Transportation

Is This Really Penn Station?

Long Island Rail Road riders expressed amazement at the new concourse under Eighth Avenue from America's busiest train station. It opened June 15 as the first phase of the new Moynihan Station.

June 19, 2017 - The New York Times

A Rap Song About Bike Safety? Yes Please.

Activist politician and rapper, Rhymefest, partners with Blackstone Bicycle Works and Donda's House to attempt the impossible: a compelling song about bike safety.

June 19, 2017 - YouTube

Citi Bike Rack

Nation's Second Bikeshare Fatality Under Investigation in Manhattan

The police report conflicts with videos showing CitiBike rider Dan Hanegby, 36, an avid cyclist on his daily commute, being hit by a charter bus on June 12. Almost a year earlier, a Divvy Bike rider was fatally struck by a truck in Chicago.

June 19, 2017 - The New York Times

Subway Escalator

Sunday Fun: 91 Songs About D.C. Metro

This time the sound of music is the sound of the subway.

June 18, 2017 - Archinect

Washington D.C.

Another Barnes Dance in the Capital

Washington, D.C. has place to do a new Barnes Dance.

June 17, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Norway

Oslo's Car-Free Dreams Easier Said Than Done

Touted as a leader among the European cities moving toward car-free streets, Oslo's ambitions of removing all cars from the city center has hit some roadblocks.

June 17, 2017 - The Guardian

DAPL Protests

Standing Sioux Tribe Wins Court Case on Dakota Access Pipeline

A federal judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers failed to fully comply with NEPA in allowing the controversial pipeline to cross under the Missouri River. The judge did not order Energy Transfers Partners to cease operations of the pipeline.

June 16, 2017 - NPR: The Two-Way

Train

Friday Funny: A 'Manspreader' for Every Month

If a new online cartoon for The New Yorker were a real calendar, we'd expect it would sell more copies than Playgirl and find itself spread across dart boards in all five boroughs.

June 16, 2017 - The New Yorker

Pike Place

School Bus Schedule Changes Will Be Funded by the Seattle Department of Transportation

Issues about which bus schedules work best for students and families, and how changes to the school bus system should be funded, came to a head in Seattle this week.

June 15, 2017 - Seattle Met

Goods Movement

New Wisconsin Road Funding Option: Let Truckers Pay

A mileage fee applicable only to heavy trucks is floated as a third option to close the road funding gap in Wisconsin. The other two options are hiking gas taxes, which is opposed by Gov. Scott Walker, or adding road tolls.

June 15, 2017 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

I-66 Widening and Bike Lane

Critiquing the Proposal to Locate a Bike Lane on an Interstate

The current plan for the widening of I-66 in Virginia would place a bike lane between vehicle traffic and a sound wall.

June 15, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Gas Station 7-Eleven

Odd Years are Good for Hiking State Gas Taxes

Already California, Indiana, Montana, South Carolina (overriding a governor's veto), Tennessee, and Utah* have raised gas taxes this year, while last year was a drought—only New Jersey increased its gas tax.

June 14, 2017 - The Council of State Governments

Plunger

Providence the Latest City to Get Toilet-Plunger Bike Lane

Bike advocates are plumbing new depths, with a growing trend toward placing plungers to act as separators for bike lanes.

June 14, 2017 - Bicycling

Fast Food Restaurants

Transportation Access, Inactivity, and Obesity Play a Role in Cancer Deaths

As smoking related cancer deaths decline, other unhealthy lifestyle choices are quickly replacing it as a leading causes of cancer.

June 13, 2017 - USA Today

Bike The Drive

Chicago Releases Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan

Chicago is following in the footsteps of cities around the country (a few years behind the pack) in adopting a Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2026.

June 13, 2017 - Chi.Streetsblog

Road Construction

The Two Faces of Trump's Infrastructure Plan

The president spent Infrastructure Week touting a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan that has yet to materialize, unlike the elimination of an essential grant program in his 2018 budget that will be detrimental to over 50 transit projects.

June 13, 2017 - The Washington Post

Crosswalk

'Green Light for Great Streets' Initiative Aims to Remove Traffic Safety Roadblocks

Too often, the word "streamlined" is applied to transportation projects at the expense of safety and liveability. The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) would like to switch that dynamic.

June 13, 2017 - National Association of City Transportation Officials

Renewable Natural Gas and Electricity Should Power Los Angeles Bus Fleet

It's not one or the other but both, argues Denny Zane of Move LA in a guest commentary for the Los Angeles Daily News about the decision that Los Angeles County Metro will make on June 22 on the future of the nation's second largest bus fleet.

June 12, 2017 - Los Angeles Daily News

Gas Pump

Voter Backlash Expected From Gas Tax Hike

There's a reason it can take decades to increase gas taxes — and many California legislators may soon found out why in November 2018, if not earlier. On November 1 of this year, state gas taxes will increase 12 cents per gallon.

June 12, 2017 - The Mercury News

Seattle Public Art

The Best of the Best Complete Streets Policies

Complete streets policies are keeping planners busy across the country. An annual report features the best of the best when it comes to transforming city streets for the safety and activity of all users.

June 12, 2017 - Next City

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.