Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Transportation for America

5 Things States Can Do to Bring Transportation Policy Out of the Stone Age

By Angie Schmitt | Jan 22, 2016 | 6 Comments

On its page commemorating the 50th anniversary of President Eisenhower signing the Federal Aid Highway Act, the Federal Highway Administration offers a “Then and Now” chart showing how much America has changed since 1956. It’s a little corny, but in 1956 Chuck Berry was a chart-topper, hula hoops were the new craze, and Cold War tensions were very high. The […]

5 Techniques That Guide the Best Regional Planning Agencies

By Angie Schmitt | Dec 10, 2014 | 4 Comments

“Metropolitan Planning Organization” is the wonky name for an obscure but oh-so-important breed of public agency — the regional planning bodies charged with distributing federal transportation funds. MPOs can be powerful, transformative agencies that enhance economic growth, save people time, and improve public health. Or they can do the bare minimum required by law and […]

Bi-partisan Senate Bill Would Give Locals More Say Over Transpo Spending

By Angie Schmitt | Sep 22, 2014 | 9 Comments

When it comes to transportation funding, cities and towns occupy the bottom of the totem pole. The vast majority of federal transportation money goes to states, to the exclusion of local governments. That means state DOTs get tens of billions to spend on highways each year, while mayors and local agencies have to scrounge for […]

Transformation for America: T4 Reemerges With Focus on Local Control

By Tanya Snyder | Nov 20, 2013 | 1 Comment

Transportation for America has been in hiding. Perhaps you’ve noticed. The coalition of over 500 organizations that came together to advocate for policy reform and adequate funding in the transportation reauthorization seemed to disappear for a little while after the dust settled on MAP-21. T4America, often called simply T4, provided analysis of the bill and […]

T4A Calls for Action Against Dreadful House Transpo Budget

By Angie Schmitt | Jul 19, 2013 | 10 Comments

Transportation for America is gearing up for a fight over transit, rail, and TIGER funding, and they’re asking supporters of smart transportation investments to make their voices heard. The new budget put forth by the House of Representatives would zero out funds for TIGER, strip $400 million from Amtrak and raid $500 million from a fund […]

T4A: One in Nine American Bridges Structurally Deficient

By Angie Schmitt | Jun 19, 2013 | 4 Comments

There’s a new report out on the state of America’s bridges, and with it a new raft of disturbing statistics. Nearly one in nine, or 11 percent, are structurally deficient — meaning a bridge inspector has rated a major component of the structure to be in poor condition. The average age of a bridge in the […]

Show More Stories