Today’s Headlines
U.S. DOT Crowdsources Infrastructure Fails With #ShowUsYourInfraWear Social Media Campaign Thomas Friedman’s Debate Question for the GOP: Would You Raise the Gas Tax Like Reagan Did? (NYT) Amtrak Lawsuit Cap Won’t Be Raised Until Transpo Bill Passes (The Hill) Still Waiting for Transpo Rules Ordered By MAP-21 in 2012? That’s Par for the Course (The … Continued
August 5, 2015
The Key Human Factors That Can Lead Any City to Transform Its Streets
How did Portland get to be a national model for sustainable transportation and walkable development? Yes, Mayor Neil Goldschmidt stopped the Mount Hood Freeway from being built in 1974 and began negotiations that eventually led to the implementation of the urban growth boundary. But Goldschmidt didn’t do it alone.
August 4, 2015
Transit Union Slams DRIVE Act
Yesterday, the Senate passed both a three-month transportation extension and a six-year reauthorization bill (albeit with three years of funding), which the Senate hopes to workshop with the House in the fall. The bill’s name itself -- the DRIVE Act -- raised the hackles of transit advocates. Looking deeper, it seems those advocates have more to worry about than just semantics.
July 31, 2015
With New Rule, Feds Forget Their Own Best Ideas on Street Design
Antiquated, car-oriented road design guidance is losing its vise grip on our cities. Other manuals are challenging the dominance of the "design bible" issued by AASHTO, the coalition of state DOTs. But the federal government might be missing an important opportunity to enshrine street safety for all modes.
July 30, 2015
Today’s Headlines
Senate Takes Up House’s 3-Month Patch (WaPo, Roll Call) Why Bankers Are Revolting Against Senate Bill (KGOU) Obama Will Sign Extension, McConnell Still Pushing to Finish Senate Bill Before Recess (The Hill) Boehner: We’ll Pass a Multi-Year Bill This Fall But Senate Bill Is “Piece of Sh*t” (The Hill, Politico) Brookings: Suburban White Flight Is a Thing of the … Continued
July 30, 2015
Congress Set to Pass Yet Another Short-Term Transpo Funding Patch
The 35th transportation extension in the last six years is about to pass. The House had passed a five-month extension, the Senate insisted on moving forward with its six-year bill, then the House proposed a three-month extension, and somehow that sounded great to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
July 29, 2015
Today’s Headlines
After Rejecting Five-Month Transpo Extension, Senate Takes Up Three-Month Bill (Roll Call) Strategic Petroleum Reserve Safe, Ex-Im Bank Dead — For Now (Forbes, Examiner) AP Summarizes Senate Bill, as If It Matters Anymore Philly to Hold a One-Day Lottery for SEPTA Passes for Pope’s Visit (AP) FDOT May Fund Bus, Light Rail Service on New Tampa Area HOT Lanes … Continued
July 29, 2015
Senate Transpo Bill Sinks Under the Weight of Its Own Chicanery
Last night, the Senate voted to proceed with the consideration of the transportation bill Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democrat Barbara Boxer had worked out. It was just a day after the body had voted to block progress, objecting that they hadn’t had time to even look at the bill.
July 23, 2015
Today’s Headlines
A Day After Blocking It, Senate Moves to Proceed With Six-Year Transpo Bill (The Hill) Senate Energy Chair Objects to Selling Strategic Oil to Fund Transpo (Alaska Public Media) Other Senators, Including Harry Reid, Uncomfortable With Other Pay-Fors (The Hill, HuffPo) ProPublica and Politico on Congress’ Inability to Raise the Gas Tax and Why It’s So Embarrassing … Continued
July 23, 2015
Major MARTA Expansion Could Transform the Atlanta Region
Transit planners in the Atlanta area are getting serious about the largest expansion in MARTA's history. MARTA officials have proposed new, high-capacity service into North Fulton County and east into DeKalb County that could link important job centers by rail for the first time. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says it could “change the face of Atlanta."
July 22, 2015