The Tuesday after Labor Day is like back to school day in Washington. Congress is back after a month-long recess and the sleepiest month of the year in D.C. ends with a long holiday weekend before Congress gets back in session. With that in mind, we thought it would be good to do a quick [...]

It’s become a rule of thumb that those in Washington who currently hold office oppose raising the gas tax, while those out of office — or on their way out the door — almost unanimously support it. Why is this? Elected officials read the polls, and the polls keep saying a higher gas tax is [...]

A supermajority of America’s mayors surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors are clamoring for a reorientation in our nation’s transportation policy toward fixing what we have and investing in new options. Ninety-eight percent of mayors identified affordable, reliable transit as crucial to their city’s recovery and growth, according to a survey of 176 mayors [...]

A new report out today contains some fascinating facts about the federal gas tax – a subject sure to be of great contention as this new Congress tries to decide whether to raise it and how best to spend it. “Do Roads Pay for Themselves? Setting the Record Straight on Transportation Funding,” a report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Debt Commission Co-Chair Alan Simpson. Flickr TalkRadioNews Although 11 of 18 members of the president’s debt commission voted to move their deficit-reduction package to Congress for an up or down vote, the plan fell short of the necessary 14-vote super majority. Most notable to transportation advocates, of course, was the proposal to phase in a [...]

USA Today had a timely graphic up yesterday, considering the continuing media coverage around President Obama’s recent proposal for infrastructure spending and a reformed long-term transportation bill. Though we can’t see the rest of the questions or the context, it affirms a few things we already know about Americans’ attitudes about transportation. They want more accountability, safer streets, and more transportation options so seniors can maintain their independence and low wage workers can get to jobs.

Critics of public transportation say government should not subsidize a transportation option that cannot pay for itself. A new study conducted by SubsidyScope, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, reveals that not only are roads and highways not self-sustaining, but the amount covered by gas taxes is declining.

A recent California Supreme Court decision could restore billions in funding for public transportation in the nation’s most populous state. The Court’s ruling late last week upheld a lower court decision declaring the state’s $3.6 billion raid of public transit funds illegal and ordered that the money be returned to local transit providers.

AASHTO’s president says gas taxes need to go up. (Baltimore Sun) Protecting our climate and gaining more energy independence begins, and doesn’t end, with the climate bill making its way through Congress. (Reuters) The speed of spending federal stimulus dollars remains a contentious issue. (USA Today) Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar looks to [...]

Virginia’s next governor needs to be focused first and foremost on the state’s struggling transportation system. (Washington Post) Vice President Joe Biden says states need to forge ahead on building rail. (Reuters) The Christian Science Monitor argues for a gas tax increase. Blogger Ryan Avent calls out noted anti-transit advocate Randal O’Toole. (Streetsblog)