The Surprising Political Difficulty of Promoting Infrastructure Safety In the NewsApr 18, 2024 The Surprising Political Difficulty of Promoting Infrastructure Safety Kevin DeGood writes in Governing about whether Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse could have been avoided. Apr 18, 2024 Governing Kevin DeGood
Guest Column: Massachusetts Should Embrace Decongestion Pricing In the NewsMar 21, 2024 Guest Column: Massachusetts Should Embrace Decongestion Pricing Kevin DeGood argues for decongestion pricing in a new era of transportation in a column in Streetsblog Massachusetts. Mar 21, 2024 Streetsblog Massachusetts Kevin DeGood
What California Can Teach America About How To Increase Housing Production ArticleMar 13, 2024 What California Can Teach America About How To Increase Housing Production Recent legislation in California has reduced the legal barriers to producing new housing units—everything from accessory dwelling units to large, multifamily buildings—when local governments fail to zone their communities for adequate housing. Mar 13, 2024 Kevin DeGood
Reforming the Governance of Metropolitan Planning Organizations ReportFeb 15, 2024 Reforming the Governance of Metropolitan Planning Organizations The lack of geographic balance on the policy boards that govern metropolitan planning organizations skews transportation investment decisions toward highway expansion and unsustainable land use. Feb 15, 2024 Kevin DeGood
Opinion: Transport Officials Should Embrace Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurements, Not Fight Them In the NewsDec 19, 2023 Opinion: Transport Officials Should Embrace Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurements, Not Fight Them Kevin DeGood writes in Streetsblog USA about the benefits of measuring car-related greenhouse gas emissions. Dec 19, 2023 Streetsblog USA Kevin DeGood
What kind of transportation future do we want? In the NewsNov 8, 2023 What kind of transportation future do we want? In an op-ed published by Route Fifty, Kevin DeGood explains the potential risks that integrating autonomous vehicles could pose if pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable users are not prioritized. Nov 8, 2023 Route Fifty Kevin DeGood
The I-35 Expansion in Austin, Texas Shows Why States Should Never Control Their Own Environmental Review Process In the NewsOct 30, 2023 The I-35 Expansion in Austin, Texas Shows Why States Should Never Control Their Own Environmental Review Process Kevin DeGood explains how a little-known loophole in federal law allows states like Texas to rubber-stamp their own environmental reviews—even when projects are harmful. Oct 30, 2023 Streetsblog USA Kevin DeGood
A Flawed Environmental Analysis Underpins I-35 Expansion in Austin, Texas ArticleOct 10, 2023 A Flawed Environmental Analysis Underpins I-35 Expansion in Austin, Texas Instead of supporting the expansion of I-35, Austin should redirect funds toward expanding public transportation to provide residents with robust alternatives to driving. Oct 10, 2023 Kevin DeGood
Public and Private Investments Are Poised To Transform Michigan ReportJun 15, 2023 Public and Private Investments Are Poised To Transform Michigan The historic home of the automotive industry, Michigan, stands to benefit from major infrastructure improvements and new plants for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, especially if it incorporates public input and builds worker power to grow the middle class. Jun 15, 2023 David Ballard, Lily Roberts, Marina Zhavoronkova, 4 More Kevin DeGood, Emily Gee, Jessica Vela, Karla Walter
Improving Safety, Accident Response, and Public Health in the Wake of Recent Train Derailments ArticleMar 21, 2023 Improving Safety, Accident Response, and Public Health in the Wake of Recent Train Derailments A comprehensive response to the East Palestine derailment must include safety reforms that will reduce the frequency and severity of future derailments; improve long-term health monitoring and access to health services; and reduce or eliminate toxic chemicals, including petrochemicals, from the U.S. economy. Mar 21, 2023 Kevin DeGood
5 Policy Priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization ArticleMar 20, 2023 5 Policy Priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization The reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration programs should provide dedicated funding for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes and airports, an increase in the Passenger Facility Charge, and decent wages and benefits for airport service workers. Mar 20, 2023 Kevin DeGood, Karla Walter
Tolls on state highways would ease gas tax shortfall In the NewsFeb 28, 2023 Tolls on state highways would ease gas tax shortfall Kevin DeGood explains why a well-designed, sophisticated tolling system in Michigan would not only ease revenue shortfalls but also allow the state’s highways to run more efficiently. Feb 28, 2023 The Detroit News Kevin DeGood
