Transportation

Brightline

Feds Approve Passenger Rail Expansion From West Palm Beach To Orlando

Brightline launching service to Miami and start construction on Phase 2 expansion to Orlando in early 2018.

December 22, 2017 - Modern Cities

Dupont Station, Toronto

Toronto Extends its Subway for the First Time in 15 Years

Fanfare, a full slate of politicians, and a day of free rides celebrated the opening of the extended Line 1 of the TTC subway system. There was also criticism of the new extension.

December 22, 2017 - The Toronto Star

Amtrak Cascaded

Focus on Positive Train Control after Amtrak Train 501 Derails in Washington

Excessive speed is thought to be the cause of the deadly derailment on Dec. 18. Positive train control, which likely would have slowed down the train, was installed on the tracks and locomotive but was not yet operational.

December 22, 2017 - RailwayAge

jetBlue Las Vegas

Elevated Expressway Proposal Goes Bust in Las Vegas

A proposal to build an elevated expressway to provide passage for cars to and from the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has folded.

December 21, 2017 - Las Vegas Sun

Atlanta, Georgia

The Best New Bike Infrastructure of 2017

PeopleForBikes surveys the best new additions to bike networks around the country, and finds a lot to celebrate.

December 21, 2017 - People for Bikes

Austin Complete Street

A Guide to Complete Streets

The needs that drive complete streets policy are as unique as the communities they have taken root, but effective complete streets programs do share a few common traits.

December 21, 2017 - TheCityFix

Chicago Transit

Chicago Transit Authority Approves Fare Hike

The Chicago Transit Authority Board voted unanimously to raise fares, despite shrinking ridership.

December 20, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

Bus Schedule

A New Way to Explore Local Transit Ridership Data

TransitCenter has released a new National Ridership Map.

December 20, 2017 - TransitCenter

Atlanta International Airport

News Roundup: The Power Outage That Shut Down the Atlanta Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, was crippled by a total power outage over the weekend. The airport is now working to catch up before holiday travel peaks.

December 19, 2017 - 11Alive

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

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.