org> ----------- VTPI NEWS ----------- Victoria Transport Policy Institute "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" ------------------------------------- Spring 2015 Vol. 15, No. 1 ----------------------------------- The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The VTPI website (http://www.vtpi.org ) has many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW REPORTS =================== "Analysis of Public Policies that Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1EvGtIN ), in partnership with the LSE Cities program (http://lsecities.net ) for the New Climate Economy (http://newclimateeconomy.net ). This report defines sprawl, low-density, dispersed development, and its opposite, smart growth. It estimates the costs of sprawl, describes various market distortions that foster sprawl, and identifies smart growth policies that can help correct these distortions. Sprawl increases land consumption, reducing the amount of land available for farming and ecological functions, and increases the distance between homes, services and businesses which significantly raises infrastructure and transportation costs. By reducing per capita land consumption and infrastructure and transportation costs, smart growth policies can provide significant economic, social and environmental benefits. Based on this cost analysis the report provides guidelines for optimal urban expansion, densities and vehicle ownership rates in various types of cities. This report stimulated significant international media coverage: "Try Jam Today: Policies To Slow Down Warming May Be More Attractive If Framed As Ways Of Speeding Up Growth" (http://econ.st/1qUeVLQ ). This article in The Economist cites our research and concludes that smart growth policies are important because they provide "win-win" economic and environmental benefits. "The Cost of Sprawl: More Than $1 Trillion Per Year, New Report Says" (http://on.wsj.com/1FFcqCJ ), Wall Street Journal. "The Steep Costs Of Living So Far Apart From Each Other" (http://wapo.st/1Bnrm2o ), The Washington Post. "Sprawl Costs US More Than A Trillion Dollars A Year" (http://bit.ly/1DbPCF9 ), Better Cities and Towns. "In Thrall to the Mall Crawl and Urban Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1OcJWGN ), InterPress Service News Agency. "Analysis of Public Policies that Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1DbPWUi ), World Bank Weekly Wire. "Why Smart Growth Cities Are Safer, Healthier, And Wealthier" (http://bit.ly/1HLzWzX ), City Fix. This article describes specific costs that tend to increase with sprawl and discusses their implications for optimal development in Ahmedabad, India. "How Much Sprawl Costs America: More Than $1 Trillion, According To A New Report" (http://bit.ly/1BpXLVU ), CityLab. "Study: Annual Cost Of Sprawl In America Adds Up To $4,500 Per Person" (http://bit.ly/1K3p5zX ), StreetsBlog USA. "Report: Sprawl Damaging To Health And The Economy" (http://bit.ly/1Hsu4Kw ), Houston Chronicle. "Atlanta Called Out for Urban Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1D6YnHg ), GlobeSt. "Suburban Sprawl is Stifling the US Economy" (http://bit.ly/1xiMgEj ), VOX. Transportation Research Board (http://bit.ly/1OE5uXE ). "The Cost Of Bad Urban Design: $1 Trillion A Year" (http://bit.ly/1HFLJwi ), Fast Company. * * * * "Twelve Reasons to Support Vancouver?s Transportation Tax" (www.vtpi.org/VanTransitTax.pdf ). Vancouver, British Columbia currently has a plebiscite to help determine whether to implement a new transportation tax. This short report examines the region's transportation system performance. It indicates that, contrary to critics? claims, Vancouver performs very well according to key indicators including per capita transit ridership, system cost recovery and regional traffic safety. This report also stimulated significant media coverage: "More Tax, Less Traffic? A Famously 'Liveable' City Is Becoming Too Popular For Its Own Good" (http://econ.st/1PeiK7E ), The Economist. "Referendum Questions: Is TransLink inefficient?" (http://bit.ly/1JsdxoS ) and "Referendum Questions: Will Road Pricing Or New Bridge Tolls Also Come?" (http://bit.ly/1OE7Ky4 ). "Chauffeuring Non-Drivers Around Has A Cost, And It Reminds Us Of The Importance Of Transit" (http://bit.ly/1Pbyic6 ), Vancouver's Metro News. "Battle Lines Drawn In Transit Referendum Fight: ?Yes? Side Boasts Diverse Support Base; Canadian Taxpayers Federation Leading The Charge For Opposition" (http://bit.ly/1bsjJmt ), Vancouver Sun. "B.C.'S Transportation Future May Involve Less Driving: Transportation Expert Todd Litman Says Commutes Will Be Shorter And Smarter" (http://bit.ly/1GgBAH8 ), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "What Transportation Funding Alternatives Are There, Should The Congestion Improvement Tax Fail?" (http://bit.ly/1HSIsfT ), News 1130. * * * * "Affordable-Accessible