A threat to federal climate investment: Highway boondoggles
Too many states are using federal infrastructure funding to double down on wasteful, harmful highway construction and expansion.
Biking, walking & transit
The Latest on Biking, walking & transit
Important wins for Texas consumers this legislative session
Electric school buses can clean up our energy and transportation systems
Updates
Electric buses may be coming to a city near you
Featured Resources
Less driving is possible
Green schools guide
Why privacy matters – even if you’ve got nothing to hide
Destination: Zero Carbon
The Latest
Report: Getting off the hook of a predatory tow in Texas
Every year, millions of Americans have their cars towed without their consent from a private property or public street. While getting towed is a justified consequence of parking in the wrong place or for too long, most states don’t offer drivers the decency of basic consumer protections such as access to their wallets or medicine, or maximum rates for towing and storage. And that doesn’t even take into consideration those times when drivers believe they’re towed improperly.
Rethink and replace I-35
The Texas Department of Transportation is requesting public comment about their proposed expansion of Interestate 35 through downtown Austin. We don't think the project is a good idea; that's why we highlighted it in our annual Highway Boondoggle report. Here's what we had to say on the record to TxDOT about the plan.
Boondoggle blocked: Wasteful North Houston I-45 highway expansion halted
Statement: Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion
The United States Department of Transportation has reportedly told Texas transportation officials on Wednesday to stop eminent domain activities around a proposed multi-billion highway widening project that would cut through downtown Houston.
United States Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion
The United States Department of Transportation has reportedly told Texas transportation officials on Wednesday to stop eminent domain activities around a proposed multi-billion highway widening project that would cut through downtown Houston. Estimated at $7.5 billion, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) would widen I-45 in three sections, impacting more than 70 miles of interstate, worsen Houston’s already poor air pollution, and displace more than 1,000 residents, businesses, multiple houses of worship and schools. Bay Scoggin, executive director of TexPIRG, issued the following statement: “As one of the nation's worst highway boondoggles, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project would bring nothing but more cars and dirtier air to a city already drowning in traffic and pollution. The federal government’s recognition that Texas has not done its due diligence on a project which, by TxDOT's own admission, would displace thousands of Houstonians, is a crucial next step in the years-long advocacy against the widening of I-45. Let’s take a different approach to fix our congestion problems by taking cars off the road and investing this $7 billion in public transit.”
