A new study looked at more than 300 metropolitan areas across the U.S. to understand which ones saw foreclosure rates drop the fastest during the economic recovery period between 2011 and 2014. The authors call this “housing market resilience.” It found that some of the most resilient areas were central cities with lower household transportation costs.
transportation costs
Test cases sought for Cost Effectiveness Tool
Smart Growth America has developed a new tool to help agencies decide which projects are most cost effective, and they are inviting transportation agencies to share past projects to help test this important tool. The tool allows communities to have a more transparent understanding of whether the long-range costs of a transportation project will be recovered via taxes and user fees, both with and without any state or federal subsidies.
Not so affordable HUD homes
A recent study found that 44 percent of HUD-subsidized households spend at least 15 percent of their income on transportation. When transportation costs are included, total costs for HUD-subsidized households were lowest in the most compact metropolitan areas and highest in more spread out areas.
New study links low-cost and free recreation facilities near work sites with active commuting
A recently released study has added further detail to our understanding of the link between commuting mode choice and workplace and environmental variables. The study linked residential proximity to transit stops and employer-provided free or reduced-price transit passes to commuters’ likelihood of choosing transit. It also linked shorter commuting distances and the availability of bike parking at workplaces to commuters’ decisions to bike or walk to work.
Equitable access to opportunity: The growing distance between people and jobs
Recent studies show that travel times and costs for all commuters are increasing, particularly in the past five years, and a recent Citi Premier commuter index documents average commuting costs. These costs are regressive in nature, creating a particular burden for lower-income commuters, who are much more likely to live farther from employment and have long commutes and travel times, regardless of mode. The inequitable impacts of this challenge manifests in lost opportunity for lower-income commuters.
Researchers assess performance of state transportation systems using sustainability index
New research from the University of Connecticut sheds valuable light on key policy objectives for improving the sustainability of state transportation systems. According to the research, states with high rates of automobile use and high VMT are generally ranked poorly.
Researchers assess performance of state transportation systems using sustainability index
New research from the University of Connecticut sheds valuable light on key policy objectives for improving the sustainability of state transportation systems. According to the research, states with high rates of automobile use and high VMT are generally ranked poorly.
Virginia drops retail fuel tax; states struggle with transportation funding
When Governor Bob McDonnell signs HB 2313 into law, Virginia will become the first state to completely eliminate the retail fuel gas tax. As revenues from per-gallon fuel taxes continue to drop, states are searching for ways to bolster their transportation revenues.
AAA: Annual cost of car ownership now over $9,100 per year
AAA’s recently released report on the cost of owning and operating a car estimates a mid-sized sedan carries an average operating cost of 60.8 cents per mile, or $9,122 a year. While auto use continues to increase in cost and trend downward, bicycling, walking, and transit modes are all on the rise. The economic incentive to reduce auto use is likely combining with other national trends showing a downward trend in per-capita vehicle miles traveled.
Poverty in the suburbs exacerbated by auto-dependency
A recent article entitled “Driven into Poverty: Walkable urbanism and the suburbanization of poverty,” proposes that, “Due to the scarcity and cost of urban housing, low-income people are being driven away from walkable urbanism and into auto-dependent sub-urbanism”. This follows a report by the Brookings Institution, which found that by 2008, the largest and fastest-growing poor population in the country was located in the suburbs.