Road deaths are declining around the world, even as more than 1 billion additional vehicles have been added since 2011. The U.S., however, is not following this trend, highlighting shortcomings in how we measure and approach road safety. Other countries are taking different strategies, and those that have produced systemic changes in how vehicles, roads, and land use are designed are seeing better results.
Best Practices
North Carolina’s new parking law could reshape its transportation landscape
Under a new law in North Carolina, most cities and towns will not be allowed to set minimum parking requirements for new developments or changes in building use. This change comes amid a growing recognition that burdensome parking mandates worsen traffic, drive up development costs, and sometimes stifle development altogether. This shift opens the door for transportation agencies to harness parking management as a valuable tool for taming traffic and improving transportation options.
Transit projects don’t have to cost this much
Fires and electrical problems at Penn Station ahead of World Cup matches have contributed to a global spotlight shining on America’s lackluster transit systems this summer. The price tag for an upgrade at Penn Station? Seven billion dollars—larger than Arkansas’s entire annual budget. The United States has some of the highest costs to build transit in the world, but smart reforms and investment in public capacity could bring some of those vertigo-inducing price tags back down to earth.
Curbing our car enthusiasm: Streets designed for people
When we design streets primarily for people – recognizing instincts like how long someone will wait for a walk signal or where they’ll stand before crossing – small, affordable changes can make behavior more predictable and streets demonstrably safer for everyone. By shifting the focus away from cars and toward human-centered design, such as clear sightlines, comfortable waiting spaces, and safer crossing opportunities, we remove the need for people to dangerously negotiate vehicle-dominated systems to stay safe.
‘Just one more lane’ still emphasized in transportation engineering textbooks
Modern state DOTs and their engineers are grappling with a different set of challenges than they did in the 20th century. Some are shifting to managing travel demand and limiting vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) to make their systems operate more efficiently. But engineering education programs may not be properly preparing engineers for these new challenges, sometimes leaving them to learn on the job in environments that can be mired in old ways of thinking.
Transportation disrupted: Building a more resilient system
Recent spikes in gas prices expose a fragile system that financially strains car-dependent households. When prices rise, however, people adapt in surprising ways, especially when they have reliable options. Transportation leaders can seize this moment to take steps toward reducing car dependency and building systems that are resilient by providing more affordable travel choices before the next disruption occurs or if the current trends continue.
Transportation disrupted: Rising prices expose a vulnerable system
When gas prices spike, millions of Americans have little choice but to pay the bill. That is not just a cost problem. It is a sign that the U.S. transportation system rests on a fragile foundation shaped by land use and infrastructure that require a car for most everyday trips. At the same time, the transition to electric vehicles remains slow and uneven.
A transportation system that works for grandma benefits everyone
Designing for “all ages and abilities,” – meaning accessible curb ramps, bus stops, and safe bike paths – is not new to most transportation professionals. But meeting the needs of aging Baby Boomers will take a more systemic approach to building for all ages and abilities. Living in places with more developed and reliable transit and sidewalk networks where goods and services are close by is good for seniors, and for everyone else.
States DOTs can lead in cutting emissions. Our latest report explains how.
More states are now tracking harmful carbon emissions, setting ambitious goals to reduce those emissions, and exploring opportunities to meet those goals, even as the federal government walks back its commitment to public health and well-being. With transportation accounting for around 30% of emissions, more than any other sector, state DOTs play a key role. Several states—California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—have set an early example of what’s possible.
Bus lanes make busy roads work better
In almost every urban area, congestion has been rising for years despite expensive efforts to widen roads and add lanes for private vehicles. But a new study shows that when demand is high, repurposing the road space already available can boost system performance without any expansion. Creating dedicated lanes for buses and bikes can optimize space – and failing to do so can start a vicious cycle of congestion.