USDOT road safety strategy finally acknowledges the importance of design on speeds and roadway deaths On the release of the new Roadway Safety Strategy by the U.S. Department of Transportation, T4America director Beth Osborne issued this statement: “We’re very happy to see the administration specifically call out the importance of road design on speeds and…
USDOT controls $200+ billion in competitive grants for states and metros While the bulk of the $643 billion for surface transportation in the infrastructure bill goes out to state DOTs, more than $200 billion stays with USDOT to be awarded via competitive grants to states, metro areas, and tribal governments—through dozens of newly created, updated,…
USDOT urges states to prioritize repair, safety, and climate with their influx of infrastructure bill cash Flickr CC image from Flickr/PeteReed Although state DOTs have always been free to prioritize repair, safety, or improving access for everyone across the entire system, most have traditionally chosen to use that flexibility to build new highways instead. With…
Reducing emissions with better transit, part two: Improve transit access Increasing funding for transit operations is a vital first step to help more people drive less, but there’s an equally important next step: connecting more people by transit to more of the destinations they currently reach by car. Bus riders wait at the Silver Spring…
TransportationCamp DC 2022: Everything you need to know about joining the virtual unconference On January 8, 2022, transportation advocates, experts, and organizers working on transportation issues in the DC region and at the national level will come together for TransportationCamp DC, a day-long “unconference” about practice, ideas, and opportunity. An unconference is an event where…
Electric vehicles aren’t good for equity, but we should try Electric vehicles, while vital for reducing emissions and meeting our long-term emissions reduction goals, are not a good strategy for improving existing inequities in transportation. But there are specific things we can and should do to make this transition more equitable than it otherwise would…
T4America statement on the passage of the 2021 infrastructure deal After Congress’ final passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aka “the infrastructure deal” on Friday, November 5, Transportation for America Director Beth Osborne offered this statement: “As we have stated before, the transportation portion of the infrastructure bill spends a lot of…
Federal transportation funding opportunities 101 With the imminent passage of the transportation infrastructure bill that initially passed the US Senate in August, the discussion now pivots to implementation. Federal transportation funding is confusing. New guides from T4America can help you understand it. Image by Picture of Money via Flickr The federal transportation program encompasses an…
Less than 30 days to speak out on transit funding Last weekend, Congress gave themselves until October 31st to pass the infrastructure deal (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA) and the budget reconciliation (the Build Back Better Act). With cuts on the way for the Build Back Better Act, it’s more important than…
Transit funds could crack under the pressure of the budget deadline The upcoming continuing resolution to fund the government and avert a shutdown won’t include transportation spending, piling on the pressure to pass the infrastructure deal and budget reconciliation. Congress could end up gutting the reconciliation package to make a deal. Image by U.S. Department…
Fix-it-first would be a win for rural communities From Wikimedia Commons The lack of repair requirements in the infrastructure bill will shortchange rural areas, costing them potential jobs and leaving them with crumbling roads and bridges that won’t get repaired. Our report highlights why using highway funds to fix roads and bridges would bring numerous…
A way to improve the infrastructure deal We strongly urge you to support the transportation programs proposed for the budget reconciliation package, which will help fill the gaps left by the bipartisan infrastructure deal. Photo by S Chia on Flickr Congress’ final infrastructure deal (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) didn’t live up to the…