Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Around the Block

Is Portland Losing Its Resolve Against Highway Expansions?

By Angie Schmitt | Apr 5, 2017 | No Comments

In the 1970s, some American cities revolted against highway expansion and kept the worst excesses of the interstate construction spree in check. Those cities tend to be the most walkable and transit-oriented places in the nation today. But in Portland that legacy is in jeopardy.

Atlanta’s I-85 Collapse — Another “Carmaggedon” That Wasn’t

By Angie Schmitt | Apr 4, 2017 | No Comments

When a heavily-traveled section of Atlanta's I-85 collapsed in a fire last week, the traffic predictions were dire. But the highway disruption appears to be another case of "carmaggedon" that never materialized.

The GOP Case for Cutting Federal Transit Funding Isn’t Principled — It’s Tribalism

By Angie Schmitt | Apr 3, 2017 | No Comments

The insistence that transit is a local issue while highways are a national concern is an article of faith at right-wing think tanks. But highways mostly serve the same type of trips that Republicans believe are inappropriate for federal funding.

Why Do Teenage Girls Lose Interest in Biking?

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 29, 2017 | No Comments

Jennifer Dill at Portland State University is taking a close look at why girls' attitudes about biking change over time. In a study of 300 Portland-area families, she observed that a gender gap in attitudes toward cycling isn't apparent in younger kids, but when girls reach adolescence, they don't view cycling as positively as boys do.

Highway Projects Won’t Save the Rust Belt

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 28, 2017 | No Comments

Highway mega-projects remain tempting to struggling cities and regions in the Rust Belt. But evidence shows they shift economic activity away from existing business districts and don't generate lasting improvements.

Nashville Is Ready to Embrace Transit

By Angie Schmitt | Mar 27, 2017 | No Comments

Regional planners have put together a $6 billion transit expansion plan that calls for four light rail lines, three bus rapid transit routes, a commuter rail connection, and more. And it looks like a referendum in Nashville would fare well.

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