A Congressional subcommittee heard testimony from rural transportation officials, transit providers, and lawmakers.
At a House subcommittee meeting on March 21, rural transportation officials and transit operators explained their unique challenges to Congress.
As Dan Zukowski explains in Smart Cities Dive, bus operators expressed concern about road conditions, safety, and the shift to electric vehicles that feels out of reach for some smaller communities that lack adequate infrastructure for electric vehicle charging or funding for electric bus purchases.
Lawmakers from Arkansas and Missouri, among others, introduced a resolution to strike down a new FHWA rule that calls for emissions cuts, saying that the technology for some rural services, like motorcoaches, can’t effectively serve rural areas yet and that rural grids can’t yet handle new demand for electricity.
FULL STORY: ‘Rural states have unique needs’: Transportation providers spotlight challenges at House hearing
Public Transit Isn't Just for Big Cities
Funding cuts and uneven investment in rural areas have left millions of Americans trapped without adequate transportation.
The Importance of Rural Transit
On Transit Equity Day, reminding policymakers that rural communities need access to transit too.
UCLA Will Build California’s First EV Charging Roadway
The ¾-mile segment will allow electric shuttles and buses to charge while driving.
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.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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.
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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