The election is behind us. A Democratic administration headed by President-elect Barack Obama and a heavily Democratic Congress will assume power next January. How will this influence the direction of federal surface transportation policy and programs? To gain some insight, we have solicited the views of a number of people, including some who are familiar with the thinking of President-elect Obama’s transition team. While the views expressed below are our own, they have been influenced by the observations and speculations expressed in these interviews. By common agreement, all conversations were held off the record and not for attribution in order to allow for the freest possible expression of views.
Transportation Policy
Friday Funny: A New Direction for Transportation Policy?
James Sinclair points out that the cover of the Republicans' newly announced transportation reauthorization proposal, picturing an empty freeway overpass, makes the title - "A New Direction" - pretty ironic.
Stop and Move blog
Australians Learning to Leave Cars Behind
Randy Salzman says that Australian cities like Perth and Melbourne have found "the key to moving individual transportation behavior away from the convenience of the single-occupancy vehicle."
Miller-McCune
Why do Republicans Hate Transit?
Yonah Freemark tackles the big question, as House Republicans deliver an agenda to reduce federal spending that proposes deep cuts to transit spending.
the transport politic
For Women Only: Safety by Segregation
Women's safety on public transit is increasingly in focus worldwide. Many systems have turned to designating separate areas for women, but what happens after they get off?
TheCityFix
Adios Automobile!
TheCityFix looks at the future of the automobile in cities and the possibilities of moving people in to alternative modes in times when car ownership rates are still exploding.
TheCityFix
A Bigger Transportation Role for the White House?
The Obama administration has expressed interest in playing a bigger role in transportation and infrastructure policy in the U.S. National Journal asks its panel of experts if it's the right time for the White House to be more involved.
National Journal
Bikes and Peds A Threat to the Car?
National Journal asks its panel of transportation experts whether the car is really threatened by the rise in policy focus on pedestrians and cyclists.
National Journal
Fuzzy Connection Between Transportation Policy and Obesity?
Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is paying close attention to the link between transportation options and obesity in America. Next American City's Willy Staley looks at whether this attention will fight the epidemic.
Next American City
The Stockholm Trial
The three primary goals of Stockholm’s Congestion Pricing Trial were reduced traffic, a better environment and perceived improvements to the city environment. The Stockholm Trial consisted of three parts: expanded public transport, environmental charges/congestion tax and additional park-and-ride sites in the city and in the rest of the county.
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NYC Congestion Pricing Initiative
Congestion pricing is the 7th initiative of the PlaNYC 2030 Transportation Plan. It is only one part of an overall commitment to increase investment in mass transit.
London's Congestion Pricing Plan
The charge aims to reduce traffic congestion and make journeys quicker by encouraging people to choose other forms of transport. The congestion price is implemented by an ‘area licensing’ scheme based on a number-plate database and digital camera enforcement.
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D.C. Awash in Transportation Lobbyists
In the 2nd part of an expose featured previously on Planetizen, reporter Matthew Lewis uncovers the significant number of lobbyists influencing transportation policy in Washington.
Center for Public Integrity
Rethinking the Street Space: Evolving Life in the Streets
For more than 100 years, street design policy was stagnant. But now, planners and policymakers are expanding their ideas about what streets can be. In the second part of their series on streets, Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan examine the history of street design -- and look to the future.
The Transportation Prescription
A new report identifies ways to incorporate health objectives into transportation and land use planning.
The Convergence Partnership
How Transferable is Holland's Bike Culture?
Cyclists hear a lot about how much better the biking is in Europe. The Brooklyn Paper takes a look at why, and whether or not the lessons of Amsterdam are applicable in the US.
The Brooklyn Paper
Crises Come And Go, But Smart Policies Live on
Fri, 10/17/2008 - 08:07
A recent report that I coauthored, "Managing Transport Challenges When Oil Prices Rise" provides practical policy guidance on how to manage the risks of rising oil prices by increasing transport system efficiency. People with short attention spans might think that this report is already outdated, since global financial uncertainty has replaced rising fuel prices as the crisis-of-the-month. Leading businesses are bankrupt, employees are frightened, consumers are cautious, and fuel prices plummeting.
A Bicycle Strategy for Canada?
Toronto environmental lawyer Albert Koehl believes that Canada's Conservative government should embark on a national bicycle strategy.
The Globe & Mail
The End of Car Culture?
Transit ridership is spiking across the country as gas prices go up. Is this a tipping point for America's car culture?
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Don't Fill-er-up With Stupidity
Sun, 05/18/2008 - 07:59
People’s response to death typically proceeds through various stages: disbelief, denial, anger, bargaining, guilt, and eventually acceptance and hope. Motorists’ response to increased fuel price seems to follow similar stages:
