Transportation

Empty MARC Train

Commuter Rail From Clayton County to Atlanta Planned by MARTA

The Atlanta region could soon gain a commuter rail line similar to those found in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

October 20, 2018 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Changes Approved for Pedestrian Safety on San Francisco's Sixth Street

A safety-minded street reconfiguration overcame opposition in San Francisco thanks to strong political leadership.

October 20, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe

France Could Implement Congestion Charging in Several Large Cities

France is considering a congestion charge for several of its largest cities, modeled after congestion charges in London, Singapore, and more.

October 20, 2018 - BBC

Paris RER

To Improve U.S. Transit, Follow the Lead of Other Countries

The common refrain is that transit is just better in other countries. However, the reasons why are more complex than initial impressions allow, providing important lessons for the United States.

October 19, 2018 - CityLab

Multi-Modalism in New Orleans

Bike Registration No Longer Mandatory in New Orleans

After a local musician was hit with $1,000 in bike-related fines, advocates were able to achieve some changes in how the city regulates bike use.

October 19, 2018 - The New Orleans Times-Picayune

Boston T

MBTA Could Save $250 Million on Long-Debated Connector

A missing link in Boston's subway system could be built for a lower price and on an accelerated timeline.

October 18, 2018 - Boston Globe

Electric Car Charging

Electric Vehicles See Progress at Local Level but Setbacks in Washington

The new IPCC report calls for decarbonization of transportation. While many cities are attempting to do their part, two recent federal developments in trade policy and tax legislation threaten to will make progress more difficult.

October 17, 2018 - CityLab

Washington DC Metro

Automatic Train Control Returning to D.C. Metro

The computer-driven trains will start up again next year with the goal of improving riders’ experiences.

October 17, 2018 - The Washington Post

Driving

The 'Save Driving' Resistance

For all the concern about the "War on Cars," some car lovers perceive self-driving cars as the real threat to the driving experience and the car culture that comes with it.

October 17, 2018 - The Detroit Free Press

Southwest LRT

Contractors in Limbo While Southwest LRT Waits for Federal Funding Promise

More evidence that the Federal Transit Administration under the Trump Administration isn't interested in capital investments.

October 17, 2018 - Star Tribune

Maryland Avenue Bike Lane

Baltimore Approves Complete Streets Ordinance

Complete streets supporters see multiple benefits from prioritizing non-automobile users of the public right of way.

October 17, 2018 - Baltimore Sun

San Francisco, California

Ride Hailing and Travel Behavior: It's Complicated

A pair of new studies add to an emerging scientific model of the effect of transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. The complication: One study reinforces earlier findings, and the other contradicts.

October 16, 2018 - TechCrunch

Chicago Blue Line Tracks

Regional Planning Stuck in Neutral in Chicagoland?

With the approval of the ON TO 2050 regional plan, some advocates see more of the same car-centric planning. Perhaps the state can finally shift the discussion.

October 16, 2018 - Chi.Streetsblog

Google Self-Driving Car Again

Maintaining Walkability as Autonomous Vehicles Become a Reality

Integrating autonomous vehicles into cities will require effectively managing city streets and suburban sprawl.

October 16, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Boston Big Dig

The 'Big Dig' Was a Big Catalyst

Over ten years after the Big Dig finally completed construction, more and more people in Boston are willing to say the project was worth all the trouble.

October 16, 2018 - Bisnow Boston

Bus Stop

How to Build a Better Bus Stop

The state of a city's bus stops is a good indicator of its commitment to public transit option as a mobility option for all its residents.

October 16, 2018 - TransitCenter

Gas Pump

Gas Tax Politics at Play in Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race

Incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker charges that his Democratic opponent, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, will hike gas taxes by as much as a dollar a gallon to fund road repair, on top of raising income and property taxes.

October 15, 2018 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Waze

Waze Launches New Carpooling Feature

A carpooling feature in the Waze app, tested in the San Francisco Bay Area and Israel, will soon be available around the country.

October 15, 2018 - Business Insider

SEPTA Trolley

Philadelphia's First Strategic Transportation Plan Released

Getting serious about mobility and traffic safety in the City of Brotherly Love.

October 15, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills Students Protest Subway Construction

Students from Beverly Hills staged a high-visibility "walkout" to protest L.A. Metro's extension of the Purple Line subway past Beverly Hills High School.

October 14, 2018 - The 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.