By James Hughes We all can identify a walkable neighborhood, whether we live in one or know what we expect to see in one: good sidewalks, connectivity to surrounding areas, and many destinations. But new …
Outcomes
Small pricing signals can help cut traffic
Transportation agencies historically have sought to cut congestion by adding capacity. Alternatively, modest pricing signals could be more cost effective and efficient at managing demand, saving public agencies much more in the long run. One example is the I-65 bridge spanning the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana. The bridge carried close to 140,000 vehicles per day prior to construction. The two states spent about $1 billion to increase the capacity of the crossing from six lanes to twelve, enough to handle up to 250,000 vehicles per day. To recoup some costs, a toll of less than $3 per trip was instituted, discounted for regular commuters. Once tolling began in 2017, daily trips dropped to about 60,000.
Connecting streets may reduce congestion without sacrificing safety
By Michael Brenneis Studies show that gridded, highly connected street networks improve safety, disperse traffic, increase access, and are more sustainable than more disconnected designs such as the “loops and lollipops” found in sprawling contexts. …
A small town transforms its main street and community
By Michael Brenneis The town of Hillsboro, Virginia, is celebrating the reopening of its main street—Virginia State Route 9—after extensive reconstruction. The installation of sidewalks, crossings, parking, and traffic circles at either end of town …
Traffic studies drive housing development to the fringe
By Chris McCahill Traffic impact assessments (TIAs) are commonly used by local governments to ensure that new developments do not cause excessive delay on nearby roads. There is growing cause for concern, however, that these tools have …
Perception and psychology may explain why drivers speed when volume is low
By Michael Brenneis Changed travel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced congestion and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), even while traffic deaths continue to rise. Evidence shows that open roads, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors …
A marketing trick to support safe speeds
Using the “left digit effect,” a group of researchers slowed drivers’ speeds with a simple change on speed limit signs.
Buffalo has reshaped mixed-use development by eliminating parking requirements
After eliminating its minimum parking requirements in 2017, the city of Buffalo, New York, has seen a notable drop in the growth of new parking, driven mostly by changes in mixed-use developments.
Road pricing reduces induced demand
A new study confirms that adding capacity to roads generates an exactly proportional increase in vehicle travel. Road pricing curbs this effect.
Bundling transportation projects can squeeze out smaller firms
Bundling projects can lead to less competition and can squeeze out smaller minority- and women-owned businesses in favor of larger national and international firms.