Highway construction of the 1950s were a collision of value engineering, latent racism, and big government. Bulldozers loomed over families living on Almond Street who weren’t given any say. The game has changed over the past half century. New federal rules require states to explore how roadway projects will affect the communities they cut […]
Category Archives: Podcast
A look at the latest headlines from the states, agencies, and companies who shape America’s transportation network.
12
Aug
Aug
Georgia wants to become “The Roundabout State.” You aren’t going to see an official marketing campaign for that. But a decade ago, Georgia’s Department of Transportation issued a new policy. Engineers must now seriously consider a roundabout at every intersection they redesign. This policy is colliding with centuries-old history in the mountains north of Atlanta. […]
04
Aug
Aug
It’s likely your sandwich will get a ride in an autonomous vehicle (AV) before you do. For safety reasons, I’m completely fine with that. The bigger question is, how soon will GrubHub roll up in front of my apartment? The future of AV food and package deliveries will depend on how quickly tech companies work […]
26
Jun
Jun
For a few years, an Oregon program (unintentionally) charged drivers of “green” cars and handed over cash to drivers of gas guzzlers. Not what one would expect from a state which in the 1980s cancelled a freeway and used the money to build a light-rail line. Road User Charge (RUC) is a new acronym you […]
17
Jun
Jun
Data from the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) shows a bicycle rider is more than twice as likely to be killed by a vehicle than the national average. In 2016, data show the state had the highest percentage (4.3 percent) of auto-involved accidents killing a “pedacyclist” (person riding a bicycle). The national average was about […]
11
Jun
Jun
In Northern California, gold rushes are routine. The ’49ers raced across America to pan for gold in Yerba Buena. Silicon Valley generated several of its own gold rushes. The most recent, currently underway, produces a new millionaire every day. The wave of cash fuels job creation, population growth, and crippling traffic [News Release]. A business […]
07
Jun
Jun
“All we have are banana peels.” One of my earliest childhood memories was my Dad getting a laugh out of the state employee in response to his question if we had any produce to declare. This was the 1980s and it was still common for inspectors to stop every car entering California to check for […]
16
Jul
Jul
If you read a few of my posts, it’s no secret that I love new freeways. In one of my recent trips through California’s Central Valley, I was reminded of the non-monetary costs we all pay when there’s new construction. Westside Parkway The smooth new concrete, gentle grade, and baby landscaping plants offer the civil-version […]
23
Jun
Jun
This could be what the commercial district near University Parkway in Orem could look like in five years. While it isn’t the prettiest-looking solution, I think the city of Orem would open their arms wide to embrace a $50,000,000 solution like this. The Problem The intersection is terrible. Among the busiest in the entire state […]
11
Mar
Mar
“Since when does a highway have stop lights?” I’ll never forget my buddy Paul complaining to me about Bangerter Highway. He’s from Ohio, where the word “highway” means “freeway.” But putting aside English-language nuances, he has a good point — and one most Salt Lake County westsiders have complained about for over two-decades: Bangerter should’ve […]
09
Mar
Mar
I suppose it’s nothing special to Salt Lake to have a major rail corridor running within blocks of the central city. When it came time to build I-15 back in the 1950s and 60s, freeway planners routed the new road near this freight corridor. As I-15 was rebuilt from 1996-2001, most of the crossings were […]
06
Dec
Dec
I didn’t want to get in the way, so I waited until all the heavy equipment was parked for the day and hopped the “Road Closed” sign. Here’s the 500 West extension, facing southbound toward Westside Connector: Here’s where I approached the corner of 500 West and Westside Connector. The base material looks rather interesting. […]