Bus Priority

7 Bus Chicago CTA

Chicago Announces First Five ‘Better Streets for Buses’ Corridors

The CTA will develop a series of options for improving bus service on key transit corridors.

July 5, 2024 - Chicago Transit Authority

Red articulated public transit bus in Sydney, Australia.

Sydney Could Automate Traffic Lights to Prioritize Buses

The proposal is part of the government’s bid to increase transit ridership and make bus service faster and more reliable.

November 1, 2023 - The Guardian

A map of the planned and proposed route of the La Brea Ave Bus Priority Lanes Project in Los Angeles, runn9ing from Sunset Boulevard to the north and the E Line to the south.

New Bus Priority Lane Under Construction in Los Angeles

La Brea Avenue will soon gain a new bus priority lane, with plans for more to come still gathering community feedback.

July 16, 2023 - The Source

Bus Lane

The Benefits of Bright Red Bus-Only Lanes, Explained

Richmond, Virginia is adding red paint to 2.5 miles of bus-only lanes. An article in the local newspaper explains why the change is more than an aesthetic consideration.

June 30, 2022 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Bus Priority Zones

Bus Lane Plans Continue Retreat in New York City—This Time it's Fifth Avenue

The de Blasio administration caved to the interests of a Manhattan real estate developer and shelved a plan to prioritize bus transit over private automobiles on one of the most famous corridors in the world.

October 26, 2021 - The New York Times

Washington, D.C. Bus Lane

NRDC Releases 'Bus Priority Toolkit'

The kit, designed in collaboration with five U.S. cities, aims to provide lessons and tools for building a compelling case for bus priority and identifying measurable benefits.

August 19, 2021 - NRDC

Broadway Bus Lane in Everett

How to Improve Bus Service and Performance on Busy Corridors

A new report collects the lessons and best practices of several years of bus priority projects in the Boston region.

June 23, 2021 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis, Minnesota during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Minneapolis Business Owners Decry Loss of Parking

The city's plan to reduce street parking by 90% in favor of bus lanes and pedestrian infrastructure is receiving backlash from local businesses.

April 14, 2021 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Brookline, Massachusetts

Dedicated Bus Lane Planned for Boston Neighbor

Bus lanes are catching on in the Boston region. The city of Brookline is the latest example.

January 1, 2021 - Streetsblog Mass

Bus Lane

Pandemic Bus Lanes Show Promise as Permanent Solutions

As cities streamline approval processes for bus-only lanes during the pandemic, transit experts hope the projects will lead to lasting change.

December 21, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Manhattan Bus Transit

Bus Priority Falling to Local Political Opposition in New York City

An ambitious program to add 20 miles of bus lanes and protected bus ways in the city of New York has been diminished by political opposition in parts of the city.

August 20, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Image of Chicago Lake Shore Drive Freeway

Bus Lanes, Desired by Advocates for Chicago's Lake Shore Drive Project, Back on the Table

After releasing a list of project alternatives that didn't include new bus lanes in the existing roadway, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has changed its mind.

August 5, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Street plan.

North Lake Shore Drive Redo Falls Short of Bus Priority Expectations

Strong criticisms of the project alternatives under consideration by the Illinois Department of Transportation for the closely watched North Lake Shore Drive project.

June 22, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Public Transit

Bus Priority Plans Could Be Accelerated in Toronto

Political will is building behind the idea of improving bus infrastructure to support frontlines workers in the most heavily effected parts of Canada's largest city.

June 16, 2020 - CBC

14th Street Busway New York City

20 Miles of Bus Lanes and Car-Free Busways Coming to New York City

While it falls short of a more ambitious proposal pitched by the MTA recently, a new plan to expand bus priority on the streets of New York City would mark a significant expansion of a trend that started on 14th Street in Manhattan.

June 10, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Candidates for President

Urban Planning Trends to Watch in 2020

Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell tries to predict the big ideas and trends that will dominate the discussion about the future of land use, planning, and development in the first year of the new decade.

January 9, 2020 - James Brasuell

Bus Priority Zones

Watch the Miracle on 14th Street in Action

The changes to 14th Street in Manhattan have proven innovative ideas about bus priority and congestion relief.

December 25, 2019 - Streetfilms via Vimeo

Muni Bus Market Street

People Over Cars: The Future of San Francisco

The San Bruno Avenue Multimodal Improvement Project moved forward in San Francisco despite local resistance. The planning and political calculus behind the project is a sign of more to come in the City by the Bay.

December 23, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bus Priority Zones

Bus Priority Zones Get Moving in Chicago

A program championed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to speed up bus service has new monentum from funding provided by Chicago's new fee on ride-hailing trips.

December 4, 2019 - Streetsblog Chicago

Portland Bus Lane

Dedicated Bus Lanes Beating Congestion in Portland

The Portland experience builds the case for dedicated bus lanes as an effective method of congestion mitigation.

December 3, 2019 - BikePortland

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.