Transportation

State Gas Tax Outlook Grim - Or Is It?

Two articles from non-profit organizations - a think tank and an advocacy group, seemingly arrive at the same conclusion: the future of the state gas tax is grim due to lack of political will to raise it. However, some states are bucking the trend.

February 6, 2013 - Stateline

Is a New Approach Needed for Getting Kids to School?

Charles Marohn derides the conflicted approach to creating "Safe Routes to Schools" in the United States. With new data linking transport to school to educational outcomes, is it time to rethink the federal government's popular program?

February 6, 2013 - Strong Towns

Will New Jersey Retire its Convoluted Left Turn Lanes?

Matt Flegenheimer reports that a bill making its way through the State Senate could ban the jughandle - New Jersey's "signature driving quirk."

February 6, 2013 - The New York Times

D.C. Has the Country's Worst Traffic, But is That Such a Bad Thing?

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is out with its annual Urban Mobility Report. You'll probably hear a lot in the next day about how awful your city's traffic is. But you likely won't hear much about why that might not be so bad.

February 5, 2013 - Slate

Minnesota Gov. Unveils Plan to Fast Track Transit Funding

In a budget unveiled last month, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a .25 percent sales tax increase to fund an expansion of the Twin Cities metro area's public transit systems. The proposal has garnered enthusiastic support.

February 5, 2013 - The Minn Post

L.A.'s Rail Revolution Celebrates 20 Years

Dave Sotero reflects on the "mammoth undertaking" necessary to build L.A.'s modern subway system. He begins with the completion of the first phase of the Metro Red Line 20 years ago, and ends with a look at its promising future.

February 4, 2013 - The Source (Metro)

President Obama Cabinet Meeting

Florida to Obama: Establish a Department of Cities

Lamenting the lack of a single big, transformative urban idea during President Obama's first term, Richard Florida urges the president to establish a new cabinet-level Department of Cities to build a "lasting urban legacy."

February 4, 2013 - New York Daily News

An Appraisal of Ed Koch's Impact on New York

Former New York City mayor Ed Koch passed away on Friday at the age of 88. For the popular figure who was known for stopping constituents on the street to ask, “How’m I doin’?”, Joseph Berger endeavors to deliver an answer.

February 4, 2013 - The New York Times

Better Traffic Flow Is a Two-Way Street

Cities such as Dallas, Denver, Sacramento and Tampa are reversing course on their one-way streets for a number of reasons; but improving traffic flow likely isn't one of them. Eric Jaffe looks at a recent study that upends conventional wisdom.

February 3, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Friday Funny: The Real Reason for Ray LaHood's Resignation

The crack investigative team at the satirical newspaper The Onion has revealed the real reason for outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's resignation. He's been implicated in the mysterious disappearance of a "beautiful country road."

February 1, 2013 - The Onion

Route for England's New High-Speed Rail Line Unveiled

This week, the UK government announced the controversial route for phase 2 of "the first major railway line north of London since Victorian times." The line, dubbed HS2, will halve journey times between northern cities and to the capital.

February 1, 2013 - The Guardian

CA HSR Litigation: One Down, Two to Go

The California High Speed Rail Authority settled its CEQA lawsuit with the City of Chowchilla, the first of three that need to be dealt with in the Merced to Fresno section in the Central Valley where construction of the project will initially begin

February 1, 2013 - The Fresno Bee

Vote for America's Worst Intersection

Our friends at Streetsblog are hunting for the worst intersection in America. Help them decide from among a host of qualified entries.

February 1, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Villaraigosa's Time?

With Ray LaHood stepping down as Transportation Secretary, is it Antonio Villaraigosa's time? The Los Angeles mayor is termed-out in June and Obama needs a Latino in the Cabinet. And can he move the sustainable communities ball forward for Obama?

January 31, 2013 - California Planning & Development Reort

Eco-Friendly Vehicles Lose Their Congestion Pricing Exemption in London

Scores of low emission and hybrid vehicles will no longer be exempt from London's spectacularly successful congestion pricing scheme because their growing popularity has increased pollution and traffic in the capital, reports the Daily Mail.

January 31, 2013 - Daily Mail

Yes You Can (Get Groceries Without A Car)

Shopping for bulky items can be one of the challenges of living car free. Here are three of the best ways I've found for dealing with the problem.

January 30, 2013 - Michael Lewyn

Parsing LaHood's Legacy

In the wake of yesterday's surprisingly unsurprising announcement that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is stepping down, several reporters who focus on transportation issues have taken stock of his tenure.

January 30, 2013 - Transportation Nation

San Francisco Bets Big on Bikes

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) would like to spend $200 million on improving the city's bike infrastructure over the next 5 years. How many miles of green paint can you get with all that green?

January 30, 2013 - The San Francisco Examiner

To Unleash Dallas's Building Boom, Tear Down a Freeway

Patrick Kennedy proposes an elegant and cost-effective way to deal with Dallas's aging elevated freeway and the city's "massive pent-up demand for walkable urban housing" - tear the sucker down.

January 30, 2013 - D Magazine

Northbound Amtrak

Amtrak Gives Ultimatum to States

States with Amtrak routes less than 750 miles (excludes lines within Northeast Corridor) will need to subsidize the budget shortfalls - the difference between fares and operating costs, or lose the route. States may cut some lines to prop-up others.

January 30, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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