en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Sprawl & Transportation headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 If it seems like you're buying less gas these days, you're probably right. A new study from a Seattle-based sustainability think tank finds total gasoline consumption across the Northwest dropped sharply last year. In fact, per-capita gasoline use has dropped in 8 of the last 9 years, and it's now at its lowest level since 1965. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1524886/KPLU.Local.News/Study.Finds.Northwest.Using.Less.gas Energy Sprawl & Transportation Cascadia Idaho Oregon Washington 07/02/2009 KPLU British Columbia got a little greener on Wednesday: The province celebrated the first anniversary of its carbon tax with a price bump at the gas pumps. A recent poll by Environics suggests almost half of BC residents support the tax, and it is also gaining favor across the country. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/01/bc-carbon-tax-increase.html?ref=rss Climate Energy Sprawl & Transportation British Columbia 07/01/2009 CBC BC Portland's neighborhood associations are flexing their political muscles on public and private projects proposed for their communities. It's part of a quiet transformation under way among the 95 associations, one that leaders say bodes well for the future of civic involvement. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/07/portlands_neighborhoods_associ.html Sprawl & Transportation Oregon 07/02/2009 Oregonian US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood came to Oregon on Wednesday to tout metro Portland's mass transit innovations and lavish praise on the first US-made streetcar in nearly 60 years. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/transportation_secretary_watch.html Sprawl & Transportation Oregon 07/02/2009 Oregonian Is green becoming mainstream? A new global survey shows nearly six in 10 people would choose an environment-friendly car over a petrol-powered one, even if they had all the money in the world. http://www.vancouversun.com/Cars/Green+triumphs+muscle+global+choice+survey/1747694/story.html Energy Sprawl & Transportation United States 07/01/2009 Vancouver Sun Neighbors are fighting a development -- a project that embodies Portland's shiny new ethos -- on the former site of an African-American landmark. Developers razed the dilapidated building to make way for a 72-unit complex that may qualify for a $1.12 million city tax break thanks to its sustainable, transit-oriented designs. At the heart of neighbors' anger is their distaste for perceived gentrification. http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/hitting-the-wrong-notes/Content?oid=1472064 Sprawl & Transportation Oregon 07/02/2009 Portland Mercury Idaho, Washington, and Oregon drivers cut back their per-capita gasoline consumption by 5 percent in 2008. Total gasoline consumption in the three states fell about 180 million gallons between 2007 and 2008, the largest drop since 1980, according to a new study from Sightline Institute. http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/820612.html Energy Sprawl & Transportation Cascadia Idaho Oregon Washington 07/01/2009 Boise Idaho Statesman As a MAX train glided through a brick-lined section of downtown Portland, someone in the VIP crowd on the first trip of the new Green Line called out: "Where are we?" The answer: Union Station, a place where no MAX has gone before. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/green_light_for_trimets_max_gr.html Climate Environment Sprawl & Transportation Oregon 06/30/2009 Oregonian An unlikely group of environmentalists, business and labour leaders joined Metro Vancouver's mayors to lobby for directing an annual $450 million into funding public transit. While some mayors favor shifting carbon taxes to pay for better transit, others say that money's off the table. http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Metro+Vancouver+coalition+pushes+million+public+transit/1748669/story.html Climate Economy Energy Environment Policy Sprawl & Transportation British Columbia 07/01/2009 Vancouver Sun