Transportation

Waze

Drivers: Beware Following GPS Navigation Instructions Too Closely

For the second time at the same railroad crossing in Atherton, California, a motorist followed his GPS navigation onto Caltrain tracks. In both cases, the motorists fled their vehicles before being hit by an oncoming train.

February 13, 2018 - (Palo Alto) Daily Post

Gas Pumps

Missouri Governor: Don't Show Me a Gas Tax Hike!

It is an understatement that Increasing fuel taxes is challenging. If there is an opportune time to do it, it's when gas prices are relatively low, when the state decides to cut other taxes, and when there's bipartisan support.

February 13, 2018 - St. Louis Public Radio

Charles Center Metro Subway Station

Baltimore's Subway Shut Down for a Month

Emergency repairs will shut down Metro SubwayLink for a month, adding the system to an ignominious list of transit closures that includes SafeTrak in Washington, D.C. and the L Train in New York City.

February 13, 2018 - The Baltimore Sun

New York Parking

New York City Congestion Pricing Plan Deserves to Move Forward

Congestion pricing, done right (details matter), mitigates a downside of urban density: traffic congestion. Professor John Rennie Short explores the history of congestion pricing, its application in Singapore and London, and why it's good for NYC.

February 13, 2018 - The Conversation

Nashville

Nashville Transit Tax Headed for May Ballot

An historic transit referendum will be on the ballot for Nashville residents in May after some final political maneuvering over the matter of the plan's cost.

February 12, 2018 - Tennessean

Seattle

Implementing Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan

The Seattle Department of Transportation has released a five-year roadmap for implementing the city of Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan (PMP).

February 12, 2018 - The Urbanist

Toronto Skyline B&W

A Closer Look at the Ideas for the 'Smart City' of Toronto's Future

Sidewalk Labs' proposals for the Toronto neighborhood of Quayside reveals a preference for ride hailing over public transit.

February 12, 2018 - Medium

Traffic

Peak Motorization: Measuring Rates of Auto Ownership and Distances Driven

Passenger vehicle ownership and vehicle miles traveled per person and per household remain below their historic peaks set in 2006 and 2004, respectively, but they have been on the upswing for the past four to five years, according to new data.

February 11, 2018 - University Of Michigan

New York Subway

Op-Ed: L Train Closure Offers 'Once-in-a-Generation' Opportunity to Improve ADA Compliance

The New York subway might lead the nation in terms of reach and ridership, but it still lags behind other rail systems in the country on one critical point: access to people with special needs.

February 11, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

High-Speed Rail

Coming This Spring: High-Speed Rail Between London and Amsterdam

Europe might be in political turmoil, but Eurostar high-speed rail service is expanding its reach.Europe might be in political turmoil, but Eurostar high-speed rail service is expanding its reach.

February 11, 2018 - Quartz

Servers

Sidewalk Labs Launches 'Operating System' for Urban Data

The 'Coord' platform will give mobility companies a centralized place to access and use local data on parking, curb space, tolls, and the like.

February 10, 2018 - Wired

Metro Transit Minneapolis

PlanIt Podcast: Equity in Transportation

Communities are having more conversations about equity, engaging with the topic in a variety of ways, from human resources management to parks planning. However, there are other planning areas that have not clearly addressed equity.

February 10, 2018 - PlanIt - Metropolitan Council

Rainy Biker

Opinion: Self-Driving Cars Aren't Safe Until They Can Detect Bikes

Self-driving car companies have proposed equipping bikes, pedestrians, and even pets with the ability to communicate their positions wirelessly. But should autonomous cars really need the help?

February 9, 2018 - Slate

Breaking: Uber and Waymo Settle Self-Driving Tech Lawsuit

A highly anticipated lawsuit only spent a few closely scrutinized days in court before competing self-driving car companies Uber and Waymo settled.

February 9, 2018 - The Mercury News

Gold Line Preview

Southern California's Declining Transit Ridership, Explained

More Southern Californians are purchasing motor vehicles, particularly those who were previously transit-dependent, which largely explains the region's declining transit ridership, according to a newly released study.

February 9, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Metro Transit

2017 Twin Cities Rail Ridership Up

Light rail ridership increased in 2017 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, despite a decline in bus ridership.

February 8, 2018 - Star Tribune

London Truck

Factoring Freight into Complete Streets Plans

The goods movement industry wants a seat at the table.

February 8, 2018 - InTransition Magazine

Walkable Street

New Tools for Making Walkable Places

Eleven ways to make a city more walkable.

February 8, 2018 - Institute for Transportation and Development Policy

Portland, Oregon

Portland's Division Street Express Likely Delayed to 2022

To close a $14 million budget shortfall, TriMet may scale back aspects of the planned bus line.

February 8, 2018 - Oregon Live

Northwest Mall

Reclaiming Malls: How About a High-Speed Rail Station?

A Texas mall that opened in 1968 and largely closed ten months ago has been picked by Texas Central Partners as the Houston terminal of the Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail. The site is far from downtown and distant from public transit.

February 8, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

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.

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.