Infrastructure

BART System

BART's New Trains: Back to the Drawing Board to Make More Room for Bikes

BART is readying its "Fleet of the Future," which includes adding more room than originally designed for bike storage.

June 1, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Irrigiation Channel

Water Situation Changes for Sprawling Phoenix-Area Development, Delayed by the Recession

The Phoenix metropolitan area is growing again, but the water supply isn't. Many development plans derailed by the Great Recession won't find it easy to start where they left off.

June 1, 2019 - Arizona Republic

CTA Chicago

The Many Nicknames for Chicago's Elevated Railway

The el/El/L debate has never been resolved, but the CTA says its usage is the correct one.

June 1, 2019 - Chicago Magazine

Interstate 15

States, Ranked by Quality of Transportation and Infrastructure

The U.S. News World and Report, better known for ranking colleges and universities, recently released a ranking of state transportation systems.

May 31, 2019 - U.S. News & World Report

Streetcar Extension Concept

Progress Slow for Milwaukee's Streetcar Extension

Milwaukee's mayor has a $160 million plan to extend The Hop streetcar, but the proposal so far lacks the necessary political support.

May 31, 2019 - Urban Milwaukee

Car Bike Lane

Using Gas Tax Revenue to Remove Traffic Lanes Adds to Road Diet Debate

Reducing the number of traffic lanes to improve bike and pedestrian safety can be inherently controversial when auto travel times are increased, and it can upset motorists further when they learn gas taxes are funding those safety improvements.

May 31, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Metro-North Railroad

Op-Ed: Toll Revenues Could Fix Aging New York-Connecticut Rail Connection

Rather than bonds, an op-ed makes the case for electronic tolls to pay for improvements to commuter rail lines between New York City and Connecticut.

May 31, 2019 - Connecticut Post

New Orleans Streetcar

Management Shakeup at the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) renewed its contract with Transdev to oversee transit operation, but is also making significant changes to the management structure, including bringing management positions inside the authority.

May 31, 2019 - The Times-Picayune

New York Subway

Why New York's Transportation Infrastructure Costs So Much

It's been remarked upon before. Infrastructure in New York City is a cost nightmare compared to other global cities. Accountability is lacking, Josh Barro writes, but MTA also suffers from an "institutional lack of power."

May 31, 2019 - Intelligencer - New York Magazine

Interstate Highway

After a Failed Freeway Plan, Alternatives Prove Controversial

With plans to extend California's 710 Freeway off the table, cities in the path have been awarded funds for alternative road projects. But residents of San Marino aren't all on board.

May 30, 2019 - Pasadena Star News

Georgia DOT Takes $4.6 Billion Highway Expansion Plan on the Road

The Georgia Department of Transportation held a series of public meetings this month to reveal details of a plan to add toll lanes to I-285 and Georgia 400 outside Atlanta.

May 30, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Freeway Interchange

A Call for a New Approach to Federal Transportation Policy

According to this blog post, federal transportation policies are misdirected, inconsistent, and destructive. A comprehensive overhaul of federal transportation policy is necessary.

May 29, 2019 - Transportation for America

Famous Mexico City traffic

Report: Congestion Defeats the Economic Purpose of Cities

Rapid urbanization and over-reliance on the inefficiencies of automobiles has set back the economies of urbanizing locations in the Global South, according to a new report.

May 29, 2019 - Thomson Reuters Foundation

Utility Meter

How Much Should Electric Vehicles Be Charged in Lieu of Gas Tax?

Currently, electric vehicles pay a $17.50 annual registration fee in Illinois. A bill to double the 19 cents per gallon gas tax, unchanged in almost 30 years, would also increase the EV fee over 57-fold to $1,000.

May 28, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

The Boring Company

Elon Musk and BART Go Toe to Toe (on Twitter)

Transit agencies and advocates are developing a genre of criticism that could be described as calling Elon Musk on his BS. Musk still has plenty of support on social media.

May 28, 2019 - SFGate

Cattle Drive

Stampede of New Residents Challenges Fort Worth

An interview with Fort Worth Planning and Development Director Randle Harwood on the planning practices and ideas driving the future of one of the nation's fastest growing cities.

May 27, 2019 - Josh Stephens

City Hall

State of the Cities 2019

The National League of Cities has released their annual analysis of the top issues mayors are talking about in the United States.

May 27, 2019 - CityLab

Blocking the Bike Lane

Volunteers Count Almost 700 Vehicles Blocking D.C. Bike Lanes in One Day

Forget bike counts. The new thing in bike advocacy is cars-blocking-the-bike-lane counts.

May 26, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Ivy Covered Green Building

15 Cities Receive Grant Support LEED for Cities and Communities Program

The LEED for Cities and Communities grant program will support the first 15 cities to seek certification under LEED v4.1

May 25, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Revealed: Plans for Makeover of the World's Busiest Bus Terminal

The Port Authority Bus Terminal, described as the busiest bus terminal in the world, is due for a makeover, due to its "ragged" appearance and importance to the economy of the New York and New Jersey.

May 24, 2019 - Politico

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.