Streetsblog presents a look back, with some snark involved, at the year that was in transportartion.
Streetsblog has announced the winners (and/or losers) of the 2015 Streetsie Awards. After opening the awards to a public vote, the final tally is in, providing a country-spanning look at the year in transportation.
Perhaps the biggest Streetsie (it got its own preview post by Angie Schmitt) goes to the "Best Urban Street Transformation"—this year awarded to the New York City Department of Transportation's redesign of 1.3 miles of Queens Boulevard. Schmitt describe the changes on the street, which took place after years of lobbying: "This was the year NYC DOT responded, carving out space for walking and biking on the corridor’s service roads using paint and plastic bollards, while eliminating or calming dangerous slip lanes. Much more of Queens Boulevard needs to be overhauled for safety, but this project proved that the most dangerous street in the city can change."
Additional Streetsie Awards went to the following catagories:
- Worst livable streets villain
- Best tactical urbanism win
- Worst boondoggle
- Best sign of progress
- Biggest let down
Queens Boulevard has done well in collecting accolades as publications and advocacy groups reviewed the year, including a third place finish on the list of best new bike lanes in the country produced annually by People for Bikes.
FULL STORY: And the Best Urban Street Transformation of 2015 Is… Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard Redesign Spreads the Love Around
Queens Boulevard from Roosevelt Avenue to 73rd Street got a new look in 2015, but the New York Department of Transportation is planning to take the street redesign even further.
Vote on 2015's Best and Worst Developments in Streets
Streetsblog is calling for voters in the 2015 Streetsie awards—make your opinion count about the year's biggest developments in multi-modal transportation.
Meet NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets
The NYC DOT program will build on pandemic-era initiatives to promote safe and comfortable streets that enhance community and expand uses beyond just moving cars.
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.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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
Town of Zionsville
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