Transportation

nyc. subway.

MTA Ridership Falls Among Growing Service Concerns

After years of ridership growth, New York subways have seen a decline in passengers. Some see service failures as a reason for the slip.

December 1, 2017 - The New York Times

Southwest LRT

Barrier Wall Could Delay Southwest Light Rail in Twin Cities

A proposed 1.4 mile safety barrier may require additional review, and could further delay the project

December 1, 2017 - MinnPost

Shared Street

Video Explainer: The Magic of Shared Streets

Most people would probably assume a shared street, with no signs, lanes, or other regulatory infrastructure, is an accident waiting to happen. More and more cities are proving the opposite.

December 1, 2017 - Vox on YouTube

London Truck

London Plan Takes a Bold Stand Against Parking

The new 25-tear London Plan would ban the construction of parking in large swatches of the city. It's just one component of an ambitious policy agenda presented by London Mayor Sadiq Khan this week.

December 1, 2017 - BBC

Crosswalk Button

Giving Pedestrians a Head Start on Safety

Traffic signals at more than 2,000 intersections in New York City now have a pedestrian head start, making them the "unsung heroes" of Vision Zero.

November 30, 2017 - The New York Times

Interstate Highway

With a 710 Freeway Extension Unlikely, Cities Propose Alternatives

After withdrawing support for a controversial extension of the 710 Freeway, Los Angeles Metro is asking cities for local road improvements to improve traffic flow in its stead.

November 30, 2017 - Pasadena Star-News

Seattle

Showdown in Seattle: Should Developers Forgo Parking?

A mixed-use project in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over parking. Activists are fighting rules that let developers omit parking in areas with a certain level of transit service.

November 30, 2017 - The Seattle Times

Christmas Tree

All I Want for Christmas Is a New Transportation Planning Process

I put my Christmas wish in a little early this year—wanted to give Santa time to deliver, and it's not an easy wish to grant. No data, no graphs, no citations, just some thoughts to share.

November 30, 2017 - Steven Polzin

Arlington Virginia

Arlington County Reduces Parking Requirements for Multi-Family Developments on Metro Corridors

In addition to reducing parking requirements to 0.2 to 0.6 spaces per unit for developments "approved by special exception," the board went a step further by requiring mitigations if developers provide more than 1.65 spaces per unit.

November 30, 2017 - The Washington Post

Toronto

In Praise of Toronto's Least Ambitious Transit Project

After decades of big, expensive plans, diverting cars from a busy streetcar route will make a bigger difference to commuters for far less money.

November 29, 2017 - The Globe and Mail

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Settles for Pedestrian Improvements on Adjacent Street

The university wanted to limit a section of Bigelow Boulevard to pedestrians, but the city pushed for a compromise: better crosswalks and traffic calming features. Now the challenge is finding the funds.

November 28, 2017 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Albuquerque's Recently Opened Bus Rapid Transit Line Sets a New Standard

Overcoming lawsuits and controversy, Albuquerque opened the Albuquerque Rapid Transit to partial service over the holiday weekend.

November 28, 2017 - Albuquerque Journal

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Bus System in Crisis

A new report cites decreased ridership and dismal service despite a growing need for more and better routes.

November 28, 2017 - The New York Times

Who Opposes New York's BQX Streetcar? Not Who You Think

Brooklyn and Queens need better transit, but activists say this waterfront "luxury trolley" is not the way to get it.

November 28, 2017 - Technical.ly Brooklyn

Ambulance

How the U.S. Compares to Other Nations in Road Safety

It's not just death from gun violence where the U.S. is an outlier. The New York Times compiled traffic fatality data showing that other developed nations have greatly lower traffic death rates, which wasn't historically the case.

November 27, 2017 - The New York Times

Berkeley, California

$312 Million Corridor Improvement Project Coming to the East Bay Area

Two county transit agencies, seven cities, and three regional transit agencies are joining forces to plan improvements to the growing San Pablo corridor in the East Bay Area.

November 27, 2017 - The Mercury News

Metro Map

Los Angeles to Test New 'Mobility on Demand' Partnership

The Federal Transit Administration has offered the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority a $1.35 million grant to partner with ridesharing app Via on first-last mile solutions.

November 27, 2017 - Engadget

Trolley Map

Trolley System Thrives in Houston Suburb

As ridership soars, the "urban circulator" in the Woodlands Township is getting longer routes and more frequent service.

November 27, 2017 - Houston Chronicle

Bike Commuter

Senate GOP Tax Cutters Target Bike Commuter Tax Benefit

To help pay for their massive tax cut bill, Senate Republicans have proposed elimination of a small tax benefit that can save bike commuters $240 annually. Unlike the House tax bill, they don't touch parking and transit benefits.

November 27, 2017 - Bicycling

Link and Bus Seattle

Ranking Seattle's Transit Lines

With plans for expansions and realignment in the works, Sound Transit recently ranked the performance of the routes and corridors throughout the bus and light rail transit system.

November 25, 2017 - Seattle Transit Blog

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.

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.