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Why We Care About Some Transportation Tragedies More Than Others

Why do we respond to major transportation disasters with so much urgency — and why don't we count our collective car crash epidemic among them?

March 28, 2024

Guest Commentary: Traffic Engineers Must Put Safety Over Driver Throughput

No other field would tolerate this level of death and destruction. The tragedy of West Portal is more evidence that the traffic engineering profession is fundamentally broken.

The Toll of History: MTA Board Approves $15 Congestion Pricing Fee

New York City's first-in-the-nation congestion pricing tolls are one historic step closer to reality after Wednesday's 11-1 MTA board vote. Next step: all those pesky lawsuits.

This week's headlines

Take Thursday’s Headlines Home, Country Roads

Heat Map reports on why rural Americans are resisting electric vehicles, and why it might not matter much for the climate.

Wednesday’s Headlines Missed Connection

The Biden administration is spending billions to reconnect neighborhoods torn apart by urban freeways. But the projects seem to simply paper over the problem, Governing reports.

Monday’s Headlines Lash Back

The backlash against car-free and low-traffic zones usually turns into frontlash (?) once residents see the health and safety benefits, according to Wired.

Friday’s Headlines Are Plugged In

The Biden administration finalized regulations tightening tailpipe emissions, which will force automakers to sell far more electric and hybrid vehicles instead of gas-powered models.

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California Is Getting Real about Transit Transformation

Meeting California’s ambitious climate goals will require getting people out of cars and on to trains and buses. That shift could require as much as a five-fold to ten-fold increase in transit ridership above pre-COVID levels by 2045.

How Transit Is Helping West Virginia Battle the Opioid Crisis

Government programs are filling the gaps in care and transportation access for people struggling with addiction in the Mountain State.

A Total Eclipse of Tuesday’s Headlines

If you're planning on traveling to watch next month's solar eclipse, take a train if possible, or be prepared to get stuck for hours on the highway and/or at the airport.

People on Bikes Can Come Together As Advocates — No Matter Why They Ride

Can sports cyclists and utility riders become a powerful coalition to make our streets better? This author argues they must.

Tracking Opioid Overdose Deaths on Chicago Transit

Although it's legal in Illinois for non-medical professionals to administer Narcan to stop overdoses, Prout said CTA employees told her they're not allowed to do so.

Study: How Car Ownership is Keeping Americans From Financial Stability

As car costs continue to surge, American drivers are taking drastic measures to stay on the road — with troubling societal implications.

What Indianapolis’ BRT Mess Reveals About the Troubling Power of ‘State Preemption’ in Transportation

What happens when state legislatures try to stop sustainable transportation projects that city dwellers badly want? Indianapolis provides a troubling case study.

The Biggest Wins — And Disappointments — From the ‘Reconnecting Communities’ Grants

"Until we overhaul our transportation system to redirect the majority of funding into community-oriented infrastructure investments, we will keep failing to meet our equity, climate, and maintenance goals."

Talking Headways Podcast: Lessons from Quick-Build Street Projects

Heidi Simon of Smart Growth America talks to us about working with local officials to create safer streets through quick build projects.

Thursday’s Headlines Burn Rubber

The rate at which electric vehicles run through tires might be good for the tire business, but most of the world already has too much particle pollution.

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