Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Aug 28

Thanks to federal funding from Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) and changes to the MUTCD, #MadisonWI is moving forward with a series of asphalt art projects. The first one will hit the streets in September.

The screen shows four example projects and lays out Madison's Visions, which includes curb bump outs, flex posts, median treatments, and street parking.

One of the selected artists is Madison-based Bernie & Zuzu. The screen shows colorful art with bold colors.

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Aug 19

States are rethinking a long-held rule that often calls for speed limits to be *raised* on roads with excessive speeding.

#MadisonWI is one community taking a different approach, says @apnews.com.

States rethink a long-held practice of setting speed limits based on how fast drivers travel

Road safety activists and some states are pushing to depart from a longstanding rule that sets speed limits in the United States based largely on how fast drivers actually travel.

apnews.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Aug 15

Angie Schmitt reminds us, over a five-year period, 150 elderly folks (over age 75) apparently "darted" or "dashed" into the road before being killed by a driver—a finding by @kenmcld.bsky.social.

Why are pedestrians always "darting" (i.e. at fault)? - Streetsblog Chicago

How accusatory descriptions for pedestrian victims are baked into national policy.

chi.streetsblog.org

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Reposted by Chris McCahill

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Jul 15

A bit of news:

@wesmars.bsky.social & I are launching Look Both Ways, a new podcast where we’ll debate everything transportation – from street design to robotaxis to fare-free transit.

First episode will be recorded live on Thurs, July 17th at 6p ET.

Join us then (and subscribe) ⤵️

🧵

Look Both Ways Podcast: Episode 1

YouTube video by Look Both Ways with David & Wes

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Chris McCahill

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Jul 1

Summary from the always interesting @chrismccahill.bsky.social:

For better mental health, researchers recommend walking and biking

Staying grounded and mentally fit can be challenging these days. While some people turn to meditation or self-medication, a large and growing body of research points to a simpler solution: walkable ne...

ssti.us

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Jun 4

Eno reports the following changes in staffing since January 20:
- Federal Transit Administration: -30%
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: -25%
- Federal Highway Administration: -25%

That's 1,200 people, not counting another 854 at the Federal Aviation Administration.

DOT Job Cuts Already Over 30% at FTA; 25% at FHWA, NHTSA - The Eno Center for Transportation

May 2, 2025 - The Federal Transit Administration has already lost 30 percent of its staff since January 20, with the Federal Highway Administration not far behind at 25 percent.

enotrans.org

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · May 29

USDOT seems to be withdrawing requirements for a Safe Systems Approach and "all road users" from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Curious what others make of it.

Proposed rule:
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...

Rule from 2/21/24:
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Slashes Red Tape Across FHWA, NHTSA, and FMCSA to Unburden Americans of Costly Regulations

More than 50 burdensome regulations were axed from the Code of Federal Regulations

www.transportation.gov

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · May 9

Last week I received notice that FHWA’s INVEST tool—a resource launched in 2012 to help transportation agencies evaluate the sustainability of their programs and projects—will no longer be available starting this June. www.sustainablehighways.org

Welcome to INVEST Version 1.3! | INVEST - Sustainable Highways Self-Evaluation Tool | Federal Highway Administration

www.sustainablehighways.org

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · May 2

Madison's Common Council spends half its time on two things: "discussing internal council structure, and rezoning or development requests that almost always are approved and had already been studied and endorsed by city staff and commissions." madison.com/news/local/g...

Here's what the Madison City Council spends most of its time talking about

Disputes over developments and council policy occupied more than half of the council’s time. Property taxes and homelessness? Not so much.

madison.com

Reposted by Chris McCahill

The Overhead Wire @theoverheadwire.com · May 1

Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - Complex urban streets encourage safer driving link.theoverheadwire.com/h78mc SSTI @chrismccahill.bsky.social

Complex urban streets encourage safer driving

Reducing excessive speeding is one of the most effective ways to improve road safety—especially where people are walking or biking. While lowering speed limits and adding traffic calming measures help...

link.theoverheadwire.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 26

My staff at @innovativedot.bsky.social was just discussing this study earlier in the week.

One noteworthy detail: the typical community that benefited under the previous Justice40 initiative was around 52% Trump supporter. Under the proposed new policy, that moves to 73%.

Alex Karner @alexkarner.bsky.social · Mar 26

The 2025 DOT policy prioritizes areas with high marriage/birth rates and compliance with the administration's immigration policies. We show how the median tract prioritized under the prior Justice40 initiative was about 37% white. Under the 2025 DOT policy, the median tract is 83% white.

A series of seven panels showing population distributions for census tracts prioritized under Justice40 and the 2025 DOT policy. We examine changes by race/ethincity, poverty status, traffic proximity, "travel barriers", and share of the Trump vote.

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Reposted by Chris McCahill

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Mar 25

A groundbreaking new study found that the surge in SUVs from 1995 to 2019 reduced Minnesota's highway lane capacity by 9.5%.

Less lane capacity --> More congestion

Me, in CityLab 🧵

How SUVs Are Making Traffic Worse

As larger, taller sport utility vehicles took over US roads, they also aggravated highway congestion, according to a new study. It’s yet another ill effect of “car bloat.”

www.bloomberg.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 20

Many states are counting on strong electric vehicle sales to meet ambitious climate goals. Without federal incentives, reaching those targets will require much more local effort.

