Attack on Street Safety Funds Sets Off an Uprising in Tennessee
A bill to restrict spending on biking and walking infrastructure in Tennessee has ignited "a firestorm," as the Chattanooga Times Free Press called it.
February 22, 2016
Albuquerque’s Big Choice: Prioritize Streets for Transit, or Stagnate
Albuquerque is at a pivotal moment that could determine whether it becomes more a walkable and transit-oriented city.
February 22, 2016
The Highway Project That Could Change Traffic Management in the U.S.
In almost every state, politicians beat the drum for hundreds of millions of dollars to “solve congestion” by widening highways. After spending the better part of a century doing this, we know that thanks to induced demand, soon after the asphalt sets on the new lanes, people will drive more and congestion will return. The whole exercise is a … Continued
February 19, 2016
Huh? After Bailing Out Toll Road, Florida Wants to Expand It
By any reasonable measure, the Suncoast Parkway in the Tampa Bay Area has been a complete failure.
February 18, 2016
Oregon Gov Candidate: End Gridlock By Adding a Lane to Every Freeway
It's not that unusual to see politicians approaching the problem of traffic congestion with a childlike simplicity. But Oregon gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce's "solution" to eliminate gridlock in the Portland area might be the most infantile of them all. Pierce wants to add a lane to every major freeway in the region and "Presto!" -- problem solved. (You can watch Pierce make his pitch in the video at the bottom of this post.)
February 18, 2016
4 Things Schools Can Do to Reduce the Asthma Threat From Idling Cars
Lately, American schools have been pretty responsive to public health and safety threats facing children. Witness the rise of peanut butter bans or the dwindling number of vending machines in schools.
February 17, 2016
What Will It Take to Save Bike-Share in Seattle?
Seattle's bike-share system, Pronto, is in trouble. Pronto is currently run as a private non-profit, but to continue operations, it needs a $1.4 million injection of city funds by the end of March, Tom Fucoloro at Seattle Bike Blog reports.
February 17, 2016
Cincinnati Preservation Board Says Historic Building Needs More Parking
An office developer wants to rehab a derelict 88,000-square-foot historic building right along Cincinnati's almost-finished streetcar line. This is exactly what should happen, right?
February 16, 2016
Traffic Engineers Still Rely on a Flawed 1970s Study to Reject Crosswalks
When St. Louis decided not to maintain colorful new crosswalks that residents had painted, the city's pedestrian coordinator cited federal guidance. A 2011 FHWA memo warns that colorful designs could "create a false sense of security" for pedestrians and motorists.
February 12, 2016
A Bigger Transit Benefit Is No Match for America’s Parking Tax Perk
Late last year Congress finally moved to boost the maximum commuter tax benefit for transit riders to the same level that car commuters receive. That means transit riders can buy up to $255 in fares each month with pre-tax income, just like drivers can pay for $255 in parking expenses with pre-tax income.
February 12, 2016