Streetsblog.net
Toll Roads Increasingly Put Taxpayers at Risk
Public-private partnerships, or P3s, are hailed these days as a way to deliver public services or infrastructure in a time of fiscal scarcity. But a P3 can still end up being very costly for taxpayers. Aaron Renn at the Urbanophile points out that roads, in particular, are being built with P3s structured to shift costs to the public in ways that can be difficult to discern.
November 25, 2013
The “Gentrification Paradox”
Bill Lindeke at Twin City Sidewalks calls it the "gentrification paradox": when urbanites oppose bike lanes, streetcars, and other improvements to their neighborhoods out of fear that current residents will eventually be priced out.
November 22, 2013
Why Free Black Friday Parking Is a Bad Idea
It can be hard for downtown retailers to compete with big box stores in the burbs. That’s why a lot of cities like to offer free street parking on “black Friday.”
November 21, 2013
Who Would Benefit From Eliminating the Federal Gas Tax?
We wrote recently on Streetsblog Capitol Hill about a proposal by Republican members of Congress to eliminate the federal gas tax and turn transportation funding entirely over to the states. This proposal — “devolution,” it’s called — has been a conservative dream for decades.
November 20, 2013
Professional Rail Critics Hired to Weigh In on North Carolina Project
There is a certain class of “transportation expert” that does just one thing: poo-poos rail projects. The Reason Foundation in particular has found a niche issuing easily discredited doomsday reports on local rail.
November 19, 2013
Good Urban Design Isn’t a Matter of “Us” vs. “Them”
It can be frustrating to see planning and transportation reforms debated not on their merits, but through the lens of one group that feels its interests are threatened. Discussion of policies ranging from regional land use planning to local zoning laws often devolves into an "us" vs. "them" debate.
November 18, 2013
Is Charlotte the Least Walkable City in America?
Walk Score just released its annual list of the nation's most walkable cities, and the top of the list generally looks like what you'd expect. New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia took the top four spots, though our friends at Transit Miami did take strong exception to their hometown rating right up there in fifth place.
November 15, 2013
Leaked: Washington State’s $12 Billion Highway Spending Plan
Surprise! Transit advocates in Seattle recently found out that Washington state lawmakers have been formulating an enormous $12 billion highway spending package in secret.
November 13, 2013
The Remarkable Success of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail
One of the unsung leaders in bike infrastructure in the United States is the unassuming Midwestern city of Indianapolis. The city's "Cultural Trail," an eight-mile biking and walking path through the heart of the city, has gained national attention for its thoughtful design and careful integration with the city fabric.
November 12, 2013
Sesame Street and Children’s Perception of City Life
I remember watching Sesame Street when I was a kid and noticing something different about it. There were scenes that took place entirely on the steps of a brownstone, neighbors running into each other on their way out the door. I didn't fully understand it, but it was intriguing and memorable. There was something about the setting that I liked.
November 11, 2013