Record-high gasoline prices are inspiring more Americans to celebrate Independence Day close to home. But those who live where they can walk, bike or take public transit to their local fireworks displays and other amenities are benefiting from another sort of independence - from gasoline.
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Without sufficient alternatives to driving, American families spent their entire economic stimulus check on high-priced gas. According to new analysis from U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), since President Bush signed the tax rebates into law on February 13th, the average household spent over $1500 filling their tanks. Gas costs were higher than average in areas without robust public transportation.
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On June 11, Scott Bernstein, CNT President, testified in front of the House Financial Services Committee in support of the proposed “Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (G.R.E.E.N.) Act” by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO).
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The launch of CNT’s new Housing + Transportation Affordability Index website has lead to news stories from Boston to Seattle and from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Austin. On Monday, NPR did a story on what it costs to commute in the D.C. area. CNT talked to individuals across the country who live in compact transit-rich neighborhoods about why they choose to live there.
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Update! The Housing + Transportation Affordability Index has received lots of attention around the country. From bloggers to the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal to other industry professionals, here’s what people are saying.
CNT’s new Housing + Transportation Affordability Index interactive mapping tool has just launched; the new website - http://htaindex.cnt.org - will enable planners, policy-makers, housing and transit advocates, and individuals to calculate the true costs of housing and transportation in cities across the United States.
Over the course of the past year, CNT and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership have held a series of webinars and workshops aimed at educating transportation advocates, government officials, developers, and citizens on the transportation planning process. These have been part of a larger project whose goal is to improve the quality of public involvement during transportation planning.
As mentioned in the most recent Time Out Chicago!
Maps are not only tools to get you from point A to point B. They can also expose visually an important story about resource patterns and trends of a defined area. They tackle social questions like, “Are Starbucks an indicator of gentrification?” or “Do lower-income communities have less access to fresh produce?” Depicting instances like these help community members and planners better deal with the needs of an area that may not always be clear.
Good news for transit riders and advocates: CTA “Doomsday” has been averted through the Illinois Legislature’s $530 million plan to cover the CTA’s operating expenses. Just what do you need to know about this bill now as it stands right now?
A bill substantially similar to the much lauded SB 572 just passed in the Senate. This bill provides a permanent funding solution for transit in Northeastern Illinois, reforms the governing structure of the region’s transit agencies, and sorts out the CTA pension mess. The additional funds it provides come from a quarter-percent sales tax increase in the region.
The November 4th deadline for when 39 bus routes will be completely eliminated while fares climb to $3 is a mere 2 weeks away, and with no plans to make a move before this first wave of devastating cuts, the Illinois General Assembly continues to wallow in dispute over funding schemes.
CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that combines rigorous research with the implementation of effective solutions. CNT works across disciplines and issues, including transportation and community development, energy, natural resources, and climate change.
Place Matters! From testifying before a congressional committee and providing the most fuel efficient neighborhoods to Forbes, to updating our Housing + Transportation Affordability Index with current gas costs and expanding I-GO car sharing as a option to owning a car.
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