Light Rail
7 Ways Portland Is Better Than Your City
On a recent trip to Portland, land use attorney Bill Adams couldn't help but make comparisons to redevelopment efforts elsewhere. He found 7 tangible areas in which Portland shines through its copious clouds.
Dream of Suburban D.C. Light Rail a Nightmare to Local Residents
At an open house organized to update the public on plans to build a 16-mile light rail line linking spurs of D.C.'s subway system in suburban Maryland, planners' visions of smart growth where seen as a developer-driven nightmare by local residents.
L.A.'s New Light Rail Line Reports Strong Ridership, Without Cannibalizing Other Transit
After an inauspicious start, L.A.'s Expo Line may surpass its 2020 ridership projections by the end of this year. The line has proved popular with those headed to work, school, and entertainment destinations; without stealing riders from bus routes.
Mixed-Use Redevelopment Aims to Bring High-Design to Notorious Denver "Mousetrap"
A $100 million project proposing to create a design neighborhood at a former printing plant adjacent to a notorious interstate intersection is being made possible by Denver's light rail expansion, and the involvement of a renowned architect.
First Leg of Denver's Multi-Billion Dollar Transit Expansion Set to Open Next Month
After passing a trial run with few problems this week, Denver's 12.1-mile West Rail Line is set to open to the public next month.
“Reinvent Phoenix” Seeks to Cultivate Change Along the City's Light Rail Corridor
A multi-agency planning effort is hoping to boost Phoenix's sustainability by creating a new model for urban development around the city's emerging transit corridor.
New Study: Light Rail Fails at Discouraging Driving
Eric Jaffe reports on research that may give pause to light rail advocates who argue the mode can reduce congestion: ridership gains along new lines may come at the expense of buses, rather than cars.
Light Rail Planning Gone Bad: Lessons from Santa Clara County
After 25 years, Santa Clara's light rail has failed to live up to its promise, proving to be “among the least successful in the nation” reports Mike Rosenberg, while “serving as a constant reminder that the car is still king in Silicon Valley."
Light Rail Seen as Route to 'Big City' Status for Ottawa
By unanimous vote, Ottawa's city council approved the contract to build a $2.1 billion light rail system for the Canadian capital this week, reports David Reevely. The vote comes after the failure of a similarly bold rail plan approved six years ago.
The American West's Transportation Revolution
After decades of planning and development of its urban rail networks, will the American West change its image from car cornucopia to transit paradise?
How to Promote TOD When There's no Room for Infill
Many new light rail lines have been built in western cities in the hopes of attracting new development to greenfields. Los Angeles' Expo Line, however, is threaded through a heavily built-up area, thus complicating dreams of TOD.
Train On Wheels: L.A.'s Unsung Transit Success
Should Los Angeles be investing more in bus-rapid transit?
Pencilling Out the Twin Cities' Transportation Subsidies
Curious about a legislator's offhand remark that light rail is "a total waste of money," Marlys Harris investigates the extent to which motorized transportation modes in the Twin Cities are subsidized. It turns out light rail is a heavy bargain.
Can Little Tokyo Survive the Growth of Downtown LA?
Big changes loom large over Little Tokyo, Kaid Benfield reports. The question is whether higher land values will steal away its character and cultural significance.
Twin Cities Undergoing Transit Revolution
A light rail line linking Minneapolis and St. Paul, a new intermodal transit hub, and the area's first bus rapid transit system are among the projects being funded by a quarter-cent sales tax for transit approved in 2008.
Toronto City Council Defeats Mayor, Resurrects Transit City
In a stunning blow to Mayor Rob Ford -- who, on his first day in office in 2010 scrubbed the "Transit City" plan in favor of an ill-thought out and unfunded subway scheme -- the Toronto City Council has quashed his plans and resurrected the old one.
Are Plans for Detroit's Light Rail Back On Track?
Just three weeks after the city announced it was cancelling plans for a 9.3-mile light rail line, a truncated version may be built, but with some key caveats.
Hawaii's Light Rail Close to Breaking Ground
After decades of planning, a 20-mile light rail line in Honolulu is set to begin construction this March, despite persistent concerns over the project's cost.
Detroit Scraps Train Plans
The city and federal DOT have decided against a $600 million plan that would introduce light rail and, subsequently, more residents to the city. Instead, money will go to improving a notoriously unreliable bus system.
Jerusalem's 8-Mile "Miracle" Train
Joel Epstein says it was "nothing short of a miracle" that Jerusalem's Red Line light rail opened this year.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
