Transportation

Bus

Transportation for Everyone

An efficient and fair transportation system must serve diverse users. The "Transportation for Everyone" rating system evaluates transport system diversity and, therefore, its ability to serve all community members.

July 13, 2017 - Todd Litman

Portland, Oregon

Oregon Legislature Passes Gas Tax, Includes Bike Tax

After Gov. Kate Brown signs the comprehensive funding package, Oregon will be the eighth state this year to approve legislation to increase its gas tax and the first ever to add a bike tax to fund bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

July 12, 2017 - The Oregonian

Expo Line

Expo Line Between L.A. and Santa Monica Hits 2030 Ridership Projections

Finally, good news regarding public transit ridership in Los Angeles, where the Expo Line connection to Santa Monica has very quickly outpaced its projections.

July 12, 2017 - Urbanize LA

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Denver Could Create a New Transportation Department

Hoping to give more of a focus and priority to the issues of transportation, the mayor of Denver is proposing a reorganization of city departments.

July 12, 2017 - The Denver Post

Road Diet

Orlando's Edgewater Drive: A Safer Street Through Lane Reduction

Its easy to criticize Florida, one of the deadliest states for pedestrians, however progress is being made through collaborative approaches between local citizens and their municipal officials.

July 11, 2017 - Modern Cities

San Francisco Tunnel Boring Machine

San Francisco's $1.6 Billion Central Subway Project 10 Months Behind Schedule

The $1.6 billion Central Subway project will bring the first subway to San Francisco's Chinatown. After early funding and planning delays, construction had seemed to be moving along swiftly. Now the project is expected to be delayed by 10 months.

July 11, 2017 - San Francisco Examiner

Southeast Michigan's RTA Could Trim its Footprint to Build Support for Transit Funding

One way to get a transit funding tax plan approved is just to cut outlying areas out of transit taxes, and transit planning, entirely.

July 11, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Penn Station Interior

'Summer of Hell' Begins on Dire Note at Penn Station

Three days before America's busiest train station what will be two long months of repair work, dubbed "the summer of hell," the third derailment this year occurred, delaying most Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains.

July 11, 2017 - The New York Times

Chicago Transit Authority Buses Inch Toward Prepay

A Chicago Transit Authority pilot program for prepayment is set to expand. Transit advocates can't wait for the agency to adopt the program around the city.

July 11, 2017 - Chicago Sun Times

Wheelchair Accessibile Taxi

New York Considers Wheelchair Accessibility Requirements for Ride-Hailing Companies

Accessibility remains a hot-button issue for transportation network companies, and the city of New York is now moving forward with a proposal that would not intact the chosen policies if companies like Uber were deciding.

July 11, 2017 - Politico New York

Carpool Lane Sticker

Second Attempt at Renewal for California's Clean Air Vehicle Decal Program

New legislation would continue the Clean Air Vehicle program after Jan. 1, 2019 to allow zero and near-zero emission vehicles to continue to qualify for carpool lane stickers in the Golden State.

July 10, 2017 - Santa Monica Daily Press

Toyota Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell Vehicles Get Surprising Boost from Uncle Sam

The petroleum industry-friendly Trump Administration has awarded $15.8 million to 30 projects that are intended to substantially reduce oil consumption from passenger vehicles.

July 10, 2017 - AASHTO Journal

Washington D.C. Bus

The Math That Explains the Struggles of Local Buses

The D.C. Circulator is struggling with maintenance costs and system performance. The balkanization of local bus systems in the region might be to blame.

July 9, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Dakota Access Protest

Law of Unintended Consequences Backfires on Anti-Pipeline Activists

Anti-fracking activists in New York who helped ban fracking and construction of a natural gas pipeline in the Empire State now have to contend with trucks transporting compressed natural gas from fracking operations in Pennsylvania.

July 8, 2017 - The Oneonta Daily Star

Meter Maid

Tickets Keeping Detroiters in Poverty

Michigan suspends approximately 100,000 driver’s licenses every year when drivers can't afford to pay tickets and fines.

July 8, 2017 - The Detroit Free Press

Ohio River

Kentucky-Cincinnati Connection Will Give Commuters a Summer-Long Headache

The already congested Brent Spence Bridge between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will be partially closed this summer for repairs. The project still won't fix larger problems with the bridge.

July 7, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Mount Hood Clackamas

Oregon's $3 Billion Transportation Funding Legislation Has a Tax for Almost Everyone

The package, which doesn't tax walking and running shoes, went to the legislature on June 30. It includes a ten cents per gallon gas tax, a 0.10 percent payroll tax, a $15 tax on new bikes costing at least $200, and a potential toll on I–205.

July 7, 2017 - KGW

NYC Subway Riders

New York Crowdsourcing Solutions to Subway Challenges—$3 Million in Rewards Offered

Three "genius" citizen planners will be awarded $1 million in return for the best and brightest ideas for improving the New York subway.

July 7, 2017 - The New York Times

Volvo Makes History in Embrace of Electric Vehicle Technology

In a major announcement that could shake-up the auto industry, Volvo Cars declared it will initiate a gradual divorce from autos solely powered by internal combustion in two years. The Chinese-owned company wants to reduce its environmental impact.

July 6, 2017 - The New York Times

Bike and Bus Lane

FHWA Greenlights More Red Lanes for Buses in San Francisco

The Federal Highway Administration approved 50 applications of red transit-only lanes to be painted throughout San Francisco. Already used on four streets in a pilot program, the lanes have proven effective but are opposed by some business owners.

July 6, 2017 - San Francisco Examiner

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.