A recent Eno Foundation webinar critically evaluated the benefits, costs, and equity impacts of 12 emerging transportation modes and services. It's a timely and fun discussion. The video and slideshow are available for free.
New transportation technologies and services are coming online faster than ever. Micromodes, bike- and car-sharing, ridehailing, electric and autonomous vehicles, public transit innovations, air taxis (flying cars), tunnel roads, telework, pneumatic tube transport, mobility prioritization and logistics management are all under development or becoming commercially available. How should communities prepare? Which New Mobilities should be mandated, encouraged, regulated, restricted, or forbidden?
While many of these emerging technologies can help to expand our world and provide benefits, they need to be evaluated critically. In a recent Eno Foundation webinar, Todd Litman, author of the book New Mobilities: Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies, described and evaluated 12 emerging transportation modes and services. Litman summarized their benefits, costs and equity impacts, and discussed some often overlooked challenges.
For example, when should transportation agencies dedicate special lanes to allow autonomous vehicles to platoon (drive close together at relatively high speeds), and how much should users pay for the privilege? How much should governments subsidize electric vehicles? Will New Mobilities increase or reduce traffic problems? How should planners address these questions?
The webinar video and slideshow are now available free at the Eno Foundation website.
FULL STORY: WEBINAR: THE NEW MOBILITIES: SMART PLANNING FOR EMERGING TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES

Red Cities, Blue Cities, and Crime
Homicides rose across the nation in 2020 and 2021. But did they rise equally in all cities, or was the situation worse in some than in others?

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?
In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.

A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.

Tolling All Lanes
Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.

Federal SMART Grants Awarded for Transportation Safety, Equity Projects
The grant program focuses on the use of technology to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency in transportation.

Fare Enforcement Upheld by Washington Supreme Court
But using armed police to enforce fare payment is less than ideal in the eyes of the top court in the state of Washington.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.