7 Line Extension, originally uploaded by plemeljr

First of Two Machines Will Drill 7,100-Foot Tunnels from 11th Avenue and 25th Street to Times Square:

today, a 100-ton tunnel boring machine (TBM) was lowered under 11th Avenue marking the start of excavation work for the 7 line subway extension project. The $2.1 billion project, funded by the City and managed by the MTA, will help transform the Hudson Yards vicinity into a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, containing a mix of commercial, residential, retail, open space and recreational uses.
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The piece of the TBM lowered today near the intersection of 25th Street and 11th Avenue, known as the “cutter head,” has forty-four rotating discs that will drill a tunnel to Times Square. During the project, two TBMs will excavate two, 7,100 foot-long tunnels.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=67348
You have to check out these info viz diagrams from Jer Thorp entitled NYTimes: 365/360 which show the top organizations and personalities for every year from 1985 to 2001. Jer even provides source code (more here) and explanations. This is exactly why I wanted to attend Hack Day, but alas I am on the waiting list.

NYTimes: 365/360 – 2009 (in color), originally uploaded by blprnt_van

Wi$e-Guy Money Roll, originally uploaded by Gnerk

If any GOP Governor turns down Stim Money then I’m sure that there are a few states, New York in fact, which can easily take care of that extra money. It will be tough, but I’m sure we’ll find something to spend it on.

Quick Mini-Manifesto:

1. Urban freeways are linked to childhood asthma and other health issues.
2. Urban freeways concentrate tailpipe emissions.
3. Motorists passing through urban cores on freeways generally don’t pay local taxes but leave their carbon footprint via the tailpipe.
4. Motorists passing through urban cores should be made to travel around the core, affecting less people.
5. Urban freeways should be removed, replaced with higher-bandwidth transportation options – light rail, heavy rail and commuter rail – to serve residents
6. Feeder systems and regional service should interconnect with the urban transportation network.

You could do everything above, or just do the following:

1. Adequately tax the price of tailpipe emissions through congestion pricing.

I know this isn’t fully resolved, especially the increased emissions from making people drive around urban cores and the cost of infrastructure. I get that. This statement is polemical and one-sided on purpose to form a dialectic to studying this urban issue.
Comments?

Typographic Desk Reference, originally uploaded by imjustcreative

The new version of the Typographic Desk Reference is now available. Buy the Typographic Desk Reference from Amazon, and give me a little kickback (why don’t ya?).

A Road not Taken is a documentary about the solar panels President Carter installed at the White House in 1979 which were taken down in 1986 during the Reagan presidency. Very interesting subject matter, but the trailer unfortunately isn’t very good or succinct.