Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Transportation Policy

Consensus on National Transport Goals Still Eludes Industry Pros

By Elana Schor | Sep 10, 2009 | No Comments

Policymakers and private-sector players seem to be struggling to agree on how — and whether — to set national performance targets for America’s transportation system, as evidenced by today’s debate at a high-profile infrastructure conference. (Photo: UVA) "Performance-based" is a popular buzzword in transportation circles, where clear and definable national standards are seen as the […]

What Should We Learn From Moses and Jacobs?

By Ryan Avent | Sep 9, 2009 | 3 Comments

There is probably no more beloved figure in urbanism than Jane Jacobs, who fought to preserve some of New York City’s most treasured neighborhoods and who gave urbanists some of the field’s fundamental texts. As Ed Glaeser notes in the New Republic this week, Jacobs died in 2006 “a cherished, almost saintly figure,” while her […]

How Much Would Most People Pay For a Shorter Commute?

By Elana Schor | Sep 9, 2009 | 4 Comments

(Data: IBM’s CPI) As Washington conventional wisdom has it, raising gas taxes or creating a vehicle miles traveled tax to pay for transportation is impossible during the current recession. After all, who would want to squeeze cash-strapped commuters during tough economic times? As it turns out, the public is very willing to pay for the […]

Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against BART Over Oak Airport Connector

By Michael Rhodes | Sep 4, 2009 | 3 Comments

Oaklan Airport BART Station rendering. Image: BART Transit advocates and community groups have filed a complaint (PDF) with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), charging that BART has not complied with federal civil rights obligations in its planning of the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC). The move by Public Advocates Inc. on behalf of TransForm, Urban Habitat […]

Feds Still Forcing Transit Agencies to Bow to Private Charter Buses

By Elana Schor | Sep 3, 2009 | No Comments

Streetsblog Capitol Hill reported yesterday that the U.S. DOT would end a Bush-era mandate to reward new transit projects for using private contractors — but a similar pro-privatization rule for bus service remains in effect, preventing local transit agencies from competing with private charter companies. Fairgoers in Minnesota depart a private charter bus that benefited […]

New Poll: Public Supports Congestion Tolling Over Gas Tax Hike by 2 to 1

By Elana Schor | Sep 1, 2009 | 5 Comments

(Graphic: HTNB) The puzzle of how to pay for new federal investments in transportation is the single greatest stumbling block facing members of Congress — should a gas tax increase be combined with a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax? How about a national infrastructure bank that leverages private capital? A poll released today by the […]

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