Light Rail
Buzzing Job Market Means More Transit Riders in Seattle
Solo drivers are down and transit commuters are up in Seattle.
A Planning Controversy of the Transit Oriented Variety in Suburban Denver
A controversy has erupted over a proposed vision for transit oriented mixed in a Denver suburb.
Ottawa Moving Ahead with Second Part of its Light Rail Plan
A new tunnel moving east under the Sir John A. Parkway gets approval from National Capital Commission.
Feds Clear the Way for Phoenix's Light Rail Extension
A light rail extension that will reach South Phoenix took a crucial step forward last week.
Charlotte's LYNX Light Rail: Ten Years Later
How has Charlotte evolved ten years since opening the LYNX Blue Line light rail system?
This Light Rail Line Lowers Nearby Home Prices
Not every transit project has a positive effect on adjacent property values. A study finds that people do not, in fact, want to live next to Norfolk, Virginia's Tide light rail.
An Argument for Light Rail Over Bus Rapid Transit
Opponents of the ST3 transit funding measure in Seattle have argued that bus rapid transit is a cheaper alternative to light rail. A local write counter argues that point by making the economic case for light rail.
Ridership Numbers Below Target on Portland's One-Year-Old Orange Line
Eliot Njus reports on underwhelming ridership figures for the MAX Orange Line light rail service between Portland and Milwaukie. "Forecasts used to help justify federal funding for the project called for 17,000 average weekday trips in 2016. The
Dallas Adopts an Urban-Centric Vision for its Transit Future
The Dallas City Council picked a side with regard to the D2 line (it prefers a subway to above ground light rail) and the proposed Cotton Belt line (it can wait).
Minnesota's Southwest Light Rail Back From the Dead
Regional and county agencies figured out a way to move forward with the Southwest light rail plan without the help of the politically divided state. That could mean the state has time to climb on board by next year's legislative session.
Minnesota's Southwest Light Rail on its Last Legs
Republicans in Minnesota are ready to put the final nail in the coffin of the proposed Southwest light rail project, which would connect downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.
Light Rail Ridership Takes Off in Seattle After Expansion
Besting all expectations, ridership numbers have increased 83 percent since Seattle's Sound Transit light rail system added two new stations, connecting downtown to the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood and the University of Washington.
Details of the Seattle's Big ST3 Light Rail Plan
The $54 billion ST3 plan would add 62 miles of light rail over 25 years.
Multimodal Transit Hub Planned for LAX
A light-rail link to the Los Angeles International Airport would accommodate bikes and buses, and could be here by 2021.
Are Ride-Hailing Services Complementing or Competing with Rail Transit?
A news report on Charlotte's Lynx Blue Line looks at whether ride-hailing services are complementing rail transit by providing vital first mile-last mile service or whether customers are forgoing the transit trip entirely. Ridership has been falling.
Rail Transit: You Get What You Pay For
Seattle Transit blog compares rail investments from five cities around the country.
What L.A.'s New Expo Line Extension Won't Do
The $1.5 billion, 6.6-mile light rail extension from Culver City to Santa Monica is projected to double trips on the line by 2030, giving commuters a viable alternative to driving. Just the same, don't expect the extension to reduce congestion.
What It's Like to Ride the New Expo Line to Santa Monica
For a bit of fun, take this animated ride on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new Expo Line extension.
Boise Tackles the Tough Question: Go Light Rail or Go Bus?
A new circulator system for Downtown Boise, Idaho is in the works, with the mayor gently throwing his support behind a light rail system. But questions over costs remain.
Cities Discovering the Limitations of Half-Baked Rail Plans
Presenting less of an argument against transit than an argument for good transit and land use planning, Streetsblog surveys some of the country's worst performing rail lines.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Charlotte
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
