Change is afoot for transportation around destinations like Southwest Florida. Are cities like Tampa still planning too much for the old rental car model, and not for a future of transportation network companies, carsharing, and self-driving cars?

Robert Trigaux wonders if efforts to build a "a big rental car facility at the next-generation Tampa International Airport," reflects a planning focus that looks back rather than forward. The problem, according to Trigaux, is a growing body of evidence that U.S. business travelers are choosing to travel with the help of transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft rather than rental cars.
The study, by travel- and expense-management software provider Certify, finds that "Uber accounted for 43 percent of ground transportation transactions, while rental cars had 40 percent. Led by Uber and Lyft, ride-hailing services surpassed rental cars for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2015 and have since widened their lead."
The trend threatens to impact Southwest Florida beyond the plans to build a large rental car facility near the Tampa International Airport. The rental car company Hertz relocated to Florida from New Jersey in 2013, bringing hopes of expansion and thousands of new jobs with it. Now, however, Hertz "has issued recent earnings warnings and its stock, just under $30 a share in mid 2014, closed Thursday at just over $9 a share."
Trigaux also notes that Zipcar will soon launch its membership-based car-sharing service in Downtown Tampa. As reported in January 2013, Zipcar will be included in the footprint of the new airport rental car facility.
FULL STORY: As Uber grows and rental car companies struggle, is Tampa Bay planning for yesterday?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

Why Bike Lanes Are Good: An Explainer for the US Transportation Secretary
Sean Duffy says there’s no evidence that bike lanes have benefits. Streetsblog — and federal agencies’ own data — beg to differ.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service