Metro Transit officials announced the opening date for the A Line—the first of potentially many more rapid bus routes featuring platform level boarding and signal priority.

"The Twin Cities’ first arterial version of Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, is set to begin passenger service on June 11," reports Peter Callaghan. Met Council Chair Adam Duininck announced the news earlier this week.
"The A Line route will begin at Rosedale, pass through St. Paul via Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway and end in Minneapolis at the 46th Street light rail station," adds Callaghan.
The article begins by pitching Bus Rapid Transit as an alternative to rail transit—both in cost and in the hearts of "transit snobs." The article eventually goes into detail about the features of this bus line, which will include some, but not all, of the perks of Bus Rapid Transit. All in all, the A Line is expected to complete its route 20 percent faster than existing buses. If riders take to the new A Line, "Metro Transit would like to build 11 BRT alignments on its most heavily traveled corridors by 2030," adds Callaghan.
FULL STORY: Seeking rail snobs: With BRT, Metro Transit aims to get more people onto buses

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns
Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

Houston Lot Size Reforms Yield Positive Results
New research shows that reducing lot size requirements helped create thousands of new homes.

How Homelessness Differs in Rural America
Although less visible than in major cities, the housing crisis is no less severe in many rural communities, where being unhoused poses unique challenges.

New York Officials Back Down on Bus Lane Plans
Proposed bus improvements in the Bronx are the latest casualty of opposition.

Opinion: How to Save D.C. Transit
Ridership data shows that many D.C. transit users depend on the service, despite a drop in ridership. The system needs changes—and funding—to have a future.
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
City of Stonecrest
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Culver City
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.