Course Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of transportation policy from the federal to the local level. The course is divided into three sections: background, policies and processes, and strategies. In the first section, we will examine the history of urban transportation, the institutions involved in transportation planning, and theories about policy. In the second section, we will examine current policies and processes, starting with federal and state policy on vehicles and fuels, then moving to infrastructure policy at the federal, state, regional, and local levels. In the final section, we will examine the evidence on a variety of demand-side strategies for addressing transportation problems, including strategies such as subsidies, pricing, transit services, bicycle and pedestrian programs, and land use policies.