Public Transit

White Waymo autonomous SUV taxi on San Francisco street.

Opinion: Robotaxis a ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’

Recent efforts to paint autonomous ride-hailing services as a complement to public transit are, according to CityLab’s David Zipper, greenwashing.

November 1, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

New Jersey Transit passenger rail commuter train at station in Hoboken, New Jersey with platform 12 sign.

NJ Transit Struggles, Leaving Riders Stranded

The troubled agency has been canceling roughly 100 trains per week.

October 30, 2024 - Curbed

Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) bus on Foster Street in Downtown Worcester, Massachusetts MA, USA.

Massachusetts Extends Free Transit Through June 2025

Gov. Healey announced a $30 million extension to new and existing free fare programs at 13 public transit agencies.

October 29, 2024 - WWLP

Aerial view of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stadium in Los Angeles, California.

LA’s ‘Car-Free’ Olympic Dream Is in Danger

Can the city fund its ambitious plans to build over $3 billion of public transit and sustainable transportation projects before the 2028 Olympic Games?

October 28, 2024 - Governing

View of Alabama state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama at night.

Proposed Alabama Bill Would Fund Public Transit

The senator who introduced the legislation cited concerns about the state’s low levels of workforce participation, noting that a lack of transportation is one of the main reasons Alabama residents can’t participate in the workforce.

October 23, 2024 - Alabama Daily News

Man in suit holding tablet looking at subway turnstiles with superimposed graphics signaling technology and AI.

How AI Can Improve Public Transit

Machine learning and AI can transform the way transit agencies operate and make service faster and more comfortable for users.

October 23, 2024 - RT Insights

Close-up on passengers holding overhead straps on busy public transit bus.

APTA Report Documents Transit Equity Efforts

Transit agencies around the country are boosting their efforts to serve historically marginalized communities and make transit work better for the households that rely on it the most.

October 18, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

People entering modern fare gates in subway station.

Is Cracking Down on Fare Evasion the Answer to Lagging Transit Ridership?

Transit agencies hope to reassure riders concerned about crime by boosting security at transit stations.

October 17, 2024 - My Panhandle

Close-up of white and red Muni sign at bus stop on Polk Street in San Francisco, California with blurred bus in background.

San Francisco Muni Sees Highest Ridership Since Start of Pandemic

The SFMTA is improving service at off-peak hours and on weekends to accommodate new travel patterns that rely less on weekday commuters. Ridership has increased accordingly.

October 16, 2024 - San Francisco Examiner

Aerial view of suburban sprawl with large single-family homes near Dallas, Texas.

Zoning for Good

A new book highlights the power of zoning to change communities for the better.

October 15, 2024 - Governing

White and yellow DART streetcar on bridge in Dallas, Texas with skyscrapers in background.

Dallas, Suburbs Clash Over DART Funding

The city voted to ‘fully fund’ its rapid transit system, but northern suburbs are moving to reduce funding.

October 15, 2024 - KERA News

View of colorful dense buildings in Mexico City from aerial cable car.

Mexico City Aerial ‘Cablebus’ Provides Key Connection to Peripheral Neighborhoods

Unlike many aerial gondolas, Mexico City’s Cablebus is largely used by commuters and residents from communities farther from the city center.

October 14, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

People, cars, bikes and buses traveling through a busy intersection on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street in New York City with shining sunlight background.

How Much Does the President Influence Transportation Funding?

Whether it’s a preference for highway expansion, passenger rail, or bike infrastructure, different administrations can shift grantmaking priorities at the federal level.

October 13, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

White minibus with yellow "On-Demand" logo parked in an asphalt lot with grass field and dry fall trees in background in Edmonton, Canada.

Developing a Common Language for Microtransit Providers

New data specification technology could help rural agencies streamline their operations and coordinate efforts to improve service delivery.

October 10, 2024 - GovTech

Empty hallway lined with white tile in subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

How Does Air Quality in a Philly Subway Station Compare to the Outdoors?

A team of researchers found much higher levels of particulate matter inside the City Hall subway station than on the street-level sidewalks directly above the station.

October 9, 2024 - The Conversation

Purple Phoenix light rail train on rail at golden hour.

Will Voters Fund Transportation Measures in November?

An overview of key transportation-related ballot measures that will be decided in November’s election.

October 6, 2024 - Governing

Bllue and white Link light rail train in Tukwila, Washington.

West Seattle Link Expansion Could Cost $7 Billion

Sound Transit is moving forward with a proposed route despite severe cost overruns, throwing other major rail projects into question.

October 1, 2024 - The Urbanist

Blue and yellow 40-foot public transit bus in San Luis Obispo.

Free Transit for SLO Residents During Rideshare Week

San Luis Obispo transit riders can access fixed-route buses for free during the week of October 7 through October 11.

October 1, 2024 - A-Town Daily News

Woman pressing beg button at crosswalk about to cross street.

California Governor Signs Complete Streets Bill Into Law

The state’s transportation agency will be required to prioritize multimodal transportation infrastructure and improve transparency.

September 30, 2024 - Streetsblog California

New York City subway train at station with operator looking back toward platform.

FTA Directive Addresses Violence Against Transit Workers

Verbal and physical assaults against transit operators have grown alarmingly in the last decade.

September 30, 2024 - Federal Transit Administration

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.

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.