Around the Block
Transit Advocates Launch Call to Action Against Disastrous Trump Budget
Dozens of transit projects across the nation -- as well as walking and biking projects that count on funds from the TIGER program -- are under threat. Transportation for America is urging people to contact their representatives and oppose the cuts.
March 22, 2017
Soon DC Employers May Pay People to Not Drive to Work
With a "parking cash out" policy, employers who provide employees with parking benefits also give the equivalent value in cash to workers who don't car commute. Now a version of that idea has been introduced in the DC Council by members Charles Allen, Mary Cheh, and Brianne Nadeau.
March 21, 2017
Why Is Transit Ridership Falling?
Transit ridership took a turn for the worse in 2016. In all but a handful of cities, fewer people rode trains and buses, and it's not just a one-year blip, either. In many American cities, the drop in transit ridership is an established trend. The big question is why.
March 20, 2017
Think of Trump’s Budget as an Attack on Cities
Yesterday Donald Trump released a budget outline that calls for severe cuts to transit, and the reaction was swift and scathing. The National Association of City Transportation Officials called it "a disaster" for cities. Transportation for America said it was a "slap in the face" for local communities that have raised funds to expand transit.
March 17, 2017
Trump’s Budget Takes an Axe to Transit
The Trump administration has released its budget blueprint, and it's a bloodbath for everything that's not defense spending. In keeping with the budget's general hostility to cities, transit would be hit especially hard.
March 16, 2017
If You Want to Know Trump’s Infrastructure Priorities, Focus on His Budget
Donald Trump's big infrastructure plan is still more of a rumor than an actual plan, leading to widespread speculation about his transportation priorities. But we don't have to wait for major new legislation to get a clear sense of what the White House thinks is important.
March 15, 2017
Reimagining Miami’s Waterfront Speedway as a Street for People
Miami's Biscayne Boulevard is eight roaring lanes of traffic cutting off downtown from the waterfront. But maybe not for long. In what could be a transformative project, the city is looking to convert this surface speedway into a walkable boulevard.
March 14, 2017
Columbus May Offer Free Transit Passes to All Downtown Workers
For the last year and a half, Columbus's Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District has been piloting a free transit pass program for 844 downtown workers. The share of workers in the program who commute via transit increased from 6 percent to 12 percent, and now it might be expanded to all 40,000 workers downtown.
March 13, 2017
As Fewer Kids Attend Neighborhood Schools, Transportation Challenges Intensify
The more kids get driven to school instead of walking, the more chaotic the drop-offs and pick-ups become. Greater Greater Washington's Matthew Kohler notes that the rise of school choice policies adds a whole new wrinkle, as students shift from neighborhood schools within walking distance to schools farther away.
March 10, 2017
The Big Beneficiaries of Rhode Island’s Plan to Cut Car Taxes Would Be Rich People
The "regressive" label often gets trotted out by proponents of cheap motoring, whether they're opposing a gas tax, tolls, or car fees. The problem with this argument is that many poor people don't own cars and are harmed by a transportation system that prioritizes driving instead of transit.
March 9, 2017