Around the Block
Is Portland Losing Its Resolve Against Highway Expansions?
In the 1970s, some American cities revolted against highway expansion and kept the worst excesses of the interstate construction spree in check. Those cities tend to be the most walkable and transit-oriented places in the nation today. But in Portland that legacy is in jeopardy.
April 5, 2017
Atlanta’s I-85 Collapse — Another “Carmaggedon” That Wasn’t
When a heavily-traveled section of Atlanta's I-85 collapsed in a fire last week, the traffic predictions were dire. But the highway disruption appears to be another case of "carmaggedon" that never materialized -- and that should inform the way we plan our transportation systems.
April 4, 2017
The GOP Case for Cutting Federal Transit Funding Isn’t Principled — It’s Tribalism
The insistence that transit is a local priority while highways are a national concern has become an article of faith in the world of right-wing think tanks. But today highway spending mostly serves the same type of trips that Republicans purportedly believe are inappropriate for federal funding.
April 3, 2017
The Today Show Completely Botched Its Coverage of America’s Pedestrian Safety Crisis
They say you should never let a crisis go to waste. Well, there's a life-threatening crisis happening for people who walk in this country, but our national media is wasting this chance to inform the public how to fix it.
March 31, 2017
Trump Moves to Immediately Gut Transit Expansion and TIGER Funding
Waiting for fiscal year 2018 isn't fast enough for the Trump administration to cut transit funding. The White House wants to slash transit expansion and TIGER grants immediately.
March 30, 2017
Why Do Teenage Girls Lose Interest in Biking?
Jennifer Dill at Portland State University is taking a close look at why girls' attitudes about biking change over time. In a study of 300 Portland-area families, she observed that a gender gap in attitudes toward cycling isn't apparent in younger kids, but when girls reach adolescence, they don't view cycling as positively as boys do.
March 29, 2017
Highway Projects Won’t Save the Rust Belt
Highway mega-projects remain tempting to struggling cities and regions in the Rust Belt. But evidence shows they shift economic activity away from existing business districts and don't generate lasting improvements.
March 28, 2017
Nashville Is Ready to Embrace Transit
Nashville planners have put together a $6 billion transit expansion plan that calls for four light rail lines, three bus rapid transit routes, a commuter rail connection, and more. And it looks like a referendum on raising local taxes to pay for the package would fare well, according to a new poll.
March 27, 2017
Seattle Campaign to #GivePedsTheGreen Would Do Away With “Beg Buttons”
A petition in Seattle is calling on the city to do away with "beg buttons" and automatically give pedestrians a walk signal at every traffic light in its "urban villages" -- areas that are walkable and transit-oriented. While pressing a button may seem like a small imposition, it's not that simple.
March 24, 2017
Portland Advocates Won’t Settle for Business-as-Usual Highway Spending
Advocates in Portland are challenging the region's business-as-usual approach to transportation planning. They're sick of roads getting most of the funding pie, while transit, biking, and walking get crumbs.
March 23, 2017
