Transportation

New York to Spend $50 Million on 1,500 Protective Bollards
New York City officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, are responding to a wave of terrorist attacks and other tragic events with a proposal to build protective bollards around the city.

Vision Zero in Name Only
Many cities say they've adopted Vision Zero, but the numbers show they aren't actually getting any safer.
Amtrak Cascades Derailment Foreseen in Original Rail Plans
The cause of last month's deadly Amtrak crash south of Tacoma above Interstate 5 is attributed to the train traveling at 78 mph through a curve with a speed limit of 30 mph. The original plan for the bypass called for the elimination of that curve.

The Twitter Spat Heard 'Round the Planning World
It's understandable if you were too busy reveling in the holidays to catch the details of a controversy between Elon Musk and Jarrett Walker. The disagreement took on a life of its own on social media.

An Investigation of New York's Record Shattering Subway Construction Costs
The New York Times devotes feature-length coverage to the soaring costs of subway construction in New York City, where the cost of construction has reached as high as seven times the average around the world.

Women-Only Ride-Hailing: A Safety Solution?
In Mexico, one popular app illustrates the feasibility and efficacy of women-only transportation models.

Sunnyvale Rejects Bus Rapid Transit Pitch
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is pitching local governments on the idea of restricting lanes for use by buses during peak hours on a major inter-city thoroughfare. One city, at least, doesn't like the idea.

Chicago Bikeshare Rides Are Up, But Revenue Is Down in 2017
As the Chicago bikeshare service extends to more area in the city, some of the stations are in less dense locations and get fewer riders. Thus, though Divvy's revenues have gone up, the income to the city from the program has gone down.

Berlin Unveils Transformative Bike Plan
The German capital could see a new system of cycle superhighways, an expanded bike lane network, and more by 2025.

Get Home Safely Tonight (Or Tomorrow Morning)
CityLab has produced a pair of articles geared toward safe driving behaviors on New Year's Eve.

How Cities Plan for Cold Winter Days
Planning for snow, and for cold days, is a professional practice unto itself.

Whistler's Secret to Transit Success: Reduced Fares and Free Rides
Faced with a booming population and heavy peak traffic during tourists seasons, Whistler decided to make transit much more affordable—ridership increased as a result.
Popular but Controversial Seattle Express Toll Lanes Face Possible Termination
The two-year-old I-405 express toll lanes are actually a trial. It's up to the legislature to decide whether they will be permanent. Two metrics were laid out: revenue and performance, but there's controversy there as well.

What's Next for Bike Advocates?
Wondering what's on the agenda for bike advocates these days? The San Francisco Bike Coalition that just released a Strategic Plan that will direct political actions in 2018 and beyond.

Demand Begets Supply of Long-Haul Buses in Colorado
New long-haul bus routes will connect cities located in the Arkansas Valley in Colorado starting early in 2018. More new lines will be added later in the year.

Major Bridge Rebuilding Project Cost Soars in Providence
When the Trump Administration scrapped the U.S. Department of Transportation's FASTLANE grant program, the state of Rhode Island decided to seek a public-private partnership for its I-95 bridge replacement project.
Two New High-Speed Rail Lines Open in China
It was a big day for high-speed rail…in China.

Four Steps for Making Accessibility a Tangible Part of the Planning Process
Although there is a strong push for accessibility as a key metric in transportation and land use planning efforts, there is still a long way to go in putting theory and intentions into practice.

Movement Toward Mileage Fee Gains Momentum in U.K. with Truck Fee
British trucker calls for a level playing field with 'continental trucks' that may pay no diesel duty is one impetus for the vehicle miles traveled fee that would also consider emissions. The Transport Department stresses it would not apply to cars.

No Free Rides on D.C. Metro for New Year's Eve 2018
The D.C. Metro system's extended New Year's Eves hours will be cut a little short this year, and there will be no free rides.
Pagination
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie