Todd Litman's blog

How Should We Measure Traffic Congestion?

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 30, 2014 - 9:15am

Transportation system performance is often evaluated using congestion intensity indicators, which favor automobile-dependency and sprawl. Strategic planning requires more comprehensive and multi-modal indicators which measure congestion costs.

More Bicycle Route Debate, Or Valuing Multi-Modalism

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 23, 2014 - 5:01am

The best solution to many transportation problems is to improve transport system diversity so travelers can choose the best option for each trip. This requires more comprehensive and multi-modal planning. Not everybody is ready.

Greetings from TRB!

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 16, 2014 - 5:15am

Each January Washington DC hosts a huge gathering of the transportation planning tribe. What do we do? Read about it here.

Smarter Congestion Evaluation – An Example

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Submitted by Todd Litman on January 3, 2014 - 6:31am

A new study claims that public transit does not reduce traffic congestion. It is a good example of how not to evaluate this impact. When measured correctly, high quality transit is found to reduce congestion and increase transport system efficiency.

Smarter Congestion Solutions in 2014

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Submitted by Todd Litman on December 29, 2013 - 11:06pm

It is time to find better solutions to congestion problems. This requires more comprehensive evaluation in order to identify win-win solutions: the congestion reduction strategies that help achieve other planning objectives.

Positive Reports on New Transit System Performance

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Submitted by Todd Litman on December 18, 2013 - 8:03pm

Critics claim that public transit projects consistently exceed their budget projections and fail to meet ridership targets, based on old research. New analysis indicates that recent transit services generally perform better than predicted.

Who Subsidizes Whom?

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Submitted by Todd Litman on December 4, 2013 - 9:25pm

This column expands on issues raised in a previous Planetizen blog, "Mythbusting: Exposing Half-Truths That Support Automobile Dependency," which examined criticisms of cycling facility investments and justifications for automobile-oriented planning.

Mythbusting: Exposing Half-Truths That Support Automobile Dependency

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Submitted by Todd Litman on November 28, 2013 - 9:07am

Some commentators recently expressed outraged that governments spend money on cycling facilities. Their arguments are largely wrong, I’ll call them "half-truths" to be charitable, presented with great certitude and self-righteous anger.

How Many Bicycles Can Park In The Space Required By One Car? Don’t Ask PolitiFact.

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Submitted by Todd Litman on November 12, 2013 - 3:19am

PolitiFact holds politicians accountable for their claims, but how accountable is PolitiFact? Not very. It inaccurately answered a simple planning question, and was unwilling to clarify or correct its false judgment.

Low Crime Rates In Large Cities Support Multi-Modal Planning and Smart Growth

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Submitted by Todd Litman on October 31, 2013 - 3:43am

Contrary to popular assumptions, large, transit-oriented cities have lower crime rates than smaller, automobile-oriented cities. Jane Jacobs was right! This column discusses this phenomenon and its implications for transport and land use planning.

Playgrounds Could Provide Much-Needed Public Space

Expert Opines on the Fiscal Disincentives Undermining Local Approval of Housing Development

Striking New Towers Coming to Philadelphia's Schuylkill Yards

New U.S. DOT Policy Limits Page Length of Environmental Impact Statements

The Joy of Public Transit

The 'War on Cars' Is a Bad Joke

Gentrification Mania!

Mobility Data: How Your Travel Patterns Could Inform Policy

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Todd Litman's blog

How Should We Measure Traffic Congestion?

More Bicycle Route Debate, Or Valuing Multi-Modalism

Greetings from TRB!

Smarter Congestion Evaluation – An Example

Smarter Congestion Solutions in 2014

Positive Reports on New Transit System Performance

Who Subsidizes Whom?

Mythbusting: Exposing Half-Truths That Support Automobile Dependency

How Many Bicycles Can Park In The Space Required By One Car? Don’t Ask PolitiFact.

Low Crime Rates In Large Cities Support Multi-Modal Planning and Smart Growth

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