Obama’s Politically Impossible Transpo Plan Is Just What America Needs
It may be "seven years too late," as tactical urbanist Mike Lydon put it, but President Obama has released a transportation proposal that calls for big shifts in the country's spending priorities.
February 5, 2016
Which Cities Are Adding Walkable Housing the Fastest?
As more Americans look for walkable places to live, cities are struggling to deliver, and a lot of neighborhoods are becoming less affordable. A new analysis by Kasey Klimes of Copenhagen's Gehl Studio illustrates how major metro areas have let their supply of walkable housing shrink over the years, contributing to today's housing crunch.
February 5, 2016
A University Built Around the Car Sees the Light
Fresno State University was, until very recently, your prototypical car commuting school. The school began as an isolated agricultural institution and is still connected to a large university farm. Its transportation services haven't extended much beyond subsidized parking.
February 4, 2016
Where Does Bernie Sanders Stand on Transportation and Cities?
With Bernie Sanders pulling off a virtual tie with Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses, it's time to take a closer look at his transportation policy platform.
February 2, 2016
Transit Investments and the Failure of Randal O’Toole’s Short-Term Thinking
The Los Angeles Times recently ran a big story to the effect that the region's major investments in transit are not paying off, since ridership has recently declined.
February 1, 2016
The Feds Want to Reform the Cult of “Level of Service”
"What you measure is what you get," the saying goes.
January 29, 2016
Study: Upward Mobility Much Higher in Regions With Less Sprawl
Living in a sprawling area, like Atlanta, or a compact one, like Boston, doesn't just affect how you get around. A new study published in the Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning suggests it may also have a significant impact on your chances to escape poverty.
January 28, 2016
SF One of 10 Cities Chosen to Help Model Vision Zero Policy in the U.S.
What is Vision Zero? Simply put, it's a recognition that traffic fatalities are preventable, and a commitment to ensure that no one is killed in traffic. Cities that adopt Vision Zero set out to end traffic deaths within a specific time frame.
January 27, 2016
5 Things States Can Do to Bring Transportation Policy Out of the Stone Age
On its page commemorating the 50th anniversary of President Eisenhower signing the Federal Aid Highway Act, the Federal Highway Administration offers a "Then and Now" chart showing how much America has changed since 1956. It's a little corny, but in 1956 Chuck Berry was a chart-topper, hula hoops were the new craze, and Cold War tensions were very high. The point is the country has changed a lot since then.
January 22, 2016
High Stakes for Cities as Feds Start Regulating Self-Driving Cars
Last week as part of his State of the Union Address, President Obama announced a $4 billion investment over the next 10 years to test autonomous vehicles and get them ready for the market. Two days later at the Detroit Auto Show, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that federal regulators would begin to develop coherent safety regulations for autonomous vehicles -- something industry leaders have been pushing.
January 21, 2016