When the director of transportation for the state of Iowa admits that the highway system is overbuilt, Charles Marohn asks the question: which of the 49 remaining DOT heads will also speak honestly about their systems?
Charles Marohn provides a dispatch from a recent Urban Land Institute event in Iowa, where he saw Paul Trombino, the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation, say something remarkable for a person in his position. "And so the reality is, the system is going to shrink," said Trombino.
Marohn's take on that sentence: "While I've had a couple say this in private, talk of contraction is not something I've heard any other DOT director say in public. This is a big deal."
Marohn provides the context provided by more of Trombino's statements and extends the challenge inherent in Trombino's acknowledgement, writing: "Most DOT directors understand that we've overbuilt, that there will never be the money to maintain everything they are asked to maintain. (I would question the ones who don't, their adherence to dogmatic politics or their competence.) I've not heard another DOT chief admit this problem publicly. They need to."
FULL STORY: IOWA DOT CHIEF: THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO SHRINK
Peak Car? Check Your Data
There is evidence that automobile travel is peaking while demand for non-auto modes is growing, but double-check your data sources to be sure.
Generation Z Is Driving Less, But History Indicates It Won’t Last
Think Generation Z will usher in the long-awaited post-car future of transit advocates’ dreams? Think again (about the example set by the Millennials).
Austin Leaders Denounce 20-Lane Freeway Project
TxDOT is pushing ahead with plans for a massive freeway expansion project through downtown Austin despite opposition from virtually all local leaders.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service