Reforming the TIFIA Loan Program To Advance National Policy Goals ReportDec 19, 2022 Reforming the TIFIA Loan Program To Advance National Policy Goals Major transportation projects should be judged on their long-term social, environmental, and economic consequences—not just their ability to generate revenue to meet debt obligations. Dec 19, 2022 Kevin DeGood
Fact Sheet: North Carolina’s Strategic Transportation Investments Law Fact SheetSep 7, 2022 Fact Sheet: North Carolina’s Strategic Transportation Investments Law North Carolina’s transportation project prioritization framework locks in highway investments at the expense of projects that would provide sustainable and affordable alternatives to driving, including public and active transportation such as biking and walking. Sep 7, 2022 Kevin DeGood
North Carolina’s Strategic Transportation Investments Law Is a Barrier to Progressive Transportation ReportSep 7, 2022 North Carolina’s Strategic Transportation Investments Law Is a Barrier to Progressive Transportation North Carolina’s transportation project prioritization framework locks in highway investments at the expense of projects that would provide sustainable and affordable alternatives to driving, including public and active transportation such as biking and walking. Sep 7, 2022 Kevin DeGood
Reducing Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Renewable Energy Generation and Demand Reduction ReportJun 21, 2022 Reducing Airport Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Renewable Energy Generation and Demand Reduction Congress should reform the Airport Improvement Program and the Passenger Facility Charge Program to prioritize stand-alone greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation, and other sustainability projects. Jun 21, 2022 Kevin DeGood
Colorado’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule for Surface Transportation Offers a Model for Other States and the Nation ReportMar 29, 2022 Colorado’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule for Surface Transportation Offers a Model for Other States and the Nation Colorado’s statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandate, and the associated planning rule from the state department of transportation, offers a model for how to effectively incorporate climate change mitigation into surface transportation planning and project selection. Mar 29, 2022 Kevin DeGood, Michela Zonta
Rewarding Regional and Statewide Progress Through Competitive Federal Grant Applications ReportDec 13, 2021 Rewarding Regional and Statewide Progress Through Competitive Federal Grant Applications In order to incentivize states to develop coherent transportation plans that advance progressive policy goals, the U.S. Department of Transportation should consider both the regional and statewide transportation and land use context when making grant awards. Dec 13, 2021 Kevin DeGood
To Tackle Climate Change, We Must Reform Land Use ReportJul 22, 2021 To Tackle Climate Change, We Must Reform Land Use In addition to rapid electrification of the transportation sector, Congress must reform its transportation policies to expand transportation choice—including transit, biking, and walking—and encourage infill development. Jul 22, 2021 Kevin DeGood
Building Infrastructure That Supports Opportunity, Equity, and Sustainability ReportJun 28, 2021 Building Infrastructure That Supports Opportunity, Equity, and Sustainability Generating a robust economic recovery that facilitates inclusive prosperity, redresses past harms, and advances national climate goals will require reforming federal infrastructure programs, which were not originally designed to meet these objectives. Jun 28, 2021 Kevin DeGood
Using Performance Management to Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From the Surface Transportation Sector ArticleMay 24, 2021 Using Performance Management to Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From the Surface Transportation Sector The next surface transportation reauthorization bill should require states and metropolitan regions to adopt targets that represent clear reductions in surface transportation GHG emissions that put the sector on a path to net-zero emissions by midcentury. May 24, 2021 Kevin DeGood
The Compound Benefits of Greening School Infrastructure ReportMay 17, 2021 The Compound Benefits of Greening School Infrastructure With long-term federal infrastructure investment, schools can deliver critical health and learning benefits to students while supporting the transition to a 100 percent clean energy future. May 17, 2021 Elise Gout, Jamil Modaffari, Kevin DeGood
‘Republican Roadmap’ to Nowhere ArticleMay 4, 2021 ‘Republican Roadmap’ to Nowhere The Senate Republican alternative to the American Jobs Plan would fail to invest in critical sectors necessary to create jobs and transition the United States to a competitive, 100 percent clean economy. May 4, 2021 Kevin DeGood, Trevor Higgins
