Public Transit

A conceptual rendering of a revamped train station in a historic corner of Salt Lake City.

A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix

The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.

January 18, 2023 - Salt Lake City Weekly

Regional Transit

California Could Cut $2 Billion in Transit Spending

The governor’s proposed budget would slash public transit investment to help make up for a projected $22.5 billion deficit.

January 17, 2023 - Sfist

Blue and yellow light rail train pulling into outdoor station in St. Paul, MInnesota

Leveraging Federal Funding for Transit Accessibility

Just 8 percent of U.S. households live near “high-quality transit.” How can federal infrastructure spending help fill this gap?

January 17, 2023 - Urban Institute

A woman wears a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic in a large crowd at a transit station in New York City.

Where Ridership-Only Service Design Comes Up Short

Jarrett Walker and Mathew Yglesias discuss one of the great quandaries of 21st century transit planning—how to increase cost effectiveness and ridership while also ensuring equity and service for underserved communities.

January 16, 2023 - Human Transit

Multimodal Improvements Coming to Houston

The city is continuing its investment in safety and accessibility improvements for transit riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.

January 15, 2023 - Houston Public Media

Two Chicago elevated trains with city buildings in background

Chicago Transportation Advocates Launch ‘Safe Streets for All’ Coalition

The group brings together advocates for road safety and better transit in the hope of influencing local elections and city policy.

January 12, 2023 - Streetsblog Chicago

Public Transit Ridership

How Mass Transit Can Adapt to Post-Pandemic Needs

With commuter ridership playing a smaller role in transit operations, agencies must reorganize their services around different travel schedules and patterns.

January 11, 2023 - Governing

View of cars in traffic from behind with visible tailpipe emissions

Federal Plan Takes Aim at Transportation Emissions

The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization is designed to guide federal investment and regulations, focusing on electrification with a nod to transit investment and walkability.

January 10, 2023 - The Washington Post

RTA train at above-ground platform in Cleveland, Ohio

Study: Cuyahoga County Suburbs Ready for TOD

The growth of transit-oriented development in the Cleveland region is being hindered by zoning codes that limit housing density and excessive parking requirements that drive up construction costs, new research suggests.

January 8, 2023 - Cleveland.com

Blue Denver Connector transit van with wheelchair lift

On-Demand Transit Supplements Denver-Area Bus and Rail

Residents in far-flung parts of the region can connect to rail and bus lines and access local destinations through an on-demand service called the Denver Connector.

January 5, 2023 - The Denver Post

Los Angeles Subway

Subway Ridership Still Lagging as Cities Come Back to Life

While other aspects of urban life are starting to recover to pre-pandemic ‘normals,’ ridership on the nation’s subway systems is still well below average levels.

January 5, 2023 - The Hill

Passengers line up to board a bus at a bus rapid transit station in Indianapolis.

2023 Could Be a Breakthrough Year for Buses

Funding bus rapid transit is the fastest and most cost-effective way to improve U.S. transit systems and bring transit within reach for more Americans.

December 28, 2022 - Curbed

Green and gray Tempe streetcar on street in Tempe, Arizona

Feeling the Impact of Federal TOD Grants

Grants aimed at stimulating development and increased density along transit lines are starting to make a difference in cities around the country.

December 26, 2022 - Governing

Google Maps view of bus stop wth bench and shelter in Emeryville, California

The Importance of Bus Stop Benches

Noticing a need in his community, a California mayor found a fast and affordable way to put seating at every bus stop in town.

December 25, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of red painted bus-only center lanes on Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

S.F. Accelerates Parking Removal at Bus Stops From 7 Years to 18 Months

Reviewing changes in bulk will make it easier for the Municipal Transportation Agency to remove parking around bus stops in San Francisco.

December 22, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Close-up of bus passengers hanging on to red straps on crowded bus

Free Fares for Buses? Don’t Forget the Trains

Fare-free programs that apply to buses and not trains create a fragmented transit system and encourage more people to use slower, less efficient modes.

December 22, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Gold Seattle Streetcar on street against stormy gray sky

Boosters Hope Streetcar Could Breathe New Life into Downtown Seattle

Supporters of a stalled streetcar project say reviving the line would create more transit connections and boost economic development in the area.

December 21, 2022 - The Urbanist

Snowy Washington, D.C. bus stop

D.C. Promises No More ‘Ghost Buses’

The agency says a new software update will remove out-of-service buses from maps so riders aren’t ‘ghosted’ by buses that never show up.

December 20, 2022 - DCist

Vacant boarded-up storefronts along Powell Street in San Francisco, California.

Planning Year in Review 2022: Downtowns, Transportation, Climate Change

Part two of a review of the major themes, debates, and events of the year in planning that was 2022.

December 19, 2022 - James Brasuell

A light rail trail leaves a station with a field of grass under the blue sky in the background.

Denver’s C and F Light Rail Routes Closed Permanently

The Regional Transportation District in Denver suspended two light rail lines at the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. The routes have now been permanently discontinued.

December 18, 2022 - The Denver Post

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.