News

Interactive map shows the cost of river lock failures

By Robbie Webber A new interactive map shows the importance of key locks on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois Rivers and outlines possible economic shocks all across the country should one or more of them fail. Although our attention is often focused on roads, rail, and runways, the U.S. river

Kansas City faces public backlash over traffic signal removal plans

By Bill Holloway Kansas City, Missouri, is facing public backlash after embarking on a project to replace 144 of its aging traffic signals with stop signs at intersections where traffic has declined. As reported by the Kansas City Star, the signals that the City is planning to remove are 50–60

Light rail systems can raise nearby property values before completion even in low density areas

By Bill Holloway A new study in the Journal of Transport and Land Use documents changes in residential property values for homes located within one mile of Charlotte, North Carolina’s, new light rail line – formerly a freight rail facility. The study analyzed home values over a period of 11

Solving the critter crossing problem

By Mary Ebeling When state Departments of Transportation address safety concerns related to motor-vehicle/wildlife crashes, the agencies save lives and reduce economic costs. Crashes involving larger animals – including deer, elk, moose, and bear – are on the rise, and many states consider

Bike boxes and lanes may increase “right hook” crashes in some circumstances

By Bill Holloway Portland, Oregon, has been recognized throughout the U.S. for its efforts to both promote bicycling and retrofit its street network to be safer for and more appealing to bicyclists. But a new Portland Bureau of Transportation report seems to indicate that the new designs may be

Buses, rail, and airlines compete for short-distance intercity travel

By Robbie Webber For trips between 100 and 500 miles, express buses, trains, and airlines are all vying for customers and contemplating the future of these shorter trips. At the same time, drivers are seeking relief from crowded highways and high gas prices. Add in the desire of travelers to be

MassDOT seeks to triple transit, bike and walk share

By Eric Sundquist The Massachusetts Department of Transportation last week announced a goal of tripling the share of trips in the state taken by transit, bike, and walking by 2030. “I have news for you. We will build no more superhighways in this state. There is no room,” Transportation

Fighting transit fear with transit facts

By Bill Holloway While per-capita traffic casualties are declining with increasing transit ridership, many people still harbor an irrational fear of public transit—making them less likely to use transit or support increased transit service.  Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy

Carmaggedon leads to significantly better air quality

By Robbie Webber As Los Angeles-area residents were preparing for “Carmageddon II” – the second scheduled closing in two years of 10 miles of Interstate 405, the busiest highway in the country, to complete bridge work – research findings were released showing almost instantaneous

Kansas City’s streetcar silver bullet?

By Bill Holloway Later this month, 730 residents of a special taxing district in downtown Kansas City will vote on a plan to tax themselves and area shoppers a total of $10 million per year for the next 25 years to pay the construction and operating costs for a 2-mile streetcar circulator. This