WaPo: The electric-vehicle revolution may be on shakier ground than you think wapo.st/4iGvNlq

Graph shows, without incentives, anticipated EV sales per year would drop from 7 million to around 4 million by 2030.

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 14

I just learned about Lunatrain from @hsrail.bsky.social. They plan to launch overnight train service along the East Coast and throughout the Midwest. www.trains.com/trn/news-rev...

Start-up Lunatrain plans private night trains in East, Midwest - Trains

PHILADELPHIA — A new company has announced plans to develop a private sleeper-train service connecting major destinations, and says it aims to have a demonstration unit in the second half of 2026. Lun...

www.trains.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 13

Travel times on certain routes dropped 6% to 10% after NYC launched congestion pricing, according to StreetLight Data. Most other routes stayed about the same. www.streetlightdata.com/is-congestio...

Before & After Congestion Pricing: From Staten Island to NJ to Manhattan, How Travel Times Look Now

Is NYC's congestion pricing working? StreetLight analyzed travel times on ten key routes to see how traffic conditions have changed during rush hour and beyond.

www.streetlightdata.com

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Reposted by Chris McCahill

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway @satyaformadison.bsky.social · Mar 8

This is Madison’s most recent ordinance change package to address housing issues.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway, city alders introduce housing package

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, alongside a group of the city’s alders, has introduced a package of changes to be made in hopes of diversifying and creating more types of housing, according to a City of Ma...

badgerherald.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 6

As #MadisonWI celebrates women in construction, here's Renee Callaway—the city's Assistant Director for Traffic Engineering. She's great, and she's retiring 😭

City of Madison Women in Construction Week 2025 Profile: Renee Callaway

YouTube video by City of Madison Engineering Division

www.youtube.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 5

Pedestrian deaths dropped by around 2.6% in the first half of 2024, according to @ghsahq.bsky.social.

But that number is still 48% higher than a decade earlier.

Early 2024 U.S. Pedestrian Fatalities Up 48% From a Decade Ago

Drivers hit and killed 3,304 people walking in the United States in the first half of 2024, down 2.6% from the year before but a staggering 48% above a decade ago, according to a new analysis from GHS...

ghsa.org

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 4

Madison's former Police Chief is settling into his new role in Seattle.

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · Mar 4

New Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes outlined his strategy in a presentation to the Seattle City Council, pledging the department would put scandals behind it and forge ahead with new resolve.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/03/04/c...

Shon Barnes at a Seattle City Council meeting sitting at a table

Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 4

"In Madison, an official with knowledge of the situation confirmed that a lease had been terminated for the Federal Highway Administration office, which employs about 30 people."

16 federal offices across the state appear to be closing.

DOGE Terminates Leases for 16 Federal Offices in Wisconsin

Many in Milwaukee and Madison, but also in Green Bay and Ashland.

urbanmilwaukee.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Mar 4

With the federal government abandoning its commitment to sustainability and equity, state transportation agencies have a larger role to play. My team produced a framework to guide them through. nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

State Transportation Agencies Can Still Lead on Sustainability and Equity. Here’s How.

Op-ed: Federal policy has become hostile to sustainability and equity. A new framework shows how state and local DOTs can take up the baton.

nextcity.org

Reposted by Chris McCahill

Alex Karner @alexkarner.bsky.social · Feb 26

A deeply reported piece on the state of transportation research. My tl;dr - it's quite bad and it's not clear how we come out the other side without building up alternative means of support and dissemination.

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Feb 25

The Trump admin is causing chaos in transport research. Studies have been canceled, datasets have vanished, and experts have been fired.

The Nat'l Academies’ Transportation Research Board has caved to Trump’s demands for censorship, triggering upheaval. Its future is in doubt.

From me (w/scoops) 🧵

The Trump Administration Takes Aim at Transportation Research

Researchers warn of a “chilling environment” as studies examining road safety and other topics are killed off and layoffs hit federal agencies.

www.bloomberg.com

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Feb 7

"Last Friday, we noticed that the main Complete Streets page on the Federal Highway Administration’s website had been removed—erasing decades of research, case studies, and proven solutions." via @smartgrowthusa.bsky.social @eicova.bsky.social

Federal actions threaten roadway safety efforts: What’s at stake - Smart Growth America

This post was written by Heidi Simon and Eric Cova. The Complete Streets movement was started more than twenty years ago to build shared energy and strategy for making our streets safer. As the conven...

smartgrowthamerica.org

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Reposted by Chris McCahill

Brendon Slotterback @bslotterback.bsky.social · Feb 7

SSTI is here!

State Smart Transportation Initiative @innovativedot.bsky.social · Feb 5

SSTI is helping shape our transportation system to be more sustainable, equitable, safe, and efficient.

We share the latest research, highlight innovative practices from state DOTs, and connect transportation professionals across the country to exchange solutions.

Stay up to date: ssti.us/blog/

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Chris McCahill @chrismccahill.bsky.social · Feb 7

And the latest reports suggest the number of people walking inside New York's congestion pricing zone increased 4.6%, compared to last year. This increase is almost three times larger than outside the pricing area.

NYC Sees Pedestrian Traffic Increase in Congestion-Pricing Zone

Pedestrian traffic on New York City’s busiest streets increased in January even after motorists began paying a new toll to drive into those same neighborhoods.

www.bloomberg.com

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