Transportation

Cars Banned From New York's Prospect Park Starting in 2018

Decades of activism have led to this victory for pedestrian advocates, Streetsblog NYC reports.

October 26, 2017 - StreetsBlog NYC

Curitiba

Study Finds Bus Rapid Transit More Comparable to Light Rail Than Previously Thought

A new study challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the superiority of light rail over bus rapid transit.

October 25, 2017 - The City Fix

Gas Pump

California Gas Tax Repeal Provokes Internecine Republican Conflict

Chances for a repeal of California's 12-cents gas tax increase have doubled in that two measures aim to qualify for the November 2018 ballot. The initiatives are opposed by the state's major business groups that usually side with Republican causes.

October 25, 2017 - CALmatters

Public Transportation Provides a Vital Mobility Link in Rural and Small Towns

A new report describes the important roles that public transit plays in rural communities and small towns, current demographic and economic trends that are increasing these demands, and examples of successful rural transit development programs.

October 25, 2017 - Public Transportation’s Impact on Rural and Small Towns: A Vital Mobility Link [pdf]

Dallas Area Rapid Transt

Report: Dallas Public Transit Fails Equity and Access

Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have produced a scathing report on the inadequacies of public transit in Dallas.

October 24, 2017 - D Magazine

New York Bus

New York's 'Bus Forward' Plan to Add 21 Select Service Bus Routes

Critics of the Bus Forward plan say the it does not reflect the urgency of the need for better buses in New York City.

October 24, 2017 - StreetsBlog NYC

Text and Drive

Dearth of Data Masks Scale of Distracted Driving Fatalities

Bloomberg links the uptick in traffic fatalities throughout the United States to rising smartphone use while driving.

October 24, 2017 - Bloomberg

Bay Bridge Toll

Analysis Debunks Equity Criticism of Congestion Pricing

Oregon's recently approved gas tax legislation also calls for tolling of I-205 and I-5 in the Portland metro area, with the application of value or congestion pricing so peak period tolls would be higher, which have raised equity concerns.

October 24, 2017 - City Observatory

Tolling the Interstates: Will Indiana be the First?

Indiana is on track to be the first state to apply new tolls on all lanes of selected interstate highways if they are successful in their application for a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration.

October 23, 2017 - The Times of Northwest Indiana

Autonomous Vehicle

The Many Problems With Autonomous Vehicles

Optimists predict that autonomous vehicles will be a transportation panacea, but there are good reasons to be skeptical. They may create as many problems as they solve.

October 23, 2017 - Todd Litman

Intersection

Confronting Wisconsin's $1.1 Billion Highway Widening Proposal

A coalition of environmentalists, civil rights activists, and other community interests teamed up to successfully oppose a Milwaukee highway widening proposal. In an interview, one of the leading lawyers discusses his work.

October 23, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Hubway Bikeshare

16 Boston-Area Cities Team Up for New Regional Bikeshare

A new regional bikeshare program with all the latest advancements in bikeshare technology is on a fast-track in 16 Boston-area communities.

October 23, 2017 - WickedLocal Concord

Ontario, Canada

Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto Partnership Shoots the Smart Cities Moon

The most ambitious example of the almost-mythological "smart city" will be tested in the Quayside district in Toronto as result of a partnership between Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto.

October 23, 2017 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Electric Car

Atlanta Ordinance Would Require Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in New Buildings

The infrastructure to support a world full of electric cars isn't going to build itself.

October 22, 2017 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Highway Speed

Speed Limit Changes Coming to L.A.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation announced proposed speed limit changes and enforcement budgets. Changes to the speed limit will mean an increase in most places.

October 22, 2017 - Streetsblog LA

Atlanta Beltline Acquires Major Piece of the Future Eastside Trail

The Atlanta Beltline will be realized one step at a time, and this was a big one.

October 22, 2017 - Curbed Atlanta

Coal Railroad

Spokane Voters to Decide Whether to Regulate Oil and Coal Trains

Proposition 2, the Safer Spokane Initiative, would require railroads to reduce health and safety risks posed by certain types of oil and coal trains traveling through specified parts of the city or risk being fined.

October 21, 2017 - The Spokesman-Review

Seattle Electric Bus

Seattle's Bus Ridership Growing While Rest of the Country Goes the Other Direction

Transit malls and voter support have buoyed a system that continues to attract commuters and other riders.

October 21, 2017 - CityLab

Brightline

Florida's Brightline to Break Ground on Delayed Orlando Leg

The second phase of the highly anticipated Brightline express train service is finally moving forward after unanticipated delays.

October 20, 2017 - The Next Miami

How's My Driving

Friday Funny: Crass Bumper Sticker Finally Coughs Up its Traffic Data

You know the bumper sticker. It's the one that begins with the words "How's My Driving?" and ends with a 1-800 number.

October 20, 2017 - The Onion

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.