Tom Coburn (left). Photo by talkradionews on Flickr.

Bye-bye GEORGE

Falls Church recently voted to end its GEORGE bus service, effective September 24. The city was unable to come up with the money to keep the service going.  (Washington Post, Gavin)  (Tip: Gavin)  

Free State out of free space for roads

Governor Martin O’Malley says that Maryland is out of space for road expansion. He touted transit as a better way of getting from place to place in an interview on NPR

WAMU’s Kojo Show. (Washington Examiner)  

If you build it…

Maryland SHA and Montgomery County DOT are considering pedestrian/bicycle improvements to Maryland Route 117 in Boyds. This would make it easier for bikes and peds to access transit and community facilities. (Gazette)  

...Get private industry to pay for it

Brookings fellow Chris Leinberger, author of The Option of Urbanism, talks about using private companies to capture economic gains from transit towards building more transit like before World War 2.  He cites the New York Avenue Metro stop as an example &mdash property owners paid 25% of the cost. (The Atlantic, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)  

Maybe if Oklahoma had a rail system…

Virtually everyone supports the FTA being able to regulate transit safety, except for Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). But in the United States Senate, Coburn’s opposition is enough to stop nearly anything. (Post, David A.)  (Tip: David Alpert)  

...Coburn would still block safety

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), explains why he’s placed a hold on the FTA safety oversight bill. His main arguments seem to be that a) it costs money and b) it tramples states’ rights. (Washington Post, Matt’)  (Tip: Matt')