Transportation

Oregon Expects Reopening and Repairing Roads Damaged by Wildfires Will Take Months

Over 200 miles of Oregon roads were closed as of last week due to the catastrophic blazes. The state’s transportation department is dealing with problems like hazardous trees and rockslide risks.

  • By Bill Lucia

Oregon Expects Reopening and Repairing Roads Damaged by Wildfires Will Take Months

Over 200 miles of Oregon roads were closed as of last week due to the catastrophic blazes. The state’s transportation department is dealing with problems like hazardous trees and rockslide risks.

  • By Bill Lucia
Transportation

Oregon Expects Reopening and Repairing Roads Damaged by Wildfires Will Take Months

Over 200 miles of Oregon roads were closed as of last week due to the catastrophic blazes. The state’s transportation department is dealing with problems like hazardous trees and rockslide risks.

  • By Bill Lucia

Michigan Mulls Eliminating License Plate Registration Tags

The proposal would save the state roughly $500,000 in postage and printing costs, but the measure might require expensive technology investments.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

What Is the Risk of Catching the Coronavirus on a Plane?

The risk for infection depends largely on policies airlines may have in place regarding passenger seating, masking and boarding time.

  • By Noah Y. Kim, Kaiser Health News

House Lawmakers to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Advance Agencies’ Use of Electric Vehicles

Agency charge cards could soon be used for more than refueling gas-powered automobiles.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Transit Authority Looks to Bus Lanes to Reduce Crowding, Encourage Social Distancing

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will add up to 14 miles of dedicated bus lanes in Boston and its suburbs to improve bus service, aiming to provide customers with room to spread out and spend less time onboard.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Roadkill Dropped During Coronavirus Shutdowns, Study Found

The study, which found a 58% decrease in mountain lions killed by cars, examined crash reports involving large animals and traffic patterns in three states.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Signs of Big Growth in Shared Bike and Scooter Trips Before Virus Hit

A new report shows that the number of trips on these “micro-mobility” vehicles was up 60% last year over 2018.

  • By Bill Lucia

The Urban Future is Carless

COMMENTARY | As cities consider what a post-pandemic environment looks like, micromobility devices can help reduce reliance on cars, make streets safer and be more environmentally friendly.

  • By Maurice Henderson

Driving Actually Got Deadlier During the Pandemic

The rate of motor-vehicle deaths per miles driven was up 23.5% in May compared to the same time last year, according to the National Safety Council.

  • By Andrea Noble

The Nation's Marquee 'Smart City' Program Continues to Evolve

Experts and people involved in the Columbus, Ohio project say it provides a chance for the city and others to learn more about what works and what doesn't with emerging transportation technology.

  • By Bill Lucia

House Democrats Lay Out $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

Democrats say the proposal would help create jobs necessary to help the economy recover after the coronavirus pandemic. While the Trump administration this week also floated more infrastructure spending, it would likely face stiff opposition in the Senate.

  • By Andrea Noble

Senate, House Push Transportation Bills to Help Coronavirus Recovery

House Democrats introduced their own $500 billion transportation bill this week. Republicans said it does not include their funding priorities.

  • By Andrea Noble

Featured eBooks

County Government in a Time of Crisis
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Poor and Black ‘Invisible Cyclists’ Need to Be Part of Post-Pandemic Transportation Planning

COMMENTARY | City planners need to think specifically about the needs of bicyclists of color, something that will become particularly important as more people shift to alternatives to public transit in the coronavirus era.

  • By Julian Agyeman, The Conversation

Air Travel Is Going to Be Very Bad, for a Very Long Time

COMMENTARY | Flying used to be unpleasant. But scarcity, low demand, and public-health risks could make it unbearable.

  • By James Fallows, The Atlantic

Airports Start Requiring Masks for All Travelers and Staff

The measure is one of many changes airports are making in hopes of improving safety.

  • By Emma Coleman

Public Transit Systems Adapt to Plummeting Ridership

Cities are struggling with concerns about safety and low ridership. In some places, officials are taking advantage of the situation to finish long awaited transportation projects.

  • By Emma Coleman

Rural, Intercity Bus Companies Hit Hard by Pandemic

Ninety percent of small intercity bus companies have closed.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

Speeders Take Over Empty Roads — With Fatal Consequences

In some states, traffic is way down but deadly crashes are up.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

New York Legislators Pass Rear Seat Belt Bill

Lawmakers said the legislation is necessary due to the advent of ride-sharing and more people riding in back.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

After Deadly Crash, Lawsuit Spotlights Problem of Parking Near Intersections

When cars are parked close to intersections, they can block drivers from seeing other traffic and pedestrians. A lawsuit seeks a court order to force Portland, Oregon to address the issue.

  • By Bill Lucia

The Emerging Appeal of Banning Most Cars on Some Streets

New York and San Francisco have imposed strict limits on vehicles in certain corridors. Will car-free zones catch on elsewhere?

  • By Bill Lucia