Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Transportation Policy

New Analysis Tracks 40 Years of Changes in How Kids Get to School

By Elana Schor | Apr 9, 2010 | No Comments

(Chart: NCSRS/SRSNP) The percentage of U.S. students between ages five and 14 who walk or bike to school has remained stable over the past 15 years but remains three-quarters below where it stood 40 years ago, according to a new analysis of government data by two groups working on the Safe Routes to School (SRtS) […]

Dodd Vows to Pass Livability Bill Amid Skepticism From Rural Senators

By Elana Schor | Mar 9, 2010 | No Comments

Even as the Obama administration ramps up its work on a sustainability initiative that treats transportation, housing, and energy efficiency as interconnected aspects of development policy, the effort remains without an official congressional authorization — a situation that Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) vowed to fix yesterday. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd […]

LaHood Faces Off With GOP Senator Over High-Speed Rail, Livability

By Elana Schor | Mar 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

When Cabinet secretaries appear in front of Congress’ appropriations committees, which control the annual budgets for each federal agency, the proceedings tend to be dry affairs dominated by local concerns and arcane fiscal debates. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) (Photo: Politico) But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s visit with Senate appropriators today was anything but humdrum, as […]

Moody’s Gifts Fossil-Fuel States With Positive Credit Outlook

By Elana Schor | Mar 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

Comparing the falloff in state tax revenue to shifts in total unemployment. (Chart: Moody’s) Credit-rating agencies — particularly Moody’s and S&P, the nation’s two premier shops — wield significant influence over the financial health of private companies. But state and local officials are often equally dependent on good credit ratings to borrow money for transportation […]

Senate Starts Work on New Transport Bill, With House Version as a Guide

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | No Comments

The Senate today took its first steps towards voting on a new long-term federal transportation bill, with environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) vowing to take up a successor to the 2005 infrastructure law before 2011 and indicating she would use the House’s already-introduced version as a framework. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), […]

Could a New Kind of Fuel Tax Help Break the Senate Climate Deadlock?

By Elana Schor | Mar 1, 2010 | No Comments

Even before the Senate environment panel pushed through a GOP protest to approve its climate change bill, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and John Kerry (D-MA) were working behind the scenes on a so-called "tripartisan" plan that can win enough votes in Congress’ upper chamber to make nationwide emissions cuts a reality. (from […]

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