Laura Bliss
Laura Bliss is a staff writer at CityLab, covering transportation, infrastructure, and the environment.
Electric Vehicles May Not Be Able to Avoid Road Maintenance Taxes for Much Longer
The federal government's purse for road maintenance depends on the 18 cents per gallon gasoline tax that the growing population of EVs has been evading.
A New Oregon Law Would Make It the First State to Ban Single-Family Zoning
Democratic Governor Kate Brown is expected to sign off on the law, which would affect areas that are home to some 2.8 million people.
Can Google's $1 Billion Real-Estate Pledge Put a Dent in the Bay Area's Housing Crisis?
The growth of the tech industry has put a high premium on available housing, and new construction isn't keeping up with need.
Do Better Bike Lanes Keep Drivers Safer?
A recent study found that cities with protected bike lanes often saw lower rates of injury and fatalities for motorists.
Inside the Political Fight Over How to Handle California's Housing Crisis
From Sonoma to San Diego, the state faces a massive affordability crisis; across the political gradient, few residents disagree on that, even if they don't see eye to eye on how to solve it.
Will a Looming Subway Crisis Bring New York City Congestion Pricing?
A combination of a decaying subway system, low gas prices, and ride-hailing services has made traffic in Manhattan worse than ever.
Could Designing a Better Bus Lane Be Done With a Simple Can of Paint?
"Tactical transit lanes"—also known as dedicated bus lanes—are a simple and low-cost way of creating better bussing infrastructure.
How Rising Rates of Auto Debt Point to Increasing Economic Inequality
When more households fail to make payments on their vehicle, it shows too few people are sharing the benefits of an ostensibly healthy economy.
Why People Vote for Expanded Public Transport but Don't Actually Use It
New research in Los Angeles shows that people support expanded transit options based on party affiliation and frustration with congestion—but not to ride it themselves.
In South Carolina, Hurricane Florence Put the Gullah People's Way of Life in Peril
Many in the community live on land that is classified as "heir's property," a legal condition that leaves it particularly vulnerable, especially in a disaster.
How Bad Policy Ends Up on Our Sidewalks
From scooter start-ups to public-health issues, sidewalks have long been a dumping ground for all kinds of policy failures.
Ford Is Upping Its Stake in Detroit's Downtown Revitalization
The company just announced its acquisition of the Michigan Central Station in downtown Detroit, an icon of the city's 20th-century glory days and its precipitous fall since.
How Lyft and Uber Could Actually Help Reduce Emissions
No ride-hailing company has seriously addressed the real heart of the transportation problem: more trips, more miles, more greenhouse gases.
The Potential Ramifications of Trump's Proposed Infrastructure Plan
The president's proposed $1 trillion infrastructure investment could heat up the debate around the role of the federal government in local planning and policy.
'Soft Target': How Should Las Vegas Address Its Profound Safety Concerns?
After the attack on Sunday night, decision-makers on the Strip will need to consider what new policies they must implement to keep visitors safe.
Florida's Dependence on Gas Has Repeatedly Left the State Vulnerable During Natural Disasters
Fuel shortages linked to the two recent hurricanes hindered evacuation and now recovery, highlighting our dependency on a fragile resource.
What Hurricane Harvey Tells Us About How We Assess and Prepare for Catastrophe
A catastrophe like Hurricane Harvey was long predicted for Houston. But to live next to a dam and never fathom a breach is not a uniquely Texan brand of magical thinking.