Tanya Snyder
Tanya became Streetsblog's Capitol Hill editor in September 2010 after covering Congress for Pacifica Radios Washington bureau and for public radio stations around the country. She lives car-free in a transit-oriented and bike-friendly neighborhood of Washington, DC.
Recent Posts
Talking Headways Podcast: Let Them Drive Cars
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Quick quiz: What city is the world leader in highway teardowns? San Francisco? Portland? Madrid? Wrong, wrong, wrong. It’s Seoul, South Korea, which has removed 15 urban highways — and is about to remove another. In this week’s Talking Headways episode, Jeff and I talk about what can take the place of a freeway in […]
Denver Auditor Blasts Plan to Widen I-70: “Ten Lanes Is Not an Option”
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“Ten lanes is not an option. A doubling of the current width of I-70 through Denver is not acceptable.” That’s how Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher began a letter [JPG and JPG] last week to the director of the Colorado DOT. “I can’t tell you how incensed I am that the state wants to expand I-70 to […]
Paul Ryan’s New Budget Seeks to “Murder” Amtrak
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Just four months ago, the country was hailing a bipartisan budget deal negotiated by Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray and her House counterpart, Paul Ryan. It was a respite from the deeply partisan posturing over spending that has gridlocked Washington for years. Even better, it was a two-year budget resolution, meaning it seemed the next […]
Long Arm of the Koch Brothers Extends to Nashville to Slap Down Transit
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On Tuesday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean announced that he might do away with dedicated transit lanes on two stretches of the Amp, the proposed seven-mile bus rapid transit line that could set an important precedent for the car-centric city. Dean is the main political backer of the project, so the fact that he’s buckling says […]
Talking Headways Podcast: Play the Gray Away
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Jeff and I had a great time this week, getting all outraged at the short-sighted move by the Tennessee Senate to ban dedicated lanes for transit, and high and mighty about cities that devote too much space to surface parking at the expense of just about everything else. And then we treat ourselves to a […]
Smart Growth America: Sprawl Shaves Years Off Your Life
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Want to live a long, healthy, prosperous life? Don’t live in sprawlsville. Atlanta, I’m looking at you. Nashville, you too. Southern California’s Inland Empire: ouch. Meanwhile, break out the bubbly if you live in Atlantic City, Urbana/Champaign, or Santa Cruz — which all rank close to giants like New York and San Francisco as some of […]
Rep. Joe Crowley Announces Pedestrian Safety Bill — The Third in Six Months
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Rep. Albio Sires has his New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act (HR 3978). Rep. Earl Blumenauer has his Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act (HR 3494). And now, Rep. Joe Crowley has unveiled his Pedestrian Fatalities Reduction Act. The New York City Democrat, a supporter of Vision Zero, made the announcement yesterday morning […]
Transit Benefit Reappears on the Congressional Agenda
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The tax benefit for transit riders has zigzagged dizzily from parity with the car parking subsidy to second-class status. Currently, while drivers can pay for up to $250 in parking costs per month with pretax income, transit riders can’t claim more than $130. Could it zigzag back up? Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), who took over […]
Our Cities Can’t Afford So Many Rooftop Spas
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First, let me be clear: Tomorrow is April Fools, not today. This is real. There are luxury apartment buildings in Washington, DC, trying to lure renters with communal puppies. That sounds like the makings of a tiny tombstone engraved with “Tragedy of the Commons,” if you ask me. Who’s going to take responsibility for a […]
Today’s Headlines
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Unusually Harsh Winter Puts Extra Pressure on Scarce Funds for Pothole Filling (Forbes) Federal Funding Crisis Could Mean Colorado Doesn’t Get to Widen I-25 (Coloradoan) Teen Mom-Turned-Transit Guru: Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan Wills SF’s Transbay Center Into Existence (Examiner) Infighting Between DOT and MPO Could Cost Hawaii Millions (Honolulu Civil Beat) Suburbs Want Light Rail, Minneapolis Demurs […]
Tennessee Senate Tries to Cripple Nashville BRT
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UPDATE: Though none of the coverage we saw mentioned it, the final law includes an amendment to ban all dedicated transit lanes — not just in the center — “on any state highway or state highway right-of-way unless the project to do so is approved by the legislative body of the metropolitan government and by […]
Talking Headways Podcast: Knight Rider Rides Again
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It was a dark and stormy day in San Francisco and Jeff Wood stayed dry in Woonerf studios, recording the Talking Headways podcast with co-host Tanya Snyder, who was bitter that days after the spring equinox, Washington, DC, was getting hit with another snowstorm. But more importantly — what does the future hold after a […]