Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Federal Funding

Rising or Falling, Volatile Gas Prices Underscore Importance of Transit

By Ben Goldman | May 16, 2012 | No Comments

When gas prices go up, it can be a big motivator for people to start taking transit more frequently. But according to a study released by the American Public Transportation Association and Building America’s Future [PDF], even when gas prices start to go down, the newly converted keep riding transit. The report, “Volatile Gas Prices […]

New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Federal Investment in Bike-Ped

By Ben Goldman | May 9, 2012 | No Comments

At a press conference outside the Capitol this morning, where gusty winds nearly carried off the visual aids (if it weren’t for a few diligent supporters), bicycle advocates joined members of Congress to unveil the results of a new survey about federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The telephone poll of 1,003 Americans, commissioned […]

Seven Questions About the Transportation Bill Conference

By Tanya Snyder | May 8, 2012 | No Comments

The first meeting of the transportation bill conference committee started today at 3:00. (To familiarize yourself with the participants, see Ben’s reports on the House and Senate conferees.) We’re live-blogging it, beginning to end, on Streetsblog Capitol Hill. It’s unusual for conferences to meet in public, and leaders have indicated that this won’t be the […]

Mileage-Based Fees or Bust: New Report Says “No More Excuses”

By Noel Popwell | May 3, 2012 | No Comments

The shortcomings of the current gas tax are well-known. The federal rate (18.4 cents/gallon) has not been raised in nearly twenty years and is not tied to inflation, yet it remains the primary source of funds for federal transportation spending. The problem is exacerbated by improving vehicle fuel economy. And as electric cars roll off the […]

FHWA: Small Investments in Bike/Ped Infrastructure Can Pay Off in a Big Way

By Tanya Snyder | May 1, 2012 | No Comments

If you ever doubted whether a small investment in biking and walking could have a large impact, here is your proof. The last transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, provided four communities with four years of funding to build an infrastructure network for nonmotorized transportation (a fancy way of saying “sidewalks and bike paths”). It wasn’t a lot […]

Five Ex-Secretaries Map Out a Communications Strategy For Transportation

By Tanya Snyder | Apr 24, 2012 | No Comments

If 80 percent of the American people agree that federal infrastructure investment will create jobs, and two-thirds say better infrastructure is important, why is the call for a robust transportation bill being made in whispers? And why is Congress already two and a half years late in producing one? There are many political reasons — […]

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