1911 Street Film, Eugene Riverfront Development, GHG Reduction at the MPO - Newsbits

New York City in 1911 - via youtube

There's a great film of New York City traffic from 1911 that was restored, recently posted online, and has been circulating among multiple groups.

Old film of New York City in the year 1911. Print has survived in mint condition. Slowed down footage to a natural rate and added in sound for ambiance. This film was taken by the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern on a trip to America.

It shows the mixed street ecosystem before cars took over. Lots of horses, carts, and carriages still in 1911. It is a wondrous thing, really. Check it out.

The old EWEB site on the Willamette to be redeveloped in Eugene

It looks like the City of Eugene is finally closing on the deal to buy the old Eugene Water and Electric Board property on the riverfront in downtown. The City of Eugene is in turn negotiating with a big Portland developer for a large mixed-use project on the site.

This is a project worth watching, at least in one's peripheral vision. It will be interesting to see how it turns out and what lessons there might be for Salem. It looks to be significantly more interesting than how our Boise project is turning out.

(Coincidentally, EWEB was founded in 1911!)

GHG reduction more popular than SRC

Finally, the Policy Committee for our local MPO meets next week, and there will be several items to note on that agenda. Right now it is worth pointing out that the largest groups of comments on the survey about goals in the Regional Transportation System Plan was to add consideration about reducing greenhouse gases. There were twice as many comments in support of that as in support of building the Salem River Crossing.

Salem City Council will be taking up a position on these goals it looks like, and these results should give the City momentum to take a strong position.