Virginia
Missouri Legislators Vote to Cut Income Tax, Raise Sales Tax for Transportation
After voting to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of an income tax cut, legislators agreed to allow voters to determine whether to increase the state sales tax by .75% in November for ten years to increase funding for transportation programs.
Safety Program Launched to Combat Distracted Driving in I-95 Work Zones
Some 1,500 workers are building the 95 Express Lanes in Virginia, south of Washington D.C. Meanwhile, most of the drivers commuting the corridor are using their cell phones while they drive.
Mapping the D.C.'s Region's 267 Miles of Proposed Transit
Proposals for light rail, streetcar, and BRT lines spread in every direction from Washington D.C. into nearby climes. Although some are more realistic than others, one blog dares to dream about what the full extent of the proposals would look like.
A Primer on Effective Bike Parking
Two writers share the secrets to Arlington County's multi-modal success—especially with regard to the importance of well-designed bike parking at locations residential and commercial.
DOT's Emergency Actions on Shipping Bakken Crude by Rail Fall Short
In what is being billed as the first emergency order of more to come, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the federal regulator of transporting crude oil by rail, hopes to quell the growing national furor over what some call 'ticking time bombs'.
The Policy Implications of Families in Virginia Choosing to Stay in Cities
Data in Virginia shows that more young families are choosing to stay in urban areas to raise their children. This is causing a rapid increase in school enrollment and fueling the fastest growth Virginia's urban areas have experienced since the 1950s.
Oil Train Derailment, Fire, and Spill Shed Light on Lack of Preparation
The derailment of the CSX oil unit train in downtown Lynchburg, Va. on April 30 and subsequent fire and oil spill into the James River caught Lynchburg, Va. officials off-guard, who were unaware of the oil shipments, let alone how to handle crashes.
Oil Tanker Cars Derail; Fireball Erupts in Downtown Lynchburg, Va.
Fortunately, there were no injuries in the restored, downtown waterfront district in this city of 71,000. Fifteen cars derailed; three exploded into a six-story-high fireball. Oil spilled into the James River, threatening downstream water supplies.
Explaining the National Economy's Real Estate Doldrums
Despite the housing boom in certain markets (such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco), the real estate market is nowhere near the economic driver it once was.
Capital Beltway Peak Toll Tops $11
Use of the 495 Express Lanes, a HOT variable toll, has been fetching a pretty penny this year for commuters looking to escape the notoriously congested Capital Beltway. The ongoing experiment in commute pricing should recede before a tipping point.
First Look at Alexandria’s Ambitious Waterfront Redesign
Following a Waterfront Small Area Plan adopted in January 2012, Alexandria, Virginia got its first look at proposed designs for the redevelopment of its Old Town waterfront this week.
Advocates and Opponents Struggle Over Toll Roads
While tolling will not fill the Highway Trust Fund gap, it can finance improvements for specific interstate highways that would otherwise be funded by a sustainable trust fund, not one approaching insolvency. Why not allow states the option to toll?
Commuter Taxes: An Untapped Revenue Source?
For all those cities that double population during the work day, here's a revenue thought to consider. But why restrict it to in-bound commuters? What about residents who commute-out of the city? Is the commuter tax a legitimate revenue source?
Virginia Expanding its High-Occupancy Toll Lanes
Despite installing many innovative traffic management schemes over the years, the 41 miles of highway between Fredericksburg, Virginia and Washington D.C. are snarled by some of the worst traffic in the country. Can HOT lanes change that?
Boondoggle Alert: U.S. 460 Toll Road Project Suspended in Virginia
Late last week, Virginia state transportation officials shut down contract and permit work on the U.S. 460 expansion project. The project has already spent $300 million of a budgeted $1.4 billion—without even breaking ground.
Light Rail Extension Requires State Support in Virginia Beach
In a recent speech, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms announced that Virginia Governor Terry McAullife and Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne have pledged financial support for a $1.3 billion light rail extension.
Record Fine for Coal Company
The largest ever fine for polluting waterways, $27.5 million plus $200 million in clean-up costs was assigned to a coal company. NewsHour co-anchor Gwen Ifill interviews Dina Cappiello of The Associated Press to discuss water pollution from coal.
Questioning Private Investment in HOT Lanes
The 495 Express Lanes opened in Virginia in November 2012 and have yet to meet ridership projections. That might not be a problem when built by the public sector, but the road is a $1.4 billion investment by the Australian firm Transurban.
Felony Suspected at North Carolina Coal Ash Spill
The Feb. 2 spill of coal ash slurry from a Duke Energy containment pond has taken a new turn with a federal grand jury issuing subpoenas for records from both Duke Energy and the state environmental regulator.
Coal Ash Spill Fouls North Carolina's Dan River
The coal ash spill, 82,000 tons as of Feb. 8 after being detected on Feb. 2, comes from a pond adjacent to a closed, coal-burning Duke Energy power plant. It is said not to pose a threat to drinking water, though the river has turned black and grey.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
