Transportation Policy
Streetsblog Basics
The Missed Opportunity for an Urban Stimulus: Mayors “Were Ignored”
Two-thirds of America's population, and more than three-quarters of its economic productivity, come from major cities. So why did the Obama administration's economic stimulus law end up giving metropolitan areas the short end of the stick?
December 1, 2009
Think Roads Pay for Themselves? Think Again
The myth that U.S. roads "pay for themselves" thanks to user fees is a subject that's likely familiar to many Streetsblog readers -- but just how much of the nation's highway funding is provided by charging drivers?
November 24, 2009
Streetsblog Capitol Hill Q&A: Four Questions For Rob Puentes
America's transportation and infrastructure policies affect literally everyone who moves from place to place in the country, but often they are under-discussed and over-simplified by the mainstream media. To help broaden the debate, Streetsblog Capitol Hill is kicking off a new Q&A series called "The Four Questions."
November 19, 2009
Bipartisan Support Builds for Six-Month Extension of Current Transpo Law
The senior Republicans on three of the Senate's four infrastructure-centric committees signed a bipartisan letter on Tuesday asking the leaders of Congress' upper chamber to call up a six-month extension of the 2005 transportation law.
November 18, 2009
Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest
Halfway through this afternoon's rally in support of a new federal transportation bill, there came an accidental but telling moment. A group of tourists, attracted by the hundreds of orange flags planted in the National Mall for the rally, walked through the event and whispered questions to attendees about its purpose. Once their curiosity was sated, the group lost interest and ambled away.
October 28, 2009
How the $8.7 Billion Transportation Contracting Gap Is Hitting Your State
Earlier this month, Streetsblog Capitol Hill reported on the fallout from Congress' failure to prevent an $8.7 billion "rescission" -- fancy legislative talk for the cancellation of funds -- from taking effect on September 30. Though media coverage focused largely on the rescission's impact on road projects, the lost money has hit clean transportation hard.
October 20, 2009
Transport Debate Still Stalled As Oberstar Decries “Lack of Political Will”
Halfway through the extra month that Congress gave itself to resolve a long-simmering dispute over funding the nation's transportation system, Democratic leaders remain deadlocked over whether -- and how long -- to wait before debating a broad reform of federal infrastructure policy.
October 16, 2009
Congress’ Transport Impasse Hits States — and Not Just Their Road Funds
When lawmakers failed on Wednesday to reach a deal on avoiding the cancellation of $8.7 billion in transportation spending authority, the consequences of Congress' inaction weren't immediately palpable to most voters -- but the loss is sinking in on the local level.
October 5, 2009
Senate Climate Bill Released With Much Fanfare, Little Focus on Transport
Includes Provision That Would Allow NYC Hybrid Taxi Fleet
September 30, 2009
LaHood’s Distracted Driving Summit: Follow It Live
If you've got some free time at your desk over the next couple of days, drop in on the U.S. DOT distracted driving summit.
September 30, 2009