Transportation

Light Rail From Durham to Orange Finds Final Funding Piece
Planners behind a new 17-mile light rail system that will connect the cities and employers in the Research Triangle in North Carolina overcame a change of funding plans by the state.
Tar Sands Oil Just Lost Another Outlet, For Now
It was viewed as a "David vs. Goliath" pipeline fight: the city of South Portland, Maine against a pipeline company backed by Big Oil. The city had passed a zoning ordinance preventing the export of oil which would have impacted public health.

How Bus Systems Compare When Using the Same Definition of 'On Time'
The definition of "On Time" varies from transit system to transit system, making comparisons difficult. When compared using the same standards, a more accurate portrait of transit performance emerges.

The Local Journalists Who Keep City Planning in the News
Planetizen's 2018 "Top Twitter" list focuses on the local journalists who work hard to keep planning projects and processes in the public eye.

Lessons from Seoul's Bus Redesign
Seoul simplified its routes and kept its key bus lanes clear of traffic to revitalize it's transit system.

Cleaning-Up the World's Dirtiest Fuel by 2020
A 2016 rule approved by a specialized agency of the U.N. is forcing large ships that burn bunker oil, the dirtiest type of fuel, to either burn a more costly low-sulfur variety, apply scrubbers, or turn to LNG.

'Rebuilding California': Controversy Over Signs Telling People Their Tax Dollars Are at Work
Caltrans says signs on transportation projects are nothing more than a useful way to show taxpayers that gas tax funds are being put to good use. But not everyone agrees.

Bridge Closure Will Reroute Traffic in St. Louis for a Year
The Martin Luther King's daily trip load has been greatly lessened by the opening of the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge in 2014, but all the drivers currently using the bridge will have to find another way to go.

Another Summer of Wildfires and Air Quality Emergencies
A third straight summer spent in a haze of smoke from nearby wildfires is taking a psychological toll on Seattle residents. A political response is also taking shape.

Maybe 'Bike Lanes' Should Be Called 'Narrow Lanes' Instead
With the popularity of electric scooters, it seems like non-automobile travel is gaining a large new constituency. Making room for scooters raises big questions of infrastructure that might not be answered first by nomenclature.
Denver's Regional Transportation District Cuts Bus Service
Low ridership and driver shortages mean the Denver area's Regional Transportation District cut bus service.

Celebrity Voices to Remind You to Keep Your Feet Off the Seats
From Judi Dench to Queen Latifah, CityLab writers match transit systems with the personalities they think would make the best announcements.

The Many Benefits of Wandering Through Cities on Foot
Forget the countryside. Urban walking helps people understand their cities while at the same time encouraging urban landscapes where people actually want to walk.

Tougher Fines for Phone Use and the Introduction of the Dutch Reach for Illinois Drivers
Illinois gets to new pieces of legislation aimed at slowing the rise in pedestrian deaths and other commuter injuries.
AAA Study: Auto Ownership More Cost-Effective Than Ride-Hailing
Even after factoring in insurance, parking, depreciation, fuel, repair, maintenance and licensing, urban dwellers would pay half the costs to travel, on average, nearly 11,000 miles annually in their own new car rather than relying on ride-hailing.

Baltimore Municipal Bike Share Ends; Private Bike Share Pilot Begins
Dockless electric scooters and bikes are welcome on the streets of Baltimore, as long as they follow a few rules. In related news, the municipal bike share system Baltimore Bike Share has ceased operations.

New App Helps Taxis Compete
The Waave app provides some of the functionality of ride-hailing apps to taxi drivers. The app is the result of a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission pilot program.

Report: L Train Closure Finally Impacting the Brooklyn Real Estate Market
The New York MTA is planning to shut down the L Train from Brooklyn to Manhattan in 2019, and renters in the area no longer find the area along the route as attractive.

Transit Shelter Modernization Plan on the Shelf in Seattle
Transit advocates thought a public-private partnership to modernize transit shelters and enhance the public realm was a done deal.

The Feds Finally Come Through for Albuquerque Rapid Transit
The city of Albuquerque has finally received the $75 million it needed to complete an ambitious plan for electric bus rapid transit along Central Avenue.
Pagination
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie