Transportation

Seattle, I-5

Visions for Lidding I-5 in Downtown Seattle

The notion of fully capping I-5 as it runs through central Seattle has been gaining steam. The city could stand to gain hundreds of acres of urban land.

October 10, 2018 - Crosscut

Bike and Scooter SHare

Lyft Moves Toward 'Full Mobility Package'

In cities around the country, Lyft is launching green, multimodal initiatives aimed at providing "all of the above" transportation options.

October 10, 2018 - The Planning Report

Red Light Camera

Pennsylvania Approves Traffic Cameras in Construction Zones

Construction unions fought for electronic enforcement, citing high fatalities in work zones.

October 10, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CRRC train

Federal Policy Would Keep Chinese Railcars Out of the U.S.

Proposed restrictions on federal spending for transit railcars center on concerns about market competition and national security.

October 9, 2018 - Eno Center for Transportation

Seattle light rail

Transit Ridership Rises in Seattle, With Income Differences Among Riders

Transit ridership is up in Seattle, and higher income riders are more likely to use it.

October 9, 2018 - Seattle Times

Bay Area Rapid Transit

BART Rolls Out Upgraded Earthquake Alert System

The new sensor technology gives riders up to a minute to drop, cover, and hold on.

October 9, 2018 - Mercury News

Blocking the Bike Lane

Comparison: Cycling Violations vs. Driving Violations

Is it more dangerous to break the law as a cyclist or as a driver?

October 9, 2018 - Outside Online

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Fate of Brooklyn Heights Promenade Tethered to BQE Repair

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade will be closed as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway below it is replaced. A Brownstoner column celebrates the esplanade's 68th birthday on Oct. 7, noting its troubled past and connection to Robert Moses.

October 8, 2018 - Brownstoner

Washington DC Metro

No Consensus on How to Address Declining D.C. Metro Ridership

A decrease in ridership is not disputed. However, ideas about the best solutions for turning things around abound.

October 8, 2018 - The Washington Post

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Not Doing Enough to Prioritize Buses

According to a bus advocacy coalition's progress report, New York City hasn't yet delivered on promises to get buses moving faster with comprehensive and well-enforced bus lanes.

October 8, 2018 - NY Daily News

Gas Pumps

California Doubles Carbon Intensity Reduction Requirement for Transportation Fuels

California regulators have found that transportation emissions are the most difficult to reduce, unlike those from electricity generation. The state just took a major step by approving significant changes to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard program.

October 8, 2018 - NGT News

Uber Jump bike

Uber Wants to Make Urban Mobility More Sustainable

Uber plans to support sustainable mobility by funding advocacy efforts, sharing data, and offering bike-share service.

October 7, 2018 - Curbed

High Speed Rail California

Proposed California Ballot Measure From Gas Tax Opposition Goes After High-Speed Rail

A follow-up initiative to Proposition 6 would put the brakes on high-speed rail in California and funnel gas tax funds to roads.

October 7, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bike Traffic

Keeping An Open Mind: How Some Cities Are Reducing Emissions While Supporting Economic Vitality

As cities swell and car use soars, U.S. cities should take note of some bold, even radical, emissions-reducing policies being deployed around Europe.

October 7, 2018 - Robert Fischer

Fracking

Petrochemical Industry to Drive Major Growth in Oil Demand

A new report from the International Energy Association projects that petrochemicals will be the largest driver of oil consumption, greatly increasing greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting the effect of electric vehicles on oil demand.

October 7, 2018 - Reuters

Allston Interchange

Should This Mass Pike Viaduct Come Down?

Public opinion favors an at-grade highway, but the state is still considering retaining the elevated section in Allston.

October 5, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Las Vegas strip

In Las Vegas, Ridesharing and Transit Complement and Compete

A look at transportation trends in Las Vegas suggests a surprising relationship between ridesharing and transit.

October 5, 2018 - The City Fix

 Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park

$900 Million to Builds Dozens of Wildlife Crossings Over I-90 in Washington

A massive project to build safe passages for wildlife over Interstate 90 in Washington State is a major win for environmental groups who have been advocating for the project for over a decade.

October 4, 2018 - Crosscut

Volvo to Sell All-Electric Heavy Trucks in North America in 2020

Volvo gained attention last year by announcing it would stop making new internal combustion engine models. Now it plans to electrify its 2020 truck models as well. A demonstration program will be launched in Southern California next year.

October 4, 2018 - Transport Topics

Hamburg, Germany

More Diesel Driving Bans Coming to German Cities

Germany's automotive industry and Chancellor Angela Merkel are increasingly worried about the economic effects of court-sanctioned diesel driving bans to improve air quality, as enacted in Hamburg last May. Four more cities are likely to enact bans.

October 4, 2018 - Bloomberg News

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.