Transportation Engineering

Diverging Diamond Interchange Puts Drivers on the Left Side of the Road
The unusual design improves traffic flow and reduces the danger of head-on collisions as cars enter the I-5 freeway.

2019 Crash Fatality Data Reveals Relative Calm Before the Storm
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's latest crash fatality data for 2019 showed improving safety conditions for road users from the year prior. That progress is likely to vanish when the data for 2020 are complete.

New York City Traffic Fatalities Pass 2019 Totals
The visions of a car-free utopia that might have seemed like a potential silver lining in March and April have given away to a tragic reality.

Southern California Officials Slow to Accept Complete Streets
Proposed changes to the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority's highway program would allow local governments the flexibility to implement complete street elements with new projects. The proposition has been a surprisingly tough sell.

Development Codes Have a Crucial Role in Traffic Safety
It's not enough to focus solely on the design and engineering of streets when looking for ways to improve traffic safety. The fruits of the planning profession must be held to account, too.

Tracking Complete Streets Progress in Milwaukee
The city of Milwaukee's commitment to Complete Streets is still in early stages, as a new progress report details with an eye toward the future.

Debunking Traffic Safety Myths as Pedestrian Fatalities Increase
Angie Schmitt, former editor at Streetsblog USA, has written a new book about pedestrian fatalities, which works to dispel some of the myths about traffic safety in the United States.

Audit Faults Oregon DOT for Lack of Public Engagement
Faulted for lack of attention to pedestrian and bike advocates, the Oregon Department of Transportation will soon have opportunities to redeem itself.

Failing to Account for Induced Traffic, Even When the Public Demands It
Induced traffic occurs when new highway capacity speeds up traffic, allowing travelers to drive further, increasing sprawl. A review of major highway project plans finds that most fail to accurately account for induced travel effects.

The $64 Million Intersection
The Virginia County of Chesterfield is planning six so-called "superstreet" treatments for junctions in the county. One junction, where Route 10 meets Rivers Bend Boulevard, will cost $64 million.

Early Reviews for New York's Big Car-Free Experiment
Last week, 14th Street in Manhattan was closed to almost all varieties of automobile traffic, freeing up one of the slowest bus routes in the city. How will residents, workers, and commuters react?

When it Comes to Road Diets, Evidence Doesn't Matter
Drivers are a powerful enough lobby to overcome all evidence of the need to redesign streets for safety. Examples from Maryland and Virginia provide the latest case studies in Vision Zero futility.

Infographic: Where Vision Zero Is Making a Difference
Streetsblog has created a graph to track the progress of Vision Zero cities in reducing traffic fatalities.

NACTO Guide Aids Bike Safety in the Intersection
Despite massive progress in building out new protected bike lanes, many communities are still coming up short with safety improvements at intersections, the location of most vehicle-bike conflicts.

Streets in Dense Urban Areas Safer Than Suburban 'Stroads,' Study Finds
A new study considers urban form, roadway characteristics, traffic collisions, and fatalities in the Philadelphia region, to show that the densest parts of regions are the safest places to drive and walk.

Scenario Planning Can Help Prepare for a Hard-to-Predict Future
Questions about the variables that could significantly alter the future of transportation, and the configuration of the public realm to accommodate those futuristic forms of transportation, illustrate the potential power of scenario planning.

How the U.S. Could End Traffic Fatalities by 2050
Taking Vision Zero beyond the local level.

Vote to Take Money from Train Station to Pay for a New Road Causes a Stir
An expanded roadway outside the Union City BART station would mean more drivers and likely more congestion. City and county officials still argue those changes are necessary for the area around the station to function.
The Calm Streets Project Launches in St. Louis
The Calm Streets project, intended to improve traffic safety, walkability, and economic development opportunities in St. Louis, picked up new momentum in the form of grant funding.
Environmental Review Backs Flyover Plans for El Tracks on Chicago's Northside
After an initial proposal a year ago, prompting immediate and strong criticism, the Chicago Transit Authority has completed its environmental assessment of a proposal designed to improve service capacity at the infamous bottleneck of Clark Junction.
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