By Todd Solomon
U.S. Department of Transportation Blog
This morning in the Fast Lane, Secretary Foxx reiterated the warning of our Beyond Traffic draft 30-year transportation forecast: “A tidal wave is coming for us in transportation, a wave of people and freight….Our infrastructure system, which struggles to meet its current challenges, won’t be able to ride the coming wave. Especially when you consider today’s transportation funding situation.”
Fortunately, many communities across the U.S. — like those in our Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets— have embraced an approach that reduces roadway congestion and stretches our transportation dollars: bicycle infrastructure. Even better, improving bicycle infrastructure boosts economic growth.
In Texas, for example, the City of Austin estimates that a planned protected bike lane network will increase the city’s traffic capacity by 25,000 trips a day. And, a report from the New York City DOT shows that installation of protected bike lanes on Columbus Avenue actually led to a 35 percent decrease in vehicle travel time.
Read full coverage here.