The "W" Line Opens
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Hi Everyone! This is Bill Spriggs and I have found several news articles, links and blogs that I wanted to share along THE BACK FENCE & beyond in this Sunday Edition, July 01, 2012. |
Stay Tuned to This Block for Future Details About The Tour de FasTracks -
West Rail Line Bike Event
hosted by RTD
Saturday, September 08, 2012 9am - 1pm |
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West Corridor, Denver & Region
| TheDenverPost.com
RTD and Other Officials Vow to Finish Denver's Northwest Rail Line
By Monte Whaley, Jun 29, 2012
The rest of the Northwest Rail line will be finished from Denver to Longmont vowed transportation, city and county officials on Thursday during a groundbreaking ceremony for the first segment of the line.
[Note: If you read the article below and click on the word "Denver" you will see that construction leads the way in employment. Anyone want to dispute the benefit of FasTracks construction? Choo, Choo!]
TheNewRepublic.com
New Monitor Reveals Mountain Region Outperforms Nation's Recovery
One group of metros is leading the national recovery--serving the region's historical role. Most notably, Denver rose rapidly in the economic rankings thanks to considerable job growth--a 1.3-percent increase in employment over the quarter, which ranked fifth nationally.
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National
| TheNewYorkTimes.com
Congress Approves a $127 Billion Transportation and Student Loan Package
By Jonathan Weisman, Jun 29, 2012
Congress gave final approval on Friday to legislation that combines a two-year transportation measure with bills to extend subsidized student loans and revamp federal flood insurance, wrapping up a bruising session with measures that will be popular on the campaign trail.
DC.StreetsBlog.org
A New Bill Passes, But America's Transpo Policy Stays Stuck in 20th Century
By Tanya Snyder, Jun 29, 2012
The House of Representatives approved the transportation bill conference report this afternoon by a vote of 373 to 52. [UPDATE 4:00 PM: The Senate has also approved the bill, 74-19.] This is a bill that's been called "a death blow to mass transit" by the Amalgamated Transit Union, "a step backwards for America's transportation system" by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, "a retreat from the goals of sustainability and economic resiliency" by Reconnecting America, "a substantial capitulation" by Transportation for America, and "bad news for biking and walking" by America Bikes
READ MORE...
TheHill.com
Bicyclists Oppose 'Bad Bill for Biking and Walking' in Highway Funding Compromise By Keith Laing, Jun 28, 2012 The agreement reached by lawmakers this week on a $120 billion surface transportation bill is a "bad bill for biking and walking," a bicycle advocacy group said Wednesday.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com
These Transit Riding Politicians Don't Support Public Transit
By Emily Badger, Jun 28, 2012 Members of Congress have spent an inordinately large chunk of this legislative session hating on mass transit (and that's inordinate compared even to the amount of time they've spent hating on other widely beloved American assets such as women, the Census, light bulbs and Muppets).
READ MORE...
AssociatedPress/WashPost.com
Big US Cities Boom as Young Adults Shun Suburbs By Hope Yen and K. Wyatt, Jun 28, 2012 For the first time in a century, most of America's largest cities are growing at a faster rate than their surrounding suburbs as young adults seeking a foothold in the weak job market shun home-buying and stay put in bustling urban centers.
READ MORE...
HuffingtonPost.com
Women or Men Leading the Trend Away From Driving? Just released official data show that Americans drove a billion fewer miles in April 2012 compared to April 2011, despite a slightly better economy. It's now well known that Americans, led by youth, have been reducing their driving since the middle of last decade.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com
Obesity's Spread Across America Looks Like a Virus
By Sarah Goodyear, Jun 28, 2012
For help in understanding the rapid spread of obesity in the United States, one group of researchers has turned to the principles of physics. And what they have found is that it is spreading fast.
READ MORE...Mashable.com
Why Supermarkets Are so 20th Century By Lauren Drell, Jun 27, 2012 No one likes grocery shopping - you wander the aisles, feel up produce, and dump cans of SpaghettiOs and heads of lettuce into a cart. Then you have to trudge home - or at least to your car - with bags weighing you down on both sides. Some argue that it's easier just to eat out all the time -- that's certainly a popular mentality in New York - and others might just order in via Seamless. |
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International (when available)
| Guardian.co.uk
How Sydney Got Non-Cyclists on Two Wheels An initiative to improve facilities and reduce fear of traffic has led to rapid growth in cycling, with numbers up by 82% in two years.
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| Sunday's Film (when available)
| Utilitycycling.org
Cycling With Very Young Children
By Melanie Colavito, Jun 22, 2012 This video is very useful one that follows the story of a couple that was determined to bike tour and ride with their young son. Anyhow, this video is very useful for family cycling, but you should always talk with your doctor before riding with your child.
READ MORE... |
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Things you need to know along the West Corridor
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>Lakewood, Wednesday, July 11, 7:30-8:30am. Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District Office, 7125 W. Colfax Ave.
Ward 2 Lakewood City Councilors Cindy Baroway and Scott Koop will meet with residents and considerate guests at their monthly outreach meeting. The future light rail line will traverse the NW section of their Ward.
