Transportation Spending
Survey: Most Americans Support Increased Spending on Public Transportation
A new survey finds growing public support for increased federal spending on public transportation, even if that means increased taxes.
Which States Best Prioritize Walking and Biking?
The most recent coverage of the Alliance for Biking and Walking’s 2014 Benchmark report compares each of the states for how much federal transportation funding they devote to active transportation.
Baltimore Red Line Gets Green Light in $1.5 Billion Transportation Spending Plan
A new 14.1-mile light rail project through downtown Baltimore is among the 17 projects to be funded by Maryland's recent gas tax increase, Governor Martin O'Malley announced this week.
Stop the Madness: New Thinking Needed for Prioritizing Transportation Projects
For architecture critic Inga Saffron, a $900 million project to improve a South Jersey interchange illustrates the madness of transportation funding priorities.
Mass. Transportation Plan Admirable, Funding Plan Abominable
In a preview of his statewide transportation plan, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an ambitious agenda and an appetizing menu of potential funding options on Monday. The final plan released yesterday has some wanting to send their meals back.
The Planning Debate Referenced in Obama's 'Bombshell' Speech
Conservative news outlets are recirculating a controversial speech made by President Obama in 2007, highlighting his remark that "We don’t need to build more highways out in the suburbs." Brad Plumer looks at the policy implications of his statement.
How Infrastructure Investment Became Political Fodder
Andrea Bernstein traces how, in four short years, partisan politics have infected discussions about investment in infrastructure.
Obama's Budget Proposes Big Spending on Transportation
Ben Goldman details the President's 2013 budget request, which is loaded with transportation spending. The question, of course, is whether the budget is merely a campaign platform or a realistic template for Congress to work from?
Increasing State Gas Taxes Insufficient To Meet Road Projects' Costs
In her ongoing coverage of Missouri's I-70 expansion and state transportation deficits, Streetsblog's Angie Schmitt analyzes MO's consideration to double the state 17-cent state gas tax to finance the truck only lanes from Kansas City to St. Louis
Transit Projects Create More Bang for the Buck
A new report from Smart Growth America finds that stimulus spending on public transit produced 70% more jobs per dollar than road spending.
New Appointees to Transportation Committee Not Urban
Sam Staley says that new Republican appointees to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure are primarily from rural districts, which doesn't bode well for urban transit funding.
Can A Tranportation Bill Pass Without Earmarks?
Transportation bills are notorious for being chock full of earmarks, and with new attention being brought to curbing them, how will good policy get passed? A handful of experts are discussing the problem over at the National Journal.
How MPOs and Feds Can Get Transportation Projects Moving
Federal transportation funding is in serious trouble in the U.S., but that doesn't mean the work has to stop, according to Mark Muro and Robert Puentes.
Developers Pouring Money into Washington to Influence Transportation Spending
The Center for Public Integrity continues its investigation into who is influencing transportation policy at the federal level. They found that lack of governmental focus has left the door open for developers to point the way.
Cong. Blumenauer Updates Federal Cap-and-Trade, Transportation Bill Status
With Congress mired in the health care debate, legislation critical to rebuilding communities, such as ACES and the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Bill, languish. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) details the political climate in D.C.
Hitting Fast-Forward on Transit
LA Mayor Villaraigosa an ambitious new plan to speed up new rail projects throughout the city, and to complete it all within 10 years instead of the previously proposed 30.
Guns on Trains Could Derail Amtrak
The Senate transportation spending bill, signed last week, contains a provision requiring Amtrak to allow guns on its trains or lose its funding.
Intermountain West: Off the Map for HSR Plans
Planners from Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Reno met this week to discuss plans for high-speed rail between their cities, since they've been left off the map of potential corridors to be funded by the stimulus package.
Reversing a Federal Transit Rule - But Only in Washington State?
A federal pro-privatization transit rule, which prevents local transit agencies from competing with private bus services on providing service to special events, could see an end in Washington State with this year's transportation spending bill.
Transit Agencies Begin to See Stimulus Funds
The Obama administration has begun awarding grants of millions to transit agencies across the country for everything from bus upgrades to photovoltaic canopies and agency building upgrades. Check out the breakdown by agency here.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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
