Transportation

Scooter Share

Op-Ed: In New York, Make Legalization of Micromobility a Priority

The state needs to pass legislation to legalize electric bikes and scooters to give residents more mobility options and discourage driving.

June 17, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Scooter Vigilante Shut Down

A scooter vigilante's activities in Scottsdale were short lived. A local columnist has an ambivalent take on the story.

June 16, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Seattle, Washington

Latest Version of the Seattle Bike Plan Restores Some Previously Discarded Bike Lanes

Budget concerns cut some of the planned bike infrastructure included in the Seattle's updated bike plan earlier this year. The city has responded to some of those concerns with its latest version of the draft plan update.

June 15, 2019 - MyNorthwest

Houston Light Rail

The Devil's in the Details for Houston's Hobby Line Light Rail Planning

Several alternative routes are still under consideration for a planned light rail route included in Houston's METRONext long-range transit plan, in progress ahead of a vote by residents in November.

June 15, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

San Jose, California

For Lack of Free Parking, Downtown San Jose Loses a Grocery Store

Why isn't there a place for a major grocery store brand in the downtown of one of the most economically active cities in the country?

June 14, 2019 - The Mercury News

corn field in polk county iowa

Summertime Ethanol Restriction Lifted to Help Corn Farmers—But at What Cost?

President Trump made good on his promise last October to lift the E15 ban in time for the summer driving season. Not mentioned by the Des Moines Register are the downsides to allowing the higher ethanol blend to be sold during the summer, e.g., smog.

June 14, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Bus

Bus Manufacturer to Retrofit Wireless Charging for Electric Buses in Indianapolis

After buses were unable to meet range expectations in Indianapolis, the city reached an agreement with Chinese bus supplier BYD to provide new charging facilities.

June 14, 2019 - Electrek

University of Minnesota

New Bus Rapid Transit Line Launches in Minneapolis

The C Line bus rapid transit line opens in Minneapolis as the state of Minnesota wavers in its funding of mass transit projects.

June 14, 2019 - MinnPost

Canada

Montreal Rolling Out Ambitious Expansion of its Bicycle Lane Network

Five new bike lanes will create the new Express Bicycle Network in Montreal.

June 14, 2019 - CTV News Montreal

British COlumbia

Youth Ride Transit Free in Victoria, B.C.

The city of Victoria is using parking revenue to fund free transit for everyone under 18 years old.

June 13, 2019 - Global News

Los Angeles Bungalow Court

On the Massive Carbon Savings of Gentle Density

A thought experiment compares the carbon impact of three new single family homes with the same block if it contained a duplex, a triplex, and a fourplex.

June 13, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Western Massachusetts

Reviving an Old Regional Rail Route to Spur Tourism in Western Massachusetts

The Berkshire Mountains have long been a popular destination for sightseers, tourists, and weekend warriors. A pilot Amtrak route is designed to attract new waves of New Yorkers to the region.

June 13, 2019 - Curbed Boston

Pedestrians and Walkable Street

Pedestrian Planning in Response to Worsening Safety Data

Faced with rapidly deteriorating pedestrian safety statistics, Montgomery County in Maryland is getting to work on a new Pedestrian Plan, following closely on the heels of work completed for the county's Bicycle Master Plan.

June 13, 2019 - Bethesda Magazine

Complete Street Vancouver

OP-ED: Why Quality Matters in Bike Lanes

The real test of a city’s bike infrastructure isn’t measured in miles of bike lane but in how comfortable and safe they are for everyone.

June 12, 2019 - Fast Company

Adams Morgan District

The Case for Upzoning

The parallel crises of pollution and housing affordability require denser zoning of land uses, otherwise known as upzoning, according to this article.

June 12, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

The Transit Agency formerly known as the Nashville MTA

Following a Failed Referendum, Nashville Transit Advocates Regroup

Last spring, voters resoundingly quashed Let's Move Nashville, a $5.4 billion plan to build out the city's transit options. The plan paid too little attention to current riders, advocates say, and they aim to do things differently.

June 11, 2019 - TransitCenter

Yosemite Shuttle

Yosemite Shuttles Reportedly Crowded and Unsafe

The popular park's shuttle buses are intended to ease traffic and get people out of their cars. But critics say management and maintenance of the shuttle system leave much to be desired.

June 11, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Transbay Transit Center

Cracked Beams Repaired, S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center Ready to Reopen

Buses and people will soon return to the Transbay Transit Center, which operated for just over a month at the end of 2018 before structural flaws forced the closure of the facility for inspections and repairs.

June 11, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Elaine Chao

Scrutiny for U.S. DOT Secretary Elaine Chao's Entangled Interests

The results of two recent investigations allege questionable ethical practices by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, connected to the secretary's family shipping business and marriage to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

June 11, 2019 - The New York Times

DART Bus

DART Sets Its Sights on Automated Buses

The Dallas-area transit agency is partnering with other agencies to study driverless buses and their role in the future of transit systems.

June 10, 2019 - Dallas News

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.