Commuter Trains
Coalition Fights Displacement Along Purple Line
Community advocates are warning that Maryland’s new light rail line could cause displacement without concerted efforts to preserve affordable housing and legacy businesses.
K Line to South L.A. To Open October 7
The line, part of L.A.'s effort to expand its public transit system ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, was originally scheduled to open in 2019.
Washington Metro Faces Budget Deficit, Safety Issues
The capital’s public transit system, the country’s third-largest, has been plagued by a series of problems ranging from a looming fiscal deficit to train crashes and track fires.
NJ Transit Board Approves Tunnel and Resilience Projects
The agency plans to restore service along the Lackawanna Cutoff and develop a storage yard to protect rail equipment during extreme weather.
Tampa Bay Moves Forward With High-Speed Rail Plans
The Brightline will connect Orlando to Tampa and reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.
Houston Transit Barely Beats Out Dallas for Ridership
Out of the top five U.S. metro areas, Houston's transit ridership is second-lowest only to Dallas.
Beleaguered Purple Line Continues to Stoke Gentrification Fears in Maryland
Affordable housing advocates and other community groups in Maryland are calling for early and robust mitigation efforts to prevent displacement of longtime residents and businesses along the new Purple Line corridor.
Planning Commission Calls for More Density at Berkeley BART Stations
Berkeley planning commissioners recommend taller buildings, more density as the city evaluates zoning changes near BART stations.
Post-Cuomo Penn Station Updates Could Move Project Forward
The controversial renovation of Penn Station could move forward with a scaled-back plan.
To Fight Climate Change, Support Public Transit
Electric cars may garner a lot of attention these days, but significantly reducing carbon emissions and urban congestion means investing in high-quality mass transit.
Revised Amtrak Mandate Could Allow for 'Paradigm-Shifting' Changes
Language in the new infrastructure bill calls for the agency to prioritize ridership and service levels over profitability.
To Regain Transit Ridership, Policymakers Must Address Land Use and Housing
More buses and trains alone won't bring back riders; other incentives are needed to boost ridership and encourage new users.
The High Cost of Adapting Commuter Rail for the Post-COVID Future
U.S. commuter rail systems, primarily designed to bring workers to and from central business districts, must adapt to serve a broader population as the traditional workday changes.
Chicago Elevated Train Funding Passes with Unanimous Support
The Chicago City Council has authorized a billion dollars in funding for upgrades and maintenance for the city's Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains; the city hopes to get additional federal funds before Obama leaves office.
Accepting a Deadly Daily Commute
Responding to the New York train crash that killed six this month, Sam Tanenhaus reflects on how commuting got so dangerous and why we don't demand better.
California High Speed Rail Update
The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Center offers good news about California's slow-to-start high speed rail.
Copenhagen's Bikes on Rails
Jonna McKone of TheCityFix looks at Copenhagen's recently added rail cars that are specifically for bicyclists and other passengers with special needs.
"Library-Quiet" Train Cars For Commuters Who Want Peace
Northeast Corridor NJ Transit has announced that beginning in September they will feature "quiet cars" on their trains for passengers who prefer peace and quiet over cell phones and chatter.
Metrolink: Understaffed and Underfunded
The Sept. 12 crash of a Metrolink commuter train with a U.P. freight train resulting in 25 deaths has brought attention to Southern California's regional rail system, revealing that it is a weak 'stepchild' to the larger, better funded LA MTA.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
