Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Making the Connections on Stimulus Spending

Lots of news from the Streetsblog Network today, some good and some not so good.

Design New Haven has a thought-provoking piece about a recent argument from the Congress for the New Urbanism on how to target stimulus funding :

streetcomparison5.jpgAccording to the CNU, priority stimulus funding should be given to projects that enhance connectivity to the greatest degree, e.g., by reducing block sizes, increasing sidewalk space, and converting one-way streets to two-way streets, and increasing the number of intersections per square mile by eliminating major "gaps" in the network, such as Downtown New Haven's Route 34.

Over at Grist, Ryan Avent's new column, The Transit Authority, takes aim at the stimulus at well. First, Avent explains how sustainable transportation can lead to greater productivity, and takes the administration to task for the relatively small allocation for transit and rail in the recovery bill. Avent acknowledges that more transit funding might be forthcoming in the 2009 transportation bill, but he cautions optimists on that score:

That transit and rail were so easily sacrificed in stimulusnegotiations should send us a message — now is no time for transitsupporters to ease up on their legislators. We'll need to fight untilthe money is in the pipeline.

Matthew Yglesias provides more cause for concern on that front, citing Talking Points Memo's piece on how rail got shorted in the stimulus to make room for tax cuts.

But enough with the bad news. There's hopeful stuff bouncing around out there in the blogosphere as well. Cheer yourself up by playing around with NRDC's cool new tool to help communities interested in Picturing Smart Growth, which Scott Dodd writes about on NRDC Switchboard. Or read Bike Portland's coverage of the ground-breaking bike safety bill just passed in Massachusetts.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

OPINION: Here’s How to Bring Real Bus Rapid Transit to Flatbush Avenue

It is worth a little extra time and money to get this right.

September 17, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Stop Them Before They Kill Edition

Another day, another driver who should never have been on the road slamming into something. Plus other news.

September 17, 2025

‘Good Trade-Off’: Rat-Hating Mayor Adams Puts Trash Cans Over Parking As Bins Come to Brooklyn

A few parking spots are worth the "sacrifice" of cleaner streets, Adams said announcing plans to bring curbside trash bins to Brooklyn.

September 16, 2025

DOT Warns City Council Against Letting Taxi Drivers Park in Loading Zones

A Council bill to let for-hire vehicle drivers park in delivery zones will cause more double parking and congestion, city officials warned.

September 16, 2025

MTA Employees’ Personal Cars Create Dirty, Hazardous Environment In East New York

MTA employees completely disrespect residents of the neighborhood with cars that they never move.

September 16, 2025
See all posts