Transportation

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bike Ridership Booms in Some Unlikely Cities
A fitness tracking app reports dramatic increases in bike ridership since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Pagination
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions