When the MTA expands the transit network, residents near new stations can access more jobs and services in a fixed amount of time, and businesses can access a larger labor pool and customer base. These benefits substantially increase the value of nearby properties. Land value capture allows the public to recoup a share of that windfall — on the principle that public investments shouldn’t exclusively enrich private landowners — and reinvest it for public benefit.

New York City and the MTA should recognize this principle and use land value capture to fund the IBX, finally resuming the continuous expansion of the subway system that stalled before World War II.

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New York State authorizes a land value tax that could provide billions for transit investment - Niskanen Center

The governor and the legislature have equipped New York City with the ability to capture the value that investment in public transportation creates.

Niskanen CenterReed Schwartz

The study calls into question some persistent myths about EVs – and gives policymakers and individual drivers tools to evaluate the benefits for their specific situation.

It’s well known that the emissions savings from EVs vary due to a number of factors, such as the greenness of the local electricity grid, climate, and a person’s driving habits. EVs also tend to cost more upfront than gasoline cars, but have lower fuel and maintenance costs. How all these tradeoffs pencil out can be hard to figure.

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A landmark MIT study debunks persistent myths about electric vehicles

Think EVs don’t make sense in cold climates, or that a dirty power grid cancels out the benefits? Researchers find the opposite is true—and that EVs cost no more to own than a comparable gas car almost anywhere in the U.S.

AnthropoceneSarah DeWeerdt

Monday 21 April, BlaBlaCar announced the closure of its bus transport business in France and across Europe by the end of 2026, due to a lack of profitability. "This project addresses the structural economic difficulties that BlaBlaCar is experiencing in this activity", the company justified in a statement. The increase in the price of diesel due to conflict in Iran increased costs and accelerated this radical decision, even though the offering aims to be low-cost in its pricing.

Transporting some 6 million passengers per year, Blablacar Bus currently serves 300 cities in around fifteen European countries, including Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany... The Organisation of European Road Carriers (OTRE) was immediately alarmed by this announcement. [This is a] brutal reminding [reminder] that Blablacar Bus transports millions of passengers every year and that its buses boast a high occupancy rate. And the ORTE stressed the investments made by the carriers working for Blablacar through the acquisition of buses and the recruitment of drivers to operate the routes. "This decision, both sudden and unexpected, could, if confirmed, lead to major consequences, particularly for the sixty-odd hauliers operating routes on behalf of BlaBlaCar Bus.", adds the OTRE in a statement. Around forty jobs will also be cut directly within Blablacar.

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Blablacar Bus: it’s ending soon

Blablacar will cease its long-distance bus service by the end of 2026 due to unprofitable operations.

Business travelStephane Jaladis

“Ultrafine particles are incredibly small, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Increasing evidence suggests these pollutants may contribute to heart and lung diseases, as well as certain forms of cancer."

Ultrafine particles are killing us, and most of us have never even heard of them.Lloyd Alter·August 9, 2024 Read full story

The biggest source of UFPs [ultrafine particles] is from burning gasoline and diesel in cars and trucks.

Now, a new paper, Air quality standards and WHO’s guidance on particulate matter measuring 2.5 μm (PM2.5) questions whether we are measuring them properly. UFPs are usually included in counts of PM2.5, and the number is expressed as weight, in micrograms per cubic meter. However, the mass of UPFs at PM0.1 is negligible compared to the larger PM2.5 particles; you could have millions of them and not even know, and the number matters more than the mass.

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Ultrafine particles are killing us, and they are being grossly undercounted (If they are counted at all)

It turns out that we may have been measuring them all wrong.

Carbon Upfront!Lloyd Alter

Running beneath the Severn Estuary, the 4.35-mile Severn Tunnel is one of the toughest environments on the UK rail network, where moisture and saltwater accelerate wear on equipment.

Since electrification, the overhead power system has been prone to corrosion and electrical wear, leading to more frequent maintenance. To address this, Network Rail’s Wales and Borders team has developed and successfully trialled an innovative new system. It uses a single 7km copper contact wire supported at regular intervals by modified bridge arms, to eliminate previous corrosion issues and improve performance.

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Severn Tunnel upgrade to transform key rail link between Wales and England

Severn Tunnel upgrade to transform key rail link between Wales and England

The scheme is being managed by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, the transport and transit Crown agency of the Government of Ontario. Its overall cost stands at approximately C$29.5bn (£16bn), according to the latest Metrolinx update.

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) named Libby and Corkie after Liberty Village and Corktown, the neighbourhoods marking the start and end of the machines’ journeys, will travel 40m beneath Toronto’s streets for 6km, carving out twin tunnels and connecting six new underground subway stations.

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TBMs start 6km journey under downtown Toronto for new £16bn rapid transit line | New Civil Engineer

Once complete – the project is slated to enter operation by 2031 – the Ontario Line will encompass 15 stations and more than 40 transit connections. It

New Civil EngineerBelinda Smart

You can read more details here.