Mobility hubs can increase access for disadvantaged groups

For DOTs looking to create a more connected and multimodal transportation network, mobility hubs are an emerging piece of infrastructure that can make changing modes and traveling across a region more convenient and environmentally friendly. But not everyone has the same ability to access and use these hubs. State DOTs looking to build mobility hubs can incorporate the needs, ideas, and feedback of disadvantaged groups to better plan, design, and build these spaces for everyone who might use them. 

Want to respond to crashes quicker? AI could help

State transportation agencies are cautiously dipping their toes into the waters of “artificial intelligence” and “machine learning” to find applications in the transportation field. There are many potential uses, according to a new report, including opportunities to track assets like crosswalks, and to clear traffic incidents faster, which could lessen the need for major capacity investments. Agencies have also identified some lessons and pitfalls of the technology as they pilot new tools.

Moving from LOS to VMT is more complicated than it might seem

Traffic engineers across the U.S. are accustomed to measuring road performance in terms of “level of service,” or LOS. Recognizing its unintended consequences, many transportation professionals and advocates have urged the industry to replace it with something better. However, LOS has become so ingrained in many processes that there is probably no single alternative to its use. 

The scramble for larger vehicles is putting more Americans’ lives in danger

As vehicles grow ever larger in the United States, their “safety” benefits for drivers diminish while the danger for pedestrians and other drivers rises. From SUVs to oversized pickup trucks, the shift toward heftier cars has become normal for many drivers seeking a sense of security. But beyond a certain weight, these vehicles offer no extra safety to drivers and make the roads more hazardous for others. Removing just the heaviest vehicle fleet could save many lives on the road.  

Climate change, equity factor into recent litigation against state DOT projects

Pursuing statewide or agency climate and equity goals isn’t just preferable for state DOTs, it can also be a matter of risk management. Several lawsuits targeting major transportation infrastructure projects, most recently in Wisconsin and Oregon, have taken aim at alleged failures to consider alternatives to capacity expansion that would reduce harm to the environment or inequitable project outcomes.

Severe weather is pushing up the costs of car ownership

Ford’s Model T was a groundbreaking feat of mass production—cutting car costs by more than half over the course of a decade and spurring the massive rise in automobile use across the U.S. Those days seem far behind us, according to the latest reports. Transportation costs have risen by nearly 20% since 2022, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, and car insurance in some states could rise 50% by the end of the year.

DOTs can strengthen local relationships through quick-build street safety programs

Many local community groups have ideas for simple infrastructure upgrades that would improve street safety in their neighborhoods — but without official sign-off from departments of transportation, those ideas may never get a chance to be tested. Some DOTs have created official permitting processes for short-term “quick-build” demonstration projects, where these local groups can test their ideas for safer streets with temporary materials while adhering to official design standards. 

Climate change presents an opportunity for bolder transportation policies

Individuals concerned about climate change often support sustainable transportation policies, such as reducing car use or adopting new mobility solutions. Studies from Norway highlight how varying attitudes toward these types of policies can influence their effectiveness. While some groups back most transportation initiatives—whether they involve incentives or regulations—others resist any policies they perceive as restrictive.  Gaining insight into these diverse attitudes, especially among those neutral toward different strategies, can help shape effective policy. 

Dedicated bus lanes improve safety

The U.S. DOT is funding bus projects across the country that promise many of the same benefits as rail, but at lower cost. With dedicated lanes and stations that are more like train stops than a typical American bus stop, bus rapid transit (BRT) aims to move large numbers of people through congested areas faster than rush hour traffic. This sometimes comes with tradeoffs, like the loss of regular traffic lanes, but it can also offer unanticipated safety benefits, like curbing excessive traffic speeds, according to new research. 

States could fill policy vacuum in wake of recent Supreme Court ruling

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling expected to have sweeping impact across federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation. The decision, in a case called Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, gives judges more say in whether agencies are meeting the letter of the law. Under the previous “Chevron doctrine,” judges deferred to the expertise of federal rule makers as they interpreted laws to create rules and regulations. Now, judges will have more authority to interpret whether the rules federal agencies create match the law. That could provide a window of opportunity for those seeking to challenge a wide range of rules across the federal government, including transportation rules like a recent EPA rule that would force a faster transition to electric vehicle production.