Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Highway Expansion

State DOTs Mark Earth Day by Pressing a More Road-Centric ‘Livability’

By Elana Schor | Apr 22, 2010 | 3 Comments

As the Obama administration’s inter-agency sustainable communities project commands a growing share of attention and funding in Washington, the response from conservatives and business lobbies has been decidedly less than enthusiastic. Washington D.C.’s bike sharing stations, above, got a prominent mention in the AASHTO report. (Photo: afagen via Flickr) When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued […]

Transport Contractors Urge White House to Revamp Enviro Review Rules

By Elana Schor | Apr 12, 2010 | 7 Comments

The trade group representing private-sector transportation contractors is urging the Obama administration to change the way environmental reviews are conducted for infrastructure projects, proposing to favor "categorical exclusions" (CEs) from federal review rules over the lengthier process of measuring the environmental impact of construction work. Environmental reviews added an estimated $1 million to the cost […]

New Poll: 27% of Public Would Cut Transit Aid, Versus 12% for Highways

By Elana Schor | Apr 8, 2010 | 6 Comments

(Graphic: Annie Lowrey) The latest weekly edition of the Economist/YouGov poll asks where, if a balanced federal budget were the goal, the American public would rather see cuts to federal spending. As the chart above shows, transit was given the theoretical axe by 27 percent of respondents, tied with agriculture and housing but far behind […]

Senate Starts Work on New Transport Bill, With House Version as a Guide

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | 6 Comments

The Senate today took its first steps towards voting on a new long-term federal transportation bill, with environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) vowing to take up a successor to the 2005 infrastructure law before 2011 and indicating she would use the House’s already-introduced version as a framework. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), […]

New Dem Campaign Brands Stimulus Critics as ‘Highway Hypocrites’

By Elana Schor | Mar 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined others in her party in voting against the stimulus before praising its local impact. (Photo: Seattle Times) As more media outlets note the phenomenon of GOP lawmakers who voted against the Obama administration’s economic stimulus law before seeking — and taking credit for winning — a share of its […]

TCS: Disputed Transport Provision in Jobs Bill Rewarded Political Clout

By Elana Schor | Mar 2, 2010 | No Comments

A provision in the Senate jobs bill that would distribute $932 million in 2010 transportation funding based on existing earmarks is in line for a quick fix, thanks to a deal struck on Friday between House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Democratic leaders in the upper chamber. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), […]

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