Commuter Rail
B Line Commuter Rail Extension Gets a Green Light in Colorado
The Board of Directors for the Regional Transportation District has given a preliminary green light to accelerate planning work on the B Line extension from Denver to Boulder and Longmont.
New 'Capital Regional Rail Vision' Revealed
An idea to expand regional rail service around D.C. has new substance after the Greater Washington Partnership revealed the first details of a plan to convert the MARC and VRE commuter train systems into high-frequency, all-day regional service.
Political Pressure Reinvigorates B Line Extension Plans in Colorado
The CEO of the Regional Transportation District speculated recently about whether a planned extension of the B Line to Boulder was necessary or desirable. The governor doesn't think the speculation was necessary or desirable.
A Regional Vision for Virginia, Maryland, D.C. Rail
Expanding rail service to more communities in Maryland and D.C. could enhance the benefits of Virginia's recent investments in intercity rail.
Major Transit Openings Expected in 2021
All the heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail projects expected to open in North American in 2021.
Los Angeles-to-Coachella Train Service Taking Shape
New intercity rail service is being planned for the desert reaches between Los Angeles and the Palm Springs area.
Post-Pandemic Transit Planning: A New Era for Commuter Rail
Ridership on the nation's commuter rail services has plummeted more than other forms of transit during the pandemic. Serving a more affluent, professional ridership, commuter rail is looking more likely to face long-term cuts after the pandemic.
New South Bay BART Stations See Disappointing Ridership
Introduced during the pandemic in an area where many residents now work remotely, the new stations have failed to attract new commuters.
Funding Approved for Key Rail Connection Between New Jersey and New York
The Portal Bridge is a key component of the larger Gateway Program that includes tunnels under the Hudson River. Fixing the Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River will provide tremendous relief to NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters.
Transit Capital Investments Planned in Utah
Utah finds itself in a unique situation, with money to spend on expanding transit capacity at a time when many transit agencies are plotting layoffs and service reductions.
Transit Plans Change as the Pandemic Lingers
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) this week proposed cuts to public transit service. In a decision that will likely repeat as more transit agencies undertake similar processes, the MBTA decided to prioritize buses over trains.
Compromise Reached to Save Caltrain
The saga of the three-county sales tax upon which the future of Caltrain depends is now in the hands of voters.
Plan to Save Caltrain Emerges
Elected officials in San Francisco and Santa Clara counties have produced a counter proposal after killing a proposed sales tax last week.
Caltrain on the Rocks as Sales Tax Measure Fails
Advocates are concerned about the possibility of Caltrain entirely shutting down—less than a year after the commuter rail line seemed positioned for a massive expansion of service.
Metra North Central Service Line Riders Push for More Service
A new report imagines more robust service on one of Metra's regional commuter lines in Chicago.
New York MTA Seeks Federal Funding Relief as Ridership Plummets
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has seen significant ridership drops due to the coronavirus. The agency is asking Congress for $4 billion to help it through the crisis.
Opinion: Improved Commuter Rail Services Would Better Serve Chicago’s South Side Residents
The city’s South Side residents need more transit options, but an extension of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line would be a costly and less effective alternative.
Less Free Parking for Transit Commuters in Southern Ontario
Transit planners in the region around Toronto are planning a "parking modernization" program that will charge for parking at GO stations and hope to provide new ways to access the system—without a car.
Research Triangle Commuter Rail Studied
A 37-mile commuter rail line under study in North Carolina could connect cities Raleigh, Cary, and Durham in North Carolina, but the system will cost a pretty penny, and it will have to succeed where light rail previously failed.
Plan Would Shift High-Speed Rail Funds to Burbank-Anaheim Commuter Corridor
Improvements to the commuter rail connections between Los Angeles and Orange counties are among the possibilities for the future of rail planning in California as uncertainty about high-speed rail continues.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
