Today’s Headlines

  • Another analysis reveals that U.S. DOT road money isn’t being routed first to economically distressed areas (AP)
  • Why not institute a National Design Policy for housing? (NYT)
  • Between D.C. suburbs and Baltimore, Maryland governor is pulling double shifts in the transit aid hunt (WaPo)
  • Brookings’ Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer explore how current road funding formulas shortchange bigger, bluer states (TNR)
  • The 10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving, courtesy of the insurance industry (Autopia)
  • Inside the White House’s meticulous climate lobbying push (Politico)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Major Road Builder Argues for Road-Pricing, Against More Asphalt

By Angie Schmitt |
The primary theme of U.S. transportation policy since the mid-20th century hasn’t been accessibility, public health, equality, or even efficiency. Primarily we’ve spent billions of dollars trying fruitlessly to eliminate congestion by building more roads. It has become clear that there are all kinds of problems with having motorist throughput as the highest priority of your […]

New Report: Road Funding From Non-Road Users Doubled in 25 Years

By Elana Schor |
(Image: Subsidyscope) The myth that U.S. roads "pay for themselves" thanks to user fees is a subject that’s likely familiar to many Streetsblog Capitol Hill readers — but just how much of the nation’s highway funding is provided by charging drivers? The answer may surprise even active critics of the current asphalt-centric transportation system. Between […]

Killing the Myth of the ‘More Shovel-Ready’ Road Stimulus

By Elana Schor |
During debate over the White House’s $787 billion economic stimulus law, transit advocates watched as their projects were shortchanged and more "shovel-ready" road projects got the lion’s share of the transport pot — about $8.4 billion, compared with $27.5 billion for highways and bridges. (Photo: DMI Blog) But transit money is getting put to use […]

Transport Bill Earmark to Help Road Project in Palin’s Hometown

By Elana Schor |
Sarah Palin is no longer the governor of Alaska, but a project long championed by the 2008 vice-presidential nominee — and staunch earmark critic — stands to benefit from an earmark inserted into the transportation spending bill that cleared Congress over the weekend. Sarah Palin, then Alaska governor, with husband Todd at the Wasilla, AK, […]