Transportation

Vision Zero

Breaking News: 'Vision Zero' Resolution Introduced in Congress

The resolution acknowledges the epidemic of traffic fatalities and calls on DOT to focus on traffic safety with the goal of reducing roadway deaths to zero by 2050.

July 29, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Hospital Signs

Living (and Dying) with COVID: How Many Deaths are Acceptable?

Political analyst Philip Bump asks the "unstated, unpleasant question" that the U.S. has struggled with since the inception of the pandemic, more relevant now with the widespread availability of vaccines that are effective at preventing most deaths.

July 28, 2021 - The Washington Post

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit Facing Major Budget Shortfall for Light Rail Projects

Since voters approved a measure expanding Seattle's light rail network, construction and land costs have soared, adding billions to the projected price tag.

July 28, 2021 - Seattle Times

Southwest LRT

Minneapolis LRT Facing Delays, Cost Increases

Construction on the Kenilworth Tunnel has been plagued by problems and threatens the foundation of a nearby condo complex.

July 28, 2021 - Minneapolis Post

Pedestrian Bridge

MassDOT Seeking Funding for Bike-Pedestrian Bridge, Bus Lanes, and Policing

The commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking federal funding for several high-profile projects.

July 26, 2021 - Streetsblog Massachusetts

A line of buses on campus at North Carolina State University, pictured with fall leaves on the ground.

Fare-Free Transit Gains Momentum in Raleigh

The pandemic has provided a proving ground for fare-free transit in cities all over the country. For some cities, it might make fiscal sense for these experiments to be made permanent.

July 26, 2021 - Governing

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Who's at Fault When Self-Driving Cars Kill People?

As more autonomous vehicles hit the road and inevitably cause crashes, courts will have to contend with a complex web of responsibility when ruling on wrongful death cases.

July 26, 2021 - Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann

A group of police officers wearing masks during the Covid-19 pandemic gather on a subway platform in New York City.

Police Don't Make Transit Safer, Report Says

TransitCenter's "Safety for All" report provides a counterargument to the "send more police" response to public safety concerns on public transit systems.

July 26, 2021 - Next City

Snow Removal

How Urban Design and Infrastructure Affects Public Health and Dignity

Poor infrastructure can have powerful impacts on how different groups access resources and experience the public realm.

July 26, 2021 - Forbes

Amtrak Pennsylvanian

Northeast Corridor Improvement Plan Would Speed Up Rail Connections

The proposal would fund over 150 projects aimed at improving passenger rail service and speeding up travel times.

July 26, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Yosemite Shuttle

The Importance of Transit to Parks and Trails

Learn about efforts from across the country to expand access to public lands via public transit.

July 23, 2021 - Next City

SEPTA bus

Opinion: Give Students Free SEPTA Rides All Week Long

Philadelphia's student passes cut off at 8 p.m. and don't include weekends, but expanding the free fare program could help SEPTA rebuild ridership and create lifelong transit users.

July 23, 2021 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Police

Research: Traffic Stops Don't Stop Traffic Deaths

A comprehensive study using data from 33 states shows no significant correlation between police stops and reduced crash rates.

July 22, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

LaGuardia Airport

FAA Approves Circuitous, Controversial LaGuardia AirTrain Proposal

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, almost driven out of office by scandal earlier this year, has won a legacy project six years in the making.

July 21, 2021 - The New York Times

I-71 I-70 Columbus OH

The 'INVEST in America Act' Would Help States Kick the Highway Habit

While Congress debates its bipartisan infrastructure deal, a House-approved bill, the INVEST in America Act, waits in the wings with the potential to alter the direction of transportation planning in the United States.

July 20, 2021 - Politico

Adams Morgan pedestrian zone during COVID-19 pandemic

The Most Complete Map of U.S. Pedestrian Risk Yet

New research published by the Journal of Transport and Land Use analyzes tens of thousands of pedestrian fatalities over 16 years in the United States.

July 20, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Radar Speed Sign

Virginia to Launch Innovative New Anti-Speeding Pilot Program

The state of Virginia's new traffic safety program will focus on speeding as fatal factor in automobile collisions and could eventually provide a model for similar programs around the country.

July 20, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Dockweiler State Beach

U.S. on Track to Reduce Emissions by 2030, Report Says

The latest edition of the Rhodium Group's "Taking Stock" report accounts for the uncertainties of Covid-19 recovery while charting the trends in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

July 20, 2021 - Rhodium Group

Seattle Transit

$158 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding Going to Seattle-Area Light Rail Projects

New Capital Investment Grant funding was announced earlier this month.

July 19, 2021 - Kent Reporter

Austin Texas

Austin Won't Commit to Parking Reductions for Affordable Housing Project

The developer of a proposed affordable housing argues that minimum parking requirements will reduce the number of units or pass costs to tenants, Austin regulators expressed are worried about local parking supplies and access to public transit.

July 18, 2021 - Austin Monitor

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.