Transportation

Walkability Index Helps Journalists Highlight Planning Issues

Many local government decisions come down to a key factor: walkability. And that’s not just a question of transportation infrastructure. As the latest Reporter’s Toolbox notes, walkability is also an environmental consideration. To turn that simple truth into stories about the built environment, here’s a high-quality, mappable walkability index. How to use the database smartly, plus questions to ask that will get your reporting started.

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"Hurricane Science Has Come Far Since Katrina. That Progress Is Now At Risk"

"In the 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, hurricane scientists have made great strides toward understanding how climate change influences tropical cyclones, at the same time as they have vastly improved hurricane forecasting. Better forecasts, in turn, save the country billions every time a storm makes landfall, according to a 2024 analysis published in the National Bureau of Economic Research."

Source: NPR, 08/28/2025

Aging US Railroad Bridges Are Self-Inspected And Findings Are Kept Secret

"The fire burned for about nine hours, billowing smoke and scorching the wooden trestles of a nearly 75-year-old railroad bridge that spans the Marys River in Corvallis, home to Oregon State University."

Source: Howard Center, 08/25/2025

"Many Towns Are Unprepared To Handle Train Derailments And Hazmat Spills"

"A train derails and spills at least 1,000 gallons of hazardous materials in the U.S. about once every two months. Nearly half of those derailments resulted in evacuations; more than a quarter resulted in a fire or explosion since 2015, an analysis of federal derailment data showed. And many communities along the rail lines aren’t prepared to keep people safe when it happens."

Source: Howard Center, 08/21/2025

GOP Looks To Make A U-Turn On Electric Vehicles For The Postal Service

"A year after being lauded for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet, the U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding."

Source: AP, 08/19/2025

"Trump Admin Tightens Rules For Renewable Energy Tax Credits"

"Renewable projects have historically been able to qualify for federal tax credits once a developer spent 5 percent of a project’s cost. But that threshold would be scrapped under the new Treasury Department guidance."

Source: E&E News, 08/19/2025

Trump FTC Blocks California’s Emissions Agreement With Truck Manufacturers

"The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has declared that an emissions agreement between California and four major truck makers is “unenforceable” — paving the way for noncompliance with the Golden State’s pollution rules, which are stricter than federal standards."

Source: The Hill, 08/15/2025

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