Transportation

Texas Capitol Building

State Legislation Forces Austin to Lift Ban on Lyft and Uber

A new Texas state law that regulates transportation network companies also overrides more restrictive local regulations, like Austin's requirement for fingerprinting drivers. Austin voters supported the tighter regulations at the ballot box last May.

May 30, 2017 - The Texas Tribune

Los Angeles Metro

Successful Ballot Measures Spell Doom for Transit Funding in Trump's 2018 Budget

President Trump points to the passage of multi-billion ballot measures last November as proof that federal funding isn't needed to fund transit, justifying elimination of a major grants program. The CEOs of two large transit agencies fight back.

May 30, 2017 - The Source

Capitol Hill

Funds Directed to Transit Projects in 2017 Budget May Not Be Allocated

Funding for Caltrain electrification, which Transportation Secretary Chao approved May 22, is one of 21 transit projects receiving funding in the omnibus spending bill that may be contingent on approval from the Trump Administration.

May 30, 2017 - The Washington Post

Cancun gas station

Gas Taxes Advance in New Mexico and Wisconsin in May

The Democratic-controlled New Mexico legislature passed a 5-cents per gallon fuel tax increase and the Republican-controlled Assembly in Wisconsin backed a plan to apply sales tax to fuel, but their Republican governors oppose any tax hikes.

May 29, 2017 - Wisconsin State Journal

Roanoke

Roanoke Launches a New Bikeshare System

Bikeshare isn't just for the country's largest cities anymore.

May 28, 2017 - The Roanoke Times

Norway Biker

Study: Ignorance of the Law Leads to Road Rage Toward Cyclists

A new study out of the U.K. will vindicate the suspicion of many cyclists: drivers often misdirect their anger at cyclists who are only following the rules of the road.

May 28, 2017 - BikeBiz

Berlin Subway

U2 Concert Costs Transit Agency $61K

The Bay Area agency had to extend service into the night hours when the show ran overtime.

May 26, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Interstate Highway

L.A. Metro Board Removes Support for Controversial 710 Freeway Tunnel Plan

The saga of the 710 Freeway will continue, as it has for decades. Now, however, a proposal to build a 6.3-mile tunnel from El Sereno to Pasadena, has lost key support from the regional transportation agency.

May 26, 2017 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Kids Biking

Friday Fun: Toddlers Take to the Race Track

The hot new wheels of choice for little ones to learn how to ride bikes are called balance bikes. "Welcome to the Tour de France of Toddler Racing," says the Wall Street Journal.

May 26, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Second Avenue Subway

Who Killed the Federal Study of Transit Costs?

The Government Accountability Office was set to investigate why U.S. transit capital investments are so expensive, especially in contrast to comparable European projects, but that study will not leave the station.

May 25, 2017 - Vox

Botts' Dots

California Invented 'Botts' Dots' Raised Pavement Markers—Now it's Phasing Them Out

A staple of the California driving experience will soon be a thing of the past.

May 25, 2017 - The Mercury News

Metro Rapid Bus

Los Angeles Signal Priority System Should Be a Model for U.S. Transit Systems

Signal priority is a way to create faster, more regular bus service by adjusting length of stoplights for buses.

May 25, 2017 - Active Transportation Alliance

Gasoline

Steep Climb to Raising Louisiana's Gas Tax

A bill to hike Louisiana's gas tax by 17 cents per gallon has advanced, but the state has a "California problem": Tax increases must pass by a two-thirds majority.

May 25, 2017 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

Biek Lane

Flushing Drivers Out of the Bike Lane in Omaha

Activists use plungers to unclog streets for bikers, as tide of active transit flows unimpeded across America's planes.

May 24, 2017 - Omaha World Herald

Elon Musk Gigafactory

A Scathing Critique of Elon Musk's Big Tunneling Idea

Not all ideas are worth attention. What does the fact that ideas like Elon Musk's The Boring Company get so much attention say about the quality of civic discourse, or the potential for planning to improve the built environment?

May 24, 2017 - The Baffler

School Chlidren

The Walking Classroom Benefits Body and Mind

If you needed another reason to provide safe routes for walking around schools, see the results of the Walking Classroom—on display in New Jersey and around the country.

May 23, 2017 - NorthJersey.com

Purple Line Extension

Court Ruling Could Be a Final Setback for Maryland Purple Line Extension

A recent ruling by a U.S. district court could be a deathblow for the 16-mile Purple Line extension into Maryland, as well as for transit planning in general.

May 23, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Commuter Rail

A Change of Heart by Secretary Chao on California's Oldest Commuter Rail Line

A week ago, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao indicated she would not sign-off on the $647 million federal grant for the $2 billion Caltrain electrification project. On Monday, she changed her mind.

May 23, 2017 - The Mercury News

Empty Parking Lot

As a Driverless Future Dawns, Should We Still Build Parking?

No one is really sure how many parking spots the United States contains, but estimates stretch up to 2 billion.

May 23, 2017 - Doggerel

Honda Clarity

Northeast is Next Market for Fuel Cell Vehicles

The only state where fuel cell electric vehicles can be leased is California where 30 hydrogen refueling stations exist now, with 100 planned to be in operation by 2020. Almost no public refueling stations exist elsewhere, but that's about to change.

May 22, 2017 - The New York Times

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