Long Island Rail Road

The site of the former Parkside LIRR station of the Rockaway Beach Branch, on Metropolitan Avenue between Selfridge Street and Trotting Course Lane in Forest Hills / Rego Park, Queens.

Mamdani Budget Funds Queensway, Dimming Hope for Reactivated Long Island Rail

Supporters of a proposed rail extension say building the elevated park as proposed would make it harder to bring trains back to this part of Queens.

March 26, 2026 - StreetsBlog NYC

Crowded NYC subway station with signs for Long Island Railroad and NJ Transit.

Trump's Executive Order Keeps Trains Running on Long Island

A strike by employees of the nation's busiest commuter rail line was averted, if only temporarily, after union leaders asked President Trump to intervene while they negotiate a pay hike. What did the president's love of golf have to do with it?

September 25, 2025 - ABC News

View of empty concourse at Grand Central Madison train station in New York City

Grand Central Madison Trains Fully Operational

The station is the nation’s first new major rail terminal in over half a century.

February 28, 2023 - Mass Transit

Chicago Commuter Rail

Alternative Railroad Electrification

Rather than building costly overhead electrification infrastructure to convert a Chicago-area commuter rail line from polluting diesel power to emission-free electricity, the Metra Board of Directors chose a far less expensive and quicker route.

August 28, 2022 - Metra

A train conductor waves at an empty platform on the Long island Rail Road system.

New York Times: Upzone the Suburbs

While the affordable housing discussion focuses on New York City among the many cities with public transit service on Long Island, the city's suburbs need to build more too, according to an argument by The New York Times Editorial Board.

June 29, 2021 - The New York Times

San Francisco Rail Transit

Uber App Feature Integrates Transit and Ridesharing

Uber’s "Make My Train" app feature lets riders better plan journeys across modes.

February 24, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

New York City to Reduce Truck Emissions by Investing in Freight Rail Infrastructure

The Big Apple may claim the nation's highest public transit ridership, but it ranks well below average in its use of freight rail. Two small short line railroads are at the center of a $100 million investment to reduce truck reliance.

April 11, 2019 - The New York Times

New York City

Done Deal: Manhattan Congestion Pricing

Finally, congestion pricing, as applied to city cordons, not highways, will be coming to the U.S., thanks to a budget deal approved by the New York State Legislature early Sunday morning. Tolls below 60th Street should begin by Jan. 1, 2021.

April 2, 2019 - amNew York

JFK Airport

One-Seat Ride to JFK a Long Shot, But Other Possibilities Exist

A one-seat train ride to JFK Airport has long been discussed, but it is not likely to happen. However, a number of options could improve the trip.

October 24, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

LaGuardia Airport

La Guardia AirTrain Plan Moves Forward, Circuitous Route and All

Not everyone thinks the governor’s expensive plan to improve access to the beleaguered airport will actually improve access.

July 11, 2018 - The New York Times

Penn Station Interior

'Summer of Hell' Begins on Dire Note at Penn Station

Three days before America's busiest train station what will be two long months of repair work, dubbed "the summer of hell," the third derailment this year occurred, delaying most Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains.

July 11, 2017 - The New York Times

Is This Really Penn Station?

Long Island Rail Road riders expressed amazement at the new concourse under Eighth Avenue from America's busiest train station. It opened June 15 as the first phase of the new Moynihan Station.

June 19, 2017 - The New York Times

Penn Station Interior

Early Criticism for Gov. Cuomo's Penn Station Plans

The initial reviews are in for Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to expand and improve Penn Station. The consensus so far: the plan doesn't go far enough.

October 6, 2016 - Politico New Jersey

Moynihan Train Hall

New York Has Plan to Make Room for Penn Station Renovations

With more than 600,000 daily commuters passing through, Penn Station is one of the busiest transit halls in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, there's a plan in place to make necessary repairs without making the commute even more unbearable.

September 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Formidable Barriers Threaten Penn Station Renovation

Last month N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed that Empire Station replace Penn Station, but many challenging parts, e.g., the Hudson River Tunnels, moving Madison Square Garden, could derail it. A related piece delves into the prior ARC tunnel project.

February 7, 2016 - Fox Business

Gov. Cuomo's 'Robert Moses Wish List' Continues to Grow—But Where's the Payment Plan?

The New York governor continues his tour of New York, promoting his big ticket capital agenda, yet not suggesting any means to pay for them. Worse yet, he restricts new funding options, like increased tolls, adding costs to the transportation budget.

January 8, 2016 - The New York Times

New York Gov. Cuomo Having a Moses Moment

Robert Moses, that is—Gov. Cuomo is looking to the planning icon for inspiration in a package of infrastructure proposals announced this week.

January 6, 2016 - Politico New York

NYC Subway Construction

Why Are New York Transit Projects So Expensive?

Going back to Robert Moses, New York City has a history of underestimating the price of major construction projects. Inflated infrastructure costs are prompting stakeholders to seek out root causes.

April 13, 2015 - Capital

Obituary: William J. Ronan, Founder of New York's MTA

One of the most important officials in New York State transportation history died Oct. 15: William J. Ronan, who took on Robert Moses to form the country's largest, most diversified transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

October 21, 2014 - The New York Times

Report: 9.8 Miles of New Train Track on Long Island Could Generate More Than 14,000 Jobs

A report from the Long Island Index explores the economic impact of a new Third Track on the Long Island Rail Road.

May 13, 2014 - Long Island Press

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.