Posts about Roads
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How addressing housing issues can reduce congestion on Maryland’s roads
Maryland has the third-longest commute in the United States, in part because of a mismatch between how people live and the available housing options. Keep reading…
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Frustrated with the lack of open space, DC residents are widening sidewalks themselves
In an effort to provide more space for people outside while also adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s social distancing guidelines, several DC residents are now placing traffic cones on neighborhood streets to effectively widen sidewalks. Keep reading…
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DC’s pedestrian council and neighborhood groups suggest ways to improve streets during the coronavirus crisis
Lower speed limits? Longer times to cross? Wider sidewalks? Close spaces like Cleveland Park’s service lane? These are some ideas that have been put forth in recent days to improve street space while people “social distance” amid the rising coronavirus infection totals. Keep reading…
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What alternatives does Maryland have to curb congestion besides building more highways?
Could the solution to highway congestion not involve highways at all? Here’s what that would look like. Keep reading…
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Removing one Confederate monument in Richmond is not just about racism—but safety
Public calls for Confederate statues to be removed from Richmond’s streetscape are not a new occurrence in Virginia’s capital; however, the focus of Northside residents’ most recent campaign to move one monument is not racism—but safety. Keep reading…
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People need to get outside and move while stuck at home. Opening streets can help.
The coronavirus has turned our lives upside down and forced people to stay home. But while this is necessary for public health in the sense of avoiding infection, people also need to get outdoors for their physical and mental health while being stuck at home for six weeks or more. Keep reading…
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Philly, New York, and Bogotá are making more streets walk/bike only. Should DC?
Cities across the world are trying out bold ideas to address the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. Philadelphia, New York City, and more dramatically Bogotá, Colombia, are closing off some streets for people on bike and foot only. Should DC and the Washington region do the same? Keep reading…
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More safety upgrades are needed along a deadly section of North Capitol Street
There were six pedestrian death on the North Capitol Street corridor in just eighteen months. This toll is heartbreaking, but not surprising. Along many stretches, the street’s design resembles a six-lane highway even though it passes through multiple residential neighborhoods. We need to change this. Keep reading…
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Traffic cameras that are swift, certain, and fair could enhance safety, not be “predatory”
Criminology research says that “swift, certain, and fair” punishments work better than infrequent, highly punitive ones. No word on whether this may also make people less likely to smash traffic cameras. Keep reading…
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Traffic safety may be subjective, but designing the road shouldn’t be
A fundamental tenet of Vision Zero is the explicit acknowledgment that the transportation network needs to be designed for the safety of everyone - people driving, people using transit, people walking, and people bicycling or using scooters, etc. However, most (but not all) transportation infrastructure has been built to facilitate automobiles and roadway design that implicitly supports motor vehicle primacy and safety. Keep reading…