Under federal tax law, a commuter can shelter up to $115 a month, or $1,380 a year, in pre-tax dollars to help pay commuting expenses. But few employers provide programs that would allow their employees to take advantage of this. San Francisco recently became the nation's first to require businesses with more than 20 employees to offer transit benefit programs -- and Chicago may soon follow.

Cleveland's new bus rapid transit project, the Health Line, is already a great boon to the city and represents a model of wise infrastructure investment.

The San Antonio Express-News presents a series of posts on energy and transportation relating to a proposed light rail system -- contrasting San Antonio's development and transportation patterns with those of Portland, Ore. San Antonio formed a transportation task force in June 2008 to ensure mobility in the face of rising energy costs.

Portland bicycle planners have often employed the phrase, "Build It and They Will Come" to explain their approach to building a bicycling infrastructure from scratch in the early 1990s when there appeared to be limited demand. Some 15 years later it is easy to see their logic. The City did indeed build a vast network of bicycling facilities, and cyclists have come in droves. Two recent articles are showing that the-build-it-and-they-will-come theory may also hold true in other cities, as well.

Velo-city is the largest international conference devoted to cycling policy. Velo-City conferences have been jointly organised by the European Cyclist’s Federation (ECF) and the chosen European host city every other year since 1980. During the conference, the Region is seeking to achieve a number of main objectives, which in particular include presenting high-standard cycling infrastructures and obtaining recognition for cycling to be incorporated in a sustainable, intermodal transport policy (cycling, combined with public transport and walking can be more efficient than the car).

The atmosphere in the U.S. is right for growth in mass transit, but those who are trying to make the shift are finding that the funding is not there - due to years of neglect, underfunding, and now systemic economic problems that are threatening many new and existing plans.

A new proposed traffic concurrency management plan in Alachua County, Fla. scraps extensive roadwork and instead creates a rapid transit system that would be subsidized in part by fees on new growth. Another part of the plan encourages denser, mixed-use development.

Clover Moore, NSW MP and Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia, spoke before the New South Wales Parliament about Peak Oil and the challenges it would pose to Australia and NSW. She also spoke about the related efforts of the Sustainable Sydney project.

Senate Bill 375 will push California communities to consider climate change impacts of development in regional planning, with an emphasis on reducing car travel. The bill requires the California Air Resources Board to set regional targets by September 2010 for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The state will use its annual $5 billion pot of transportation money to encourage regions to embrace compact residential development.

Gas shortages in the southeast United States are prompting companies to consider expanding their telework programs so employees can conserve fuel. Other options workers are weighing include greater use of carpools and public transit, along with alternative scheduling arrangements such as four-day work weeks.