Transportation Funding

Infrastructure Investment Stimulating Job Creation in Southern California

Major hubs of transportation and logistics are planning major capital investments in Southern California over the next several years.

August 9, 2010 - The Planning Report

LaHood Repeats Vow: No New Fuel Taxes & No VMT Fee

While acknowledging that the 18.4 cent gas tax is insufficient to meet today's and tomorrow's transportation needs, LaHood said that increasing fuel taxes now would jeopardize the economic recovery.

August 3, 2010 - The Journal of Commerce

Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally

Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.

July 19, 2010 - Wall Street Journal - U.S.

Senate Climate Bill To Fund Transportation And Affect Fuel Markets

The American Power Act sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions, creates a cap, trade, and dividend program that rebates funds to energy bill payers, directs $6 billion yearly to targeted transportation programs, and curtails EPA's climate authority.

May 14, 2010 - Kansas City Star

Ceding Local Control to Highway Planners

Roger Valdez looks back at the history of highways, and the switch from local control to state and federal control due to the burden of financing and maintaining roads.

May 12, 2010 - Sightline Daily

How to Fix the Highway System

Two major reports released in the last couple of weeks detail very different approaches to fixing the highway system in the U.S. At the National Journal, experts weigh in on who has the right approach.

May 8, 2010 - National Journal Online

Billions in Transportation Funding Needed in PA, Says Panel

Pennsylvania's Transportation Advisory Committee says the state desperately needs to boost its budget for transit, roads and especially bridges by $3 billion.

May 4, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Houston's Light Rail Funding Woes

Too much, too fast, is the analysis from The Transport Politic. Based on a voter-approved, Nov, 2003 plan funded by a one-cent sales tax, the transit plus HOV/HOT conversion plan has run into funding problems. This article focuses on LRT expansion.

March 18, 2010 - the transport politic

Biking The TIGER

Bicycling and walking advocates should also be happy about the new TIGER grants - almost half of the funded projects included funding for bike and ped infrastructure.

February 19, 2010 - Sierra Club Compass blog

Dallas Streetcar is 1 of 51 Projects to Receive Federal Funding

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced $1.5 billion in transportation grants this morning, including $23 million towards a streetcar project in Dallas.

February 17, 2010 - The Dallas Morning News

Schwarzenegger's Budget Fix: Reduce Gas Tax & Cut Transit

As incredible as it sounds, it's true. CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's scheme is to convert the sales tax on gas to an excise tax partly to circumvent a June court ruling that he had illegally diverted public transit funds to balance the state budget

January 13, 2010 - The Sacramento Bee

Initiative Launched To Protect CA Transportation Funds

CA's chronic budget deficit has taken its toll on transportation funding, be it public transit operations or fixing potholes. An initiative has been launched to prevent diversion of transportation funds just as the Gov. proposed another scheme.

January 6, 2010 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Federal Bills To Provide Billions For Transportation Working Through Congress

The jobs and defense bills - both of which will provide much needed money for transportation projects while extending the current transportation authorization law (SAFETEA-LU) through Sept. 2010, are working there way to the President's desk.

December 23, 2009 - Transportation for America

$70b in Freeway Funding Comes From Non-Users

A new study by Subsidyscope shows that between 1982 and 2007, federal highway revenue derived from non-users of the highway system has doubled.

November 26, 2009 - WorldChanging

Raided CA Transit Funding May Return

The California Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that funding for bus and train service could not be taken for other uses.

October 5, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Don't Call Them 'Roads'

Mary Newsom at the Charlotte Observer argues that until Charlotte residents stop calling streets 'roads', they will be stuck in a rural mindset and fail to see the broader picture of transportation in their city and county.

August 31, 2009 - The Charlotte Observer

Transit Shortchanged by Climate Bill

The recently passed House climate bill only dedicates 1 percent of funding to public transportation projects. Some are arguing that needs to be increased when the bill heads to the Senate.

July 9, 2009 - The Washington Independent

10-Cent Gas Tax Needed for Dallas-Fort Worth Transit

It would take at least an additional 10-cent tax on gasoline to fund transit and transportation projects in metropolitan Dallas-Fort Worth, according to city officials who want to ask voters to allow the increases.

May 9, 2009 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Senate Draws An Awkward MAP

Remember the legislation that, in 1965, affirmed universal suffrage in all elections?  Yes, you do.  It was called the National Voting Rights Act.

April 18, 2009 - Josh Stephens

Without Funding, State Transportation Projects Stall

Thousands of transportation projects across the country are being temporarily halted or canceled completely due to lack of funding. More than 40 states have been forced to cut back on transportation projects.

January 4, 2009 - The New York Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.