A proposal to place tolls on many of the highways around Washington D.C. is being blasted by critics, who say planners should place more emphasis on providing better transit services than charging commuters left with few options.
"A plan to place tolls on most highways in the Washington area was greeted skeptically yesterday by members of a regional transportation panel, with some saying that many people have no choice but to commute by automobile and that tolls would be yet another financial burden."
"'Let's look at transit and alternatives first before expanding tolling,' said Victor Weissberg, a Prince George's County representative on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board."
"The board was briefed on an 18-month study funded by the federal government that explored adding tolls to all highways and parkways in the region and plowing the projected $2.75 billion in revenue into transit and road improvements. Planners and local leaders say they can no longer rely on the state and federal governments to fund improvements for the traffic-choked and fast-growing Washington region."
FULL STORY: Regional Panel Wary of Toll Plan
Freedom to Move: Investing in Transportation Choices for a Clean, Prosperous, and Just Future
This Union of Concerned Scientists study examines why and how to improve resource-efficient travel options to achieve diverse goals. It estimates that more efficient transport could save up to $201 billion in energy and $128 billion in health costs.
Ann Arbor Calls for Highway Bus Service
The city council voted unanimously in support of a plan to build more transit and park-and-ride options rather than expand a highway with more car lanes.
New York State DOT Invests Heavily in Highways Over Transit
So far, the department has allocated 90 percent of its federal transportation funding to road projects and less than 1 percent to transit.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service