Transportation

San Diego Trolley car

Report: San Diego Trolley Extension Cost Double the Average for U.S. Light Rail

Experts attribute the high cost of the project to local opposition and call on state and federal leaders to give transportation agencies more authority over local jurisdictions.

January 24, 2022 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Denver Union STation TOD

Local Resistance Hinders Transit-Oriented Development

As states move to boost housing production near transit, opposition from neighborhood groups frustrates efforts to build new developments.

January 24, 2022 - Route 50

walkable street

What Is Walkability?

Walkability refers to the ability to safely walk to services and amenities within a reasonable distance, usually defined as a walk of 30 minutes or less.

January 23, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

ITE Quickbites: New Transportation and Health Resources

Transportation planning decisions affect our lives in many ways. New Quick Bites (short reports) published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers can help create healthier and happier communities.

January 21, 2022 - ITE Transportation and Health Resources

I-84 to I-5 Interstate Freeway in Portland Oregon with Long Exposure Vehicle Traffic Motion

Feds Toss the Environmental Assessment for Portland Controversial Freeway Widening Project

It's back to the drawing board for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.

January 20, 2022 - The Oregonian

Medellin

Infrastructure Investment for Public Safety: Lessons from Medellín

A natural experiment in Medellín indicates that infrastructural investments can reduce crime and improve perceptions of public safety.

January 20, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Regional Transit

Only High-Income Riders Rely on Twitter for Transit Info, Study Says

A recent study by the Transit app reveals which communications methods are the most and least effective at reaching demographic groups representative of transit riders.

January 20, 2022 - transit

Augmented Reality

It's Time to Get Serious About the Metaverse

The metaverse is expected to revolutionize the remote and hybrid workplace. But for cities whose municipal services rely on property and sales taxes, and even urban transit revenue, remote work could spell potentially long-term trouble.

January 20, 2022 - Robert Fischer

Self-Driving Shuttle

Optimism for Autonomous Shuttles Despite Recent Setbacks

Two autonomous shuttle companies closed last week, but one industry observer sees reasons for optimism for the long-term viability of the still-speculative market.

January 19, 2022 - Forbes

Utah

'15-Minute City' To Be Built in Utah

A community that focuses on reducing the need for car ownership and providing effective multimodal transportation and diverse land uses will be built from scratch on the site of the decommissioned Utah State Prison.

January 19, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Tesla

Tesla's 'Aggressive' Autonomous Mode Facilitates Lawbreaking

Some Tesla autonomous modes direct the vehicle to engage in dangerous and illegal behaviors, prompting calls for increased regulation of autonomous vehicle tech.

January 19, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

New York City Subway

Tracking the New York Subway's Uneven Recovery

Ridership on the New York Subway has a long way to go to return to pre-pandemic normal, and the setbacks of recent months haven't helped the cause.

January 19, 2022 - The New York Times

Metro Subway Los Angeles

L.A. Metro Receives $1.24 Billion in Federal Funds

L.A.'s transit agency was awarded over a billion dollars in American Rescue Plan funding for maintenance and operations.

January 18, 2022 - The Source

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Traffic Camera Revenues to Fund Capacity-Building Programs in Washington State

Revenue from Washington's traffic enforcement cameras will go in part toward efforts to assist small communities in applying for grants and accessing funding opportunities.

January 18, 2022 - The Urbanist

Mountain Lion

L.A. Wildlife Crossing To Break Ground This Spring

The planned wildlife bridge spanning an eight-lane freeway will be the world's largest and most ambitious project of its kind.

January 18, 2022 - Curbed

Gas Station SUVs

Electric Vehicle Sales Strong in 2021; SUVs Sales Still Dominate the Market

In December, data showed SUVs on course to account for more than 45% of global car sales in 2021.

January 18, 2022 - IEA

Bridge Collapse

$27 Billion Bridge Repair Program Sets New Funding Precedent

The Biden administration recently announced a new $27 billion program for bridge repair. The funding has been allocated to states based on a unique funding arrangement.

January 18, 2022 - Federal Highway Administration

Stylized rendering of the Midwest Regional Rail Network

Federal Railroad Administration Proposes New Midwest Rail Network

If built, regional high-speed rail networks could provide an alternative to uncomfortable air travel and prevent travelers from becoming stranded at airports during extreme weather.

January 17, 2022 - The Urbanist

Watch: Secretary Buttigieg's Keynote Address to TRB 2022 Annual Meeting

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed attendees of the Transportation Research Board’s 2022 Annual Meeting during a plenary session on January 12, 2022.

January 17, 2022 - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine via YouTube

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Denver's Regional Transit District to Overhaul Bus System

The Regional Transportation District will focus on providing improved service on its most popular lines while eliminating underused routes and replacing them with on-demand microtransit.

January 16, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio

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.