Transportation

Metro Gold Line

Coming to L.A. Transit in 2018: Smartphone Fare Payment

Los Angeles is planning to join the ranks of cities that will allow transit fare payment by smartphone app. The scope of benefits offered by app-based fare payment is still under development.

January 7, 2018 - Curbed Los Angeles

Pope Mobile

Pope Francis Calls on Us to Be Better Drivers

Imagine all the people, driving safely and courteously.

January 7, 2018 - The New York Times

Texas Capital Partners

High Speed Rail From Houston To Dallas Inches Closer To Reality

The Texas 'bullet train' cleared a major hurdle as the Federal Railroad Administration releases draft environmental impact statement identifying preferred routes and identifying passenger station locations.

January 7, 2018 - Modern Cities

Downtown Honolulu as seen from the top of Diamond Head

Hawaii Cities Commit to Fully Renewable Ground Transportation by 2045

Mayors and civic leaders from across the Hawaiian islands signed a commitment to target 100 percent renewable ground transportation by 2045, both public and private.

January 6, 2018 - Hawaii Reporter

Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Finally Ready to Protect People on Bikes

A cultural change regarding bike safety for the home of the U.S. auto industry is a long time coming.

January 6, 2018 - Associated Press

Widening, Toll Lane Project Moves Forward in Colorado

A proposed project that would widen and add toll lanes to a section of the I-25 freeway between Colorado Springs and Denver has received a key chunk of funding.

January 6, 2018 - The Gazette

Boston transit station

Op-Ed: Postponing Transit in Allston Will Cost Boston

As the state plans a major renovation to the Massachusetts Turnpike, whether an Allston transit hub is built or delayed may determine how effectively the surrounding neighborhood develops.

January 5, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Vermont SUV

New Hampshire Bills Target Vehicles That Don't Guzzle Enough Fuel

Two bills target hybrid and electric vehicles and even fuel efficient vehicles with new registration fees to increase road funding, as nine states did last year. However, many of those states also hiked gas taxes in the same legislation.

January 5, 2018 - New Hampshire Public Radio

Transportation Network Company

Congestion Pricing—Only for Ride-Hailing Services

Uber and other ride hailing services have put a lot of cars on the road. Could a congestion fee on users of these services help curb the impact of those cars?

January 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Waze

Flooded With Navigation App Users, a Town Closes Its Streets

Navigation apps like Waze often reroute drivers onto residential streets that would be quiet otherwise. With some residents unable to leave their driveways, the New Jersey borough of Leonia has taken an extreme measure against the problem.

January 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Tesla

Welcome to the Electric Vehicle Charging Station of the Future

But only if you drive a Tesla. Unlike a traditional "fill-up," charging an EV takes time—30 minutes for Tesla Superchargers—so Tesla provides an exclusive lounge for its customers at a new 40-Supercharger "rest stop" on I-5 in California.

January 5, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Kids Draw Cars of the Future

Friday Eye Candy: The Cars of the Future, Envisioned by Children

Ten children, ages six through 12, were asked to draw the cars of the future, and then a professional illustrator touched up their ideas.

January 5, 2018 - Quartz

Washington

A History of Female-Led Opposition to Urban Freeways in Spokane, Washington

Former Washington State Representative Margaret Hurley, aided by Margaret Leonard at the local level, saved the Logan neighborhood in Spokane from a freeway plan that would have razed 600 homes. Now the plan is reborn in another part of town.

January 4, 2018 - The Spokesman-Review

Mobility

How Cycling Can Help the Disabled Stay Mobile

In the U.K. university town of Cambridge, more than a quarter of disabled commuters travel by bike.

January 4, 2018 - The Guardian

Uber Eats

Uber Valuation Down Sharply Since 2015

Scandals and growing competition have contributed to the declining value of the transportation network company.

January 4, 2018 - Slate

More on those Freeway-Adjacent Affordable Housing Developments

The Los Angeles Times follows-up an earlier article on the dangers of building too close to freeways. It's a trade-off that the California Air Resources Board acknowledged last April with new guidelines that recognize the dire need for housing.

January 4, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Milwaukee

Why Free Rides on the Milwaukee 'Hop' Streetcar Are a Bad Idea

Citing the psychological impact of doughnuts and the American Red Cross, one opinion writer questions the wisdom of a recent sponsorship deal.

January 4, 2018 - Urban Milwaukee

280 Freeway San Francisco

San Francisco Supervisors Cool to Express Lanes on City's Freeways

The county agency that had hoped to do downtown cordon pricing now wants to add express lanes on Highways 101 and 280, but city supervisors are divided on charging solo drivers the option to buy into managed lanes. Both freeways lack carpool lanes.

January 3, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Port Authority Trans-Hudson

Is the Nation's 'Most Crucial' Infrastructure Project a Pawn in a Political Game?

Observers say the Trump Administration might be threatening to "kill the hostage" in a hardline negotiation tactic on the Gateway project to build a replacement rail tunnel under the Hudson River to connect New York and New Jersey.

January 3, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Toll Road

Dynamic Tolling Done Right—VDOT Shows the Way

Virginia's 66 Express Lanes feature uncapped tolls that change every six minutes with the level of congestion, with most revenue benefiting transit. Carpools travel free, but solo-drivers in electric vehicles pay like others.

January 3, 2018 - Business Insider

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.