A Framework for Strengthening Municipal Market Green Bond Labeling ReportMar 29, 2021 A Framework for Strengthening Municipal Market Green Bond Labeling Strengthening green bond labeling to include a ranking that accounts for the expected environmental and social performance of financed activities will help to increase capital flows to high-quality sustainability and environmental justice projects by eliminating greenwashing. Mar 29, 2021 Kevin DeGood
Achieving Climate Targets Requires Looking Beyond the Tailpipe ArticleFeb 11, 2021 Achieving Climate Targets Requires Looking Beyond the Tailpipe Federal transportation policy should focus on reducing per capita driving and supporting more dense development, including with expanded public transit and passenger rail. Feb 11, 2021 Kevin DeGood
A Call to Action on Combating Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Pollution ReportOct 27, 2020 A Call to Action on Combating Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Pollution The United States will never achieve its goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of its waters without implementing a comprehensive, aggressive program to reduce nonpoint source water pollution and polluted urban runoff. Oct 27, 2020 Kevin DeGood
A Reform Agenda for the U.S. Department of Transportation ReportSep 9, 2020 A Reform Agenda for the U.S. Department of Transportation The severe economic downturn caused by the coronavirus has created an urgent need to boost federal infrastructure spending and reform programs and policies to ensure they achieve the greatest social, economic, and environmental return on investment. Sep 9, 2020 Kevin DeGood
White Elephant Watch: Vol. 7 ReportAug 12, 2020 White Elephant Watch: Vol. 7 The Portsmouth Bypass represents a broken and deeply cost-ineffective theory of economic development that assumes reducing vehicle travel time—rather than investing in people and places facing economic distress—will unlock economic development. Aug 12, 2020 Kevin DeGood
Flying Cars Will Undermine Democracy and the Environment ReportMay 28, 2020 Flying Cars Will Undermine Democracy and the Environment Flying cars will turbocharge sprawl and weaken the social cohesion that comes from shared experiences and geographic proximity that is essential to building consensus in a democracy. May 28, 2020 Kevin DeGood
Climate Change and Municipal Finance ReportMay 6, 2020 Climate Change and Municipal Finance To address the fact that economic shocks caused by climate change will reduce state and local tax collections and increase infrastructure costs—creating additional risks for municipal bond investors—state and local issuers should adopt new climate risk disclosure standards to ensure accurate risk assessment and bond pricing. May 6, 2020 Kevin DeGood
Infrastructure Investment Decisions Are Political, Not Technical ReportApr 14, 2020 Infrastructure Investment Decisions Are Political, Not Technical Building infrastructure is an inherently political act of creation, and society must engage in deliberative planning processes with deep public engagement to determine what needs to be built and the type of future that infrastructure dollars should help achieve. Apr 14, 2020 Kevin DeGood
A National and State Plan To End the Coronavirus Crisis ArticleApr 3, 2020 A National and State Plan To End the Coronavirus Crisis A coherent, evidence-based plan is needed to reopen the economy without sparking a second wave of infections. Apr 3, 2020 Zeke Emanuel, Neera Tanden, Topher Spiro, 5 More Adam Conner, Kevin DeGood, Erin Simpson, Nicole Rapfogel, Maura Calsyn
5 Infrastructure Principles for a Fiscal Stimulus Response to Coronavirus ArticleMar 6, 2020 5 Infrastructure Principles for a Fiscal Stimulus Response to Coronavirus Infrastructure assets last for decades. It’s important that the federal government make smart investments to maximize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of any infrastructure investment. Mar 6, 2020 Kevin DeGood
The Limits of Risk Transference Through Public-Private Partnerships ReportDec 11, 2019 The Limits of Risk Transference Through Public-Private Partnerships Due to contractual ambiguity and political factors, public-private partnerships often transfer less risk than the public discourse and project-specific value-for-money analyses commonly assume. Dec 11, 2019 Kevin DeGood
Why an All-of-the-Above Transportation Strategy Doesn’t Work ReportNov 13, 2019 Why an All-of-the-Above Transportation Strategy Doesn’t Work To achieve safe, sustainable, and inclusive communities, states and regions must implement transportation projects that reduce driving and increase biking, walking, and public transit use. Nov 13, 2019 Kevin DeGood
White Elephant Watch: Vol. 6 ReportSep 19, 2019 White Elephant Watch: Vol. 6 The High Desert Corridor would promote low-density land use and single-occupant vehicle trips, running counter to the state’s climate and sustainable communities goals. Sep 19, 2019 Kevin DeGood
