Transportation

Mercedes Benz Suburbs

Another Automaker Shows Interest in California Deal on Auto Emissions

President Trump is 'enraged' that automakers would agree with California in support of maintaining the Obama-era fuel efficiency standards, reports the Times. Mercedes-Benz is apparently preparing to join Ford, Honda, BMW, and VW in the private deal.

August 23, 2019 - The New York Times

California

The 'War on Cars' Is a Bad Joke

There is no war on cars. Everybody, including motorists, benefit from a more diverse and efficient transportation system. Let there be peace!

August 23, 2019 - Todd Litman

Metro Cable

On Public Transit, Some of the World’s Best Sightseeing

From Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Sydney, the best—and the cheapest—views are on ferries, buses, trains, and gondolas.

August 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Valley Metro Rail

Phoenix's Future on the Ballot

Voters in Phoenix are already casting ballots in an election to be decided next week. Proposition 105 would end planned light extensions, and Proposition 106 would cap city spending.

August 22, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Union Station

Southern California's Metrolink Defies Declining Ridership Trends

Primarily serving commuters in the Greater Los Angeles metro area, Metrolink just attained the highest annual ridership in its 27-year existence. Officials chalk up the increase to a significant investment in marketing.

August 22, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Radar Speed Sign

The Case for Slower Cities

Lower speed limits make cities safer, more livable, and, in the long run, more functional.

August 22, 2019 - CityLab

Copenhagen Bikes

What's Behind Copenhagen's Success as a Cycling City?

Denmark's capital is a model city in terms of biking, but the reasons that bikes rule go beyond political leadership and robust infrastructure.

August 22, 2019 - City Observatory

Historic Towns

Land Use of 2,200-Acre Site Holds Up 'Livable Frederick' Plan in Western Maryland

City councilmembers are debating the future of a 2,200-acre former aluminum smelting plant in Frederick, Maryland. The debate centers on the viability of the parcel as transit-oriented development.

August 21, 2019 - The Frederick News-Post

Electric Scooters

Historic Preservation—A Reason to Nix Scooters?

Scooter opponents in Alexandria, Virginia, claim the devices threaten the historic character of the city, but supporters say the argument is nonsense.

August 21, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Dallas, Texas

Uber Facility for 3,000 Employees Headed to Dallas

The new Uber office in Dallas will be the company's largest employment hub outside of its San Francisco headquarters.

August 21, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

Bike Infrastructure

Pushing for a Five-Borough Network of Protected Bike Lanes

The Regional Plan Association (RPA) is responding to a spate of fatalities on the streets of New York city. The question remains whether the city's will response will be effective in improving traffic safety.

August 21, 2019 - Curbed New York

Streetcar

Unified Fare Payment in Detroit

The QLine streetcar joins the fare payment system of DDOT and SMART buses in the Motor City.

August 20, 2019 - Detroit Free Press

Metro Transit Green Line

Twin Cities Light Rail Cuts Overnight Service, Displaces Hundreds of Homeless Riders

Homeless and working class riders won't have the shelter and mobility offered by Green Line trains in the Twin Cities, as Metro Transit cuts overnight service.

August 20, 2019 - Star Tribune

110 Freeway

Good and Bad News in California's Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory

Overall greenhouse gas emissions in California dropped 1% in 2017, according to the inventory by the California Air Resources Board, which includes a 9% drop in emissions from electricity generation and a 1% increase in transportation emissions.

August 20, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

SFO Departures

Oil and Water: Ride-Hailing and Airport Traffic

It's not your imagination. Surface traffic at airports is worse than ever, according to this article, because of ride-hailing companies.

August 20, 2019 - The New York Times

Sweden

Train Travel Gains Popularity as 'Flight Shame' Trends in Europe

A greener life means fewer flights for many Europeans.

August 20, 2019 - Time

Crowded Subway Platform

A Comedian's Brutal Takedown of Public Transportation's Failures

The Netflix show Patriot Act, starring Hasan Minhaj, assigns blame for the current state of public transit.

August 19, 2019 - Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj

Parking Garage

Editorial: Pittsburgh Fails to Provide Adequate Parking Around Downtown

New development coming to Downtown Pittsburgh lacks sufficient parking, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

August 19, 2019 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cadillac Escalade

British Researchers Sound the Alarm About the Dangers of Large SUVs

These researchers call for dangerous, large-sized SUVs to be removed from the road.

August 19, 2019 - Forbes

San Francisco Bike Lane

Scooter 'Redlining' Raises Questions in San Francisco

San Francisco hoped a competitive permitting process would ensure considerations of equity in the operations of scooters in the city. The results haven't lived up to expectations.

August 19, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

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.