Public Transit

Blue and yellow light rail train at station in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Assessing Transit Spending in Minnesota’s Proposed Transportation Bills

Two bills that will decide the fate of transportation funding in Minnesota contain historic investments in transit service and safety.

May 15, 2023 - Minnesota Public Radio

Passengers lined up to board city bus in Washington, D.C. to Dulles Airport

Complicating the Free Transit Vs. Service Debate

Pitting Washington, D.C.’s K Street Transitway against free transit oversimplifies a more complex issue.

May 15, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Regional Transit

Opinion: California Transit Systems Need State Support

California provides far less in state funding to public transit agencies than other states. Transit advocates say this must change to improve transit service, bring back ridership, and reduce air pollution from the transportation sector.

May 14, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee

People on bikes and sitting on ledge on Pittsburgh riverfront with arched bridge in background

Pittsburgh Aims for Equitable Mobility

A two-year pilot program aims to provide an integrated, multimodal, and affordable transportation system across the city combining transit, bikes, e-scooters, and other options.

May 11, 2023 - Government Technology

A system map of the B Line shows the route and stops where the bus rapid transit route cuts across Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

New Bus Rapid Transit Route Breaks Ground in the Twin Cities

The Twin Cities are on a mission to become the bus rapid transit capital of the United States. The latest improvement to advance that ambition broke ground earlier this week.

May 10, 2023 - Pioneer Press

Traffic in Manhattan New York

NYC Congestion Pricing Plan Gains Federal Approval

The program would be the first cordon pricing scheme in the United States.

May 10, 2023 - Route Fifty

Close-up of red and blue MetroTransit bus stop sign against blue sky and green tree in New Hope, Minnesota

Minnesota Mayors Call for Increased Transit Funding

An op-ed by three mayors explains their support for expanded transit services, calling for a sales tax increase that would fund a modernized, reliable transit network.

May 7, 2023 - MinnPost

A platform of the Berlin East Railway station with a waiting traveler and a tram on June 17, 2014 in Berlin

Germany Launches €49 Nationwide Transit Pass

The low-cost monthly ticket is a boon for some commuters and urban travelers, but critics of the program question the lack of investment in expanding train service to underserved rural parts of the country.

May 4, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Historic cable cars on California Street in San Francisco, California with hill and city buildings in background

The Precarious Future of American Transit

The author of ‘The Great American Transit Disaster’ explains how U.S. transit agencies got to the existential crisis they face today.

May 3, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Close-up of Sunset Empire Transportation District bus in Astoria, Oregon

Oregon Transit District Suspends Service Indefinitely

Facing a budget deficit, the Sunset Empire Transportation District ended its services on Sunday, leaving transit-dependent riders with few options.

May 2, 2023 - Mass Transit

Ottawa

Ottawa’s New Transportation Master Plan Sets 20-Year Planning Priorities

Canada’s capital city recently completed the first step toward adopting a new Transportation Master Plan.

May 2, 2023 - City of Ottawa

A proposed cross section of a center-running, protected bus lane.

D.C. Fare-Free Transit Program Could Come at the Expense of the K Street Transitway

When presented with a choice between investing in improved service or funding a fare-free program, the D.C. Council is choosing fare-free transit, and potentially overriding the wishes of the mayor.

May 2, 2023 - The Washington Post

Metro Subway Los Angeles

Opinion: To Improve Transit Safety, Boost Ridership

Research links high ridership levels with lower crime, signaling that, rather than introducing new security measures, transit agencies should focus on bringing riders back to their systems.

April 28, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Close-up of MARTA logo on Atlanta bus

Atlanta Gaining Two New ‘Arterial Rapid Transit’ Lines

MARTA will begin construction on two new bus lines this year, which will share lanes with other vehicles but use other tools to speed up service.

April 28, 2023 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

San Francisco Internation Airport

BART Reorients Service for Weekend Travelers

With weekday commuter ridership still lagging far below 2019 levels and remote work not going anywhere anytime soon, the agency plans to increase train frequencies on weekends and reduce some weekday service.

April 27, 2023 - NBC Bay Area

White VTA light rail train passing by historic building in downtown San Jose, California

San Jose Rail Extension Clinches Final Funding Piece

The new line will expand rail service to more communities in the South Bay.

April 26, 2023 - The Mercury News

Teal Detroit public bus

Detroit Transit Plan Would Improve Bus Frequencies

The proposal would also introduce bus rapid transit and increase service on the city’s busiest corridors.

April 26, 2023 - Detroit Free Press

Valley Metro Rail

Phoenix Planning First Bus Rapid Transit Route

The city of Phoenix is gathering public feedback on a proposed bus rapid transit route, the city’s first, on 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street.

April 25, 2023 - Daily Independent

Rendering of blue light rail train and people walking around train station in Austin, Texas

Austin’s Project Connect Faces More Hurdles

Two proposed bills in the Texas state legislature call for more voter oversight of the mass transit project, which could imperil the transit expansion approved by voters in 2020.

April 25, 2023 - KXAN

Bus Service

SEPTA Launches On-Demand Transit

The service will expand SEPTA bus service to the Philadelphia suburbs.

April 23, 2023 - NBC Philadelphia

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.