Studies & Reports
Streetsblog Basics
Seatbelts and Tickets Alone Won’t Cure America’s Traffic Death Epidemic
Motor vehicle crashes caused 28 percent of all deaths among people 24 and under in the United States in 2006. In 2009, nearly 34,000 people died on America's roads, and that was considered a big improvement over previous years. More and more, it seems, Americans are wondering why our country is so far behind on creating safe transportation systems.
November 17, 2010
Avoiding the Unintended Consequences of Transit-Oriented Development
We see it over and over again in our cities. Migration out of central cities hollows out neighborhoods and leaves the people who remain struggling with the consequences of disinvestment. But when development returns to urban areas, the arrival of new residents can impose burdens on people who never left. Often, as amenities come into an area and crime goes down, property values rise and poorer residents can no longer afford to live there.
October 25, 2010
New Report Takes on ‘Perverse Incentives’ to De-Emphasize Bridge Repair
When Minneapolis' I-35 bridge collapsed in 2007, lawmakers from both parties vowed to focus on shoring up the nation's aging infrastructure. But when the public spotlight faded from the issue of infrastructure repair, Congress showed little appetite for setting aside maintenance aid that did not hold the promise of ribbon-cutting ceremonies or campaign donations.
April 29, 2010
Smart Parking Policy Makes a Difference, Even in Livable Streets Utopias
The evidence keeps mounting that smart parking policy is an essential tool in the fight to curb traffic. A new study of two German neighborhoods indicates that managing the supply of parking can make streets more livable, even in places that already have great infrastructure for transit, walking, and biking. Eliminating mandatory parking minimums, the data shows, plays an essential role in reducing driving.
March 23, 2010
TSTC: Five City Streets Rank as Region’s Most Dangerous for Walking
Streets in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island continue to be among the most dangerous in the region for pedestrians, says a new report from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
January 6, 2010
More People, Less Driving: The Imperative of Curbing Sprawl
Experience with case studies has made it clear to many urban planners and environmentalists that to maximize the benefits of transit investments, and to slow growth in traffic congestion, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and carbon emissions, you have to focus on land use.
September 3, 2009
Report: Cops Can Measure Traffic Violations, If They Try
Lawless driving in New York City is about as ubiquitous as scaffolding, pigeons, and Duane Reade put together. You just can't escape the constant background presence of motorist misbehavior: Ask New Yorkers what concerns them the most, and traffic safety ranks at the top. But if you ask the NYPD to crack down on dangerous and illegal driving, the response is always the same: Cops are out on the street issuing summonses, and traffic deaths are declining, so what's the problem?
August 25, 2009
New Report on Roads Uses Old Assumptions
A new report on the costs of aging roads [PDF] has gotten a lot of attention over the past week, with both Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the Washington Post touting its conclusion on the danger of "deficient roadways."
July 6, 2009
Bikes as Transit: New Study Envisions Possibilities for NYC
The Department of City Planning released a study this weekend about the possibilities for bike-share in New York City, and if you can spare the time to look it over, it's a rewarding read. The best news: The city is thinking about bike-share on a scale that would successfully integrate cycling into the public transit system. The report recommends a phased implementation, starting with a 10,000-bike system and expanding to 49,000 bikes at stations in four boroughs.
April 22, 2009
TA Urges DOT to Expand Safe Streets for Seniors
Older pedestrians are probably the city's most vulnerable street users, much more likely to die in traffic collisions than younger New Yorkers. It's a public health concern that extends beyond fatality statistics: Fear of the street keeps seniors cooped up inside, constricting their independence and contributing to higher rates of depression.
March 13, 2009