Housing In A Dynamic City: Why and How To Increase Affordable Housing In Accessible Neighborhoods" (http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_hou.pdf ). This report examines ways to evaluate housing affordability, identifies problems caused by inaffordability, and describes affordable-accessible housing, which refers to lower priced homes located in areas with convenient access to essential services and activities, which minimizes household cost burdens. Demand for affordable-accessible housing is growing. Increasing affordable-accessible housing development can help achieve various economic, social and environmental objectives. Many current policies discourage such development, leading to shortages, particularly in growing cities. Policy and planning reforms described in this report can increase affordable-accessible housing development. PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE =================== "Public Transit is Good for Public Health" (http://bit.ly/1wXTygR ), by Dr. Trevor Handcock. It cites my article, 'Transportation and Public Health' published two years ago in the "Annual Review of Public Health" (http://bit.ly/1GrU1Ye ). It concludes that public transit improvements often repay their costs in public safety and health benefits. "Metro Vancouver Rush Hour Congestion Still Canada's Most Severe" (http://bit.ly/1xDtrfi ). This Province Newspaper article concerns a recent TomTom report which ranks Vancouver as Canada's most congested city. It includes analysis based on our reports, "Smart Congestion Relief" (http://www.vtpi.org/cong_relief.pdf ) and "Congestion Costing Critique: Critical Evaluation of the ?Urban Mobility Report," (www.vtpi.org/UMR_critique.pdf ) which points out that indicators such as TomTom?s measure congestion intensity (the degree that traffic speeds decline on major roads during peak periods), but do not account for congestion exposure (the amount that residents drive on major roadways during peak periods) and so ignores the congestion avoided when people shift mode or choose closer destinations. Such indicators exaggerate congestion costs in compact, multimodal cities such as Vancouver, and ignore the benefits of improving alternative modes and smart growth policies that reduce peak-period driving. "Cities with Better Transit have Fewer Traffic Fatalities" (http://bit.ly/1DAaKWc ), Business Vancouver. This article highlights my recently-published article, "A New Transit Safety Narrative" (http://bit.ly/1wKVI0C ) which suggests that for average residents the incremental costs of funding public transit improvements are more than offset by financial savings to households, businesses and governments, including safety benefits. "Despite Metro?s Yellow Line Accident, Transit is Safer than Driving" (http://wapo.st/1zhyUIA ), Washington Post. This article, published soon after a fatal subway accident in Washington DC, also incorporates my research on public transit?s overall safety benefits. Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ): "Public Policies For Optimal Urban Development" (http://bit.ly/1PeN6Xt ) "Communicating Transit Benefits: We Can Do Better" (http://bit.ly/1HiJDpM ) "How Not To Evaluate Public Transit Risks" (http://bit.ly/1J9q1Fe ) "More Critique of Demographia's International Housing Affordability Survey" (http://bit.ly/15L5mqo ) "New Transit Safety Narrative" (http://bit.ly/1DLBu9m ) Let?s be friends. Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman ). Befriend him now! * * * * * BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ======================= Presented at the 2015 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting: "Evaluating Household Chauffeuring Burdens" (http://www.vtpi.org/chauffeuring.pdf ). This paper develops a Chauffeuring Burden Index which can be used to quantify chauffeuring costs and therefore the savings and benefits of transport improvements that reduce chauffeuring burdens. The analysis indicates that in automobile dependent communities chauffeuring costs often exceed congestion costs. "Autonomous Vehicle Implementation Predictions: Implications for Transport Planning" (http://www.vtpi.org/avip.pdf ). This paper explores the impacts that autonomous (also called self-driving, driverless or robotic) vehicles are likely to have on travel demands and transportation planning. It discusses autonomous vehicle benefits and costs, predicts their likely implementation, and explores how they will affect planning decisions such as optimal road, parking and public transit supply. Transforming Transportation (www.transformingtransportation.org ) conference held at the World Bank (http://tinyurl.com/n66hqh7 ). Keynote speaker, Felipe Calder?n, former President of Mexico and current Chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (http://newclimateeconomy.net ) cited my current research concerning the