Transportation

Ann Arbor

Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Plan Back From the Dead

The board of the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority found a compromise and managed to get a regional transit plan onto the ballot for voters to consider in November.

August 4, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Purple Line

Court Ruling Will Delay Maryland's Planned Purple Line

A project dogged by controversy and opposition took another blow this week, this time from a federal judge. The ongoing safety and operations issue of the Metrorail system played a role in the ruling.

August 4, 2016 - WTOP

2016 TIGER Grants

2016 TIGER Grants Award $484 Million to 40 Winning Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the latest round of TIGER grants on July 28.

August 3, 2016 - Engineering News-Record

Central Parkway

Safety Got Worse Before it Got Better on Cincinnati's Central Parkway Bike Lane

The controversy over a protected bike lane along Central Parkway in Cincinnati continues. The latest grist for the mill comes from a report finding that crashes increased in the first complete year of the lane's operation.

August 3, 2016 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Detroit Motor Bus

A Call to Action After Detroit Suburbs Kill Regional Transportation Plan

A $4.7 billion regional transportation plan died at the hands of suburban interests around Detroit last week. An op-ed describes the action as the same kind of racial disharmony that defined the mid- and late-20 century.

August 3, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

Massachusetts Governor Says No to Vehicle Mileage Traveled Fee Pilot

A year ago Massachussetts looked like it could be one of the next states to adopt a vehicle mileage fee program. Not likely under this governor. Baker opposes an amendment that allows the state to apply for federal grant funding to study VMT fees.

August 3, 2016 - The Republican

Monorail. Sydney

All the Many Solutions to Atlanta's Traffic Gridlock

Atlanta Magazine has gathered together five of the often discussed, but never implemented, plans to move people effortlessly around Atlanta. And they've thrown in one canard to see if you've been paying attention.

August 3, 2016 - Atlanta Magazine

Bike and Pedestrian Path

Funding Multi-Modalism

The new Republican Party Platform wants to stop spending federal fuel tax funds on walking, cycling, and public transit. That would be unfair and inefficient.

August 3, 2016 - Todd Litman

The Hills of Governors Island

New York City Moving Beyond Manhattan

Citing several recent projects, Alan G. Brake argues that New York City is developing an urban identity that no longer transmits every experience through the lens of Manhattan.

August 2, 2016 - Dezeen

Red Light Camera

Red Light Cameras Receive Endorsement from Influential Governors' Group

Calling it 'mind boggling' that municipalities are removing 'proven safety tools,' the Governors Highway Safety Association strongly endorsed the use of the controversial red light cameras to 'to improve safety for all road users.'

August 2, 2016 - Governors Highway Safety Association

Bicyclists White House

Bike and Pedestrian Advocates Rejoice: 'Contributory Negligence' on its Way Out in D.C.

A new law with the support of the mayor and an initial approval by the D.C. council will make it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to collect insurance after a crash with a motor vehicle.

August 2, 2016 - Washington City Paper

Kansas City Streetcar

Kansas City Streetcar Drawing Crowds in First Three Months

With weekend riders leading the way, the Kansas City Streetcar is surpassing ridership expectations three months into its existence.

August 2, 2016 - The Kansas City Star

Rio Subway

Rio's New Metro Crosses the Finishing Line Just in Time

It was a photo finish for Line 4—one of the signature infrastructure projects of the 2016 Summer Olympics—designed to transport passengers between Ipanema beach and the Olympic Park and Village.

August 2, 2016 - The Washington Post

Ciclavia

Active Transport (Walking and Cycling) Planning for Equity

A new FHWA report, "Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning" identifies practical ways to achieve social equity by better responding to the active travel needs of currently underserved populations.

August 2, 2016 - Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning

Portland Oregon Bike

Calculating the Positive Externalities of Reduced Car Ownership

Car registration statistics from Multnomah County show passenger vehicle ownership is less popular among its growing number of residents. The residents forgoing cars have done themselves a favor in more ways than one.

August 1, 2016 - Bike Portland

Commuter Traffic

Congestion Pricing Requires a Careful Balance

Congestion pricing is an economic tool for a difficult, complicated problem, and must be calculated carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

August 1, 2016 - Neighborhood Effects

Hong Kong Taxis

Uber Suffers Setback in China

A deal between Uber and Didi Chuxing, in big news for the future of transportation network companies around the world and Uber's place in an evolving marketplace.

August 1, 2016 - Bloomberg Technology

Fatal Combination: Hot-Air Balloons and High-Tension Power Lines

Sixteen people enjoying a hot-air balloon ride in Central Texas early Saturday morning lost their lives in a fiery death after the balloon came into contact with high-tension power lines, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

August 1, 2016 - WFAA

Miami's Downtown Train Hub Begins to Take Shape

Construction of MiamiCentral, an 11-acre plot in downtown Miami that will house the city's station for Brightline higher-speed train service and related transit oriented development, is well underway. Train service begins next summer.

August 1, 2016 - The Real Deal

Vanpooling the Green Way

Vanpooling in a gasoline powered vehicle is heavily polluting, according to Green Commuter, a new car share and vanpooling service that rents all-electric vehicles, such as the Tesla Model X.

August 1, 2016 - Auto Rental News

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.