Federal Highway Administration

Revised Data Shows Vehicle Miles Traveled Increased in 2013

Peak VMT reportedly occurred in 2007, but that may not stand long according to updated DOT estimates of 2013 travel. According to the data, Americans drove nearly three trillion miles. Another finding is the large increase in number of vehicles.

March 1, 2015 - U.S. DOT: Office of Public Affairs

Highway Guardrail

Deadly Highway Guardrail Design Questioned

After five deaths, several states have stopped installing FHWA-approved guardrails which have been said "to turn into spears" when hit by vehicles. An Oct. 20 jury verdict awarded $175 million to a whistleblower to be paid by the rail manufacturer.

October 23, 2014 - The New York Times

Federal Highway Administration to Develop Guidance for Protected Bike Lanes

In a major policy departure for federal level bureaucracy, the Federal Highway Administration is developing guidance for the design and engineering of protected bike lanes in two separate policy documents

September 24, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Traffic and Speed

Federal Highway Administration Reports Increasing Vehicle Miles Traveled

The FHWA reports that Americans have returned to the road en masse this summer—beware obvious political motivations and a failure to compare VMT trends to population growth.

September 1, 2014 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Wash. Bridge Collapse Exposes Nation's Vulnerable Infrastructure

In a pair of articles, four Wall Street Journal writers delve deeper into the May 24 collapse of the I-5, Skagit Valley Bridge in Washington state and its relationship to our nation's aging transportation infrastructure.

May 28, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

'TVs on a Stick' Spark Battles Across the US

Since the Federal Highway Administration relaxed a rule against digital billboards in 2007, communities across the country have struggled with how to balance concerns about distracted drivers and disfigured landscapes with the desires of advertisers.

February 4, 2013 - USA Today

A Roadside Distraction from the Destination

As the holiday travel season begins, Becky Krystal reminisces on rest stops encountered along family road trips and observes that "stops are evolving from small, flypaper-plastered restrooms into airy, high-tech travel plazas and welcome centers."

November 20, 2012 - The Washington Post

An Urban Bikeway Design Manual Geared For Today's Cities

The National Association of City Transportation Officials, representing fifteen major American cities, released the second edition of its Urban Bikeway Design Guide on Sept. 6. It includes a new chapter on bicycle boulevards.

September 13, 2012 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

FHWA Approves Contraflow Bike Lanes

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) confirmed contraflow bike lanes with proper signage and pavement markings as permissible under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

March 23, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

Obama Announces Federal Highway Administration Pick

Former Arizona Department of Transportation director Victor M. Mendez has bee chosen by the Obama administration to head the FHA.

April 5, 2009 - The Arizona Republic

Last-Minute Bush Decision Paves Way For Privatization

An obscure new rule pushed through the Federal Highway Administration requires public toll roads to collect 'fair market value' from drivers, rather than to serve the public interest.

January 24, 2009 - On The Commons

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.