Access to Jobs

Chicago Bikeshare

Micromobility Plus Transit Equals Jobs

Linking micromobility options to public transit can improve job acessibility, new research finds.

May 31, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Passengers on Boston subway platform with blurred speeding train passing by

Assessing Transit Equity in Boston

The Transit Equity Dashboard highlights stark disparities in access to jobs, healthcare, and other essential services between Boston neighborhoods.

January 29, 2023 - TransitCenter

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Opinion: Transit Has Always Been an Essential Service

Ridership is the wrong way to think about the importance of public transit.

April 13, 2020 - CityLab

Prospect Park Bike Lane

Bike Infrastructure and Economic Opportunity

A study from the University of Minnesota documents how bike infrastructure can connect workers to jobs, maps job accessibility and ranks U.S. cities by bike access to jobs.

August 6, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Suburban traffic

Easy Ways to Boost Suburban Transit

New research outlines how to make public transportation a better option for suburban commuters.

May 13, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Vacant Properties

Land Bank Trends in 2018

An economic development professional shares three key takeaways from a recent conference focused on land baking practices.

November 12, 2018 - The Port

MBTA Bus

How Transportation Assistance Can Fight Homelessness

Transportation access is one of the biggest factors in keeping people out of homelessness. Cities can help with discounted fares and last-mile connections.

September 25, 2018 - CALmatters

New York MTA

Study Quantifies Job Access in U.S. Cities

An annual survey by the Accessibility Observatory at the University of Minnesota measures job availability, job location, population density, and the availability of transit.

July 9, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Washington Monuments

Better Land Use Planning: One of the Best Ways to Improve Transportation

Smart growth advocates have been making this point for years, but a new report from the Washington, D.C. regional planning organization provides more evidence for the strategic location of population and job growth.

November 19, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Subway Sign

Comparing Metropolitan Areas by Transit-Accessible Jobs

The University of Minnesota has released its annual "Access Across America" report.

November 13, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Twins Logo Sign

More Transportation Options Needed to Connect Workers and Jobs in the Twin Cities

A new study identifies the disconnect between employees and employers in the Twin Cities region. The report also predicts dramatic improvements if the region's long-term transportation plans are realized.

July 12, 2016 - Star Tribune

Rural Community

Metropolitan Corridors Absorb Rural Counties

As urban economies continue their upward trajectory, residents of counties once considered rural are commuting to cities. This has had both negative and positive effects on the communities in question.

June 22, 2016 - StatChat

Denver TOD

3 Examples of Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Policies

Mobility Lab tackles the challenges of building affordable housing near transit (i.e., transit-oriented affordable housing) by providing specific, real-world examples from cities and states.

May 2, 2016 - Mobility Lab

The Power of Houston's 'Magic Bus'

The Neighborhood Centers non-profit operates a bus named for the Who song "Magic Bus" to fill the fundamental needs of low income residents of Houston: access to jobs, healthcare, markets, and home.

December 8, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Commute

Economic Underperformance Tied to Bad Commutes

The price of long commutes can't just be measured in lost hours. Income segregation, job sprawl, and the resulting negative feedback on families eats into overall economic and social well-being.

June 30, 2015 - Chicago Magazine

Bus Stop Winter

Poor Suburbs Struggle with Job Sprawl

Although unemployment has declined, according to this report commutes are getting longer. "Job sprawl" often plagues minority and poor areas where housing is more affordable.

May 29, 2015 - Al Jazeera America

Fracking Permits Temporarily Halted in North Carolina

Natural gas drilling was recently approved in North Carolina, but new operations are now on hold until the state Supreme Court resolves an issue about the process for appointing environmental review positions.

May 21, 2015 - WRAL

Chicago Bus

Seattle Lowers Transit Fares for Low-Income Residents

Joining Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, and Kansas City, Seattle now offers reduced bus fares to low-income residents. Some worry the program entrenches class differences and doesn't truly aid social mobility.

May 14, 2015 - Governing

Freeway Construction

U.S. DOT Will Allow and Encourage Local Hiring

The U.S. Department of Transportation has changed its rules in favor of local hiring: a pilot program will even encourage it. Minorities traditionally barred from high-paying construction work stand to benefit.

April 24, 2015 - Next City

Minneapolis Celebration

Why Is Minneapolis Growing Faster Than Chicago?

The data shows Minneapolis recovered from the recession more quickly than Chicago. And its growth rates continue to surpass those of its larger neighbor. Why did this happen, and which policies deserve credit?

April 22, 2015 - Metropolitan Planning Council

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.