State Smart Transportation Initiative

Americans are buying 5% fewer gallons of gasoline than a year ago due to higher prices. Oil supply has dropped at least 10% due to the war in Iran. ttnews.com/articles/hormu…

New state laws are pushing highway projects to offset added driving and emissions through investments in transit, biking, and walking. brookings.edu/articles/why-m…

A new study finds transportation engineering textbooks largely overlook induced demand, potentially leaving future engineers unprepared for modern transportation challenges. ssti.us/2026/05/11/jus…

Pedestrians in D.C., especially children, are more likely to be hit near schools than anywhere else in the city. The risk was highest in lower income neighborhoods, according to a recent Washington Post analysis. washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/…

One study found that states that loosened relicensing policies for older drivers saw higher crash rates among drivers 65 to 74. npr.org/transcripts/nx…

Many households are being priced out of car ownership as automakers focus on higher-profit SUVs and affordable cars disappear. It is a reminder why frequent transit, safe streets for walking and biking, and shared mobility matter. nytimes.com/interactive/20…

Maryland is looking at 134 acres of state-owned land for transit-oriented development around Baltimore. Its first site could produce 400 new homes and $27 million in tax revenues. cbsnews.com/baltimore/news…

California's landmark environmental law is changing how planners review new development, using vehicle miles traveled rather than congestion to measure traffic impacts. Researchers say better tools and stronger guidance could bolster its impact. doi.org/10.1177/036119…

Illinois DOT is working with the University of Illinois to identify native species to plant on roadside property that can support pollinators and even reduce snow drifting. idot.illinois.gov/about-idot/sta…

Bike networks may matter more than individual bike lanes in boosting ridership. One study found that effect of network density was more than 4 times that of installing a new project. doi.org/10.1177/036119…

People often cross where it makes sense, not just at intersections. A new Milwaukee study shows why better midblock data could help agencies design safer streets. ssti.us/2026/04/27/peo…

A new sketch-level web tool called SCOPE can quickly estimate the air quality and climate benefits of bus rapid transit, bike lane, and pedestrian projects. scope.itdp.org

Nearly $900 million has been allocated to expand transit and improve walking and biking infrastructure across California, with a majority of funding supporting rail, transit, and active transportation projects. transportationtodaynews.com/news/37472-cal…

Despite the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration backing the THOR-5F female crash dummy in late 2025, federal regulators have yet to set a timeline for incorporating it into vehicle safety standards. nytimes.com/2026/03/24/opi…

In Philadelphia, which installed more than 100 curb extensions over a 10-year period, crashes dropped by around 13% at treated intersections. doi.org/10.1177/036119…

Researchers find that America’s land use patterns are holding communities back from eliminating traffic deaths. By placing everyday destinations along high-speed roads, zoning continues to undermine pedestrian and bicycle safety. doi.org/10.1080/019443…

Partially automated driving may be undermining road safety, according to the head of the National Transportation Safety Board. Convenience-focused designs can encourage drivers to tune out behind the wheel. ttnews.com/articles/ntsb-…

Ridership on Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras Service to New Orleans has surpassed expectations. Despite sharing tracks with 6 to 8 freight railroads, its four daily trains are among the most reliable in the country. trains.com/pro/passenger/…

E-bikes and scooters are displacing four times more oil than electric vehicles globally—especially in places like China. theconversation.com/the-worlds-280…

In part 3 of our Transportation Disrupted series, we explore what it takes to build a transportation system that can withstand gas price spikes by giving people real choices beyond driving. ssti.us/2026/04/13/tra…