Federal transportation officials have never done much to center the needs of pedestrians in their policies or funding decisions. But in 2012, things took a turn for the worse.

A Hard Right Turn: The Moment the U.S. DOT Abandoned U.S. Walkers

<p>Got tips? Send them to me via Signal, the encrypted messaging app, at 207-310-0728. You can also follow me on <a href="https://better.boston/@cmilneil" rel="me">Mastodon.</a></p>


Christian MilNeil

A bar chart titled "ticketed civil violations of Mass. speed limit laws since 2013, source: MassDOT driver citation portal, drivercitationdata.dot.mass.gov. The chart x-axis goes from 2013 (left) to 2025 (right) and the y-axis from 0 to 120,000. The bars show a steady downward trend from 2013 (112,503) to 2020 (55,314), then rebound slightly and plateau around 65,000 in 2024 and 2025.

Policing

Mass. Law Enforcement Data Show Dramatic Decline In Speeding Tickets

A city street with a two-way bike path, separated from the rest of the street by concrete curb barriers to the left. In the middle distance someone is riding a bike on the path.

Street Design

Traffic Analysis Shows Newton Bikeway Project Reduced Car Traffic, Speeding, and Crashes

A crowd of approx. 60 people, some seated in four rows of chairs, and more standing against the walls, fills a room facing a podium where a white-haired woman is speaking in front of the Massachusetts state seal and two flags.

Traffic Enforcement Camera Bills Pick Up Speed on Beacon Hill

A camera inside a gray metal box mounted to a street light pole next to a "no standing" sign.

Legislation

Policy Riders In Governor’s Budget Proposal Would Legalize Speed Enforcement Cameras, End Debt-Based License Suspensions

A computer animation shows a flashing pedestrian symbol next to an aerial view of a city street where a large dump truck is about to turn onto a side street where a pedestrian is crossing the crowwalk. A note above the crosswalk reads "pedestrian detected." A green triangle surrounding the truck indicates areas where cameras are detecting bikes and pedestrians in the truck's blind spots.

Vision Zero

T Receives Additional Federal Funds to Eliminate Blind Spots On Buses

<p>Jesse Coburn is a reporter at ProPublica after a stint as Streetsblog’s investigative reporter, where his reporting received a Polk Award, a Sigma Award, and awards from the Silurians Press Club and the Overseas Press Club Foundation. Previously he was a reporter at Newsday and an editor at ARCH+.</p>


Jesse Coburn, ProPublica

Crashes

Trump’s U.S. DOT Is Rolling Back Safety Rules Meant to Protect the Public

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Thursday’s Headlines Need Alternatives

Four purple MBTA diesel locomotives parked next to each other on storage tracks in a large layover yard covered with ballast rocks. The Boston skyline is visible in the distance on the left edge of the photo.

Uncategorized

MBTA Teaming Up With Maryland  to Procure New Battery-Electric Locomotives

A crowd of passengers in winter coats waits to board a gray bus at a covered transit center under a white tiled ceiling.

Regional Transit Authorities

MBTA Restores Most Service, But Some South Coast Transit Authorities Remain Shut Down Wednesday

A view of a multi-track train station from an elevated perspective from a nearby building. A CSX freight train is approaching the platforms from the lower right. Several of the platforms at left are abandoned but there is a newer platform visible in the upper part of the rail yard. In the distance are multi-story masonry buildings of a small city.

Rail

Planned Springfield Station Expansion Anticipates More Amtrak Service in Western Mass.

New sidewalks under construction on Ruggles Street next to the Madison Park High School playing fields.

MassDOT

MassDOT Awards $6.6 Million For Municipal ‘Complete Streets’ Projects

A Red Line train arrives at the Charles/MGH outdoor station platform in a heavy snowstorm.

A Hard Right Turn: The Moment the U.S. DOT Abandoned U.S. Walkers

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More from Streetsblog Massachusetts

Thursday’s Headlines Need Alternatives

MBTA Teaming Up With Maryland to Procure New Battery-Electric Locomotives

MBTA Restores Most Service, But Some South Coast Transit Authorities Remain Shut Down Wednesday

Planned Springfield Station Expansion Anticipates More Amtrak Service in Western Mass.

MassDOT Awards $6.6 Million For Municipal ‘Complete Streets’ Projects

Transit Agencies Announce Cancelled, Reduced Service In Storm’s Aftermath