Transportation

1970s and 1980s

Tracking Transit Ridership's Slow Decline Since 1970

New research reveals the regional and national trends of transit ridership—where transit is still a viable option and where travelers have increasingly relied on automobiles.

June 28, 2021 - Urban Institute

Biden Administration

Biden on Senate Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan: 'We Have a Deal'

The plan, initially proposed by five Democratic and five Republican senators, calls for $1.2 billion in spending over 8 years. Biden wants to see a much larger plan in a second bill, which could potentially sink the package.

June 27, 2021 - The New York Times

Bikes on Marcy Ave, new York

Opinion: Only Slower Traffic Reduces Traffic Deaths

A package of bills in the New York legislature seeks to increase licensing and safety requirements for bikes, e-bikes, and scooters. But research shows speeding and impaired driving are still the top killers of pedestrians and cyclists.

June 24, 2021 - Curbed

Amtrak

How Virginia Became a Leader in Passenger Rail

The state's consistent investment in passenger rail has resulted in one of the nation's most effective regional rail networks.

June 24, 2021 - The Washington Post

Road Construction

Wales to Cease Road Construction Projects in Bid to Achieve Net Zero Emissions

The Welsh government is taking a bold stand for climate action.

June 24, 2021 - The Guardian

Metro Transit Minneapolis

Minnesota Transit Buses Deliver COVID-19 Vaccines

The state's department of health is deploying the retrofitted buses to administer vaccines in hard-to-reach communities.

June 23, 2021 - Next City

The Eje Central station of the Mexico City Metro

Report: Collapsed Mexico City Train Line Had Major Structural Flaws

A New York Times investigation uncovered years of government documents showing that officials ignored warnings about major structural flaws and poorly performed work on the train line before its fatal collapse in May.

June 23, 2021 - The New York Times

Texas Central

Contracts Signed, Funding Still TBD: Texas Central High-Speed Rail Moves Forward

Texas Central has its construction contracts and a court decision in its favor, but significant obstacles remain for the high-speed rail project connecting Houston and Dallas to get underway.

June 23, 2021 - Railway Age

Broadway Bus Lane in Everett

How to Improve Bus Service and Performance on Busy Corridors

A new report collects the lessons and best practices of several years of bus priority projects in the Boston region.

June 23, 2021 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Traffic Fatality Demographics

U.S. Traffic Fatalities Increased Most for Black Americans During the Pandemic

Two new reports confirm the racial disparities of traffic violence in the United States, revealing more proof about who stayed home during the pandemic, and who was forced to navigate the risks of the pandemic in public.

June 22, 2021 - CNN Business

Phoenix Bike SHare

Bikelash Wins in Phoenix

Neighborhood opposition overwhelmed a plan to reduce the number of vehicles lanes on North Central Avenue to make space for a new bike lane, despite evidence of the benefits of the proposed street reconfiguration.

June 22, 2021 - Phoenix New Times

Inland Empire

Inland Empire City Pauses New Gas Station Development

The reasons for a ten-month moratorium on gas station development in the city of Rancho Cucamonga portend a major shift in transportation and land use priorities in the near future.

June 22, 2021 - Daily Bulletin

Capitol Hill

Senate Democrats Consider $6 Trillion Infrastructure Package

In contrast to the $1.2 trillion Senate bipartisan infrastructure proposal, Senate Democrats are discussing a massive package that is more of a budget resolution than an infrastructure bill, designed to pass with 51 votes on reconciliation.

June 21, 2021 - Roll Call

NYC-crosswalk

Why Pedestrian Deaths Are Rising

Jarrett Walker offers insights into "Right of Way," a book written last year by Angie Schmitt that is influencing the traffic safety conversation and pushing the fields of planning and engineering in new directions.

June 21, 2021 - Human Transit

Amtrak Connects US

$75 Billion 'Connect US' Plan Would Expand Amtrak Service All Over the Country

New attention for a plan to greatly expand Amtrak service in dozens of cities and regions around the United States.

June 21, 2021 - The Washington Post

SMART Bus

Opinion: Detroit Area Stunted by Lack of Regional Transit

Improved connectivity and reliability in the region's public transit could stimulate growth and help build a more vibrant local economy.

June 21, 2021 - Michigan Advance

View east along Maryland State Route 927 (Montrose Road) at Interstate 270 (Washington National Pike) in Potomac, Montgomery Cou

Maryland Beltway Project Tentatively Moves Forward

The state transit authority has granted preliminary approval to the revised plan to expand the Capital Beltway and add new high-occupancy and toll lanes.

June 21, 2021 - DCist

Highway Speed

Not So Fast! Slower Is Often Better

To create more affordable, healthy, equitable, accessible, and resource-efficient communities, planners must reform the way we value speed relative to other community goals.

June 21, 2021 - Todd Litman

Deliveries Truck

Cities Must Act to Curb Delivery Van Congestion

With more and more products available for doorstep delivery, Janette Sadik-Khan argues that policymakers have to proactively face the imminent "delivery deadlock" and take control of curb management.

June 20, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Trick Biker

Sunday Fun: The Bicycle Powered Car

Mounting a tandem bike to the front of a Honda to generate the power to operate the car has never looked so fun.

June 20, 2021 - Life OD via YouTube

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.