Washington recently became the first state in the country to authorize “shared streets,” a shift that could reshape how people move in cities across the state and serve as a model nationwide. The measure gives walkers and bikers priority, slows vehicle traffic to 10 miles per hour, and removes jaywalking restrictions. Washington’s law, signed in April, is a major step toward safer, people-centered streets.
Accessibility
Low-stress roads and bike lanes improve safety, not just comfort
Low stress roads make biking more comfortable, especially for people who are more risk-averse. But do they make biking safer? A new study suggests they do, countering concerns from some transportation officials that these facilities might encourage unsafe riding.
Connecticut DOT secures deal to limit project delays after years of collaboration
Earlier this month, the US Department of Transportation announced a “first of its kind” agreement between several federal agencies and the Connecticut DOT to speed up review for transportation projects. That agreement took years of relationship building with federal partners and other state agencies to complete, as well as adding specialized skills to the DOT’s staff over time.
15-minute cities don’t limit car use—they provide options
If cities want to reduce car dependency, it will take more than putting amenities closer together. New research from Japan reveals a persistent pattern: even when people live within a 15-minute walk of essential services, many still choose to drive. Without supportive conditions like higher residential density and safe, appealing infrastructure for pedestrians, people will continue to drive, even when everything they need is a short walk away.
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.
A transportation paradigm shift that we need is moving too slowly
Our transportation system in the U.S. is built and maintained largely on basic principles that are now a century in the making. The first principle: cities and metropolitan areas will continue growing outward. Second, almost everybody will drive. And third, by adding road capacity, we can prevent the system from breaking down. As a result, commute times have risen by more than 20% over the last 50 years and only the pandemic has offered any relief from traffic congestion. A new study now offers a fresh perspective on the current state of practice and some critical challenges to moving toward accessibility as an industry.
The work commute changed after the pandemic, new data shows
Research continues to shed new light on the post-pandemic changes in travel behavior and access to opportunities. A recent webinar with SSTI and Accessibility Observatory examines the changes in accessibility across the country, while a new study by Replica highlights new commute patterns in two cities. Both analyses show the lasting impacts of the pandemic on peak travel times, giving transportation professionals valuable insights for adapting planning and design in ways that will improve overall access and system performance.
Virginia hopes to expand transit access by leveraging data
All public transit agencies in Virginia will have free access to planning software, thanks to a new partnership with the transit technology company Via. This is one of several steps the state has taken to incorporate accessibility analysis into planning and programming, and to advance equitable transportation. Providing statewide access to data and software may serve as a model for other agencies as they strive for more equitable and effective networks.
Accessibility analysis may be at a pivotal moment for widespread adoption
Accessibility analysis, measuring the ease with which people can reach destinations, could shift the paradigm in the fields of land use and transportation planning. Where traffic speeds once reigned supreme, momentum is building behind the adoption of a more comprehensive metric. While uptake has thus far been somewhat diffuse among cities, metropolitan planning organizations, and states, those who have the capacity and resources to implement accessibility analysis find it a powerful tool for leveling the playing field between modes, focusing on the movement of people over vehicles, and centering the needs of under-resourced communities.
To increase walking, think bigger than the commute
For most people, changing how they get to work isn’t an easy task. According to the last national travel survey, almost one in ten people drive to work and only four percent walk. As Jeff Speck writes in a recent article for NextCity, events like National Walk to Work Day focus on a goal that decades of suburban growth and road design have made impossible for most. It potentially distracts from the changes in community design that would make walking more attractive, including for purposes other than commuting.