Might a recent agreement to fund water projects pave the way for more transportation spending? That's what positive signals out of Washington seem to indicate. Just one small obstacle stands in the way: how to finance road and bridge projects.
"In a Congress bitterly divided over budget and health policy, some lawmakers are optimistic that infrastructure funding could offer a small patch of common ground," reports Kristina Peterson. "Even lawmakers with clashing ideas over the appropriate size of the federal government have agreed recently that it has a role to play in building and maintaining the nation's roads, bridges and ports."
The next phase of sequestration cuts, which are set to take effect in January, may provide the impetus for finding common ground. "A bipartisan agreement that more spending is needed on infrastructure projects might give both parties an incentive to ease the sequester cuts," writes Peterson.
How would the government fund such improvements as the Highway Trust Fund nears insolvency? That's were agreement breaks down.
FULL STORY: Push for Transportation Funding Gains Steam
Cities After President Trump
Urbanists consider what the administration of President-elect, Donald Trump, will mean for cities.
Massachusetts Gov. Makes Case for Road Funding Reforms
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Texas Infrastructure Gets a ‘C’
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
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The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
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The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
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DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
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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.
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Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)