Suburban sprawl, subsidized for years, caused #climatechange, now needs a bailout

Des Plaines River flood plan calls for new levees, wetlands and dam removal - chicagotribune.com: "New flood-control projects targeted for the Des Plaines River could prevent millions of dollars in damages to Chicago-area homes and businesses, engineers say — but only if taxpayers can come up with the millions needed to pay for them."

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Increased Transit Will Reduce Carbon Emissions

Center for Neighborhood Technology: "Public transit has the potential to reduce the United States’ annual CO2 emissions by 37 million metric tons. That’s the equivalent of over 7.2 million cars off the road and 4.2 billion gallons of gas saved each year. In Chicago, the CTA estimates that its buses and trains keep 400,000 cars off regional roads every day. And, demand for public transit in Chicago is increasing: total CTA ridership jumped by 2.4 percent in 2012, with rail ridership increasing by 4.2 percent."

#Carfree Indiana family goes tent camping. Yes, Indiana.

Gone With the Schwinn: "One of our goals has been to go camping via our bikes, and we've done it!"

Lake Shore Drive should move people, not traffic

Chicago Sun-Times: "Lake Shore Drive is being redesigned with everyone in mind — not just auto traffic. All transportation projects should be built with moving people in mind, not traffic. Repurposing parts of Lake Shore Drive for bus or light rail are more efficient uses of space and will lead some people out of their cars, not cause more traffic. The evidence is in and it proves that the alarmism exhibited in this editorial is unfounded. Chicagoans and planners should recognize this. Moving people, not just traffic, should be the No. 1 priority."

Kudos to [Madison County] MCT! | Clarissa's Blog

Kudos to MCT! | Clarissa's Blog: "The standard of living in any area depends, to a significant degree, on the availability of a reliable and accessible public transportation system. We are supremely fortunate in Madison County to have MCT serve our needs. It is very cheap, so anybody can afford it but the standard of service is extremely high. Among other things, MCT offers a door-to-door service for the disabled and the elderly. Just imagine what a difference a service like this can make in the life of a disabled person.

Thank you, MCT, you are the best!"

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People want more #publictransit. How many times do we have to tell you.

Business Record: "A large majority of voters in four major U.S. cities believe that it is important to invest in public transportation, according to a survey funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and conducted by Global Strategy Group.

The survey conducted public opinion surveys in Chicago, Boston, Nashville and Pittsburgh. In each city, 85 percent or more of respondents agreed that it was important to invest in public transportation in order to ensure that communities grow and thrive."

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Kokomo’s Public Transit Adds Trolleys, Strengthens Routes & Maintains Free Ridership

Kokomo Perspective: News: "“It’s great to be able to extend Kokomo’s public transportation service and keep it free of charge at a time of ridership growth,” said Mayor Greg Goodnight. “The new trolleys and expanded routes connect more residential neighborhoods to our parks, schools, medical service facilities and shopping areas.”
In 1964, Kokomo discontinued its public bus system. In 2010, the City of Kokomo introduced the City-Line Trolley as free public transit, and the demand for its service has steadily increased."

Nature slams sprawl commutes with 7 inches of rain, closes Edens Expwy

Edens reopens as flooding stops Metra UP Northwest trains - chicagotribune.com: "Flooding closed the Edens Expressway at Pratt Avenue for about three hours this morning and shut down the McHenry branch of Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line for the entire day."

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Climate change hell is here and now. Still want cars?

Applicants line up in Calumet Park to apply for aid from the Illinois Department of Human Services for homes and businesses damaged after storms and flooding this spring. | Nausheen Husain~Sun-Times

Hundreds wait in heat for last chance at flood-relief aid - Chicago Sun-Times: "Gregory Davis spent the first few hours of the first day of summer waiting in line.

Davis, 52, who is blind, waited from 1 a.m. to about 10 a.m. Friday, one of hundreds who waited at the Family Community Resource Center in West Pullman for the last chance to get flood-relief aid for damage from this spring’s storms."

Living #carfree in Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, it can be done.

Zach Boyden-Holmes/Juice 

dmJuice.com: "“I don’t have to worry about bad drivers. I don’t get speeding tickets any more. I don’t have to worry about parking. It’s a stress-free way for me to travel in almost every way,” Hammes said."

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