Our excessive expansion of the interstate highway system has destroyed urban downtowns—and it’s wiped out many small towns altogether.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Infrastructure, Sheppard, Transportation, Top StorySeairra SheppardApril 5, 2022highways, freeway widening, freeways, urban freeways, history, History, Small Towns, small towns, Infrastructure, infrastructure, transportation

Ignoring Induced Demand is Engineering Malpractice

In 2022, denying how highway expansions induce people to drive more should be considered professional malpractice.

#NoNewRoads, Engineering Profession, Marohn, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 4, 2022transportation, transportation spending, highways, freeways, Virginia, engineers, engineering ethics, engineering profession, traffic engineering, traffic projections, induced demand, #NoNewRoads

TxDOT Ignores El Paso’s Needs To Make a Grab at Infrastructure Dollars

TxDOT’s latest boondoggle: a highway expansion that threatens to cut right at the heart of downtown El Paso.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Infrastructure, Transportation, Top StoryRobert StorchMarch 31, 2022highways, freeway widening, freeways, urban freeways, El Paso, Texas, transportation, Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure spending

What’s Wrong with Engineering Values? (New Video Series)

This video series shows why engineers have such different priorities from the rest of us. As Planetizen puts it, “If you’re not yet outraged, prepare to be.”

Confessions Book, Transportation, Video, Top StoryRachel QuednauMarch 25, 2022transportation, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, engineers, engineering profession, traffic engineering

High Gas Prices Are Just One Symptom of a Much Greater Problem

When gas prices spike, the core issue we, as a nation, should be fixating on is car dependency.

Herriges, Transportation, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesMarch 17, 2022gas tax, transportation, public transit, transit, fragility, cars, car dependency

Our Fragile System Runs on Cheap Oil

Every time gasoline and oil prices spike, Americans panic—but don’t do anything to change the system. This is a cycle that cannot continue.

Upzoned, Podcast, Transportation, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 16, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, fragility, cars, car dependency, transportation

Triple Threat: National Experts Destroy “Reckless Driving” Narrative

Jessie Singer, Jason Slaughter, and Chuck Marohn join together in this must-listen episode of The Politics of Everything to explain why people keep dying on our roads.

#SlowtheCars, Podcast, Transportation, Top StoryLauren FisherMarch 14, 2022Podcast, podcast, guest podcast, traffic engineering, Pedestrian Safety, pedestrian safety, Safety, safety, #SlowTheCars, transportation

Freeway Widening for Whomst?

Widening freeways is no way to promote equity.

The Pedalling Pastor

This bicycling pastor’s new book offers valuable advice for any Strong Towns advocate—religious or otherwise.

Bikeability, Stange, Top StoryJay StangeMarch 9, 2022biking, bikes, bikeability, bicycling, Faith Featured, faith communities, human scale, walkability, transportation, active transportation, car-lite

The Reckless Driver Narrative Is Reckless. Stop Spreading It.

If we want safe and productive streets, we have to focus on the deadly design of our public spaces and not be distracted by the scapegoating narrative of the “reckless driver.”

Marohn, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnMarch 7, 2022traffic congestion, traffic engineering, Pedestrian Safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, #PedestrianUnfriendly, Safety, safety, public safety, Public Safety, transportation

Red Light, Green Light, No Insight

When we hand our whole transportation system to engineers, we shouldn’t be surprised that the values of their profession override the values of the public. It’s time for a new paradigm.

#SlowtheCars, Member Post, Transportation, Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodMarch 4, 2022transportation, public transportation, engineers, engineering profession, traffic engineering, canada, Canada, Winnipeg, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, #SlowTheCars

Are Electric Bikes a Passing Fad or a Revolutionary Transportation Tool?

And should I get one?

Bikeability, Quednau, Transportation, Top StoryRachel QuednauFebruary 24, 2022biking, bikeability, bike infrastructure, bikes, e-bikes, transportation

Sowing Our Roads with Salt Is No Way to Grow Stronger Towns

Because we depend so heavily on cars, what happens when roads become too icy to drive on? The answer: road salt. But there are serious consequences to relying on salt for road-clearing.

We Need to Embrace Traffic Congestion, Not Fight It

We’ve spent trillions fighting congestion so that it’s easy to drive everywhere. But we’re fighting a losing battle, and simultaneously losing our ability to walk anywhere.

#NoNewRoads, #SlowtheCars, Infrastructure, Transportation, Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnFebruary 21, 2022congestion, traffic congestion, traffic engineering, #SlowTheCars, #NoNewRoads, American Jobs Plan, infrastructure spending, Infrastructure, infrastructure, transportation

The Real Reason We Keep Getting Distracted by Transit Boondoggles

When it comes to transit mega project delays and overruns, there are typically two reactions: to trash the project mercilessly or unconditionally back it to the end. But there is a third option.

Infrastructure, Marohn, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnFebruary 14, 2022Infrastructure, infrastructure, megaprojects, Megaprojects, transit, commuting, transportation spending, infrastructure spending, Minnesota, transportation

Jeff Speck on Confessions of a Recovering Engineer

This week we’ve got a special treat: both the video and audio from a conversation between Chuck Marohn and renowned urban planner and walkability expert Jeff Speck.

Podcast, Marohn, ST Podcast, Confessions Book, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 7, 2022Podcast, Jeff Speck, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, confessions book, transportation, interview

Why Do We Have to Handle 30,000 Trips per Day?

When engineers say a street must accommodate a high volume of traffic, what they really mean is, "The design of this street must prioritize the convenience of commuters over all else."

Alaska and New Infrastructure Funds: We Promise Not to Waste It!

As of November 15, Alaska is flush with federal infrastructure money. How should it be spent?

The Bell Tolls for Thee, Maine...

Many local jurisdictions put off paying the bills for big capital projects. But this month, the bell tolls for Maine.

#DotheMath, #InfrastructureCrisis, Infrastructure, Stange, Transportation, Top StoryJay StangeJanuary 11, 2022highways, highway spending, toll roads, Infrastructure, infrastructure, transportation spending, transportation, #DoTheMath

Driving Went Down. Fatalities Went Up. Here's Why.

Americans drove less during the early months of pandemic, yet traffic fatalities increased—and have yet to go back down. And the “official” explanations for it are completely wrong.