costs of sprawl and the benefits of smart growth (http://tinyurl.com/o2ulzg7 , see minute 19). Brookings Institution workshop, ?Driving in the 21st Century: Current Trends, Future Needs? (http://brook.gs/1G0phfb ) which discussed how demographic and economic trend are affecting travel demands, and their implications for transport planning and investment practices. "Proceedings of 2014 International Transportation Economic Development Conference" (http://1.usa.gov/1DAaTsJ ), included presentations, "Economically Optimal Transport Prices and Markets: What Would Happen if Rational Policies Prevailed?" (http://www.vtpi.org/ITED_optimal.pdf ), " Economically Optimal Transport Prices and Markets: What Would Happen if Rational Policies Prevailed?" (http://www.vtpi.org/ITED_optimal.pdf ), and "The Mobility-Productivity Paradox" (http://www.vtpi.org/ITED_paradox.pdf ). * * * * * UPCOMMING EVENTS =================== "Sustainable Transportation Performance Evaluation Data Needs" to be presented at the Transportation for Sustainability?An International Conference, May 7-8, Washington DC, (http://bit.ly/1yNUe94 ). "A New Traffic Safety Agenda: Incorporating Transportation Demand Management Safety Strategies" to be presented at the International Conference on Transportation, 8-11 June 2015, Athens, Greece (http://www.atiner.gr/transportation.htm ). "Evaluating Household Chauffeuring Burdens: Understanding Direct and Indirect Costs of Transporting Non-Driver" to be presented at the International Transport Economics Association (ITEA) Annual Conference June 17-19, Oslo, Norway (https://www.toi.no/ITEA2015 ). "Mobility In Smart Cities: Round the World Seminars," Gothenburg, June 24. To celebrate the completion of the Volvo Ocean Race, Gothenburg City invites innovative ideas on the efficient use of natural resources and sustainable urban development (http://cometogothenburg.se ). * * * * * USEFUL RESOURCES ================= "The Metropolitan Century: Understanding Urbanisation and its Consequences" (http://bit.ly/1bsxlOp ), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This comprehensive report is a useful companion to our study, "Analysis of Public Policies that Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1EvGtIN ). "Missing Middle Housing: Responding to the Demand for Walkable Urban Living" (http://missingmiddlehousing.com). This terrific new website dedicated to the "missing middle" urban housing types such as duplexes and fourplexes, and small apartment buildings designed to fit into residential neighborhoods. This helps create affordable infill housing in moderate-density neighborhoods. Also see, "Affordable Housing Design Advisor" (http://designadvisor.org ). "Beyond Traffic: US DOT's 30 Year Framework for the Future" (www.dot.gov/beyondtraffic ). This report outlines trends that are likely to shape the needs of the United States? transportation system over the next three decades. Also see, "Federal Highway Administration Quietly Acknowledges the Driving Boom is Over: Agency Slashes Forecasts of Future Driving Growth 24-44%" (http://bit.ly/1L0Nyr9 ). The American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) also incorporated lower-bound growth estimates in it's recent "Bottom Line" (http://bit.ly/1FcTStY ) report, which projects transportation investment requirements. "TOD Index" (http://todindex.com ). Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Index analysis indicates that home values near rail stations outperforms national market, yet are more affordable for residents overall, and that TOD households demonstrate the low vehicle ownership rates and high rates of transit, walk, bike commuting (http://bit.ly/1yNP0KE ). "Surging City Center Job Growth" (http://cityobservatory.org/city-center-jobs ), City Observatory. For over half a century, American cities were decentralizing, with suburban areas surpassing city centers in both population and job growth. It appears that these economic and demographic tides are now changing. Over the past few years, urban populations in America?s cities have grown faster than outlying areas, and our research shows that jobs are coming with them. "Safer Streets, Stronger Economies" (http://bit.ly/1PeGDM9 ) , Smart Growth America. This report summarizes the impacts of 37 U.S. Complete Streets projects for which before-and-after transport and economic data were available. The analysis indicates that Complete Streets projects tended to improve safety for all street users, increased biking and walking, and showed a mix of increases and decreases in automobile traffic, depending in part on the project goal. "Menos Cajones M?s Ciudad" (http://bit.ly/1OcXOAW ), ITDP Mexico. This short video, which translates to "Less Parking More City," describes how more efficient parking can help improve overall urban transportation system efficiency. Click the "CC" button for English translation. "The