New computer renderings of CA high-speed rail show just what the CHSRA has in store for San Jose, and it isn’t pretty. Here is the Hedding grade separation, which gets both a trench and an aerial. My, what an inviting place for some TOD. Aerials blasting straight through town. Absolutely hideous, the worst kind of [...]
Archive for October, 2011
Bring on the Blight
Posted in planning, transit, tagged CAHSRA, high-speed rail on October 30, 2011 | 7 Comments »
The Return of Tailfins
Posted in automotive on October 27, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Never thought I’d see the day when tailfins make a comeback. Yeah, I know, the marketing droids euphemistically call them rooftop or sharkfin spoilers, but tailfins are what they look like. And like their predecessors, tailfins are found mainly on gas-guzzling brands such as BMW and Lexus.
Working Group of Incompetents
Posted in risk, transit, tagged FRA on October 23, 2011 | 3 Comments »
In case you were wondering who helps FRA develop passenger railroad safety rules: In developing proposed safety standards for passenger equipment operating at speeds greater than 125 mph but not exceeding 150 mph, FRA formed a subgroup (the ‘‘Tier II Equipment Subgroup’’) of Working Group members representing interests associated with the provision of rail passenger [...]
GM’s Aging Demographic
Posted in automotive, tagged General Motors, GM on October 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Actually, “Reality Sucks” is the perfect slogan for GM. It survives on government bailouts, and the 20-something market abandoned the brand. And GM knows this better than anyone, as evidenced by this advertisement targeting their few remaining customers:
Berkeley Punts on Southside Plan
Posted in planning, transit, tagged Berkeley, BRT, Southside on October 3, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Back in 1997 when work began on the Southside Plan, many had high hopes to reverse mistakes of the past. This is a student-dominated neighborhood, where 70% of residents don’t even own cars. Reverting 1-way high-speed arterials back to 2-way neighborhood streets was a no-brainer. Building a bike network was also a no-brainer too. But [...]
