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Are We There Yet? Selling America on Transportation

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

MILLER CENTER
The 2011 David R. Goode National Transportation Policy Conference caught the U.S. transportation policy debate at a crossroads in its decades–long history. Lack of progress on a transformational policy agenda combined with a sense of urgency about the need to maintain and improve the nation’s transportation infrastructure had both frustrated and energized conference participants. They agreed that another plan or more supportive rhetoric was not necessary. What is needed is tangible action. This report reflects that focus.

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Posted in Accountability, Aging Infrastructure, Highway, Infra Views, National, Roads, Transit

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Should Transit Serve the CBD or a Diverse Array of Destinations? A Case Study Comparison of Two Transit Systems

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: CENTER FOR URBAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

Introduction

This case study seeks to understand the relative efficacy of two classes of policies intended to increase the ridership and productivity of public transit service. One class of policies seeks to improve transit effectiveness by freezing transit service in the older parts of metropolitan areas. It is thought that higher densities of population and employment and the presence of pedestrian amenities in older areas induce higher levels of transit demand.

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Posted in Buses, Infra Views, Local, National, Policy, Public Transportation

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Wasting Our Waterways 2012: Toxic Industrial Pollution and the Unfulfilled Promise of the Clean Water Act

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

ENVIRONMENT MINNESOTA
Industrial facilities continue to dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into America’s rivers, streams, lakes and ocean waters each year—threatening both the environment and human health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pollution from industrial facilities is responsible for threatening or fouling water quality in more than 14,000 miles of rivers and streams, more than 220,000 acres of lakes, ponds and estuaries nationwide.

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Posted in Drinking Water, Hazardous Waste, Infra Views, Inland Waterways, National, Pollution, Wastewater, Water Treatment

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State of Charge: Electric Vehicles’ Global Warming Emissions and Fuel-Cost Savings across the United States

Monday, April 16th, 2012

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS

Introduction

Over the past 100 years, we have become increasingly dependent on our cars for meeting life’s most basic needs. For most Americans, getting to and from work, bringing food home from the grocery store, or going to the doctor means using one’s car.

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Posted in Clean Air, Environment, Infra Views, Pollution, Roads, Sustainability, Technology, Transit

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Keeping Seniors Safe and Mobile

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Introduction

Project Rationale and Background

By the year 2030, 19 percent of the U.S. population, and 22 percent of its licensed drivers, will be age 65 or older (Vincent and Velcoff, 2010; Lyman, Ferguson, Braver and Williams, 2002). Contrary to initial expectations, this increase in the proportion of older drivers seems unlikely to lead to large increases in the numbers of traffic crashes and associated injuries and fatalities.

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Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Infra Views, National, Roads, Transit

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Transportation and the New Generation: Why Young People Are Driving Less and What It Means for Transportation Policy

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

FRONTIER GROUP AND U.S. PIRG EDUCATION FUND
From World War II until just a few years ago, the number of miles driven annually on America’s roads steadily increased. Then, at the turn of the century, something changed: Americans began driving less. By 2011, the average American was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004.

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Posted in Biking, Infra Views, Local, National, Public Transportation, Transit

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Ready or Not: An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
Every region of the United States is potentially vulnerable to adverse water- related impacts from climate change. Some states are taking action by reducing the greenhouse gas pollution that contributes to climate change and by planning for projected climate change-related impacts. However, many states are not. Nonetheless, the effects of climate change on the nation’s water resources already are being observed. According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), warmer temperatures are causing changes to the water cycle that include:

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Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Drinking Water, Infra Views, National, Wastewater, Water Treatment

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Preliminary Analysis of the Jobs and Economic Impacts of Renewable Energy Projects

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
Historically, federal incentives for renewable energy development in the United States largely consisted of the investment and production tax credits (ITC and PTC) and the accelerated depreciation benefit for renewable energy property [the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) and the bonus depreciation]. Both the ITC and the PTC provide financial incentives for development of renewable energy projects in the form of tax credits that can be used to offset taxes paid on company profits.

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Posted in Clean Air, Energy, Green, Infra Views, Jobs, Local, National, Smart Grid, Smart Growth, Sustainability

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NextGen: Aliging Costs, Beneftis, and Political Leadership

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION
The aviation system that is part of the life-blood of our economy is poised to face rising demand with limited additional capacity and outdated technology. This could put considerable stress on the system in terms of congestion and efficiency. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) represents a series of incremental policies, procedures, and technological changes to modernize the air traffic control (ATC) system into a more efficient, state-of-the-art satellite-based system.

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Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Aviation, Congestion, Infra Views, National, Public Transportation, Sustainability, Telecommunications

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Guidelines for Providing Access to Public Transportation Stations

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
This report presents guidelines for providing access to rapid transit stations, describes a station access planning process, and provides a high-level station access planning tool. The guidelines, process, and planning tool are based on a detailed review of available literature and transit agency practices, as well as case studies conducted during the course of the research.

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Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Buses, Infra Views, Local, Public Transportation, Rail, Roads, Sustainability, Transit, Uncategorized, Urban Planning

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