The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. Add to that more than 3,000 tipsheets from our national conferences on how to cover specific beats or do specific stories and you have a resource that no reporter or editor should be without. These stories and tipsheets are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Logged-in members can view the tipsheets free online:
Search results for "highways" ...
-
Follow the Money: The Coming Boom in Toll Roads
Use this Powerpoint presentation to learn how to follow the toll road money. Overberg gives a brief history and explains how highway design, finance, construction and operation is changing.
-
Infastructure CAR
The authors list and explain sources for infrastructure data, such as the National Bridge Inventory, Consolidated Federal Funds Reports, and the Highway Safety Information System. For each source, the authors describe what sort of data is available and how it can be used for CAR stories. The authors also list additional resources and other tipsheets on the same topic.
Tags: dams; bridges; highway; federal government; online resources; public data; story ideas
-
Spanish Translation of Reporting on Federally-Funded Highway and Transit Projects
This is the Spanish translation of tipsheet #2683. Informacion general para investigaciones sobre construccion de carreteras, aeropuertos y proyectos de transito financiados con fondos federales.
Tags: carreteras; transito; fondos federales; transporte; construccion;
-
Navigating Transportation Data: Covering Accidents and Infrastructure
The authors list both sources and story ideas related to transportation. They include sources for stories about vehicle accidents, transportation infrastructure, and public transit. The authors also discuss some recent stories on this topic and include tips and advice for reporters pursuing similar investigations. Finally, they list some IRE resources about transportation.
Tags: automobiles; cars; highways; railways; transit authority; bridges; public records; traffic accidents
-
Reporting on Federally-Funded Highway and Transit Projects
This tipsheet provides assistance for reporters who are covering highway, transit and airport construction projects that involve the use of federal funds. Barnes provides an oversight of federal transportation funds, common contract fraud schemes, ways to find problems during construction projects and helpful Web sites, along with much more. En espanol: #2870
Tags: U.S. Department of Transportation; fraud; roads; airports; construction
-
Toll Roads: Finding and using the data
This tipsheet points out that toll roads provide plenty of material for a lot of CAR stories. Overberg lists some of these story ideas and suggests ways to get started working on them.
Tags: toll road; highways; cars; traffic safety; story ideas
-
Overweight Trucks
Raynor discusses how to find out if overweight trucks are on your state's highways. He suggests going to the state Department of Transportation, and then checking out the Vehicle Travel Information System implemented by the Federal Highway Administration. Raynor also suggests helpful websites to visit.
Tags: trucks; highways safety; roads; transportation
-
Panel Discussion on Contract Fraud
Barnes discusses how the Department of Transportation can serve as a valuable source for journalists investigating transportation fraud. He begins by discussing some of the basic information about the Office of the Inspector General, including what it does and how media representatives should contact it. He also discusses the top ten fraud offenses, and how his office is useful in investigating them. Finally, Barnes discusses fraud that can occur in the DOT's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. The tipsheet ends with a list of helpful websites, and recaps of some of the DOT's ongoing fraud investigations.
Tags: fraud; transportation; highway; corruption; corporation; minority; congressional testimony; internal audit
-
Sources for Covering Auto Accidents
McGinty gives information on how to use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System, or FARS. He covers why it exists, how comprehensive and accurate the data is, and how it is tructured.
Tags: Transportation; car accidents; FARS; fatalities; national databases
-
Tearing Up the Highways
This tipsheet is a great guide to investigating local highways and bridges. The authors offer some ideas to start the investigation - like reading through daily construction logs and going to board meetings. The second half of the tipsheet is devoted to investigating bridges. The authors give advice about what phrases to look for and which documents and databases are especially helpful.
Tags: safety; transportation; traffic; construction; accidents; inspections; roads