LaHood with Mayor Fenty, DDOT Director Gabe Klein and Reps. Blumenauer and Oberstar. Photo courtesy of USDOT. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made a point of championing bicycling as a legitimate travel option everywhere, but he is also keeping an eye on his own backyard, including Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. LaHood joined DC Mayor [...]

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 [...]

Paratransit — which is used to provide critical transportation service for people with disabilities — faces severe funding challenges in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune) DC’s Metro tragedy makes clear the need for repair work on America’s aging rail system. (New York Times) Some city officials say the distribution of stimulus funds favors small towns and rural [...]

The U.S. House prepares to release the transportation bill in the coming weeks, but legislators have little consensus how to finance the next six years of projects. (Wall Street Journal) Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) looks to create “transit equity” in the new transportation authorization by adding more balance to the funding formulas for highways and [...]

With fewer drivers taking to the roads, congestion in the Washington D.C. area takes a dive. (Washinton Post) PBS looks at the transportation systems in Portland, Denver, and New York City for its “Blueprint America” series. (New York Times) Mayor Bloomberg in New York City issues a “street manual” designed to be a guide for [...]

Presidential candidate John McCain voted against a bill last week to improve rail safety and increase funding for Amtrak, but Republican legislators from Virginia are working hard to earn his support for a plan to extend DC’s Metrorail to Dulles International Airport. (Washington Post — Michael Laris)

Washington DC’s planning commission considers reducing or eliminating parking requirements in the city, giving people and businesses more options for using space in their neighborhoods. (Washington Post — Marc Fisher)

Some big cities are finding out that requiring home and business owners to have parking available — and helping to create loads of artificially cheap spaces – may not be the smartest policy. (Associated Press – Sarah Karush)

With D.C.’s new bike-sharing program, residents can pay a $40-dollar fee to use city-owned bikes for a year — and have a quick, easy, and fun way to get around the District. (Washington Post — Elissa Silverman)

In Washington D.C. and countless other cities and towns across America, biking is quickly moving from a hobby or a sport to a convenient and cheap way to get around. (Washington Post — David Montgomery)