For decades, transportation policies focused on the efficient movement of vehicles and goods without always considering the underlying economic, environmental, and social impacts. Just as important is the accessibility the system provides for people; whether it’s getting to a job, or school, shopping, entertainment, or recreation. At the same time, transportation remains the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and while automobiles have become more efficient over time, these improvements are offset by an overall increase in driving, trucking, and air travel. Proposals for reducing emissions include electrification, increased investment in active and shared transportation, and improved land use.

Webinar: Transportation Spending and Planning in the Time of COVID

Sep 4, 2020 | Madeline Gorman
The COVID-19 pandemic hammered state and municipal budgets across the United States. A recent analysis by the National League of...

Plan for Contact Tracing Air Travelers Stalls

Aug 28, 2020 | Robert Puentes
August 28, 2020 - Last week, news outlets reported that the White House put the brakes on a plan by...

How Should Future COVID Mass Transit Aid Be Distributed?

Aug 14, 2020 | Jeff Davis
August 14, 2020 - How should the federal government distribute the next round of COVID-19 aid to mass transit agencies,...

Increased Focus on Environmental Justice in Federal Transportation Policy Proposals

Aug 14, 2020 | Brianne Eby
August 14, 2020 - The recent inclusion of environmental justice provisions in major bills and infrastructure platforms indicates a notable...

Guest Op-Ed: Transportation and Health: America’s Longstanding Disconnect

Aug 7, 2020 | Ross Peterson
August 7, 2020 - If we hope to recover from the pandemic and build more equitable cities in the future,...

Guest Op-Ed: It’s Time to Do Away with the E’s and Embrace the Public Health Approach in Transportation Safety

Aug 7, 2020 | David Ederer
August 7, 2020 - It is time for transportation professionals, and especially those working on Vision Zero programs, to throw...

Congress Embarks on Quasi-Recess As COVID Aid Talks Stall

Aug 7, 2020 | Jeff Davis
August 7, 2020 - Last night, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in leaving town for the August recess...

Road to Recovery Webinar: Rebalancing the Load: How Road User Charging Can Influence Traveler Behavior

Aug 4, 2020 | Madeline Gorman
Congestion pricing can be a valuable tool for regions to address congestion and meet goals for sustainability and equity. Intelligent…

Coronavirus Aid Talks Drag On

Jul 31, 2020 | Jeff Davis
July 31, 2020 - The extra $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit for the coronavirus crisis will expire today,...

Guest Op-Ed: The Role of Transportation in Improving America’s Health

Jul 31, 2020 | Renee Autumn Ray
July 31, 2020 - As I wrote this paper, I had valuable discussions with colleagues I’ve met across the span...

Op-Ed: From the Americans with Disabilities Act to Universal Design

Jul 31, 2020 | Alice Grossman
July 31, 2020 - Pandemic or not, implementing universal design from the outset can have long-lasting impacts on accessibility and...

Labor Unions Ask USDOT for Mandated Passenger Face Masks

Jul 31, 2020 | Brianne Eby
July 31, 2020 - Larry Willis, the President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), sent a letter on behalf...

Speeding Up Electric Vehicle Adoption in the US

March 28, 2019 The transportation sector is the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S., accounting for 28.7% of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2017. According to a 2019 report from the Environmental Protection Agency, GHG emissions from transportation…