Author Archive
Measuring what we value: Prioritizing public health to build prosperous regions
A new package of case studies released today by T4America, in partnership with the American Public Health Association, showcases a range of strategies that metro area planning agencies can use to strengthen the local economy, improve public health outcomes for all of their residents, promote social equity and better protect the environment.
Metropolitan planning for healthier, safer, more prosperous regions
How can the planning agencies in metro areas strengthen the local economy, improve public health outcomes for all of their residents, promote social equity and better protect the environment? Join us for the story of how a handful of metro areas have found smart, data-driven ways to better conceive, select and build the transportation projects to better meet those regional goals.
How can cities embed creativity through artist-in-residence programs?
Join us for the second webinar in our series further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development, as we discuss two cities’ artist-in-residence programs.
State legislative stalemate jeopardizing millions in federal transit funding for Minneapolis rail project
Business leaders and suburban mayors in the Twin Cities are pleading with state legislators not to throw away dedicated federal funding for a long-planned regional transit expansion by dropping the state’s financial commitment.
USDOT faces widespread opposition to proposed congestion rule
Nearly 5,000 individuals and 150 organizations — including dozens of local chambers of commerce and elected officials — joined with T4America to oppose USDOT’s flawed proposal for measuring traffic congestion and urge them to rethink their approach.
Time is running out to tell USDOT to measure more than just vehicles
These two streets are very different. Why does the U.S. Department of Transportation want to measure their success the same way?
Applications are open for T4America’s smart city collaborative
Today, Transportation for America opened the application process for our national, multi-city collaborative with Sidewalk Labs. This partnership, announced back on June 1st, will help cities use technology to meet their pressing transportation challenges.
A large congressional delegation asks USDOT to improve the proposed congestion rule
Earlier this week, a large group of senators and representatives sent a letter to USDOT Secretary Foxx, requesting that USDOT change a flawed proposed rule for measuring congestion. They asked that USDOT assess the movement of people, rather than vehicles, as a better measure of congestion and reward the improvements that can come from transit, toll lanes, or encouraging travelers to choose other options like walking or biking.
Three separate ballot measures for transportation in the Atlanta region cleared to proceed
After the crushing defeat of a huge regional transportation ballot measure in 2012, Atlanta is poised to rebound this fall. After recent action by city and county leaders to place measures on the ballot, voters in the Atlanta region will be making at least three critical decisions this fall about sizable new investments in transportation.
Catch up on the launch of our guide to the FAST Act
Last week, we launched our guide to the FAST Act, covering the shortcomings, omissions and opportunities in the federal transportation law that sets policy and funding for transportation until the year 2020. Download your copy of the guide below and if you missed the launch webinar, catch up with the presentation at the end of this post.
What would a better measure of congestion look like? Unpacking an alternative
USDOT’s draft rule that will govern how states and metro areas will have to measure and address congestion would define “success” in incredibly outdated ways. In a webinar earlier this week, we discussed better ways to measure congestion and a proposal we’re sending to USDOT.
Crucial transportation and transit-related ballot measures coming up in 2016
Throughout 2016, ballot measures and referenda that will raise new revenue for transportation at the local or state level will be decided during elections across the country. As in years past, we’ll be keeping a close eye on several of the most notable questions in the 2016 edition of Transportation Vote.
Join us on 7/14 for the release of a helpful new guide to the FAST Act transportation law
Next week, T4America will be releasing a new guidebook intended to help you understand the changes made in 2015’s five-year transportation law and provide you with the necessary information to best leverage the federal transportation program. Sign up for a kickoff webinar next Thursday afternoon and get your copy by email first.
USDOT’s congestion measure is not good — what would a better one look like?
Thousands of you have sent letters to USDOT on their draft rule that will govern how states and metro areas will have to measure and address congestion — a proposal that currently defines “success” in outdated ways. It’s clear that USDOT’s proposed measure doesn’t cut it, but if you want to hear more about a better way to measure congestion, join us next week.
How can we reinvigorate and refocus our country’s transportation program?
For those of you in DC, join us on Capitol Hill today for a short briefing about our nation’s transportation policy, programs and governance structure; and how to wisely increase investment in transportation. T4America’s Beth Osborne will be testifying and discussing a recent paper that she authored for The Century Foundation’s Bernard L. Schwartz Rediscovering Government Initiative.
Join us for the release of Planning for a Healthier Future
Thanks to 2012’s MAP-21 legislation, all metro areas and states will soon be using a limited array of performance measures. While the in-progress federal requirements will cover a limited range of measures, T4America is releasing a new resource to help advocates and especially metropolitan planning agencies utilize find ways to use performance measures to improve public health, address social equity concerns, and advance environmental quality.
California officially dumped the outdated “level of service” metric — your state should too
California made a small but crucial change to how they measure the performance of their streets in 2013, shifting away from a narrow focus on moving as many cars as fast as possible and taking a more holistic view and measuring a street’s performance against a broader list of other important goals. So what is this outdated “level of service” measure and how can other states follow California’s lead?
T4America is partnering with Sidewalk Labs to help cities thoughtfully use technology to solve their transportation challenges
With 77 hopeful cities leaving USDOT’s Smart Cities challenge empty-handed after the winner is announced later this month, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Sidewalk Labs to help those cities and others develop efficient and affordable transportation options for all by thoughtfully and intentionally using emerging technologies.
After years of trying to slash funding, the House proposes solid funding for next round of TIGER grants
After several years of consistently trying to cut or outright eliminate the program’s funding entirely, House appropriators last week approved $450 million for competitive TIGER grants within the annual budget bill for all transportation and housing programs.
Feds get out of the way of communities that want to design safer, more complete streets
Two encouraging moves made by the Federal Highways Administration in the last week clear the way for states, metro areas and local communities to use their federal dollars to design safer, more complete streets.
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