Transportation Policy

Aerial view of highway through neighborhood in Oakland, California.

How Transportation Policy Impacts Public Health

One expert calls for collaboration between agencies in different fields to plan more thoughtfully for public health and equity.

February 21, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

‘Divided by Design’ Underscores Inequities in Transportation Policy

The report calls for a wholesale overhaul of U.S. transportation policy to redress the damages caused by decades of auto-centric development.

July 14, 2023 - Smart Growth America

Miami Traffic Jam

When Will We Believe in Induced Demand?

The well-documented concept has yet to catch on in state departments of transportation, but acknowledging it could dramatically transform U.S. transportation policy.

March 3, 2022 - Governing

Allston Interchange

Imagining Alternatives to an Enlarged I-90 Viaduct in Boston

Massachusetts Department of Transportation plans to heighten and widen the Allston section of I-90 viaduct do not align with the community's desire for an environmentally friendly and pedestrian- and cycling-oriented new solution.

August 31, 2020 - CommonWealth

Rockaway Beach Bus

Three Key Calls to Action to Improve Racial Equity in Transit Policy

Important changes are necessary to promote racial equity in transit policy, governance, and agency recruitment, according to Darnell Grisby, director of policy development at the American Public Transit Association.

July 23, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Washington Monuments

New for 2019: A Congressional Caucus for Public Transit

A new congressional caucus has been formed under the assumption that federal transportation policy is regressive and discriminatory.

October 16, 2019 - WBZ News Radio

Elaine Chao

Kentucky Gets 25% of the Transportation Secretary's Time

When it comes to grants, one state has the attention of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao above all others.

October 10, 2019 - Politico

Highway Living

New Priorities, Not More Money, Need to Reform Federal Transportation Policy

Transportation for America, one of the leading advocacy organizations for multi-modal funding at the federal level, has announced a drastic change to its agenda.

October 4, 2019 - Transportation for America

Self-Driving Cars

Planning Ahead for an Autonomous Vehicle Future

A new guide says cities need to plan now for AVs so they are not caught off guard when the technology finally arrives.

September 25, 2019 - Wired

Traffic in Manhattan New York

Cars Still Rule the Road. Is Change Possible?

The dominant narrative is that streets are for cars and infrastructure that accommodates driving is necessary for cities to grow. But cities ended up this way because of decisions that make other modes secondary.

September 25, 2019 - The Outline

Scooter Share

Scooter Companies Convene Advisory Groups to Promote Safety

Both Bird and Lime have organized boards of experts to conduct research and advise the companies as their micromobility ventures grow.

July 25, 2019 - CityLab

D.C. Metro Bus

D.C.-Area Residents Want Bus Lanes and Free Transfers, Survey Shows

New survey findings identify transit priorities among residents in D.C. and surrounding areas, and indicate broad support for public investments.

July 24, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Scooters Portland

Research Shows Little Consistency in ‘Rules of the Road’ for Micromobility Devices

A new study indicates that cities across the country are defining and regulating personal transportation devices in very different ways.

June 26, 2019 - Mineta Transportation Institute

Freeway Interchange

A Call for a New Approach to Federal Transportation Policy

According to this blog post, federal transportation policies are misdirected, inconsistent, and destructive. A comprehensive overhaul of federal transportation policy is necessary.

May 29, 2019 - Transportation for America

Commute

Opinion: Even the Green New Deal Repeats the Same Old Sprawling Mistakes

With infrastructure and housing prices in the national discussion more than ever before, the federal government still doesn't seem ready to really change its ways.

March 26, 2019 - Route Fifty

Electric Scooter Share

Asking for Forgiveness

In the age of new technology, is it better to ask for forgiveness, or beg for permission? Austin Brown and Kelly Fleming of UC Davis explore why companies have taken this approach and how policymakers and business leaders can improve the situation.

March 25, 2019 - Austin Brown

Metrobus

7 Transformational Ideas for D.C. Bus Service

David Alpert and DW Rowlands of Greater Greater Washington share their hopes for a planned review of D.C.'s bus system.

September 11, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Study Details the Traffic Safety Benefits of Public Transit

A new study concludes that not only is transit a safer way to travel, but communities oriented around transit are also safer. As a result, planning approaches that encourage transit also increase traffic safety.

September 4, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Highway Construction

'Rebuilding California': Controversy Over Signs Telling People Their Tax Dollars Are at Work

Caltrans says signs on transportation projects are nothing more than a useful way to show taxpayers that gas tax funds are being put to good use. But not everyone agrees.

August 28, 2018 - KPCC

Complete Street

Defending Multi-Modalism

An efficient and equitable transport system must be diverse to serve diverse travel demands. Planners need better tools to quantify and communicate the benefits of walking, cycling and public transit to sometimes skeptical decision makers.

December 5, 2016 - Todd Litman

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.