This Brookings policy brief by Martin Wachs outlines the complex series of relationships that define federal, state, and local roles in financing transportation systems.
"...[S]eemingly modest local tax increases enacted as short-term solutions to immediate problems are setting a major national trend. Without any deliberate or conscious change in policy, transportation finance is gradually devolving to local governments and lessening its reliance on user fees. User fees are, however, more efficient and more equitable than local sales taxes for transportation projects. In the short run, increases in fuel taxes are viable and practical. In the longer term, tolls collected electronically promise the most appropriate and flexible method of user fee financing... Continued or expanded reliance on user fees remains the most promising way to promote efficiency and equity in transportation finance."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Improving Efficiency and Equity in Transportation Finance
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
