A Time Series Analysis by the U.S. Department of Transportation finds national vehicle miles traveled resuming their historic climb.

Earlier this month, the Institute of Transportation Engineers released its "Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach." The 229 page guideline is designed to help agencies work toward improvements in mobility choies and community character by creating and enhancing walkable communities.

  Three federal agencies involved in the Partnership for Sustainable Communities have released a resource guide intended to help communities identify resources available to promote livable and sustainable communities.

The Partnership for Sustainable Communities was formed in June 2009 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

These agencies have pledged to ensure that housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change.

The agencies list the following Livability Principles as guiding their work: Provide more transportation choices. Promote equitable, affordable housing. Enhance economic competitiveness. Support existing communities. Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment. Value communities and…

  The Department of Transportation has released a study suggesting a number of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. "Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions" identifies options such as using low-carbon fuels, increasing vehicle fuel economy, improving system efficiency and reducing travel that involves high levels of carbon emissions.

“Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change is one of the great challenges of our time,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “Transportation is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gases, and the transportation sector must be a big part of the solution.  This report provides valuable information that will help us in our effort to protect the environment.”

According to the report,…

  New York City policymakers expect more than 9 million people will live in the city by 2030. Will zoning codes that require minimum off-street parking for new residential construction defeat the city's goal of improving traffic congestion and increasing affordable housing?

"Minimum Parking Requirements, Transit Proximity and Development in New York City," a report from the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban policy, combines a theoretical discussion of parking requirements in New York City with a quantitative analysis of how they relate to transit and development opportunity. The report was written by Simon McDonnell, Vicki Been and Josiah Madar.

The report finds per unit requirements are lower for the many lots near transit that, as of 2007, were underdeveloped and thus future projects will require relatively few new parking spaces. But the picture becomes less clear when…