Transportation

Downtown Denver

Colorado DOT Issues Final Report on Road Usage Charge Pilot Program

Most of the 150 volunteers who participated in the 4-month program were pleased. Simulated invoices charged for vehicle-miles traveled after gas taxes paid were credited. Three technologies, including one with GPS, were available to record mileage.

December 19, 2017 - The Denver Post

Texas State Capitol building

Huge Toll Lane Setback in Texas

In a landmark, unanimous vote, the Texas Transportation Commission eliminated all 15 express lane projects from their 10-year capital plan despite pleas from Austin area officials to retain the $8 billion, I-35 project that includes four toll lanes.

December 19, 2017 - Austin American-Statesman

Freeway houses

A New Traffic Safety Paradigm

Despite numerous traffic safety programs, traffic death rates have not declined in a decade and recently started to increase. We can do better! A new paradigm identifies additional safety strategies that reduce both crash rates and risk exposure.

December 18, 2017 - Todd Litman

Amtrak Cascaded

*New Amtrak Train Derails On Highway Overpass Outside of Seattle, Killing 3

The first southbound train on of the newly routed Amtrak Cascades Seattle-to-Portland service derailed on a highway overpass on Monday morning, with two passenger cars falling onto southbound Interstate 5, striking motor vehicles.

December 18, 2017 - AP

Ambulance

Study: Uber Replacing Ambulances Nationwide

An ambulance ride can cost thousands of dollars—even surge pricing won't top that (most of the time.)

December 18, 2017 - The Mercury News

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

In Phoenix, Sustainability Will Be Built by Node

If the desert metropolis wants to survive, it will need a strategy built on something other than a denser, more urban downtown.

December 18, 2017 - Dezeen

Streetcar Route

Streetcar from St. Paul to Airport Takes an Initial Step Forward

Regional interests around the Twin Cities are considering a proposal that would connect St. Paul to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the city of Bloomington by streetcar.

December 18, 2017 - Pioneer Press

Seattle Freeway

More Buses Will Travel on the Shoulder to Skip Traffic in Seattle

Soon, Sound Transit buses will start traveling on the shoulder to skip a perpetually congested stretch of I-5. Over a dozen Sound Transit and Community Transit express routes operate on the 2.5-mile stretch.

December 17, 2017 - The Urbanist

Nominate the 'Best Urban Street Transformation' of 2017

Streetsblog USA is seeking nominations.

December 16, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Public is Receptive to Plans for Express Lanes on Hwy 101 in Bay Area

Caltrans hopes to build two 14-mile high-occupancy toll lanes on Hwy 101 in San Mateo County, one of the region's most congested corridors that lacks carpool lanes. The $534 million project would begin construction in 2019.

December 16, 2017 - The Daily Journal

Broadway Bus Lane in Everett

Boston Turns to Tactical Urbanism to Improve Bus Service

A particularly frustrating 1.2-mile stretch became a whole lot smoother when simple orange cones turned a parking lane and a bike lane into a lane for buses.

December 15, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Holiday Decorations

Friday Eye Candy: Cities Break Out the Festive Buses for the Holidays

Check out the holiday-themed buses rolling through the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Detroit Department of Transportation systems.

December 15, 2017 - Philadelphia

Gasoline

California to Explore Next Steps in Converting From Gas Tax to Road Charge

A summary report of California's 9-month pilot program to test the use of a mileage charge to replace the gas tax to fund road infrastructure has been released. Next steps include exploring available technology to implement the road charge.

December 14, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Automated Vehicle

Florida Proposes an 'Alternative Transportation Authority'

With billions of research dollars at stake, Florida making inroads towards becoming the leader in autonomous vehicle technology.

December 14, 2017 - Modern Cities

Brooklyn Bridge

Modal Friction on the Brooklyn Bridge

The popularity of crossing New York City's second oldest bridge by foot and pedal is causing friction between the two modes on the promenade above six lanes of motor vehicle traffic. A report released for NYCDOT proposes recommendations.

December 14, 2017 - The New York Times

As the State Abandons Public Transit, Is a Regional Solution Possible for Northeast Ohio?

Many states cover around 20 percent of the costs of public transit. In Ohio, that figure has dropped to 1 percent.

December 13, 2017 - Crain's Cleveland Business

Subway Entrance

Many New Yorkers Face Punishing Transit Commutes

As sky-high real estate prices force many lower-income New Yorkers to the periphery, they're paying an additional price in lengthy transit commutes. Meanwhile, real estate interests that benefit from transit investment bear few of its costs.

December 13, 2017 - The New York Times

London Underground

How London's Leading on Transit Data

Transport for London is forging ahead on several projects to collect and use more rider data. One initiative draws on WiFi connections to map users' paths through the London Underground.

December 13, 2017 - DW.com

Dublin, California Freeway

Bay Area Express Lanes Turn a Profit

Not all of them, just the I-580 lanes. One of the reasons is that most users are actually paying, unlike the other two express lanes where a majority of users are clean-air vehicles or carpools, neither of which pay.

December 12, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Self-Driving Bus

FTA Launches Five-Year Study of Benefits of Vehicle Automation to Public Transit

Much of the scientific inquiry into the potential effects of automated vehicles has focused on ride hailing and transportation networking companies. What about good old-fashioned buses?

December 12, 2017 - Eno Center for Transportation

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.