Anthony Foxx Envisions a “Gradual Shift” Away From Car Dependence
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx criss-crossed the country last week on a tour of the seven finalists for U.S. DOT's $50 million "Smart City Challenge" grant.
May 23, 2016
Will Barcelona’s “Superblocks” Proposal Work Well for Transit?
Barcelona is making waves with plans to test a concept it's calling "superblocks." The idea is to create nine-block squares of "citizen spaces" -- about 400 meters on each side -- where cars would be limited. Unlike the widely derided superblocks of the urban renewal era, Barcelona's would be explicitly designed to preserve the street grid for walking and biking -- only motor vehicle through traffic would be discouraged.
May 20, 2016
Priced Lanes Can Move Everyone Faster — Even People Who Don’t Pay
Remember the uproar over the HOT lanes on I-405 outside Seattle? Republicans in the state senate fired transportation commissioner Lynn Petersen to register their displeasure with priced roads. The political furor isn't over. Bill Bryant, a GOP candidate for governor, continues to use the HOT lanes as a wedge issue against incumbent Democrat Jay Inslee.
May 20, 2016
More Evidence Bike Lanes Can Be More Efficient Than Car Lanes
Contrary to all those cranky newspaper columns about how every last inch of asphalt needs to be allocated to motor vehicles, bike lanes can actually move more people with less street space than general traffic lanes.
May 19, 2016
A Better Way to Track How Well Transit Performs
When you’re riding the bus or the train, an unexpected delay is the last thing you need. If transit agencies want to know how well they’re doing and how they can improve service, they have to track how reliable their service is for riders.
May 18, 2016
The Crucial Connection Between Street Width and Walkability, in 3 Photos
There's a good deal of empirical evidence that narrower travel lanes are safer for everyone because they slow motorist speeds.
May 17, 2016
Transit and Parking Mandates Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Tuna
Cleveland is finally getting around to establishing guidelines to foster walkable development around rail stops -- which is in very short supply. Some stations are surrounded by little more than vacant industrial space or parking lots. (One of the stops on the underused Waterfront Line, called "Muni Parking," is in the middle of the enormous City Hall parking lot.)
May 16, 2016
Reminder: Just Laying Track Is No Guarantee Riders Will Come
Laying track isn't enough to build a successful transit system -- as some cities are learning the hard way.
May 12, 2016
Zoning Reform Will Boost Housing Affordability and Walkability in D.C.
A change to D.C.'s zoning code will allow homeowners to build and rent out a basement apartment, or an apartment over the garage, without the long, expensive hassle of obtaining special permission.
May 11, 2016
How Can Cities Move More People Without Wider Streets? Hint: Not With Cars
How can cities make more efficient use of street space, so more people can get where they want to go?
May 10, 2016