Transit Planning

Metro Train Station

Preview L.A.'s New Crenshaw Light Rail Line, Opening in 2020

Curbed Los Angeles takes a tour of the Crenshaw Line, currently doing test runs in Los Angeles and Inglewood and expected to open to the public in summer or fall 2020.

December 5, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Bus Priority Zones

Bus Priority Zones Get Moving in Chicago

A program championed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to speed up bus service has new monentum from funding provided by Chicago's new fee on ride-hailing trips.

December 4, 2019 - Streetsblog Chicago

Portland Bus Lane

Dedicated Bus Lanes Beating Congestion in Portland

The Portland experience builds the case for dedicated bus lanes as an effective method of congestion mitigation.

December 3, 2019 - BikePortland

SORTA Metro

400 Stops Removed From the Cincinnati Metro Bus System

The process of reducing the number of stops on a transit line—known as bus stop thinning, consolidation, or balancing—took effect this week in Cincinnati. Reducing the number of stops is intended to speed up buses and improve reliability.

December 3, 2019 - WCPO

The Transit Agency formerly known as the Nashville MTA

Nashville Loses Out on Federal Transit Grant, Adding to Agency's Budget Woes

WeGo Public Transit did not receive a grant to build a transit center, and transit advocates say it’s a sobering setback in light of the agency’s other budget challenges.

November 22, 2019 - News Channel 5 Nashville

Arlington to D.C.

Key Planning Details of the Proposed $1.9 Billion Rail Bridge Between D.C. and Virginia

Analysis of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a project that would add an additional bridge to supplement the rail capacity of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River.

November 21, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Chicago El

Advocating for Reduced Transit Fairs for Low-Income Riders in Chicago

A new report by the Active Transportation Alliance builds the case for reduced transit fares on all three transit systems in the Chicago region.

November 19, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Atlanta Public Transit

The Atlanta Region's First Bus Rapid Transit Line

The first bus rapid transit line planned in the Atlanta region relies on federal approval.

November 19, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oakland BUs

Pittsburgh to Oakland BRT Making Planning Progress

An ambitious plan to connect the Allegheny County cities of Pittsburgh and Oakland is proceeding to final stages of design, despite having fallen a little behind schedule for an expected 2021 opening date.

November 18, 2019 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

San Francisco Muni Buses

New SFMTA Director Hired From Nelson\Nygaard

Transit advocates in California this week celebrated the hire of Jeffrey Tumlin, previously a principal with transportation consultant Nelson\Nygaard, as the new director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

November 15, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Expo Line LA Skyline

Traffic Signals Will Finally Prioritize Expo Line Trains in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council has approved a motion to improve signal prioritization for the sake of light rail transit on the Expo Line where it operates in city streets.

November 7, 2019 - Streetsblog LA

Portland, Oregon Public Transit

Making it Safer to Walk to Transit in Portland

TriMet, the regional transit agency in the Portland, Oregon area, this week launched a process for creating a new Pedestrian Plan.

November 6, 2019 - BikePortland

Texas Commute

Opinion: Houston Should Vote Yes for MetroNext to Build Transit and Clean the Air

The executive director of Environment Texas makes the case for public transit as a key tool in improving air pollution in and around Houston. Houston voters will vote on the MetroNext bond referendum today.

November 5, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

Indianapolis Bus Rapid Transit

Indianapolis Going Big on Transit Planning

The IndyGo transit system is wrapping up a period of free fares for its new Red Line bus rapid transit line before another big launch scheduled for spring 2020.

October 29, 2019 - Indianapolis Star

Charlotte Light Rail

A New 26-Mile Light Rail Line Considered for Charlotte

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) would like to add an ambitious, expensive project to its capital investment plans, but funding the project is more daunting than the last time the system expanded.

October 28, 2019 - The Charlotte Observer

Mayo Clinic

Bus Rapid Transit Chosen for Big Mayo Clinic-Adjacent Economic Development Program

Rochester, the third-most-populous city in Minnesota and birthplace of the Mayo Clinic, has approved a plan to build bus rapid transit.

October 28, 2019 - KTTC

NJ Transit

Post-Christie, NJ Transit Finding a New Way Forward

This opinion piece celebrates the new era of transit funding and planning currently underway in the state, but also calls for more: progress, action, and work.

October 28, 2019 - NorthJersey.com

Metro Fare

How Rider-Friendly Fare Policies Can Improve Transit

So many aspects of a transit system's fare system can make or break the rider experience and even the long-term viability of the system. A new report helps transit planners and service designers make sense of all the options.

October 27, 2019 - TransitCenter

Union Station

Plan Would Shift High-Speed Rail Funds to Burbank-Anaheim Commuter Corridor

Improvements to the commuter rail connections between Los Angeles and Orange counties are among the possibilities for the future of rail planning in California as uncertainty about high-speed rail continues.

October 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan

High-Speed Rail Connecting Atlanta to Charlotte Studied

The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration recently released a draft study of a plan to link Atlanta and Charlotte via high-speed rail.

October 25, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

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.