Infrastructure

Seattle Has a Low-Cost Plan for 250 Blocks of New Sidewalks
Seattle political leadership recently announced an ambitious plan to build more sidewalks with less money.

Why Biking and Walking Can't Be Lumped Together
Biking and walking are often assumed as two peas in a pod, when in fact it might be more helpful to think of them as apples and oranges.

Shell Gives Another Early Christmas Gift to Environmentalists
Shell Oil surprised the environmental community in September by announcing an end to Arctic drilling. What could come next? Shell is abandoning plans for the Carmon Creek oil-sands project in Alberta and taking a $2 billion write-down.

MTA Capital Plan Approved—Thanks to Compromise from Cuomo and de Blasio
A long, contentious political process has finally produced an approval for a massive capital investment program for the New York MTA. Some questions about funding remain, however.
Vision Zero Hero: L.A. to Hire an Artist for Traffic Safety Work
Applications are due on November 6 for a novel position in the world of traffic safety: artist in residence at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
$85 Million Transportation Bond Measure on the Ballot in Maine
A week before a Nov. 3 Maine transportation referendum on a *general fund bond issue to address roads and bridges, TRIP released a report showing that over a third of the state's bridges "are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete."

One Expert's Response to Misinformation from Bike Lane Opponents
Swatting down untruths and misinformation by bike lane opponents in St. Paul doesn't require a PhD, but it helps.
President Obama Signs 3-Week Highway Bill and Railroad Safety Extension
A three-week extension of federal transportation spending and three-year extension for railroads to install positive train control was signed on Oct. 29, the date the current highway extension expired.
Oklahoma Governor Announces $900 Million in Turnpike Expansions
The "Driving Forward" plan, as it's called, is unabashed in its ambitions to expand highway capacity in the state of Oklahoma.
Watch and Learn: The Critical Importance of New Hudson River Tunnel
The Regional Plan Association has created an animated video that simply and artfully explains the importance of a new Hudson River tunnel.
Vancouver Votes to Remove Downtown Viaducts; Obstacles Remain
The Vancouver City Council took a major step forward this week with an idea that it's been mulling for years: to tear down the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts located in the city's downtown.
Will Electric Utilities Disrupt the Oil Industry in California?
A key bill had language allowing public utilities to enter into the electric vehicle charging industry—overlooked by the oil industry and a game-changer for EVs as it tackles one of their most formidable challenges.

Report: The Price of Driving Doesn't Match the Cost of Driving
The true cost of vehicle and road use is not reflected in the price drivers pay.

House Transportation Bill Misses Mark on Transit
Transit advocates have little good to say about the recently-passed Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. While it doesn't cut transit funding, it does nothing to expedite transit-based solutions.
Port Authority Clears Major Hurdle for Bus Terminal Redesign
An expensive, contentious project to redesign and possibly relocate the Port Authority Terminal finally has a way forward: an international design competition to be concluded a year from now.

Report: Cost Overruns and Deadline Constraints Plague California High-Speed Rail
At the heart of the financial and deadline challenges facing the $68 billion high-speed rail project are 36 miles of tunneling north of Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Times analysis that includes interviews with experts on mega-projects.
Controversial 'Bus and Bike' Ballot Measure on Seattle's November Ballot
Seattle voters will decide on Prop. 1, a $985 million transportation levy known as Move Seattle, unanimously endorsed by the City Council and strongly backed by Mayor Ed Murray. However, the bus and bike priorities attracted a well-funded opponent.
Finding New Ways to Protect Trees in Rapidly Developing Cities
Citizens in developing corners of the world are prioritizing green infrastructure as they struggle to deal with the environmental consequences of rapid growth.
Demystifying the Turning Radius and its Critical Importance to Street Safety
A MinnPost article explains the importance of a properly tuned turning radius while getting to the bottom of a controversial decision to remove pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

Houston's Drainage Controversy Isn't Unique
Houston faces political conflict around a new drainage fee, meant to fund efforts to fix the city's crumbling infrastructure. Other cities could soon find themselves in a similar predicament.
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service