Transportation

Close-up of vote-by-mail ballot with pen

Planner’s Guide to 2024 State and Local Ballot Outcomes

Transit and environment came out on top on state and local ballots nationwide, while housing and marijuana initiatives proved less popular with voters.

November 11, 2024 - Planetizen

View of multistory buildings under construction in downtown Seattle, Washington with Space Needle and Mount Rainier in background.

Seattle Has No Plans to Ditch Parking Requirements

An update to the city’s comprehensive plan will reduce, but not fully eliminate, parking mandates for housing developments.

November 11, 2024 - The Urbanist

Overhead view of white Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco, California with shared bikes and scooters visible on adjacent sidewalk.

Robotaxis Wreak Havoc on Urban Transit

In cities across the United States, robotaxis, championed by companies like Waymo and Cruise, are a marvel of modern technology and a flashpoint for debate over their place in urban transit.

November 11, 2024 - Cities of the Future

Pedestrianized public square surrounded by streets and tall buildings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Agencies Collaborate on Vision Zero Projects

The city reduced pedestrian deaths to seven in 2023.

November 11, 2024 - Pittsburgh CityPaper

Chicago Transit

Chicago Transit Increasing Rail Service to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Chicago Transit Authority is close to returning both rail and bus service to pre-pandemic schedules, with some adjustments for new travel demand.

November 8, 2024 - Mass Transit

Bridge with container ship crashed into it in Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore Traffic Suffering From Absence of Key Bridge

The loss of a key route to the Port of Baltimore is causing major delays and long detours on alternate routes.

November 8, 2024 - The Baltimore Banner

Traffic congestion on New York City street.

Trump’s Election Lends NYC Congestion Pricing Program New Urgency

New York Gov. Hochul has 75 days to reinstate the stalled program or risk losing billions in funding for the city’s aging transportation infrastructure and transit system.

November 8, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

Group of children with backpacks and bike helmets going to school.

How Seattle Achieved Safe Routes to School Goal

SDOT has installed safety improvements at more than 260 public schools since 2015.

November 7, 2024 - Office of Mayor Bruce Harrell

Parked cars in floodwater with two-story apartments or homes in background in Florida after hurricane.

Auto Insurance Rates Spike Due to Extreme Weather

Car insurance costs around the country are going up as insurers receive more claims from areas struck by storms and other climate disasters.

November 7, 2024 - Grist

Commercial street in small rural U.S. town with storefronts and clocktower.

Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities

Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.

November 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

20 MPH speed limit sign

Reducing Driving Speeds Requires More Than Lowering Posted Speed Limits

Without additional changes to roadway design, lower speed limits only slightly reduce driving speeds.

November 7, 2024 - The Minnesota Star Tribune

Aerial view of San Francisco Ferry Building in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Takes Steps to Electrify Bay Ferries

In addition to electrifying the fleet, San Francisco Bay Ferry and the Port of San Francisco are building new facilities to connect more communities to the ferry system.

November 6, 2024 - San Francisco Examiner

A view of the mechanics of the engine at the back of a public bus.

APTA Requests CDL Testing Change to Address Bus Operator Shortage

Eighty-four percent of U.S. transit agencies surveyed said CDL complexity was a hiring obstacle, with the “under-the-hood” requirement being the most challenging.

November 6, 2024 - Mass Transit

Bike lane delineated with white paint and orange bollards.

Study: Bike Lanes Improve Road Safety

Bike lanes delineated with bollards or traffic cones are most likely to slow drivers and reduce crashes between cars and bikes.

November 6, 2024 - Next City

Busy New York City subway platform with blurred people walking in and out of trains and close-up on red brick wall on right.

New York Subway Reaches One Billion Ride Milestone

The system’s 2024 performance is on track for its fastest growth since the pandemic.

November 6, 2024 - Bronx Times

Aerial view of traffic in New York City entering Queens Midtown tunnel

Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Reducing Car Dependence

Encouraging Americans to drive less — and supporting cities where it’s possible to do so — could save the country trillions more than just electrifying the transportation sector.

November 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Patrons at restaurant in New York City eating at ourdoor tables in closed-off alleyway during Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

NYC Losing Many Outdoor Dining Areas Due to Expensive New Regulations

Restaurant owners say the city’s new outdoor dining program makes it too difficult and expensive to operate al fresco setups.

November 5, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

"Vote Here" sandwich board sign with American flag on sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Public, Private Transportation Systems Offer Free Election Day Rides

From transit agencies to ride-hailing, bike share, and car rentals, transportation companies are encouraging people to vote by offering free and discounted rides to polling locations.

November 5, 2024 - TechCrunch

Amtrak Coast Starlight passenger train passing over bridge in Altamont Pass, California.

Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley

Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.

November 4, 2024 - The Modesto Bee

Lime rental bike on sidewalk in Denver, Colorado with Christmas lights in background.

Denver Micromobility on Track to Break Ridership Record

Denver’s shared bikes and scooters will provide as many as 6 million rides in 2024.

November 4, 2024 - The Denver Gazette

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.