Transportation

San Francisco, California

Open for a Month, San Francisco's Transit Terminal Shut Down Due to Cracked Beams

The $2.2 billion Salesforce Transit Center, which opened to much celebration on Aug. 11, closed down abruptly Sept. 25 after workers found a cracked steel beam. A second cracked beam was later found. Work began Sunday to shore up the structure.

October 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

L.A. Streetcar

World's First Autonomous Tram Now Operating in Germany

A Siemens tram is carrying passengers now, but the project remains a pilot as the tram is not commercially available.

October 1, 2018 - The Guardian

BART Station

BART Development Law Signed

Under a law signed today by Governor Jerry Brown, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) gains the power to rezone its properties. It's a decisive victory for state preemption over local control in the face of California's housing crisis.

October 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

RTD train Denver

Denver Wants Travelers to Ditch Their Cars

A new initiative will provide access to the city’s shared mobility services to get commuters to find alternatives to driving alone.

October 1, 2018 - The Denver Post

New York MTA subway station

Public Transit in the U.S. Could Be Better. So Why Isn’t It?

Transit ridership has surged in other countries but lags here in the United States. The possible reasons for this are varied as are proposed solutions for improving American transit systems.

October 1, 2018 - Vox

Vote

Bike Infrastructure Enshrined in Swiss Constitution

Nearly three-quarters of the population agreed that the federal government should promote cycling.

October 1, 2018 - SwissInfo

Metro Bikes

Can Bikeshare Work Without Bike Lanes?

One journalist argues that missing ingredient for a flourishing bike culture isn't rental bikes; it's safe places to ride.

September 30, 2018 - Pasadena Star News

Abandoned Bike Share

Smaller Cities Rejecting Dockless Bike Share

Two cities, of similar size (about 90,000 residents), and located in different corners of the country, unceremoniously dispatched dockless bikeshare pilots in recent weeks.

September 29, 2018 - WCVB

Gasoline

California Gas Tax Supporters Get Good News from Latest Voter Survey

In a turnaround from prior voter surveys, a poll released Wednesday on November propositions found a slim majority of voters opposed to repealing the state's first legislative gas tax increase since 1989. Rent control opponents received good news too

September 29, 2018 - The Mercury News

Valencia, Spain

Weekly Scooter Media Brief: September 21-27, 2018

Recent electric scooter news is defined by tragedy.

September 28, 2018 - Planetizen

Commuter Rail

Caltrain Ending Weekend Service to San Francisco Until 2019

Caltrain will end service into the city of San Francisco while it converts the route to electric power.

September 28, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Portland's TriMet Making Plans to Get on the Electric Bus

Electric buses have arrived. Portland is only the latest example.

September 28, 2018 - The Oregonian

Gas and Bikes

Voters in Four States to Decide on Transportation Sales and Fuel Taxes

Californians will determine whether to repeal recent fuel tax and user fee increases; Missourians to vote on a 10-cent gas tax hike over 4 years; Coloradans whether to hike the sales tax, and the most interesting measure will be decided in Utah.

September 28, 2018 - Governing

Bus Lane

Friday Funny: A Teacher's Dream of a Better Commute Comes True

The Reductress published a satirical post in which students discover their teacher takes three buses to get to work and decide to reward her with a better commute...made possible by better bus service.

September 28, 2018 - Reductress

Traffic in Manhattan New York

A Parking-Focused Alternative to Congestion Pricing

Congestion management using parking strategies would be more politically palatable while delivering significant outcomes.

September 27, 2018 - New York Times

Atlanta Transit Planning

More MARTA Plan Shifts Resources From the Clifton Corridor to the Beltline

The final version of the More MARTA plan—a plan to spend $2.7 billion on the Atlanta region's public transit system—will be up for consideration in October.

September 27, 2018 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Illinois Governor

Vehicle Miles Traveled Fee Becomes Debate Issue in Illinois Gubernatorial Race

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner might as well have accused his Democratic opponent of wanting to hike the gas tax. J.B. Pritzker denies he plans to introduce a VMT fee but admits that he's open to all ideas to raise revenue to maintain infrastructure.

September 27, 2018 - Illinois News Network

Toll Road Truck

Nation's First Truck-Only Toll Program Off to Auspicious Start

After the Rhode Island General Assembly passed controversial legislation in February 2016 spearheaded by Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), the first two of what will be 13 truck-only toll gantries became operational on June 11. Results are looking good.

September 26, 2018 - Transport Topics

Thomas/Central Avenue Station

As Phoenix Light Rail Extension Debate Devolves, Questions About Funding

Transit advocates are saying the Koch Brothers are responsible for a sudden outbreak of controversy surrounding the South Central Light Rail Extension in Phoenix.

September 26, 2018 - Arizona Republic

Los Angeles Metro

With a Growing Number of Transit Projects Planned, L.A. Considers Renaming Rail Lines

Like many cities, L.A. already has two trains in the blue color family. With more rail projects in the works, some think it's time to update the system.

September 26, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

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.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.