Transit
Massachusetts’ Smart Plan to Promote Housing That Works for Young People
Eschewing the faddish steps local governments sometimes take to retain and attract young professionals, Massachusetts has cut to the chase with a common-sense plan. Governor Deval Patrick is catalyzing walkable residential development as an official state policy in hopes of retaining young people by appealing to their needs and preferences.
November 14, 2012
As Baby Boomers Age, They Take Their Foot Off the Gas
They may be remembered as the driving-est generation. Baby Boomers, who came of age in the heyday of suburbia, have always driven more than any other generation. At the height of their driving years, boomers averaged 51 miles per day. They continue to drive 17 percent more than all other age groups, according to a recent report from AARP.
November 13, 2012
Communities Vote to Tax Themselves to Support Transit
In addition to some of the high-profile measures that we covered already, Election Day brought many successes on some smaller ballot initiatives. According to the Center For Transportation Excellence, pro-transit campaigns had an 80 percent success rate this year at the ballot box, with more ballot measures coming up for a vote than any previous year.
November 9, 2012
Suburban Voters Wisely Reject Proposals to Withdraw from Regional Transit
Job markets are regional. So in order to serve a metropolitan region's workers and by extension the local economy, transit must also be regional, seamlessly serving both central cities and their suburbs, whose share of employment has grown. Almost everyone recognizes that.
November 8, 2012
Where to Get Your 2012 Transportation Ballot Results
It's Election Day -- finally! The top of the ticket has sucked most of the oxygen out of the room, but don't forget that there are 19 transportation-related measures on ballots across the country. So far this year, pro-transit measures have an 86 percent success rate at the ballot, and there are more transportation amendments being voted on this year than any other in recent memory. Here's Streetsblog's overview of the big ones.
November 6, 2012
Weathering the Next 108-Year Storm
Deron Lovaas is the Federal Transportation Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. This article is cross-posted from his blog on Switchboard.
November 2, 2012
Who Should Foot the Bill for Sandy’s Damage to Tracks and Train Tunnels?
As the East Coast surveys the damage from Hurricane Sandy, cities are still struggling to get their transit systems back up and running.
October 30, 2012
Not a Word About Transit in Obama Jobs Plan
President Obama released a blueprint for his second term yesterday, a 20-page booklet focused on job creation [PDF]. Let's be clear: This came from his campaign machine, not the White House.
October 24, 2012
Calling on Fans of Transit: Get in the Game
Rob Perks is the transportation advocacy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
October 19, 2012
Five Factors That Will Determine Whether TIFIA Benefits Transit
Phineas Baxandall is a senior analyst at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
October 16, 2012