Transportation
New York idles on green transportation plan
As the state has backpedaled on congestion pricing, it has made no progress on nearly half of its other transit-related climate goals.
Texas is once more flirting with expanding passenger rail
The state’s booming population, congestion problems and billions of federal dollars on the table have officials eyeing ways to boost passenger rail.
Major federal bridge grants jump-start long-stalled projects
The Biden administration announced $5 billion to build major bridge replacements, including several grants that were among the largest received by states in their history.
Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities
The tools that transportation agencies use to record the condition of pavement on roadways don’t work for biking and walking paths, so several communities are rolling out bikes that can get the job done.
Taking a train during a heat wave? Watch out for ‘sun kinks.’
As tracks heat up, they expand and buckle. That's forcing rail operators to adapt as the climate warms.
High-speed rail needs national direction to get rolling, report says
A New York University professor emphasizes the need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts—or, in this case, the rail profiles and cross ties—of high-speed rail projects to keep costs down and construction on time.
Pedestrian deaths finally dipped in 2023
A new report shows some progress in improving safety for people traveling by foot, but the number of pedestrian fatalities is still far higher than it was before the pandemic.
Biden administration awards $1.8B for urban, rural transportation projects
The more than 145 projects include funding for urban street upgrades, bike and pedestrian improvements, and highway expansions, among other things.
After Amtrak’s ‘best revenue month ever,’ House GOP focuses on railroad’s bonuses
Congressional Republicans called for more information about executive compensation and more board transparency for the passenger rail company, citing ridership drops after the pandemic.
MBTA is ‘barely treading water'
If Boston's public transit agency can't close a $700 million funding gap for the T in the next 13 months, it may have to consider massive service cuts.
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Midwest states launch new rail service, 12 years in the making
The new Borealis Amtrak service between Chicago and St. Paul has given rail advocates something to cheer about. But they hope other new projects can come online quicker.
Teens say distracted driving messages need to be catchier, more frequent and blunt
Young adults typically underestimate the risk of distracted driving, making it difficult for public safety officials to craft effective messaging.
Highway humor is over some drivers’ heads
States to drivers: READ OUR WITTY HIGHWAY SIGNS. Feds to states: YOU’RE NOT FUNNY.
Congestion pricing: If it can’t make it in New York, can it make it anywhere?
Other cities are considering it, but all eyes were on the city that never sleeps. By trying to quell controversy over the downtown toll plan, the New York governor sparked new questions about transit funding, environmental goals and political consequences.
New York governor blocks downtown tolling plan at the last minute
Citing economic hardships, Gov. Kathy Hochul put an indefinite hold on the congestion pricing plan for Lower Manhattan, upending a decade of planning to reduce traffic and air pollution.
Boston-area commuter rail bounces back, while other agencies lag
The MBTA is luring riders back with more frequent service and more trains on the nights and weekends.
To drive revenue, cities turn to tech to fix their parking problems
Parking brings in $3 billion a year for state and local governments. That's why they are using new technologies to help push parking reforms aimed at streamlining enforcement and increasing revenues and environmental friendliness.
Spike in pedestrian deaths hits nearly all metros
The Memphis area leads the nation in pedestrian deaths, but almost all metropolitan areas have become more dangerous for walkers, according to a new report.
How bullish are Americans on EVs? It depends on where the nearest charger is.
People who live closer to public electric vehicle chargers view the cars more positively, even when accounting for people’s party identification and the type of community they live in, a new analysis shows.
New York’s slow progress moving to EVs highlights obstacles cities face
While the city has struggled to build public chargers for electric vehicles, it has made strides in electrifying its own fleet.
