In preparation for tonight's State of the Union address, consider the role of "transportation" and "infrastructure" in previous State of the Union addresses dating back to 1999.
Jeff Davis dug through 20 years of State of the Union addresses, spanning four presidential tenures, for references to transportation and infrastructure.
The record for fewest mentions of either word goes to George W. Bush, who failed to use either word in addresses from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006. Bush used of the words in 2002 ion reference to the USA Freedom Corps, not in reference to any domestic policy. Border security was the context for Bush's mention of infrastructure in 2007, and Afghanistan was the location of new roads touted by Bush in 2008.
Davis also mentions an amusing anecdote from Bill Clinton's 2000 State of the Union that he describes as a Freudian slip: "he kept trying to promote plans to make communities more 'livable' but kept saying 'liberal' instead."
FULL STORY: Transportation and Infrastructure in the State of the Union Address, 1999-2018
U.S. EPA Rolling Back Science-Based Regulation Under Cover of COVID
Contentious policy revisions at the Environmental Protection Agency roll back data-guided policies under the Trump administration.
Trump's State of the Union: More on Infrastructure in Democrats' Response
The president spoke briefly about infrastructure in his third State of the Union address last Tuesday, urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a lot more to say.
Trump Selects Elaine J. Chao, former Labor Secretary, as Transportation Secretary
Elaine Chao served all eight years as President George W. Bush's former Secretary of Labor and also under his father's administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. She is married to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.
Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie