Transportation

Montgomery County Department of Transportation

'Flash' Bus Rapid Transit Coming to Maryland

The "Flash" bus rapid transit system proposed in Montgomery County, Maryland took a crucial step forward at the end of July.

August 15, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Atlanta Skyline

The Deliberate Segregation of U.S. Cities, as Evidenced by Freeway Congestion

A thorough and damning indictment of 20th century land use and infrastructure planning, and its contemporary legacy of segregation and congestion.

August 15, 2019 - The New York Times Magazine

Houston Light Rail Transit

Voters Will Decide on $3.5 Billion Transit Funding Bond in Houston

Houston's potential as a multi-modal city will be on the ballot this November.

August 14, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

Chicago Street

Via Rideshare Service Expands in Chicago

The company hopes that a broader service area and discounted rides will help people better access transit services.

August 14, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Sacramento Regional Transit

Obsolete Bus-Stop Sign or Treasured Memorabilia?

Sacramento Regional Transit is overhauling its bus system in September, so they old signs for stops will have to go. Instead of scrapping the old signs, the agency is giving them away for collectors' items.

August 14, 2019 - The Sacramento Bee

Amtrak Train

Amtrak Wants to Extend the Wolverine Line With Service From Detroit to Toronto

There hasn't been a passenger rail connection between Detroit and Toronto since 1971, but that could change.

August 14, 2019 - Wood TV 8

MBTA

Potential Delays Trouble Boston Region's Green Line Extension Project

The Green Line extension will bring light rail service from Boston to Somerville and Medford, when it's done.

August 14, 2019 - The Boton Globe

Uber Protest

The Case Against Uber

The prosecution rests.

August 14, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Foothill Gold Line Light Rail Extension

Light Rail to Be Extended East of Los Angeles Again

The longest rail line in the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority system will be extended again, and could eventually cross county lines.

August 13, 2019 - Daily Bulletin

Tilikum Crossing

Ride App Closes Up Shop

The Ride smartphone app, which has gathered millions of miles of bike trip data to help inform bike planning and encourage cycling, is moving on to micromobility.

August 13, 2019 - Bike Portland

SORTA Metro

Swapping One Tax for Another to Fund Bus Improvements

Cincinnati area voters might get a chance to decide the future of transit funding in the city of Cincinnati and the county of Hamilton.

August 13, 2019 - WCPO

Alternative Transportation

Study: E-Bikes Could Be Transportation Game Changers

A recent study out of Europe reveals the potential of electric-assist bikes (e-bikes) to transition mobility away from cars.

August 13, 2019 - Treehugger

Los Angeles County Sprawl

Los Angeles County Sets 2050 Carbon Neutrality Target

Land use and transportation planning will play key roles in an effort by Los Angeles County to achieve carbon neutrality in 30 years.

August 12, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Metra Commuter Rail

Editorial: Cheaper Metra on the South Side Would Ease Chicago's Transit Inequities

The Red Line extension to 130th is still unfunded and a universal Chicago fare card hasn’t materialized, but in the immediate term, the Metra can run more trains and charge lower fares to help get the South Side moving.

August 12, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Bikes and Kids

Too Often, Children Are Forgotten by Transportation Planning

Kids need to go places just as adults do, and they have needs many adults don’t have.

August 12, 2019 - Saporta Report

Los Angeles STreet

Level of Service Canceled in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council voted to officially end the use of Level of Service in measuring environmental impact in favor of a more people-friendly measure: vehicle miles traveled.

August 12, 2019 - Streetsblog Los Angeles

Seattle

Floating Train Bridge Arriving in Seattle

The never-before-used design is already being built.

August 12, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Pedestrian Signal

Walking Directions, Assisted by Augmented Reality

Augmented reality could boost safety for pedestrians, or it could add another layer of distraction between people and the real world.

August 12, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Georgia

Traffic Safety Campaign Pushes Sidewalk Projects and Pedestrian Safety

An affluent suburb located north of Atlanta is asking pedestrians to play a role in traffic safety.

August 12, 2019 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Miami and Key Biscayne

A Dire Warning About Sea-Level Rise in South Florida

A shift is underway on Wall Street—investors are acknowledging the risks of climate change. A recent credit-ratings report on the bridge system connecting Miami to Key Biscayne provides a stark example of the new way of thinking.

August 11, 2019 - Miami Herald

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.