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
President Obama Expected to Release Proposed Transportation Bill
| | 5 Comments
The news agency BNA is reporting that the president appears likely to release his proposed draft of a transportation bill soon. The administration is circulating a partial draft of its proposed bill [PDF], signaling that a release could be imminent. The administration rarely writes its own legislative language to submit to Congress, and indeed, the language […]
Philadelphia’s Battle Against Impervious Asphalt
| | 2 Comments
In Philadelphia, your water bill used to be based only on your water consumption, as in most cities. Now, under the city’s Green City, Clean Waters initiative, your bill is a more accurate reflection of your water footprint, including the amount it costs the city to manage stormwater runoff from your property. This has been […]
Put Your (Transportation) Money Where Your Mouth Is, Gov. McDonnell
| | No Comments
On Earth Day last Friday, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell issued a “transportation challenge” to the people of his state: to “try a form of transportation other than driving alone once every two weeks.” The language he used would please any reformer: Virginians must begin a fundamental shift in the way we travel to take greater […]
Without Adequate Federal Funding, Will States Raise Their Own Gas Taxes?
| | 15 Comments
Connecticut state senators just voted to increase the state gas tax by three cents. The New Hampshire House Speaker has proposed cutting theirs by five cents – but only for two months, to help drivers bear the pain of high gas prices. In Georgia, the gas tax jumps every time gas prices go up by […]
TIGER III Is Grrrrrr-eat News for Transportation Agencies
| | No Comments
News about an upcoming TIGER III award program is beginning to leak out. The USDOT isn’t planning to release a solicitation for proposals until early summer, but the language in the recently-passed budget bill for this year gives some clues as to what we can expect. TIGER’s survival was one of the happiest surprises of […]
Another Bike-Friendly Notch in Boston’s Belt: Bike-Share to Launch This July
| | 3 Comments
In 2007, Boston had one city block of bike lane. It was considered one of the world’s least bike-friendly cities. But Mayor Thomas Menino set out to change all that. The Boston Globe reports that today, Menino signed an agreement to create a bike-sharing network in the style of Washington, D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare and Paris’ […]
What the Feds Giveth, the States Taketh Away — From Bike/Ped Programs
| | 2 Comments
It’s rescission time again, folks. That Washington lingo for “gimme gimme.” We had a name for people who “rescinded” gifts back in elementary school but it’s ethnically insensitive so I won’t say it. Suffice it to say, if little kids call you a name for doing something, it’s probably not a super popular thing to […]
States Begin to Consider the Benefits of a Two-Year Transportation Bill
| | 2 Comments
As we reported yesterday, the buzz around a two year transportation bill seems to be growing, and there are sound reasons to set our sights on a shorter-term bill, despite the obvious pitfalls. Pro: Preserve higher yearly funding levels Start fresh on a longer-term bill in 2013 under a new administration or Obama’s second term, either […]
A Two-Year Transportation Bill? Some Say It’s a Better Deal
| | 3 Comments
Last week, we reported that Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) had mused aloud at a committee hearing that perhaps a two-year transportation reauthorization was a better option in the current political and economic environment than a six-year bill. “We don’t have a lot of money here,” he said. And at the current rate, under a six-year […]
Is the Realtors’ Survey Really a Ringing Endorsement of Smart Growth?
| | 4 Comments
Urbanists are celebrating the results of the National Association of Realtors’ 2011 Community Preference Survey, which, according to the NAR, shows a clear preference for mixed uses, shorter commutes, and transportation options. The survey shows that people are asking for more walkable amenities and shorter commutes: a good sign. But the survey is also rife with […]
$100 Million for HUD Sustainability Program Survives in This Year’s Budget
| | 2 Comments
With multiple versions of two years’ worth of federal budgets flying around, some details are still emerging about what’s in and what’s out. At the end of last week we heard that the FY2011 budget, which has been sent to the president for his signature, includes $100 million for the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. According […]
“Path to Prosperity” or “Road to Ruin”? Either Way, the House Says Yes
| | No Comments
By a vote of 235 to 193, the House approved the GOP budget proposal for 2012, which cuts $6.2 trillion more from the budget over 10 years than President Obama’s proposal. A big portion of that bite comes out of transportation. Compared to Obama’s plan, it spends $633 billion less for transportation. House Budget Committee […]