U.S. DOT
Top Categories
At CNU, Former Rep of Texas Legislature says “No Road Pays for Itself”
Over the past two days at the Congress for the New Urbanism Project for Transportation Reform conference, attendees have called for transportation reform at local, regional, and
national levels. In a panel debate about the future of transportation funding and the
role of regional planning through MPOs, several speakers argued that
the foundation of transportation and development funding had to be
systematically overhauled.
November 6, 2009
CNU Transportation Project Raises Bar on Planning for Livable Cities
The Congress for the New Urbanism's Project for Transportation Reform summit in Portland, Oregon, has brought together transportation engineers, city planners, and transportation reform advocates to share best practice policies for reforming transportation metrics, funding mechanisms, and regional practices that isolate transportation planning from land-use and growth targets. The highlight of the first day of the program was Portland itself, as councilors from Portland Metro, one of the only elected municipal planning organizations (MPOs) in the country, elaborated on their multi-disciplinary mission, which seeks to limit development within an urban growth boundary and coordinate transportation, parks and recreation, and solid waste management to achieve a more sustainable city.
November 5, 2009
To Limit Distracted Driving, Congress Leans Toward a Carrot-Stick Combo
Partisanship is a fact of life in Washington, often slowing down progress on issues from health care to climate change.
But when it comes to preventing the use of electronic devices behind
the wheel, a congressional consensus is emerging in favor of federal
action -- even as the extent of GOP support for a punitive approach
remains decidedly unclear.
November 2, 2009
The Oversight Gap in Team Obama’s High-Speed Rail Plan
The White House's economic stimulus law included several large new spending programs, from $4 billion for broadband to $2.4 billion for electric car batteries. But nothing has aroused so much interest -- and criticism -- as the $8 billion for American high-speed rail.
October 15, 2009
CNU Summit to Focus on Reforming Transportation, Planning Principles
The Congress for the New Urbanism will meet in Portland, Oregon, in early November for the annual Project for Transportation Reform, a summit to further define and clarify emerging urban transportation policies that embrace entire networks, rather than interdependent transportation segments, and that seek to balance modal transportation splits and reduce overall vehicular miles traveled (VMT).
October 9, 2009
Bush DOT Chief Urges More Transport Tech Funding
Former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters,
who served for eight years in George W. Bush's DOT, sat down with
Streetsblog Capitol Hill this week to urge that Congress add a
dedicated funding stream of $1 billion each year for transportation
technology to the next long-term infrastructure bill.
October 9, 2009
When $1 Billion Doesn’t Buy What it Used To — And When it Does
Since Washington's economic recovery debate first began last fall,
advocates for greater infrastructure investment have invoked one phrase
more often than almost any other: "Every $1 billion spent on
transportation creates 47,500 jobs."
October 8, 2009
Obama’s Engaged With Transit More in 9 Months than Bush Did in 8 Years
The Obama administration has brought both good news and bad news
to transit riders. But here's a positive sign you haven't heard before,
straight from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Peter Rogoff:
In the nine months of the new presidency, the FTA has fielded more
requests for information "directly from the White House" than in the
entire eight years of the Bush administration.
October 7, 2009
LaHood: “If You Don’t Want an Automobile, You Don’t Have to Have One”
The White House's effort to promote sustainable communities has prompted serious (and inadvertently humorous) hand-wringing
from conservative pundits who fear the concept of livability will
translate into governmental edicts on lifestyle choices. What's the
best way to counter such tactics?
October 5, 2009
Congress’ Transport Impasse Hits States — and Not Just Their Road Funds
When lawmakers failed on Wednesday
to reach a deal on avoiding the cancellation of $8.7 billion in
transportation spending authority, the consequences of Congress'
inaction weren't immediately palpable to most voters -- but the loss is
sinking in on the local level.
October 5, 2009