Infrastructure

Study Finds Traffic Forecasts Consistently Overestimating Congestion
Researchers from Denmark and Norway have looked at the accuracy of traffic forecasts for road projects. Their conclusion is that the forecasts systematically overestimate traffic growth rates and the resulting congestion effects.
Republican Co-Sponsors Rep. Earl Blumenauer's 15-cent Gas Tax Bill
The good news is that a House Republican now supports raising the gas tax to balance the ailing Highway Trust Fund. The bad news is that come Jan. 3, Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), a 36-year member, will be a former congressman—he is retiring on Dec. 26
Market in Portland Creates Bicycle Bridge Options
A new project to convert a little-used parking lot in a cloverleaf onramp opens the door to improve an awkward bike bridge landing in Portland, Oregon.
Study Provides Lessons in Bike Lane Politics
Eric Jaffe examines the successful (on the third try) bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver as a case study in pushing a difficult project through to completion.
Does Peak Car Mean the End of Induced Demand?
Aaron Renn provides a dissenting argument on the implications of peak car, namely, "if we’ve really reached peak car, maybe we really can build our way out of congestion after all."
Complete Street Makeover in the Works for 2nd Street in San Francisco
Planners in San Francisco are working on a complete street redo of a key corridor through the SoMa neighborhood that will connect downtown, Mission Bay, and the Central Waterfront.
Explained: America's Complex System of Oil Transportation
A new analysis by Joseph Kane, Robert Puentes, and Adie Tomer examines America's current infrastructure of transporting oil throughout the country.

A Playful Approach to Activating Spaces along the Los Angeles River
An interview with two of Project 51's co-founders, John Arroyo and Catherine Gudis, on the collective's recent "Play the LA River" card deck, a playable guide which invites participants to discover 56 unique sights along the entire Los Angeles River.
San Jose Enacts 'Pedestrian Safety Zone'—Bans Bikes from Sidewalks
The city of San Jose has responded to concerns of seniors in the community by banning bikes from sidewalks a large swath of downtown near the convention center, City Hall, and San Jose State.
Brazil's Insight on Climate Change Adaption
A new report from the World Resources Institute illustrates how Brazil is preparing its cities to deal with climate change.

35 New Cities Named as 100 Resilient Cities Members
After its 2013 announcement of support for the first 33 of the 100 resilient cities, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced its next round of member cities: 35 cities, including six from the United States.
Designing Permeable Cities for Drought Resilience
Take a kayak trip on the Los Angeles River with KQED science reporter Amy Standen to understand why cities were built on the premise of endless potable water and how we can build cities sustainably in regions that receive low rainfall.
San Francisco Planners Study Extension of Central Subway to Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco is hard at work on a Central Subway project expected to open in 2019 with a terminus in Chinatown, but planners have already been hard at work studying an extension of the subway to Fisherman's Wharf.
Detroit's Latest Power Outage: The Dark Before the Dawn?
Earlier this week a massive power outage struck Detroit. But that type of embarrassment might soon be a thing of the past because Detroit will soon undertake a $200 million upgrade of its electricity grid.

Details on Chicago's First Shared Street
Planners are crafting the details of Chicago's first shared street, where pedestrians will rule.
Bay Bridge Proposal: Turn Old Eastern Span Piers into a Park
Officials are considering a plan to preserve some of the eastern span of the bay Bridge as part of an effort to cut costs on the project—which is now well over its $6.4 billion budget.

Amtrak's Achilles Heel, Infrastructurally Speaking
Aging, obsolete, and deteriorating bridges affect both road and rail. The 104-year-old Portal Bridge, a swing bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey that frequently fails to close properly, tops Amtrak's list for replacement.
BART's Oakland Airport Connector Now in Service
Depending upon which Bay Area newspaper you read, the new 3.2-mile Oakland Airport connector, an elevated, driverless tram that takes eight minutes and costs $6, is either a huge success or a $484 million boondoggle. It began service on November 22.
To Understand New York's Needs, Think Beyond Manhattan
When most people think of New York City, says CUNY planning professor and activist Tom Angotti, they think of Manhattan. This excessive focus on a narrow slice of the greater New York metropolitan area needs to be reconsidered.
The Impact of Metro Freight Trade on Congestion
Although the holidays cause millions more drivers to hit the road, delays in traffic may also stem from the congestion of goods movements by truck, both locally and across the country.
Pagination
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