Transportation

People on Bikes

Starting Today: The Idaho Stop Is Legal in Washington State

A law passed in March allowing people on bikes to treat stop signs as yield signs when conditions permit takes effect today in Washington State.

September 30, 2020 - KUOW

Interstate 77

Local Opposition to Ohio DOT's I-77 Widening Plans Near Akron

The Ohio Department of Transportation wants to add lanes to Interstate 77 outside Akron to reduce congestion. Some local officials think the project will connect the region to the East Coast; others think the money would be better spent locally.

September 30, 2020 - Cleveland.com

Space X

Tampa Area Spending $1 Million to Study the Hyperloop

Another regional transit authority isn't as skeptical about the Hyperloop as many critics in the transit and technology press.

September 29, 2020 - Naples Daily News

Houston, Texas

Environmental Study Released for $7 Billion Houston Highway Project

The final environmental impact statement for the controversial North Houston Highway Improvement Project is available for public comment, courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation.

September 29, 2020 - Community Impact Newspaper

Is it a COVID Car or Mask-Optional Car? Rail Commuters Decide

A midwestern commuter rail line found a unique, if controversial way to achieve 100 percent mask compliance on its trains: Set aside one car, though preferably not the bike car, for riders who opt to travel maskless.

September 28, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

MAX line in front of Pioneer Courthouse

Big Business in Portland Doesn't Want to Pay for Metro Transportation Funding Measure

A heated dispute over a $5 billion Metro transportation funding ballot measure has erupted between climate activists and a group representing Portland's big business interests.

September 28, 2020 - The Portland Mercury

Highway Sign in North Carolina

Americans Aren't Likely to Start Driving at Pre-Pandemic Levels Soon

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and gasoline production trends point to VMT in the United States staying ten to 12 percent lower than in 2019 for the next few months, at least.

September 28, 2020 - Eno Center for Transportation

Raleigh, North Carolina

Richmond-to-Raleigh High-Speed Rail Gets Big Funding Win

Federal grant funding awarded recently takes a critical step toward making high-speed intercity rail service a reality between North Carolina and Virginia.

September 27, 2020 - The News & Observer

Washington, D.C.

Union Station Redesign Gets a Placemaking Do Over

Criticisms of a draft plan to revamp D.C.'s Union Station have described the proposal as far too concerned with car storage.

September 27, 2020 - Greater Greater Washington

Washington D.C.

Vision Zero on the Streets of D.C.

Bike and pedestrian deaths have been on the rise in D.C. despite a Vision Zero commitment. New legislation will pave the way for new infrastructure and safety improvements.

September 25, 2020 - The Washington Post

Texas Bike Lane

Bike Ridership Booms in Some Unlikely Cities

A fitness tracking app reports dramatic increases in bike ridership since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

September 24, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Oil

Gone by 2035: Gas-Powered Car Sales Have an Expiration Date in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday an executive order that would ban the sale of cars powered by internal combustion engines by 2035. California is the first state in the country to take such action.

September 24, 2020 - Palm Springs Desert Sun

Valley Metro

Phoenix's Valley Metro Works on Three Light Rail Project During Pandemic Lull

Construction continues on three Phoenix light rail projects set to be completed in 2024.

September 24, 2020 - Arizona Republic

CTA Buses

Pop-Up Bus Lanes Coming to Chicago

New pop-up bus lanes on two of the most heavily traveled bus routes in Chicago will help move essential workers more efficiently during the pandemic.

September 24, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Maryland Transit Administration

Purple Line Construction Halts in Maryland as Contractor Woes Deepen

Purple Line Transit Partners, the contractors managing construction of the beleaguered Purple Line in Maryland, have begun to walk off the job as a dispute about cost overruns brings the project to a screeching halt.

September 23, 2020 - The Washington Post

Strip Mall

How Typical Economic Development Kills Community Character

An economic development pro makes an argument for an approach to economic development that prioritizes the urban design decisions that favor community character.

September 23, 2020 - Proud Places

Metra train stopped at station

Moving Forward with Metra's Equity-Guided Transit System Plans

Metra's significant drop in ridership has forced the agency to adapt to a new transit landscape and plan for equitable fare offerings and service changes.

September 23, 2020 - Active Transportation Alliance

Silicon Valley aerial view

Calthorpe Makes the Case for a Corridor-Based Approach to Affordable Housing

Peter Calthorpe's case study of El Camino Real in the Silicon Valley shows the potential for affordable housing development in the land surrounding side right-of-ways.

September 22, 2020 - CNU Public Square

Car-Centric Planning

The Causes of California's Development Malaise

A spate of recent articles has taken a critical look at the regulatory obstacles to a progrssive planning vision in the state of California.

September 22, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Highway Construction

Tolls Not Included: Toll Proposals Keep Ending Up in the Dustbin in Texas

Another example of the growing political and planning opposition to the idea of tolling new roads in Texas.

September 22, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

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.