Daily Headlines — 06/26/09
June 26, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- In the aftermath of Washington DC’s Metro crash, Time magazine looks America’s aging transit systems.
- Members of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee argue against looking at immediate transportation reform. (Streetsblog)
- House Rep. Edward Markey sees the climate bill getting signed before 2010. (National Journal)
- Driving numbers could be low again for the summer of 2009. (Wall Street Journal)
Today’s Headlines — 06/12/09
June 12, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- Boston’s Metropolitan Area Planning Council unveils a new plan for smarter development. (Boston Globe)
- Gas prices reach an eight-month high. (USA Today)
- The Energy Information Administration projects a steep drop in oil output around the world. (Grist)
- Transportation and housing costs for families can’t be disentangled. (Arizona Daily Star)
Today’s Headlines — 06/09/09
June 9, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- Last week, the Hummer brand was sold to a Chinese company — but some question whether the gas guzzler even deserved to live. (New York Times)
- A New Scientist article questions whether trains are a truly green mode of transportation — and Ryan Avent knocks down the challenge.
- The federal stimulus helps jumpstart construction of a new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey. (CNN)
- High operating costs for paratransit make providing good service to seniors and people with disabilities in D.C. a big challenge. (Washington Post)
- The economy may be slowly improving, but rising gas prices throw a hurdle on the path towards full recovery. (New York Times)
Breaking Down the Blueprint: Energy Efficiency and Energy Security, Pt. 2
June 5, 2009By Andrew Bielak
| The T4 America Blueprint has six overarching national objectives to provide a new vision and guide our federal transportation policy. If our transportation system is in need of a clear purpose, these six objectives are like the rudder that will steer the ship. To ensure that we can meet these objectives and measure our progress, we created 10 performance targets — clear, quantifiable goals for the next 20 years that are tied directly to the six national objectives. |
In our previous post breaking down the T4 America Blueprint, we discussed our national objective of creating an energy efficient transportation system that boosts our economy and helps America use less oil. Today, we’re going to look at this issue from a slightly different angle, by explaining how we plan to achieve this goal — and measure our success — through strong, accountable reforms.
It may seem obvious that our federal transportation program should encourage less fuel use. Unfortunately, our existing policies do the exact opposite.
Instead of giving Americans options like public transportation, high-speed rail, and walking and biking, federal policy still has a heavy bias towards new road construction, promoting more driving — even as Americans continue to drive less and use transit in record numbers. And while research shows that transferring even a moderate portion of our goods movement from trucks to rail would have a huge impact on our overall fuel use (not to mention congestion), recent federal transportation bills have done nothing to incentivize this smart and essential shift in our freight policy.
To jumpstart the needed transition to an energy-efficient transportation system and a secure economy, Transportation for America has created a road map to reform that includes strong, clear policies and programs that we recommend Congress adopt in the next transportation bill. Continue reading below the fold to learn more about some of the specific policies and programs we’re proposing to lead this transition:
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Today’s Headlines — 06/03/09
June 3, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- The Highway Trust Fund, which funds surface transportation projects nationwide, will need as much $7 billion to counter a shortfall in revenue. (Wall Street Journal)
- Alex Marshall stresses the importance of anticipating demand in transportation planning. (Governing)
- Gas prices near $3 a gallon leave some feeling stressed out. (Detroit Free Press)
- The Hummer brand goes to a company in China. (New York Times)
The power of the consumer cartel
October 16, 2008By Andrew Bielak
An editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune looks at a key factor behind this fall’s downward shift in fuel prices — the changing of Americans’ consumption habits.
In Gas Prices, A Silver Lining
October 15, 2008By Andrew Bielak
Falling demand is sinking gas prices, but frugal consumers don’t see their mileage climbing back up anytime soon. (Washington Post — Steven Mufson)
Pay less for gas, drive more?
October 14, 2008By Andrew Bielak
While gas prices are sliding down below three dollars across the country, many commuters may continue to save energy and find ways to get around that don’t involve driving a car. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune — Chao Xiong and Bill McAuliffe.)
Cash-Strapped Drivers Scrimp Despite Cheaper Gas
October 10, 2008By Andrew Bielak
Reduced demand and the worldwide stock market dive have sunk gas prices, but many Americans are finding few good reasons to start logging more miles on the road. (Wall Street Journal — Ana Campoy)
Reinventing American Transportation
October 10, 2008By Andrew Bielak
Transportation for America’s policy director Mariia Zimmerman pushed for a 21st century infrastructure system in an op-ed for PBS this week, outlining a five-point plan for making our transportation system cleaner, more affordable, and better suited to meet the needs of Americans. The entire article is posted below, and is also available on PBS’ website.
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- Atlanta-area transit system 14 days from shutting down, 2 million rides disappearing
March 17, 2010 - U.S. Transportation Department makes good on promise to ensure our streets are made safer
March 16, 2010 - Obama’s livability programs help rural America too
March 16, 2010 - Transit grants out the federal door, but what about the cuts?
March 8, 2010 - Transit riders in Atlanta face massive cuts, “wholesale restructuring” of service
March 5, 2010
- Atlanta-area transit system 14 days from shutting down, 2 million rides disappearing
The United States of Transit Cutbacks
Driving is down and transit ridership is at record highs. Yet transit agencies across the country are considering layoffs, service cuts and fare hikes. Find out more and learn what you can do to help at t4america.org/transitcuts
Transportation: In your eyes
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