Research and reports

To help make transportation issues more transparent and understandable, we produce a wealth of original research, reports, graphics and interactive features, organized from newest (top) to oldest. Use the tabs at the top to filter the content.

Looking for something from pre-2017? It might be with our older, archived reports. 


  • Electric vehicles & smart growth
    Electric vehicles & smart growth

    This page includes all of our resources on how to reduce emissions in an equitable way—and that path includes the EV transition.

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  • Gas tax alternatives: A policy evaluation framework
    Gas tax alternatives: A policy evaluation framework

    Much of the discussion about alternatives to the gas tax in recent years has focused on the idea of “fairness”—ensuring that…

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  • Divided by Design
    Divided by Design

    Examining how today’s transportation measures, models, and practices were shaped by the racist history of the 1950s and 60s, and…

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  • Community Connectors portal
    Community Connectors portal

    Transportation for America’s Community Connectors portal provides tools and information for advocates to decode the complex and confusing…

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  • Guide to the 2021 infrastructure law
    Guide to the 2021 infrastructure law

    The bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure law now governs all federal transportation policy and funding through 2026. What do you…

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  • Driving Down Emissions
    Driving Down Emissions

    We'll never reduce our emissions without reducing how much we drive.

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  • The Congestion Con
    The Congestion Con

    The U.S. spends billions to "relieve congestion." But building new and widening existing highways only makes traffic worse.

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  • COVID and the Curb
    COVID and the Curb

    Here's how cities adapted their curbside management strategies to support public health and small businesses during COVID-19

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  • Repair Priorities 2019
    Repair Priorities 2019

    The nation’s roads are deteriorating, contributing to a looming financial problem, yet the condition of the nation’s road network…

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  • A guide to creative placemaking in transportation
    A guide to creative placemaking in transportation

    Creative placemaking is an approach to harness the power of local culture and arts to cultivate genuine public engagement on critical…

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  • Principles for Universal Curbside Language & Standards
    Principles for Universal Curbside Language & Standards

    The public interest must be at the heart of any curbside language and data standard.

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  • Learning from the 2009 Recovery Act
    Learning from the 2009 Recovery Act

    We have six recommendations to make sure that any future infrastructure stimulus actually creates new jobs.

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  • COVID-19 Emergency Stabilization & Economic Recovery Recommendations
    COVID-19 Emergency Stabilization & Economic Recovery Recommendations

    A smart growth stimulus can create the most new jobs and build lasting economic prosperity.

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  • The Green New Deal for Transportation
    The Green New Deal for Transportation

    Polling shows that Americans want more options than just driving. The Green New Deal for Transportation can get us there.

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  • Taming the TIGER: Trump turns innovative program into another roads program
    Taming the TIGER: Trump turns innovative program into another roads program

    A comparative and constructive critique of 10 years of USDOT’s BUILD program in three parts. What made it unique and how the program…

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  • Fight for your ride: An advocate’s guide for expanding and improving transit
    Fight for your ride: An advocate’s guide for expanding and improving transit

    This new guide offers local advocates and transit champions practical advice for making real improvements to public transit.

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  • Transit Supply Chain
    Transit Supply Chain

    This short paper illustrates how the capital improvements made to public transportation systems support thousands of manufacturing…

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  • Creative Placemaking Field Scan
    Creative Placemaking Field Scan

    How can transportation pros integrate artists to deliver transportation projects more smoothly, improve safety, and build community support?

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  • Federal transit funding threatened
    Federal transit funding threatened

    Both the administration and Congress have proposed either deep cuts or outright elimination of federal funding that supports transit…

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  • FAST Act Guide & Resources
    FAST Act Guide & Resources

    Our guide to understanding the shortcomings and opportunities in the 2015-2020 federal transportation authorization.

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  • VIDEO: Massive support for restoring Gulf Coast passenger rail
    VIDEO: Massive support for restoring Gulf Coast passenger rail

    A massive show of support from the people of the Gulf Coast welcomed the first passenger rail train east of New Orleans since Katrina,…

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  • Transportation 101 (2011)
    Transportation 101 (2011)

    New to federal transportation policy? This 2011 historical report is still useful to explain the history of the program, how the Interstate…

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  • Transit Financing Book
    Transit Financing Book

    The demand for public transportation service is at its highest point in 50 years. Communities of all sizes today are looking for funds…

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