Rhode Island

Are State Rebates Necessary for Electric Vehicle Sales?

Campaigners for the Sierra Club's electric vehicle initiative make the case that New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo needs to offer a state rebate of $2,000 to $4,000 to make EVs more attractive to car buyers now that he's phasing out coal power.

February 17, 2016 - Sierra Club Compass

Newport, Rhode Island

Rhode Island's Unique Funding Option to Repair Roads and Bridges Approved

After an eight-hour debate, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved controversial truck-only toll legislation that will make Rhode Island the only state to apply tolls to large trucks but not other motor vehicles.

February 13, 2016 - NBC 10 News

Providence Scraps Streetcar Plans in Favor of an 'Enhanced' Bus Line

Citing the drastically reduced costs of a bus line, the city of Providence is hoping to replace its proposed streetcar line with the Providence Enhanced Bus Circulator. The new proposal requires federal funding to display a similar flexibility.

January 13, 2016 - Providence Journal

Structural Deficiencies on 600 Missouri Bridges Reach 'Critical Condition'

Missouri's inability to pass transportation funding legislation or ballot measures has come home to roost in the growing number of bridges classified in "critical condition"—just one or two steps from being closed, according to MoDOT.

September 8, 2015 - AASHTO Journal

Offshore Wind Ambitions Stall in New Jersey

The Garden State once dreamed of becoming a global leader in offshore wind electricity generation. Now its plans look dead in the water.

September 1, 2015 - The Record

From the Ashes of a Freeway—a New Neighborhood Rising in Providence

A part of the city of Providence once lobotomized by the I-95 freeway is ready to be born anew as LINK, with three projects already in the works and 19 acres of developable land.

August 20, 2015 - The New York Times

Northeast Rail Corridor Woes Extend Far Beyond Hudson River Tunnels

While Amtrak's century-old Hudson River rail tunnels may capture the public's attention, particularly when they are closed, infrastructure problems on the Northeast Corridor also plague the line from Rhode Island to Washington, D.C.

August 1, 2015 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Foundations for First U.S. Offshore Wind Power Towed to Construction Site

Last week the foundations for five wind turbines were towed into place off Block Island, 13 miles east of Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Scheduled to go online in 2016, they will be the first offshore wind turbines in the United States.

July 29, 2015 - The New York Times - Business Day

State Gas Tax Changes Effective July 1: Six Up; One Down

Carl Davis, Research Director of the Institute on Tax and Economic Policy (ITEP) writes where gas taxes used to fund transportation infrastructure increased, if only by decimal points, and about the aberration—the six-cent plunge in California.

July 2, 2015 - Tax Justice Blog

Pop Quiz: What State Has Highest Percentage of Deficient Bridges?

Hint: It's also the smallest by area. And the next two on the "first is worst" list are in the Northeast as well. According to 2014 FHWA data, over 50 percent of this state's bridges are considered deficient, either structurally or functionally.

May 24, 2015 - GoLocalProv

First U.S. Off-Shore Wind Project Breaks Ground

A ceremonial groundbreaking kicked off what will become the country's first off-shore wind project near Block Island in Rhode Island.

April 28, 2015 - Providence Journal

Campaign 2014 Results: Transportation, Energy, Conservation Measures

We've covered a wide variety of ballot measures that appeared on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot. While the media has focused greatly on Congressional and gubernatorial outcomes, we'll look at the results of the state and local measures we've covered here.

November 6, 2014 - T4America Blog

Campaign 2014: Rhode Island Transit Measure

For the first time, Rhode Island voters will be tested on their support for public transit by whether they approve authorizing $35 million for Mass Transit Hub Infrastructure Bonds on Nov. 4. In addition to hubs, statewide bus service is targeted.

October 29, 2014 - Transportation for America

3.3 Million Electric Cars Expected by 2025

Electric cars are expected to play a key role in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the country's transportation system. Recent trends around the country indicate increasing adoption of the technology.

October 27, 2014 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Helping Municipalities Manage 'Lazy' Real Estate Assets

A new tech startup, incubated at Harvard University, assists municipalities in unlocking the potential of their fallow, or "lazy," real estate assets.

August 7, 2014 - New York Times

A Bad Year for State Transportation Funding

Compared to 2013, few states are increasing transportation spending through tax increases. Only New Hampshire and Rhode Island saw limited gas tax increases, though both were accompanied by road or bridge toll eliminations. Missouri could be next.

June 27, 2014 - Governing

Rhode Island's 'Blue State' Policies Criticized

Aaron M. Renn has written a scathing review of the state of affairs in Rhode Island, which he describes as a result of decades of unfettered "blue state" policies.

June 10, 2014 - City Journal

How Much Carbon Will Your State Cut under the EPA's New Rule?

A state-by-state breakdown of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed carbon reduction rule reveals that some states will have to go far beyond the 30 percent goals for the country overall.

June 5, 2014 - Governing

Debating Providence's Streetcar Plans

As Providence, Rhode Island gears up for its second attempt at TIGER funds to help pay for its proposed streetcar line, a local reporter makes a sometimes surprising case against the plan.

May 15, 2014 - GoLocalProv

Report Compares Property Taxes Around the Country

Calling the property tax, "probably the most controversial tax in the United States," the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence have released the "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" for 2013.

May 1, 2014 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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