Changing Shape of American Cities" (http://bit.ly/1b0iTNk ), University of Virginia (http://bit.ly/1Nv95cT ). This is a terrific new information resource provides data on demographic and economic trends in U.S. metropolitan areas between 1990 and 2012. The graphs clearly show the large increases in younger and affluent residents, and growth in overall population, in most city centers. "Remaking the City Street Grid ? A Model for Urban and Suburban Development" (http://bit.ly/1OcY9DI ), by Fanis Grammenos and Gordon Lovegrove. This book proposes a new street pattern which encourages more efficient and multi-modal urban transport. "Curing your Clown-Like Car Habit" (http://bit.ly/1cYjZdi ), Mr. Money Mustache. This blogger describes ways to live frugally and enjoyably. A key strategy is to reduce automobile ownership and use, what he calls the "clown-like car habit." * * * * * Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful. Sincerely, Todd Litman (litman@vtpi.org) Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) Office: 250-360-1560 | Mobile: 250-508-5150 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA Efficiency - Equity - Clarity From yanivbin at gmail.com Thu Apr 23 15:48:52 2015 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:18:52 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Jayadeva flyover to make way for Metro Message-ID: http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Jayadeva-flyover-to-make-way-for-Metro/articleshow/47005844.cms ? Jayadeva flyover to make way for Metro By Kushala S, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Apr 22, 2015, 04.00 AM IST [image: Jayadeva flyover to make way for Metro] The Jayadeva fltyover will give way to the metro alignment to run on the central median of the road below *Plan expected to save properties, Rs 600 cr; bring smiles to residents* Almost two years after raising a brouhaha over the changed alignment of Namma Metro's Phase II near Jayadeva Hospital and threats to acquire and demolish a large number of properties, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is now looking at demolishing the 10-year-old flyover at BTM layout to enable the Metro train to run on the road's central median by demolishing the flyover. Among the three alternatives before the authorities the metro running in the central median is the most feasible solution as it minimises acquiring properties and resulting compensation, which BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola is aiming for. BMRCL and Systra Consulting (specialising in urban rail transport) have given finishing touches to this plan by sources familiar with the issue informed Bangalore Mirror. As per the plan, the train from RV Road moving towards Central Silk Board will travel over the central median near Jayadeva Hospital. For this, the 10-year old flyover inaugurated in 2005 after being built by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) at a cost of Rs 21 crore,will be demolished. The flyoverconnects the IT corridor of BTM Layout, Bannerghatta Road and Jayanagar to ease traffic. "When compared to the property acquisition and massive compensation (paid against acquisition), it was found that realigning the route by demolishing the flyover was a better option," said sources. At present, at least 98 buildings includingGopalanMall, Valtech IT Park, On Mobile office, apartments and independent houses, are ticked for acquisition in BTM Layout, on Bannerghatta Road and in Jayanagar 9th Block East. Of these 46 are residential properties. The now proposed realignment will partially acquire only 20 buildings and Rs 600 crore is expected to be saved by minimising the compensation. For the Rs 24,500 crore, 72-km Phase II, two Namma Metro lines intersect at the junction at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research - RV Road-Bommasandra and Gottigere-Nagavara. The original alignment plan included interlinking stations across the 130-foot lung space between Jayadeva hospital and its compound wall. But in 2012 the institute chief wrote to BMRCL lamenting that the station cutting through the hospital would affect essential services at the hospital. The government then decided to scrap the original plan. It changed the alignment, shifting the station to the opposite side in March 2013. This brought the 98 properties on the radar for acquisition.The residents organised themselves under the aegis of Jayadeva Interchange Metro Victims' Association, whose coordinator K Ramesh,now says, "This was a plan our association had submitted. Several old-time residents of the area can now breathe easy with the changed alignment.'' *Related Story: 98 buildings will be razed to save parking lot of hospital Related Story: Metro work halted, ball is now in chief minister's court * From yanivbin at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 18:18:13 2015 