Rail Transit

Portland, Maine

Opinion: It's the Perfect Time for More Trains in Maine

A more concerted effort could bring together the state's recent plans and federal infrastructure investment to link the region and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

February 9, 2021 - Press Herald

Maglev

Federal Review of High-Speed Maglev Train Between D.C. and Baltimore Nearing the Finish Line

The Federal Railroad Administration recently released a preliminary study of a proposed high-speed maglev train route between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

February 7, 2021 - The Washington Post

Amtrak 2035

Amtrak Proposes Five New Routes in Ohio

The nation’s most populous state without an intercity passenger rail program could be the benefit of ambitions to expand the network of Amtrak service around the country.

February 4, 2021 - All Aboard Ohio

CTA El Train

One Big Step Forward, One Small Step Back for Chicago Red Line Extension

A big approval and a significant delay—but otherwise 2020 has been a positive year for plans to extend the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line by 5.6 miles to the south.

December 28, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

New York City From New Jersey

Funding Approved for Key Rail Connection Between New Jersey and New York

The Portal Bridge is a key component of the larger Gateway Program that includes tunnels under the Hudson River. Fixing the Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River will provide tremendous relief to NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters.

December 10, 2020 - New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Ogden, Utah

Transit Capital Investments Planned in Utah

Utah finds itself in a unique situation, with money to spend on expanding transit capacity at a time when many transit agencies are plotting layoffs and service reductions.

December 9, 2020 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Amtrak 2035

Two Railways Diverged: Amtrak Planning Expansion While Cutting Service

Amtrak is presented with the potential for two futures: In one is a $25 billion expansion to update national intercity rail with contemporary patterns of settlement. In the other is fiscal crisis and continued service cuts.

October 27, 2020 - My San Antonio

New York New Jersey Transit

Biden Would Finally Get the Gateway Project Moving, Advocates Say

A group of regional experts and advocates provide details on how a win by former Vice President Joe Biden might change the direction of the Gateway Project to repair the rail link between New Jersey and New York.

October 14, 2020 - The Bond Buyer

Regional Transportation District

Pandemic Casts a Shadow Over Today's Big Rail Line Opening in Denver

The N Line between Denver and its northern suburbs opens today to the public, but N Line trains are expected to carry far fewer passengers, and lower frequencies, than originally planned.

September 21, 2020 - The Denver Post

Arlington to D.C.

Key Virginia Rail Bridge Project Completes Environmental Review

A $1.9 billion project to add a second set of rail tracks to the Long Bridge that connects Virginia to D.C. is ready to move forward with a recently completed Environmental Impact Statement.

September 17, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

Amtrak Train

Amtrak in Dire Financial Straits, Seeking More Federal Relief Funding

Amtrak officials say they need $4.9 billion in funding to prevent service and job losses.

September 15, 2020 - Reuters via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Guangzhou

China's Big Recovery Bet: High-Speed Rail

In China, economic stimulus means high-speed rail spending—and lots of it.

August 19, 2020 - Global Construction Review

Coronavirus and Transportation

More Riders on Buses Than the Subway in New York City, in a Historic First

Buses in New York City are proving to be a crucial tool as New York recovers from a brutal experience at the beginning of the pandemic.

July 7, 2020 - The New York Times

Northbound Amtrak

Amtrak Planning Extensive Service Cuts

The disappointment of 2020 has hit Amtrak particularly hard.

June 18, 2020 - The Washington Post

Chicago Train Station

Metra North Central Service Line Riders Push for More Service

A new report imagines more robust service on one of Metra's regional commuter lines in Chicago.

June 12, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Air Travel

For Coronavirus Aid, Air France Must Stop Competing With Rail

France is proposing a momentous step toward clean transportation.

May 6, 2020 - International Railway Journal

Sound Transit Seattle

All Sound Transit Routes Get New, Alphanumeric Names

The "Red Line" didn't fly with people living in neighborhoods historically redlined by discriminatory real estate and land use practices.

April 16, 2020 - The Urbanist

Purple Line Extension Construction

Low Car Traffic Enables Accelerated Subway Construction in Southern California

The city of Beverly Hills, long an opponent of the project, is now taking advantage of a lack of car traffic to drastically speed up construction on the Purple Line subway extension.

April 2, 2020 - Streetsblog LA

Amtrak

Virginia to Pay $3.7 Billion for 225 Miles of Rail Track

New passenger rail improvements for the Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak are on the way in 2020.

December 20, 2019 - WTOP

Commuter Rail

New Train Station in North Bay Brings Commuters One Step Closer to S.F.

The new Larkspur Station on the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system brings commuters much closer to a ferry across the bay.

December 8, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.