Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.
Ben Fried
Recent Posts
Albany’s Transit Sins Come Back to Bite America
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How many true transit advocates are in this picture? Just how bad are the service cuts and layoffs that transit agencies across the country will soon be forced to enact? Severe enough to weaken the national economy, the New York Times reports — all while Congress pieces together a stimulus plan that does nothing to […]
Urgent Action: Oppose Highway Robbery in Senate Stim Bill
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Stimulus debate continues today in the Senate, where the stale ideas keep on coming. In addition to the $50 billion highway slush fund floated by Senators Boxer and Inhofe (no vote on that one yet), Missouri’s Kit Bond plans to offer two amendments that would rob from transit, rail, and green transportation to pay for […]
Cartoon Tuesday: Political Suicide
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This word of warning from cartoonist Mike Luckovich to Republicans in Congress feels all the more timely on the heels of today’s action in the Senate. Click through for the punchline.
Republican Minority Blocks Murray Amendment
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We just got word that the Murray/Feinstein amendment, which would have increased funding for both highways and transit in the Senate stimulus package, received support from 58 Senators, falling short of the 60 votes necessary to be considered. Does that clear the way for Chuck Schumer’s transit amendment? Not exactly. The vote calls into question […]
Tell Your Senator to Support Transit and Green Jobs, Not Highways
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Update: Hold those phone calls, folks. Schumer has co-sponsored the Murray/Feinstein amendment, making it highly unlikely that he will offer his own, superior amendment. There are more amendments in the wings — supported by Senate Republicans and some surprising Democrats — that would give highway builders even greater leeway to build dirty, traffic-generating boondoggles. We’ll […]
Wiki Wednesday: Better Stimulus Through Highway Removal
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We know plenty of states want to use stimulus funds to expand highway capacity, but how many are looking to jolt their economies with a much-needed freeway teardown? So far as we can tell, the answer is none. Perhaps they should reconsider and take a page from this week’s StreetsWiki entry on highway removal: Streetfilms […]
Call This Morning to Boost Transit Funding in Stimulus Package
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Last night Jerrold Nadler’s stimulus bill amendment, which would add $3 billion for transit, cleared the House Rules Committee. The full House may vote on the amendment by noon today, so the sooner you call your representative the better. Transportation for America sends along some key points to make in your phone call: In the […]
House Nixes Funding for Transit Service. Where Is Schumer?
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Chuck, what about keeping transit affordable? Last night’s news about the denial of Rep. DeFazio’s amendment to fund transit operations left us wondering whether parliamentary issues were really the deciding factor. In general, it appears, the Democratic leadership is coming down hard against any add-ons to the recovery package. "There’s a desire to keep the […]
Senate Set to Confirm LaHood as Transportation Secretary
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Ray LaHood handles some softballs at his nomination hearing. Looks like Ray LaHood will sail toward an easy confirmation in the Senate. Members of the Transportation Committee were congratulating him before he opened his mouth at this afternoon’s nomination hearing, which just adjourned. Here are some bullet points: The livable communities plank in Obama’s campaign […]
Watch the LaHood Confirmation Hearing Online
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At 2:00 p.m. the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will vet Obama’s choice for Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood. Will they grill the former Illinois rep on his predilection for pork and ties to Caterpillar? Tune in to the live webcast to find out. Also on tap (tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.) — the House […]
Stimulus Draft, the Day After
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For everyone hoping that an $825 billion stimulus package might advance a visionary national agenda for sustainable transportation, yesterday’s release of a draft economic recovery bill didn’t deliver the goods. Nor did it include some pretty easy lifts, like the $1.7 billion for transit operations that the House approved in an earlier bill last summer. […]
$2 Billion for Bicycling in Stimulus Package?
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Earl Blumenauer. Photo: New York Times The most tantalizing tidbit in today’s Times profile of Earl Blumenauer comes from fellow cycling Congressman James Oberstar: With an eye on the potential stimulus package, cycling advocates "have compiled a list of $2 billion of projects that can be under construction in 90 days," Mr. Oberstar said, adding […]