Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

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 USA

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus

Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.

July 11, 2025

New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough

The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.

July 11, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Localities Subsidize the State DOT

Adie Tomer of Brookings on how to improve regional coordination around infrastructure.

July 10, 2025

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025
See all posts