Reducing Carbon Pollution Through Infrastructure ReportSep 3, 2019 Reducing Carbon Pollution Through Infrastructure Investing in clean energy, transportation, buildings, industrial innovation, and more could cut more than 800 million metric tons of carbon pollution in 2030. Sep 3, 2019 Kristina Costa, Christy Goldfuss, Kevin DeGood
Building Interstate 11 through Arizona is a $7 billion waste In the NewsAug 26, 2019 Building Interstate 11 through Arizona is a $7 billion waste Author Kevin DeGood explains why Arizona's costly Interstate 11 project is a poor infrastructure investment and argues for sustainable, high-quality public transportation as well as dedicated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Aug 26, 2019 The Arizona Republic Kevin DeGood
White Elephant Watch: Vol. 5 ReportAug 8, 2019 White Elephant Watch: Vol. 5 Interstate 11 would lead to more low-density, auto-dependent development, produce significant environmental harms, and fail to address metropolitan area congestion in Phoenix and Tucson. Aug 8, 2019 Kevin DeGood
Building Progressive Infrastructure ReportJan 31, 2019 Building Progressive Infrastructure Congress should pass a comprehensive infrastructure package to create jobs and raise wages, tackle the climate crisis, and improve access to opportunity and social equity. Jan 31, 2019 Kevin DeGood, Alison Cassady, Karla Walter, 1 More Rejane Frederick
Understanding the Difference Between Safety and Access ReportDec 6, 2018 Understanding the Difference Between Safety and Access The autonomous vehicle revolution offers planners an opportunity to redesign the surface transportation system to be more accessible and sustainable by prioritizing the needs of pedestrians and other nonautomotive users. Dec 6, 2018 Kevin DeGood
The Importance of NEPA Review for Infrastructure Projects ReportAug 16, 2018 The Importance of NEPA Review for Infrastructure Projects NEPA provides the public with information about the potential impacts of infrastructure projects and helps coordinate federal agency review and enforcement of numerous environmental, civil rights, and historic preservation statutes. Aug 16, 2018 Kevin DeGood
Purchasing Public Benefits Through Public-Private Partnerships ReportAug 9, 2018 Purchasing Public Benefits Through Public-Private Partnerships The high-speed rail line proposed to run between Dallas and Houston demonstrates the potential value of investing public dollars in privately financed, for-profit transportation projects to purchase certain public benefits. Aug 9, 2018 Kevin DeGood
When Public-Private Partnerships Fail: A Look at Southern Indiana’s I-69 Project ReportFeb 15, 2018 When Public-Private Partnerships Fail: A Look at Southern Indiana’s I-69 Project The I-69 Section 5 project in southern Indiana demonstrates that risk transference through public-private partnerships is not guaranteed. Feb 15, 2018 Kevin DeGood
Trump’s Budget Reveals that He Wants Everyday Americans to Pay for His Tax Cuts for the Wealthy ArticleFeb 12, 2018 Trump’s Budget Reveals that He Wants Everyday Americans to Pay for His Tax Cuts for the Wealthy The president's budget pays for his tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations by slashing health care, education, and other critical investments. Feb 12, 2018 Seth Hanlon, Rebecca Vallas, Rachel West, 16 More Katherine Gallagher Robbins, Eliza Schultz, Heidi Schultheis, Kevin DeGood, Annie McGrew, Thomas Huelskoetter, Angela Hanks, Erin Auel, Stephenie Johnson, Ben Miller, Antoinette Flores, Michela Zonta, Rejane Frederick, Alex Rowell, Alan Cohen, John Norris
6 Things to Watch for in Trump’s Infrastructure Scam ArticleFeb 9, 2018 6 Things to Watch for in Trump’s Infrastructure Scam Trump's infrastructure policy won't support meaningful job creation or necessary updates to American infrastructure, but it will lead to dirtier air and water and may jeopardize programs that many working families rely on. Feb 9, 2018 Kevin DeGood, Alison Cassady, Alison Cassady, 1 More Rejane Frederick
State of the Union Preview: Trump Is Rigging the Economy Against Workers and the Middle Class ArticleJan 29, 2018 State of the Union Preview: Trump Is Rigging the Economy Against Workers and the Middle Class President Trump promised to fight for American workers, but his first year in office has shown that he is decidedly not on their side. Jan 29, 2018 Seth Hanlon, Sam Berger, Alex Rowell, 6 More Galen Hendricks, Regina Willensky Benjamin, Kevin DeGood, Eliza Schultz, Joe Valenti, Marc Jarsulic
Highway Trust Fund Cuts by State ReportJan 19, 2018 Highway Trust Fund Cuts by State The Trump administration wants to cut core federal infrastructure funds, including the Highway Trust Fund, New Starts, TIGER, and long-distance Amtrak routes, among others; these cuts will make it harder for states and regions to build critical projects, harming communities of all sizes. Jan 19, 2018 Kevin DeGood