While several states successfully passed transportation revenue packages this year, in Pennsylvania and Washington the failure of such bills will have immediate effects on infrastructure. PennDOT is considering weight limits for bridges across the state, and the $3 billion-plus Columbia River Crossing project, that would have replaced the existing I-5 bridge, shut down.
budgets
Budget woes force student transportation cuts
As the 2012-2013 school year begins, school districts across the country are looking to their student transportation programs for savings. But cutting bus budgets often means putting the transportation time and financial burden back on parents. More efficient school siting and safer walking routes could help both schools and families.
Impacts of the Recession on Public Transportation Agencies, 2011 Update: Survey Results (APTA, 2011)
This report summarizes the survey results from transit agencies that asked how they coped with decreased state and local funding following the recession. Download the full report here.
Rahm Emanuel orders Chicago employees to use public transit
In an effort to crack down on the city’s generous travel reimbursement policy, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a measure that forces city employees to use public transit for work-related travel. Under the new program, …
The allure and price of “greenfield economics”
In a recent series of articles, Aaron Renn provides some fascinating insights into the initial economic advantages of suburban expansion and the long-term costs of such development. Initial economic advantages for new suburbs constructed on …
A silver lining for austerity?
In an article entitled “Do Budget Cuts Drive Efficiency?” writer John O’Leary for Governing.com discusses whether spending cuts lead to greater efficiencies or merely a reduction in services.