Newsroom

May 24, 2011

Obesity. Air pollution. Traffic congestion. Health disparities. All of these problems can be reduced by one thing: better land-use planning. We’re not simply talking about a matter of aesthetics. A recent article in The Globe and Mail discusses a study showing quite starkly evidence of a “new crisis of cities” – the negative health effects of bad planning and the disparities they create:

May 23, 2011

We harp on this subject because it’s important. And thankfully we’re not alone in doing so. As funding sources like the gas tax become increasingly insufficient for funding transportation folks are realizing that something needs to has to change. The devil’s in the details of course.

May 20, 2011

11,000 commuters took to the streets on two wheels today, celebrating Bike to Work Day 2011. The impressive turn-out was the largest in the regional event’s history and helped spread the message of finding alternatives to driving in single-occupancy vehicles. Coordinated by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), the event was attended by dozens of state, local, and federal dignitaries and elected officials who spoke to crowds of cyclists at pit stop celebratio​

May 19, 2011

Taxes are designed to two things: 1) to raise revenues to fund the government and/or to 2) incentivize a desired change in behavior. Part one is obvious. The government provides services such as public education or national defense that costs money and it collects taxes to cover those costs. That’s fairly straight forward. Of course it’s the politics – the what and how much government does – that gets tricky but that’s another topic.

May 18, 2011

In anticipation of Bike to Work Day this Friday May 20 we’re devoting this post to a discussion on the growth of bicycling in the District and the region.

May 17, 2011

To kick-off Foster Parent Appreciation Month, celebrated every May, nine outstanding foster families from around metropolitan Washington were honored at Nationals Park on April 30, 2011. For their exceptional job caring for abused and neglected children in our region at a moment’s notice, these nine families have been given the auspicious title of “Foster Family of the Year.”

May 17, 2011

It’s been a busy day but we still wanted to get in a short post and share with you an article we read recently to get your reaction

May 16, 2011

The Yardstick has been chock full of great information this spring and since it’s been awhile since our last round-up of some of our favorite posts we put together an updated collection. Now’s a good time to get caught up on anything you may have missed. Happy reading!

May 12, 2011

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) today launched the full service of the District of Columbia’s first wheelchair accessible taxicab pilot project, rollDC. Today’s launch caps the successful testing phase of the program that saw a seven-fold increase in use by people using wheelchairs. rollDC’s full service includes a fleet of 20 accessible taxicabs, provided by Royal Cab and the Yellow Cab Company of D.C., to serve people with disabilities using wheelchairs in the​

May 12, 2011

Funding Transportation Matters. It’s a really simple notion that bears repeating. As American roadways become more and more clogged we desperately need to be investing in alternative ways for getting around. Even if the environmental and climate impacts of traffic congestion – such increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions – aren’t a top priority for you certainly reduced economic activity is. That’s your wallet we’re talking about. For years we’ve known that traffic congestion r