Congressman Earl Blumenauer

Bay Bridge Toll

Funding Biden's Infrastructure Plan: Should Users or Corporations Pay?

After determining the size and scope of President Biden's infrastructure package, the next biggest challenge is determining how to pay for it. The partisan divide is steep, but Roll Call exposes division within the Democrats' ranks.

May 25, 2021 - Roll Call

Congressional Hearing Addresses Transportation Funding Problem

Transportation for America recaps the first meeting in three years by the House Ways and Means Committee to address transportation funding. Chairman Paul Ryan decried the $63 billion bailout of the Highway Trust Fund but ruled out a gas tax hike.

June 21, 2015 - T4America Blog

Federal Gas Tax Index 'Dead on Arrival' Warns House Majority Leader

The "Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act" does not appear sustainable to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), citing gas prices of $3.20 per gallon in his district in Bakersfield. A year ago, the average price in California was $4.26.

April 30, 2015 - The Hill

Tolling, Road User Charge Examined at Annual Transportation Conference

Transportation finance and road usage charging are the themes of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association's annual conference held in Portland from April 26 to 28 in downtown Portland. Oregon's road usage charge begins July 1.

April 27, 2015 - Planetizen

Will This Bipartisan House Bill to Index the Gas Tax Succeed?

The Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act is taken seriously in Congress. With 17 bipartisan co-sponsors, it would index the gas tax to inflation, thus increasing the Highway Trust Fund revenue and bridging to a sustainable revenue source.

April 21, 2015 - The Hill

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

December 8, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Crumbling concrete bridge

60 Minutes Examines America's Failing Infrastructure

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes reviews road, rail, bridges, and ports to see how much investment is needed to improve the country's infrastructure, beginning in Pittsburgh and ending at a key Amtrak rail bridge in New Jersey.

November 25, 2014 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

AAA Wants to Boost Your Gas Taxes?

Yes - the nonprofit organization representing 53 million motorists in the U.S. and Canada sees value in raising the gas tax to improve the nation's roads, bridges and transit systems. UPS, a major road user, agrees. But there are many detractors.

December 10, 2013 - The Washington Post

"Can I Have a Road Usage Fee with that 15-cent Gas Tax Increase, Please?"

Don't ever accuse Rep. Earl Blumenauer of not thinking big. Accompanying his gas tax increase bill, he has proposed a bill to study ways to charge drivers by the miles they drive. One takes care of the funding problem now, the other in the future.

December 5, 2013 - The Hill's Floor Action Blog

Gas Tax Debate: USA Today vs. Rep. Earl Blumenauer

The USA Today editorial board argues that increasing the gas tax is the best way for states to fund transportation while Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) extolls Oregon's VMT fee pilot project, which the editors calls complex and bureaucratic.

May 16, 2013 - USA Today

How Design Professionals Can Effect Change on Capitol Hill

Congressman Earl Blumeanauer explains what landscape architects, architects, planners and engineers can do to bridge the gap between politics and more livable communities during ASLA's advocacy day.

May 19, 2012 - Dirt

House and Senate Transportation Bills on a Collision Course

As the bi-partisan Senate transportation bill cues up for its first vote on Thursday and the partisan House bill gets roughed up in committee, the prospects for reconciling the bills seems dim.

February 8, 2012 - The Washington Post

Has Portland Lost Its Edge?

Rep. Earl Blumenauer says that Portland has done great things, but that other cities are catching up to the city's formula for success and will soon outstrip them.

November 15, 2011 - Oregon Metro

Partisanship Stalls Infrastructure Investment, Says Blumenauer

Congressional support for transportation and infrastructure projects has traditionally been bipartisan. In an interview, Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon discusses how political tantrums in Congress may handicap the US in the long run.

October 10, 2011 - The Planning Report

Earl Blumenauer Says Republicans Are Undermining Transportation Policy

Representative Earl Blumenauer, well-known as a supporter of progressive transportation policies, says that the Republican majority in the House is up to "budget gimmickry that undermines our economy and the safety of our communities."

January 10, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

The Scuffle Over "Livability"

Representative Earl Blumenauer talks about the recent defeat of livability programs in the Transportation Appropriations Bill.

September 1, 2010 - The Planning Report

Changing Behaviors with Bike to Work Day

Cong. Earl Blumenauer and Mayor Adrian Fenty both turned out in biking gear at Bike to Work Day in Washington, D.C., along with 900 riders who committed to bike commuting on that day.

June 6, 2010 - Vimeo

DC Abuzz With Biking Interest

An event featuring David Byrne ("Bicycle Diaries) in DC brings out hundreds to hear how to take back public streets from the domination of the auto, and green federal transportation policy as well.

December 21, 2009 - Citiwire.net

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.