Rail
China's Cross-Continental Rail Plan
China has announced plans to extend its high speed rail network Wetsward across the continent, connecting its eastern shores to Europe.
the transport politic
Bring Rail Down to Street Level, Says Honolulu Gov.
Governor Linda Lingle is proposing that the state bring the state's elevated rail project down to the ground to save costs, considering Hawai'i's budget problems.
The Honolulu Advertiser
Skepticism Over Rail in Florida
Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed legislation to build a new 61-mile rail line through the Orlando area. The bill pits Republicans against Republicans in the Sunshine State, as evidenced by protesters at the press conference.
The Reporter
Bus vs. Rail: An Oversimplified Comparison
Most comparisons of bus and rail systems assume a classic city with a central business district that commuters need to reach, and that each serve a single function, say Jeffrey R. Brown and Gregory R. Thompson of Florida State.
Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Crumbling Condition
A 'staggering' number of the bridges used by Amtrak trains in and around New York City are in poor or worse condition.
The New York Post
Archeological Find Slows Rail Progress in Turkey
A planned tunnel under the Bosphorus to connect Asia and Europe by rail has ground to a halt because of the extensive archeological discoveries at the dig.
Voice Of America
California Seeks Statewide Growth Strategy
The state of California is unveiling an effort to create a detailed strategy for how the state should grow. The ambitious plan is being kickstarted with a modest $2.5 million investment.
The San Francisco Chronicle
Kunstler: Rebuild the Passenger Rail System
In his forward to James McCommons' new book, Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service, James Howard Kunstler lays out the case for investing in a revival of passenger rail.
AlterNet
Hitting Fast-Forward on Transit
LA Mayor Villaraigosa an ambitious new plan to speed up new rail projects throughout the city, and to complete it all within 10 years instead of the previously proposed 30.
The Los Angeles Times
China's Rail Revolution
Extensive investments in rail are slashing travel times in China, and creating a vastly more connected and accessible country.
Newsweek
Rail Safety Improvements Years Away
Head-on train collisions can be avoided by simply keeping one train per track. There's a plan to make that happen, but it's years from implementation.
Miller-McCune
Intercity Rail Rides Again in Virginia
Intercity rail service has begun operations in Virginia, connecting Lynchburg and Washington D.C.
The Washington Post
A Ride on Dubai's New Metro Rail System
The new Dubai Metro rail system recently began operations in the desert city. Christopher Corbett, an American planner who's been living and working in Dubai, takes us on a visual tour.
Dubai's New Metro Opens
A new rail system has opened in Dubai, becoming the world's longest fully automated, driverless metro system. But some wonder whether the system will see much use in the oil-rich Emirate.
Der Spiegel
Dubai's Metro Rail Starts Rolling
Citywide metro rail service is set to begin operations today in Dubai. The system will start out with ten operational stations, but eventually include 47 stops along 70 kilometers of track.
Business 24/7
How the Economy Could Hurt Atlanta's Beltline
Atlanta's Beltline project is one of the most ambitious transportation plans the city has seen in decades, but the downturn in the economy could wreak havoc on its progress.
The Signal
The Planetizen News Brief - 8/27/09
4:45 minutes (4.36 MB)
States reach out for rail money, HUD tightens lending rules, and slum dwellers pin hopes for revival on summer blockbuster -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
Maryland Taps Feds for $360m in Rail Projects
Seeking federal stimulus dollars for its own set of "shovel ready" projects, Maryland submitted an application to the Federal government for $360 million to improve its passenger rail system.
The Baltimore Sun
The Costs and Benefits of the Canada Line
A new rail line connecting Vancouver to its airport is highly anticipated in the region. The costs and construction disturbances, are causing some concern, however.
The Globe and Mail
Masterplanning the Architecture of the Near Future
As the population rises, underused and empty spaces are going to fill in. How well the transition works depends on shifts in demographics and infrastructure, as well as architecture. A studio of UCLA architecture students were asked to plot that transition. But before they could be architects, they had to be planners.






















