Infrastructure

Infrastructure Bill’s Emission Reductions Allotments Fund Highway Projects Instead
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 promised to achieve major progress on emissions reductions and climate resilience. A total of 38 states used the bill to fund emissions- and pollution-producing car-centric infrastructure instead.

Report Links Zoning and Land Use to Structural Racism
The historically comprehensive study outlines the policies that have shaped homeownership, generational wealth, and economic development in the Puget Sound region.

Fairfax County Makes Space for Bus Rapid Transit
A recent decision by the Fairfax, Virginia County Board of Supervisors will ensure that any widening of Route 7 will be reserved for bus rapid transit (BRT).

San Diego Park Funds to Finance Freeway Exit Ramp
City staff say the damaged ramp’s location in Balboa Park makes it eligible for funding from a regional park improvement pool.

Seattle Quietly Unveils New Interstate Lane
The Washington Department of Transportation expanded part of I-5 in hopes of reducing a common traffic bottleneck.

U.S. Mayors List Infrastructure as 2023’s Top Concern
The National League of Cities (NLC) has published an analysis of mayoral speeches from various U.S. cities, along with Census data and resident sentiments, in the latest edition of the annual “State of the Cities” report.

New REM Light Rail Launches in Montreal
The first day of public service on the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) light rail route was marred by a closure and delays.

FTA Rejects North Carolina Commuter Rail Funding
As commuter patterns shift, so too do the transit funding preferences of the federal government.

Lessons for Software UX From Ancient City Planners
Cities have been designed for user experience (UX) for millennia, and contemporary UX designers have plenty to learn from planners, according to a recent article in Fast Company.

‘Cool Community’ Project Yields Promising Results
A ten-block area in one of L.A.’s most heat-prone neighborhoods saw significant reductions in surface and air temperature thanks to an innovative street treatment that could help communities around the country mitigate the impacts of extreme heat.

New Highways Are Still Tearing Communities Apart
Residents of a historic Black South Carolina town are being displaced by a road widening project.

Offshore Wind Power Projects Face Financial Headwind
As offshore wind projects along the East Coast stall, so do the country’s emissions reduction goals.

What Is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure harnesses nature to the benefit of the built environment as well as human and animal life.

Toll Lane Rebellion Fails to Materialize in Southern California
The 405 Express Lanes will open in Orange County later this year despite the warnings from a former Huntington Beach mayor of a resident-led rebellion in response to road pricing. But will the toll lanes mitigate congestion? Academics weigh in.

How to Scale Up Heat Mitigation
As heat waves intensify, cities are seeking out heat mitigation techniques that can be applied widely and benefit entire neighborhoods.

Tampa Unveils 30-Year Mobility Plan
The Tampa MOVES plan would spend $2 billion to relieve congestion, reduce traffic collisions, and improve mobility equity in the city.

Popular L.A. Bus Line to Replace Schedule With ‘Headway-Based Operations’
Los Angeles’ 16 bus, which cuts across the city on Third Street through some of the city’s densest neighborhoods, will experiment with a new approach to service design.

Road Funding Options: The Alternative to the Alternative
The inverse relationship between electric vehicle sales and gasoline tax revenues has caused the federal government and many states to investigate mileage fees as an alternative funding option to fuel taxes. Iowa is going a different route.

NJ v. U.S. DOT: Cordon Pricing in Manhattan
The State of New Jersey filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday to halt the Manhattan cordon pricing project approved in June by the FHWA, charging that they violated the National Environmental Protection Act.

L.A. Freeway Expansion to Move Ahead, Sans Displacement
The 605 freeway expansion project was expected to demolish hundreds of homes and multifamily buildings.
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