Transportation

Five-Year Transportation Bill Has a Ways to Go
House and Senate versions of the five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill are on different tracks, headed in different directions.

A Game-Changing Bike and Pedestrian Bridge Opens in Portland
A bridge in the works since the 1970s marks significant progress for active transportation in Portland, Oregon.

How Much Land Is Lost to Wide Streets?
New research assesses the land value of street space in 20 of the largest counties in the United States.

The Pretext Problem: The Pitfalls of Planning While Bargaining
Lots of planning is discretionary. Cities and developers negotiate what builders will do for cities in exchange for the right to build, creating an incentive for bad rules, eroding the public's faith in zoning, and enabling political corruption.

Opinion: Transit Needs to Be Better, Not Cheaper
With many U.S. transit agencies facing severe gaps in service and budget shortfalls, some advocates argue that improved service matters more than free fares.

TxDOT Promises to Reverse Some of the Damage Caused by Urban Freeways in Dallas
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in the early stages of planning for two projects that could leverage plans to rebuild two freeways in the city with plan to reconnect the neighborhoods they severed.

The Next Mayor Will Have to Decide in New York's Post-Pandemic Parking Conflicts
The ongoing political controversy about the priorities of the public realm in New York City is likely to last into the next mayoral administration.

Latest Traffic Safety Data Adds Grim Death Count to an Already Tragic Year
The public health epidemic created by dangerous roads, dangerous cars, and dangerous drivers was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

L.A. Metro Denounces—but Doesn't Scrap—710 Freeway Expansion Plan
The agency's board members spoke out forcefully against air pollution and displacement, but stopped short of completely rejecting the project, looking instead to cleaner vehicles and regulations that mitigate community concerns.

Proposed Rail Project Would Bring Trains from L.A. to Coachella Valley
Riverside County's transportation commission is moving forward with a proposal to bring passenger rail from Los Angeles to Indio.

San Diego Could Expand Parking Reforms to Non-Residential Land Uses
A proposed code amendment would expand parking reforms implemented by San Diego in 2019.

Taking Stock and Looking Forward: What's Next for Public Transit?
A group of 12 leading transit experts debriefed on the consequences of the pandemic for public transit, and proposed a future that centers public transit as a tool for economic recovery and righting the past wrongs of the planning profession.

Can L.A. Metro Fund its Fareless Transit Pilot?
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors has approved a program that would eliminate fares for students and low-income riders, but the program's future rests on finding sustainable funding sources.

Outdoor Dining Debate Heats Up as New York City Opens Up
A study, a debate, and an awards show—all included in the wild west politics of parking in the Big Apple.

For Transportation Justice, Auto Safety Must Protect People Outside the Car
Light trucks are killing more pedestrians than ever while keeping their drivers and passengers safer. Is it time to reframe safety regulations?

Human Movement, Captured by a 'Very Clear' Mathematical Law
The "universal visitation law of human mobility" documented in a newly published study in Nature offers predictive power for urban mobility in addition to empirical validation of Central Place Theory.

American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners
Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.

Portland Installs 'Alternative Pedestrian Walkway'
The walkway is simpler and faster to build than a sidewalk, letting the city quickly and cost-effectively improve pedestrian safety on important walking corridors.

Parking Minimums on the Chopping Block in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia has decided to study the idea of removing parking minimums to lower the cost of housing and make more efficient use of land in the city.

San Diego High-Speed Rail Plan Counts on Future Density
Despite slowing population growth statewide, officials believe the region will "grow into" the new rail system if cities promote dense development around transit stations.
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