DC Streetsblog
Streetsblog LA
As MAP-21 Takes Effect, Road Builders Vie for TIFIA Funds
It's October, the start of the federal government's fiscal year 2013, and the start of the MAP-21 transportation law. The law was signed July 6 but got a three-month grace period to let U.S. DOT set guidance and give states a little time to get ready for the new requirements -- things like setting up grant programs to distribute bike/ped funding to local communities (though they can also just squander that money).
October 2, 2012
Should Doctors Play a Role in Determining Who’s Fit to Drive?
When to take grandma's keys away: In the United States, this question treated is largely treated as a family matter.
October 1, 2012
Which Counties Have the Biggest Oil Addiction Problem? We Still Don’t Know.
Have you ever thought to yourself, “What I really need is a map showing what U.S. counties use the most gasoline, so that I can target my sustainability efforts there?” Funny, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club were thinking the same thing. What they came up with gets us partway there.
October 1, 2012
The Economist: Don’t Expect Driving Rates to Rise Again
This whole “peak car” may be more than just a sustainability nut’s fantasy. We’ve seen time after time that young people are souring on car culture and finding other ways to get around and connect with friends. We know that the suburban sprawl that fueled the rise of the automobile is in decline. And now The Economist – no treehugging lefty publication – is listing off reason after reason why the trend of declining driving -- "peak car," they call it -- is here to stay.
September 27, 2012
Reminder: Amtrak Subsidies Pale in Comparison to Highway Subsidies
Mica went after subsidies in this one, and he clearly thinks this is a winning issue. After all, Amtrak has gotten nearly $1 billion a year in federal funds over its 41-year existence. The per-ticket subsidy over the past five years has averaged nearly $51. Mica compared that to other forms of transportation: Using 2008 data, he showed that the average per-ticket subsidy to aviation was $4.28, for mass transit was 95 cents, and for intercity commercial bus service 10 cents.
September 24, 2012
“We’d Rather Work on Our Fixies”: Cars Fade Into the Background
What is it with kids today? They just don't seem to be that interested in driving.
September 20, 2012
USA Today: Homebuilders Pass On Garages, Build Front Porches
USA Today reported today that more and more homes are being built without garages or carports. That stands to reason, as developers are (belatedly) building what the market wants: denser housing in walkable urban centers near transit. Copious parking and driveway curb cuts simply don't mesh with that model.
September 19, 2012
Study: 10% More Smart Growth = 20% Less Driving
A professor at San Francisco State University recently developed an econometric model to study how smart growth affects travel behavior. His finding: quite a bit.
September 18, 2012
Here’s Your Chance to Influence MAP-21’s Implementation
In July, Congress handed U.S. DOT a transportation bill with a lot of holes in it, especially relating to performance measures. We’ve reported on some of the more significant holes, and suggested some ideas on how to fill them. But there’s much more to say – and U.S. DOT has opened a web-based dialogue to solicit opinions on how they should design performance measures for the new bill. There is also a page devoted to soliciting stakeholder input on how to design the new national freight policy.
September 18, 2012