Transportation

Chicago ADA Access

A Guide to Universal Design in the Public Realm

New universal design guidelines go a step beyond complete streets.

September 24, 2019 - Curbed

Car-Free Public Space

New Car-Free Public Space Remains a Challenge to Create

A new study from Drexel University's Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation surveys the obstacles and challenges making it more difficult to build car-free public spaces, like plazas and parklets, in Philadelphia.

September 23, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Electric Pickup Truck Manufacturer Scores Huge 'Climate' Order from Amazon

To show his company's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2040, Jeff Bezos announced Thursday that Amazon would purchase 100,000 battery-electric delivery vans from Michigan-based Rivian. The trucks will begin service in 2021.

September 23, 2019 - Bloomberg News via Transport Topics

McLean, Virginia

Already a Year Behind Schedule, Testing Halted on Silver Line Phase 2 to Virginia

Construction is underway, but testing has been halted, on Phase 2 of the WMATA Silver Line, which will eventually include six stations, including one at Dulles International Airport, and will for the first time extend Metro into Loudoun County.

September 23, 2019 - The Washington Post

Portland Bike

Carbon Emissions Climb 'Dramatically' in Portland

Even a city with a sterling reputation for multi-modal transportation planning isn't making progress in removing carbon emissions from the local economy.

September 23, 2019 - BikePortland

Protected bike lane New York

Fewer New Yorkers Riding Bikes

A recent report presents evidence that fewer New Yorkers are choosing bikes as an alternative form of transportation.

September 23, 2019 - New York Post

Freeway

Infrastructure vs. Housing

Do shortages of infrastructure justify restrictive zoning?

September 22, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

West Portal Muni Station

Planning a New Subway to San Francisco's 'Sleepy' West Side

San Francisco is planning for new population growth and new housing developments on the West Side of the city, and is also expecting high quality public transit to fill the mobility needs of current and future residents.

September 22, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Austin

Austin Lowers Speed Limits to Increase Traffic Safety

It's not quite citywide speed limit reductions that some Vision Zero cities are implementing, but the city of Austin has approved a suite of speed limit changes.

September 22, 2019 - KUT

Angie Schmitt Moves on From Streetsblog USA

One of the most trusted and respected sources of news and opinion related to transportation planning in the United States is moving on from Streetsblog.

September 22, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Electric Car Charging Station

Did the Outlook for Electric Vehicle Sales in U.S. Just Nosedive?

With the formal announcement by the EPA and the U.S. DOT on Thursday that the "One National Standard" rule has been issued, California's zero-emission standard, which applies to ten other states, is essentially on hold.

September 21, 2019 - InsideClimate News

Bloor and Major STreets

The Billion-Year-Old Curb Bulbout

Bloor Street didn't land on this billion-year old rock; the rock landed on Bloor Street.

September 20, 2019 - Toronto Star

SORTA Metro

Bolstering the Case for Public Transit Investment by Connecting the Dots to Infrastructure

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority wants funding to revamp its bus system, but convincing voters of a tax's necessity will require bigger thinking.

September 20, 2019 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Biking

The Diversity of Biking in Art and Culture

Bikes are an important part of many people’s lives, and fostering a world where cycling has a place involves recognizing this diversity of experience.

September 19, 2019 - Streetsblog Chicago

Carpool Lane

Converting a Carpool Lane to a High Occupancy Toll Lane No Easy Task

Supervisors of California's fourth-largest county declared their formal opposition to the conversion of carpool lanes on the Riverside Freeway to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, but they are open to toll lanes, under the right conditions.

September 19, 2019 - The Press-Enterprise

King County Metro Transit

Bus Transit Service Increased in Seattle (Again)

The city of Seattle is improving transit service as the city grows.

September 19, 2019 - The Urbanist

Natural Fort, Colorado

As Community's Colorado's Front Range Grows, Road Planning Follows

Transportation planners are creating extra road capacity to keep up with sprawling development in the I-25 corridor in Colorado's Northern Front Range.

September 19, 2019 - The Denver Post

Seattle STreetcar

Ride-Hailing Tax to Fund Affordable Housing on the Table in Seattle

Seattle would join cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. in taxing rides with companies like Uber and Lyft. Seattle would use some of that revenue to fund affordable housing projects.

September 19, 2019 - Crosscut

California

California's Ability to Set Auto Emissions Standards to Be Revoked

The announcement was made Wednesday morning in a series of tweets by President Trump while raising cash from willing donors at several fundraisers in California. The formal announcement from EPA and DOT is set for Thursday.

September 19, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wichita Union Station

What Will it Take to Make Transit a Priority in Wichita?

A four-part series explores the shortcomings of transit politics and planning in Wichita, Kansas.

September 18, 2019 - The Wichita Eagle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.