Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Federal Highway Administration

STREETSBLOG USA

Finally, a Little Accountability for State DOTs on Bike and Pedestrian Safety

By Angie Schmitt | | No Comments
In a win for bike and pedestrian safety, the Federal Highway Administration announced yesterday that it will require state transportation agencies to do something they have never had to do before: set goals to reduce bike and pedestrian fatalities, and track progress toward attaining those goals. The news is part of FHWA’s roll-out of several “performance measures” […]
STREETSBLOG USA

The Feds Aren’t Crowing About the Record Amount of Driving in America

By Angie Schmitt | | No Comments
Gas is as cheap as ever, and cumulatively, Americans are driving a record amount. Newly released U.S. DOT data shows that through the end of November, Americans drove a cumulative 2.88 trillion miles last year, well above the same period in 2014, indicating that 2015 will set a new national record for driving mileage. Adjusting for population growth, driving […]
STREETSBLOG USA

Tell FHWA You Want Safer Designs for City Streets

By Angie Schmitt | | No Comments
Earlier this fall, the Federal Highway Administration proposed a major policy change: Instead of requiring roads that receive federal funding to be designed like highways, the agency would change its standards to allow greater flexibility. The implications for urban streets were huge — with less red tape, cities would have a much easier time implementing safer designs for walking […]
STREETSBLOG USA

Feds Propose Major Rule Changes to Eliminate Barriers to Safer Streets

By Angie Schmitt | | No Comments
Applying highway design standards to city streets has been a disaster for urban neighborhoods. The same things that make highways safer for driving at 65 mph — wide lanes, “clear zones” running alongside the road that have no trees or other “obstacles” — make surface streets dangerous and dreadful for walking, killing street life. The one-size-fits-all approach to […]
STREETSBLOG USA

Feds to Traffic Engineers: Use Our Money to Build Protected Bike Lanes

By Angie Schmitt | | No Comments
The Federal Highway Administration wants to clear the air: Yes, state and local transportation agencies should use federal money to construct high-quality biking and walking infrastructure. State and local DOTs deploy an array of excuses to avoid building designs like protected bike lanes. “It’s not in the manual” is a favorite. So is “the feds won’t fund that.” Whether […]
Show More Stories