Transportation

Rental Cars

Study: Lifetime Cost Of Small Car $689,000; Society Subsidizes 40 Percent of This

Motor vehicles are costly, and every time somebody purchases a car they expect governments to provide roads and businesses to provide parking for its use. A new study totals these costs.

February 9, 2022 - Forbes

Plano DART

DARTzoom System Redesign Launched for Dallas and Surrounding Cities

The Dallas region is the latest to update its transit system on a high-frequency grid with on-demand transit service to fill in the gaps.

February 9, 2022 - NBC DFW

A suburban street in England, shown directly from above, with lush, green yards and driveways with cars parked in front.

Recent Greenfield Developments Build Car Dependency in England, Report Says

The promises of politicians and developers to build more sustainably in the U.K. are going unfulfilled, according to a recent report.

February 9, 2022 - Transport for New Homes

San Antonio

Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway: Governor Rejects San Antonio's Redevelopment Plan

After Texas relinquished control of state highways to cities in an effort to save money on maintenance costs, San Antonio planned an ambitious makeover of Broadway to accommodate pedestrian and bike improvements. The state won't approve it.

February 8, 2022 - San Antonio Report

Medellin

Paris Approves First Aerial Gondola

An aerial tramway project in the French capital cleared feasibility studies and could open in 2025.

February 8, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Washington D.C.

D.C.'s Ambitious Bike Infrastructure Plans

The District of Columbia plans to install ten miles of protected bike lanes this year, among other improvements including additional bike parking and more e-bikes for the Capital Bikeshare fleet.

February 7, 2022 - The Washington Post

Clean Air Express bus in downtown Santa Barbara

Electric Intercity Bus Introduced in Santa Barbara

The zero-emissions bus is part of a regional fleet called the Clean Air Express that connects Santa Barbara County towns and employment centers.

February 7, 2022 - The Santa Barbara Independent

Milwaukee Avenue District in Wicker Park, Chicago, IL

Opinion: Repurpose Parking for Bike Lanes and Outdoor Seating

With car parking banned from two blocks of Chicago's Milwaukee Avenue on weekend nights, the city could take the opportunity to permanently adapt the space for other uses.

February 7, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Detroit Freeway

How Policymakers Are Grappling With the Racist Legacy of Urban Freeways

In Michigan, the state's Department of Transportation is looking for ways to mitigate the damage caused by decades of urban renewal policies and reconnect neighborhoods cut off from amenities and opportunities by highway projects.

February 7, 2022 - Deadline Detroit

Wisconsin State Capital

Transit Activists Call on Wisconsin Leaders To Reject Car-Centric Planning

With billions in new federal funding set to benefit state infrastructure projects, advocates for sustainable transportation call on state leaders to focus resources on public transit, pedestrian, and cycling improvements.

February 7, 2022 - Madison Commons

Houston Freeway

Freeway Intersection at the Heart of Intense Debate in Fort Bend County

The location of a proposed crossing in the fast-growing southwest Houston suburbs could have a significant impact on the area's development.

February 7, 2022 - Houston Chronicle

A busy urban street is seen from the vantage point offered by looking straight down from the top of a high-rise.

Considering Geographic Equity

What do we owe poor cities?

February 6, 2022 - Angie Schmitt

Electric Cars

How Dealership Laws Hinder EV Sales

Laws designed to protect car dealers against price competition from car manufacturers are, in many states, preventing electric car makers from selling directly to consumers.

February 6, 2022 - The Atlantic

gaslamp Quarter

San Diego County Weighs VMT Proposal

San Diego County could tax developers based on projected vehicle miles traveled as part of a new CEQA requirement that replaces Level of Service with VMT.

February 4, 2022 - KUSI

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

How to Build More Bike Infrastructure

A national philanthropic program designed to help cities produce more bike infrastructure has been a resounding success, according to recent analysis.

February 4, 2022 - Urban Institute

Electric Bus

The 'Quiet Revolution' of Zero Emission Transit Buses

More and more U.S. transit agencies are rolling out electric buses, and the recently approved federal infrastructure bill could make it easier than ever to buy zero emission electric buses.

February 4, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

A map of a planned light rail line connecting Los Angeles to cities in the Southeast of the county.

$8.5 Billion, 19.3-Mile Light Rail Line Approved to Connect L.A. and Surrounding Cities

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved a plan to build a light rail route currently called the West Santa Ana Branch Project.

February 4, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles

L.A. Reimagines Parking for New Uses

In famously car-centric Los Angeles, developers and city officials are changing the way they view parking space, opting instead to allocate the space to more effective uses.

February 3, 2022 - Commercial Observer

Bus Priority Zones

Op-Ed: Invest More in Chicago's Buses

In addition to funding the city's roadways and trains, Chicago could use new federal infrastructure dollars to shore up its bus system and invest in bus rapid transit that would improve service for riders.

February 3, 2022 - Chicago Tribune

Alstom Train

New York's Commuter Rail Ridership May Never Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels

Shifting commute patterns and the popularity of remote work could pose an existential threat to the New York City region's commuter rail services.

February 2, 2022 - The New York Times

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.