>Lakewood, Thursday, July 12, 2012 6pm to 8? King Sooper's Plaza, 1645 Quail St. Ste 27. Neighborhood meeting for rezoning request. The applicant for a rezoning request at 11199 W. Colfax Ave. will meet with residents from the surrounding neighborhood. The rezoning proposal would allow for a bank with a drive-through facility to be built. For more information, contact Project Manager Paul Rice at (303) 987-7725 or pauric@lakewood.org.
>Denver, Friday, July 13, 2012, 4-6pm.
The West Colfax Business Improvement District is hosting a Sustainability Oasis & Celebration of Champions event to honor their champions, most notably Rick Garcia for project completed or underway made along West Colfax Ave (Denver).
The event will take place in conjunction with the opening of their summer public art project with the Rocky Mountain School of Art and Design: Sustainability Oasis. This temporary, interactive art project on the lot at Colfax and Vrain (4600 West) aims to green and activate a privately owned space for public purpose. All are invited. Lot located at Colfax Ave & Vrain St. (4500 West) RSVP Here
>Lakewood, Saturday July 14, 2012, 11am to noon.
5330 West 9th Avenue Surfside Park Dedication
One of the most beneficial community "people oriented" gathering places to open in Lakewood since the Belmar Plaza will dedicate the opening on July 14, 2012. Since the dedication will include food and prizes, the City of Lakewood is requesting RSVP's. To RSVP by Wednesday, July 11 call (303) 987-7800. For more information, call (303) 987-7837.
>Denver Union Station Historic Summer Tours, July 12, & July 26, 2012 at 4:30pm - 5:30pm
The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) will be conducting free guided tours of the Denver Union Station redevelopment site this summer. This guided tour will emphasis the early station history and famous travelers who visited Denver by Train. The tour will also tell visitors about all the exciting new features that will soon be part of, and surround, the historic station. The one-hour tour will start inside the Great Train Hall at the historic station, 1701 Wynkoop Street. Participation is limited to 35 people per tour. To reserve your spot, visit. RSVP here [Scroll down on left]
[Note: in just 10 short months West Corridor residents will be able bike to a West Rail Line station, jump on board with their bikes, get off at Union Station & cycle just six blocks to Coors Field and LEAVE THE CAR BEHIND. But until then, those of you adventurous souls who can commute to downtown, check out the facilities in place this year.] 
2012 schedule of Ride to the Rockies Games July 01, Aug 05, & Sept 02. All games are Sunday Day games. Over the course of 20 games this season the Rockies along with media partners ROOT SPORTS, 850 KOA and The Denver Post will once again be enlisting players and fans toward making a positive impact on the environment through the 2012 Games of Green initiative. NEXT BIKE TO THE GAME! WHEN: Sunday, July 01, for the game against the San Diego Padres. Bike lot opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes 10 minutes after the game ends.
WHERE: Coors Field, the special Bike to the Game secure parking lot at 21st and Blake St., across from Gate C.
WHAT: Check in at the Bike to the Game Tent at the entrance to the bike lot at 21st and Blake to enter a drawing for great prizes, like a Rockies Batting Practice experience, Rockies tickets, autographed items and more. The very popular RTD West Corridor bus tours are back, but will be ending soon!! All tours will be from 9am to 11am on the 3rd Friday of the month (July thru Sept). Each reservation that is made is for one seat only; please sign-up all attendees individually. You will receive e-mail confirmation within one week of your registration. Click here to register
AUGUST 20-26th, 2012
SEPTEMBER 21-23RD, 2012
Denver Union Station
Construction Cam
Golden Jeffco Station
Construction Cam
Wish You Could Find an Apartment/Condo near a Light Rail Station? As part of TBF's continuing efforts to bring TOD's to the West Corridor & elsewhere, this link from Walk Score.com will now be a permanent feature. Thanks. |
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Residential Real Estate Agents
Who Get the "Big Picture" of Transit Oriented Living
| Jim Smith
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Things You Need to Know Around the Region
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THE TRANSIT ALLIANCE
IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL 2012 AND SPRING 2013 ACADEMIES!
Please note that the Academy application process is competitive as they only have 50 slots available and usually have 100 applicants or more. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on August 17th to be considered for the Fall 2012 Academy.
The Fall Academy (2012-02) will begin September 5 and end on October 17, 2012.
Tour de FasTracks - West Rail Ride Bike Event
Saturday, Sept 08, 2012
Calling all cyclists in Golden, Lakewood, west Denver, and the Denver Region.
The RTD FasTracks West Rail Line which will serve our West Corridor will host a bike event on Saturday, September 08, 2012 to show off its magnificent bike path that parallels most of the future "W" line.
The Back Fence, in the coming months, always a huge supporter of alternatives to the single occupier automobile, will advocate for the "final mile" and call for more and safer cycle access from the future light rail stations. We also consider the bicycle as not only a recreational vehicle, but a tool of economic empowerment that helps our citizens stay healthy and keeps more expendable cash in their pockets in which to enhance our local businesses; and I won't bore you with lectures on sustainability, oil dependence and air quality.
Although the Tour de FasTracks event is billed as a "leisurely ride" that will start at the future Oak Street Station parking area and end at the Decatur Federal Station, there also will be a stage for the intermediate and advanced cyclists that will start at the Jefferson County Government Center-Golden Station. Details will be forthcoming, but you can. Click Here to View the current RTD Bike Path.
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