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Oregon DOT Wants to “Change Cultural Norms” Related to Distracted Driving
It's refreshing to see public agencies go beyond PSAs to deter distracted driving, which contributes to thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year. With traffic deaths on the rise in Oregon, state officials are ramping up their efforts.
April 7, 2016
The Comeback of Transit-Priority Streets in DC
Forty years ago, the Washington region had 60 miles of bus lanes on its streets, a network that was erased once Metrorail started operating. Today passengers make about half a million trips on Metro buses each weekday, not a great deal less than Metrorail, but there is no network of priority streets for buses.
April 6, 2016
DC Used to Fly the Skull and Cross-Bones to Mark Each Traffic Death
My, how things change.
April 5, 2016
This Week: Plaza for a Day at Myrtle-Wyckoff
DOT is looking to simplify the intersection of Myrtle Avenue, Wyckoff Avenue, and Palmetto Street. On the border of Brooklyn and Queens, this crossing is a hub for subway and bus commuters, and its poor design has contributed to the deaths of three pedestrians since 2009.
April 4, 2016
What If We Measure Streets for Walking the Way We Measure Streets for Cars?
"What you measure is what you get," the saying goes. In transportation, the dominant metrics are all about moving motor vehicle traffic, so America has built a transportation network that moves a lot of cars. Our streets may be dangerous, expensive, and inefficient, but they do process huge volumes of motor vehicles.
April 4, 2016
Even Places With No Congestion Are Widening Highways
For every transportation agency trying to innovate and update policies for the 21st century, there are several thoughtlessly widening highways like it's still 1956.
April 4, 2016
Citing Safety Problems, Federal Officials Assume Control of San Jose Streets
When something goes wrong and people get hurt on a train, national transportation safety officials swoop in immediately to root out the source of risk and prevent future loss of life.
April 1, 2016
Did Portland’s New Parking Mandates Force Housing Costs Up?
There was a window a few years ago when Portland allowed developers to construct large apartment buildings without any parking. But even in Portland there's pressure to subsidize cars at the expense of housing affordability.
March 31, 2016
Protected Bike Lanes Could Be Coming to Detroit’s Main Drag
Surely and steadily, biking is on the upswing in Detroit. Thousands of people turn out for "Slow Roll" social rides, a cultural event that exposes more people to the possibilities of cycling in the city. And the city has been adding bike lanes at an impressive clip.
March 30, 2016
If You’re Requiring Parking by Transit Stations, You’re Doing It Wrong
The city of Waterloo, Ontario, is in the process of building a new 12-mile light rail line called Ion Rapid Transit. Now the most pressing question is how to make it a success.
March 29, 2016