Transportation

Electric car being charged at a station

How the Electric Grid Can Handle All the New Electric Vehicles

A key question of the U.S. approach to greenhouse gas reductions is whether an already stressed electric grid will be able to handle a whole fleet of new electric vehicles.

September 13, 2022 - The Equation

Sidewalk bus stop with bench and no shade in Los Angeles, California

L.A. Bus Stops Offer No Relief From Searing Temperatures

As heat waves intensify, bus riders in Los Angeles are forced to wait at bus stops that offer little shade or seating, putting vulnerable residents at risk of heat stroke and other health impacts.

September 13, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Driver reaching for chagne at drive-through window

Faster Food

Responding to pandemic-era shifts in customer demand, fast food and fast-casual chains are stripping away dining rooms, restrooms, and human cashiers in favor of drive-through and automated pickup options.

September 13, 2022 - Slate

Street-level view of Broadway Street, San Antonio, Texas

TxDOT Blocks San Antonio Bike Lanes

The agency argues that the city cannot introduce lane reductions on a state road, putting a long-planned bike lane project in jeopardy and superseding local decisionmaking.

September 13, 2022 - Governing

Pedestrians walking in downtown Denver, Colorado surrounded by tall office towers

Jaywalking Up for Decriminalization in Denver

Like other city and state leaders, Denver’s city council will weigh a proposal to decriminalize jaywalking in an effort to reduce interactions with law enforcement and improve transportation equity.

September 13, 2022 - Westword

Bikes on Marcy Ave, new York

Centering Bikes in the Future of Mobility

Those in search of high-tech solutions for urban congestion and pollution often overlook the bicycle as a powerful, if simple, tool for reducing both and improving urban transportation.

September 12, 2022 - Next City

A map highlighting Danville, California, a city located along Interstate 680 in the East Bay Area.

New Downtown Master Plan for Danville, California

The city of Danville, located along the Easy Bay Area’s I-680 corridor, last week approved a new master plan for its downtown, with funding for implementation made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act.

September 12, 2022 - Danville San Ramon

Bike Infrastructure

Is ‘Protected Bike Lane’ an Oxymoron?

Some research suggests that separated and even ‘protected’ bike lanes actually increase the likelihood of car-bike collisions.

September 12, 2022 - Forbes

A police officer in a Baltimore, Maryland subway station

Baltimore Judge Tosses Regional Transit Voter Question

The Baltimore City Board of Elections and a local circuit court judge have blocked the efforts of transit advocates to seek support from voters for a regional transportation authority.

September 12, 2022 - The Baltimore Sun

A view of the Cross Bronx Expressway, an elevated highway that allows cars to drive past apartment buildings.

The Case for Urban Highway Removal

Instead of removing urban freeways, which have proven to be destructive to communities and economies—in some cases deliberately so—many cities are expanding freeways in and around cities.

September 12, 2022 - The New York Times

Self-Driving Cars

Skepticism for an Auto-Dependent Future

A new book makes the case that the promises of the transportation technology industry will fall short of the needs of cities and the planet.

September 11, 2022 - Vox

Foggy rural road with power lines and haystacks along the side

Nearly Half of U.S. Traffic Deaths Occur on Rural Roads

A lack of access to public transit, scarcer law enforcement, and reduced access to nearby medical care contribute to more risky behavior and more deadly crashes on rural roads.

September 9, 2022 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aerial view of elevated Buffalo Skyway freeway in Buffalo, New York

‘Freeways Without Futures’ Spotlights Freeway Removal Efforts

Around the country, cities and states are starting to listen to decades-old demands to remove freeways that have displaced and fractured communities.

September 9, 2022 - CNU Public Square

Asphalt parking lot at night with bright lights

California Poised To Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit

A state bill awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature would prohibit parking mandates in neighborhoods within half a mile of transit.

September 8, 2022 - CBS 8 San Diego

Automated enforcement sign for dedicated bus lane in Manhattan, New York.

New York To Crack Down on Bus Lane Blocking Violations

The city hopes to improve the speed of its notoriously slow buses by using traffic cameras to ticket drivers who drive or park in dedicated bus lanes.

September 8, 2022 - Politico

Rendering of proposed express lanes on I-285 in Atlanta, Georgia highlighted in bright purple.

Atlanta Toll Lane Project Gains Support From Cobb County

The Georgia Department of Transportation is continuing work on an expansion of I-285, claiming the new express lanes could cut travel times by as much as 39 percent.

September 8, 2022 - Urbanize Atlanta

Electric Cars

Will California's EV Rule Spread to Other States?

Last month California banned the sale of new light duty vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2035. Over a dozen other states have the ability to adopt the same rule, but will they? The Associated Press investigates nine of them.

September 7, 2022 - The Associated Press

Freeway Interchange Construction

Proposed Rule Would Require Emission Reductions From U.S. Highway System

A recently proposed rule, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure, would require state and regional planning powers to track and reduce emissions from the U.S. highway system.

September 7, 2022 - Transportation for America

A rider waits on the platform of the Sox-35th station on the CTA Red Line in Chicago.

Chicago’s Red Line Extension Environmental Review Complete

The Red Line Extension on Chicago’s South Side could be a game changer, if the city can figure out the local funding.

September 7, 2022 - Mass Transit

New York City Bike Infrastructure

New York to Plan a Network of ‘Greenway’ Corridors for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has the federal funding to launch a new, equity-focused bike and pedestrian planning initiative.

September 7, 2022 - AMNY

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.

Comprehensive Bikeway Design Workshop

Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University

Early Bird Deadline – save on your tuition fee!🚨

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)

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.