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:48:13 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Maharashtra government plans to formulate its own Transport Act Message-ID: http://www.firstpost.com/india/maharashtra-government-plans-formulate-transport-act-2211254.html Maharashtra government plans to formulate its own Transport Act Apr 24, 2015 14:28 IST #India #Maharashtra #Motor Vehicle Act #National Green Tribunal #NewsTracker #Supreme Court - 1 - 2 - 0 - Email - Print this Article *Mumbai:* Maharashtra government is planning to formulate a separate law for the state on the lines of the Centre's Motor Vehicles Act, which will allow it to take action against those who flout transport rules. If Maharashtra succeeds in enacting such a law, it would become the first state in the country to have its own Transport Act. "The Central government's Motor Vehicles Act has several clauses that could be used against errant drivers of large vehicles. But these drivers get away finding loopholes in the Act," state Transport minister Diwakar Raote told reporters here.The law will give powers to the state government to take action against school buses ferrying more than the stipulated number of children at a time, and trucks carrying excessive load of goods. "While replying to a question during the Assembly session, I realised that we do not have an Act of our own. I have consulted the Law secretary and he has given an opinion that the state can have its own Transport Act. We have started working towards formulating the law. If we succeed, we will be the first state in the country to do so," Raote said. Currently, the Central government's Motor Vehicle Act-1958 is applicable all over the country. No state has its own Transport Act. The minister said that he felt the need to formulate a separate Act because the current rules are not stringent. "I want people to respect the signal at zebra crossing. We will also restrict the number of students to be carried in auto-rickshaw and buses and the weight carried in a truck," he said. There are several rules in this regard but they are not followed religiously. If they are formulated as an Act, we will get more power to punish the offenders," he said. Raote, however, clarified that the purpose behind the Act is not to punish people, but to have a discipline in the system. "I have started consultations with the department officials. It might take about two years to prepare a draft of the Act," he said. The Maharashtra government's move is significant in the backdrop of the ongoing tussle between the Union Transport Ministry and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over several restrictions on old vehicles. According to Supreme Court guidelines, no new vehicle should be registered unless there is a parking space for it. The order will affect the new registration of vehicles and subsequently the state's revenue through it, which runs into several crores, Raote said. The minister also said that his department will file a review petition against the SC order on vehicle registration. From yanivbin at gmail.com Fri Apr 24 19:22:13 2015 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:52:13 +0530 Subject: [sustran] =?utf-8?B?4oCcRm9yIEdvZOKAmXMgc2FrZSBmaW5pc2ggdGhlIHdv?= =?utf-8?Q?rk_and_end_our_misery=E2=80=9D=2E_The_Tender_Sure_work_c?= =?utf-8?Q?ausing_huge_losses_to_the_business?= Message-ID: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bengaluru-pub-pecos-begs-completion-never-ending-road-work *Bengaluru pub Pecos begs for completion of never-ending road work* Karnataka Benita Chacko | Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 18:42 Pecos, the popular pub, in Bengaluru has put a banner outside their new outlet in Church Street saying, ?For God?s sake finish the work and end our misery?. They say the Tender Sure work outside their pub is causing huge losses to the business. ?The road work has been on for the last two months, while the engineer had told us it will be over in 15 days. It has brought our turnover down to 10%,? said Pradosh D, the General Manager of Pecos Pubs Pvt. Ltd. According to Pecos, the work which is showing no signs of coming to an end, has caused them problems for parking and maintenance as currently they do not have space for two wheeler parking in front of the pub. Moreover they have had to employ two people to clean the place every couple of hours as the road work generates a lot of dust. Pradosh says, ?Of our four outlets in the city, this is the recent one and we are struggling to do business here. If this continues for a few more months we will have to shut the outlet.? He further says that KC Das, the sweet shop on the ground floor of the same building, also has seen a drop in their sales in the last few months. But as they are an established business outlet in the area, they do not have as much difficulty as Pecos does.