The Texas Transportation Commission's choice to run the Texas Department of Transportation is a former Marine Corps lieutenant general with a progressive take on the state's transportation challenges.
"The Texas Department of Transportation’s new executive director [Joe Weber] says it’s going to take more than new roads to keep Texans traveling smoothly if population growth estimates prove true," reports Brandon Formby.
Instead, says Weber, the state will need to increase funding for commuter and freight projects. Weber is quoted directly in the article: "That’s going to be hard to do…That’s a cultural change."
"Some estimates project the state could double its population to more than 55 million residents in less than 40 years. TxDOT faces inadequate funding to maintain current state roads and build new highways to keep pace."
Weber also takes a progressive stance on traffic safety, saying it's "embarrassing" that 1,100 people have died in vehicle collisions so far this year.
Saying that transportation is about economic development, rather than just congestion, "Weber said that meeting transportation needs isn’t just about making sure Texans get to work. He said the future stability of the state’s economy will rely on businesses, workers and consumers being able to connect through all modes of transport."
If you're interested in learning more about Texas' freeway building tradition, and want to get an idea of the aforementioned culture Weber means to change, Robert Wilsonsky recently wrote up a book called Dallas-Fort Worth Freeways (available for free download). The article quotes author Oscar Slotboom directly: "One of the themes through the book is how influential the freeways have been in North Texas, empowering everything. They empower ambition, the things built besides the freeways, from Texas Instruments to NorthPark. So much of modern Dallas was built around the freeways and remains dependent upon the freeways. And I thought it was interesting how Dallas really is freeway-crazy. They party at their openings."
FULL STORY: Roads alone won’t drive Texas’ future, new TxDOT chief says
Federal Carbon Reduction Funds Could Finance Highway Projects in Texas
Transit advocates say the state’s carbon reduction strategy reveals a continued preference for car-oriented infrastructure.
Austin Leaders Denounce 20-Lane Freeway Project
TxDOT is pushing ahead with plans for a massive freeway expansion project through downtown Austin despite opposition from virtually all local leaders.
Houston Area Loses $64 Million in Federal Transportation Funds Due to Delays and Lack of Oversight
The funding was directed to congestion mitigation, air quality, and transportation alternatives projects.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
