Transportation

Speed Limit

Changing This Law Could Reduce Traffic Deaths

In California and much of the rest of the country, says Andrew Said, the laws governing speed limits and enforcement are dangerously outdated, especially where pedestrians and cyclists are concerned. What could we change?

July 14, 2016 - Streetsblog LA

Gas and Bikes

Charting the Precise Relationship Between Gas Prices and Transit Ridership

When gas prices fall, discretionary transit riders also spend less on transit according to an analysis of credit and debit card bills by the JP Morgan Chase Institute.

July 14, 2016 - Marketplace

Horse and Buggy

The Latest Trend in Transportation Infrastructure: Un-Paving Roads

A recent study discovered that towns and cities around the country had removed the pavement on thousands of roads in the last five years.

July 13, 2016 - Wired

Bus Schedule

New Report Targets the Sacred Cows of Transit Planning

Next City introduces the key concepts included in TransitCenter's "Who's on Board" report.

July 13, 2016 - Next City

Boston T

Plan Released for South Station Rail and Bus Terminal Expansion in Boston

A proposed expansion project is intended to expand passenger rail capacity around the Boston area.

July 13, 2016 - Progressive Railroading

Horrific Head-On Train Crash in Southern Italy Leaves 25 Dead

Two commuter trains traveling toward each other on a single track crashed in the Puglia region of southern Italy on Tuesday morning. Human error is suspected. The trains and track lacked automatic train control and automatic braking.

July 13, 2016 - The New York Times

Designing for Physical Inactivity

In this New York Times opinion, health issues correspondent Meera Senthilingam writes that too much of New York City is not designed for physical activity, including walking. Imagine what the suburbs and less vibrant cities are like!

July 13, 2016 - The New York Times - Opinion

Twins Logo Sign

More Transportation Options Needed to Connect Workers and Jobs in the Twin Cities

A new study identifies the disconnect between employees and employers in the Twin Cities region. The report also predicts dramatic improvements if the region's long-term transportation plans are realized.

July 12, 2016 - Star Tribune

Railroad

Virginia Railway Express Wants to Upgrade its Transit Status

How do you take regional commuter rail and turn it into rail transit? Just add frequencies.

July 12, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Cars and Herbie

Americans Shifting Away From the Auto, Maybe

The auto may no longer be "the quintessential symbol of American mobility, status and independence," opines Robert J. Samuelson for The Washington Post, as the latest demographic and auto ownership data point to a change in American mobility.

July 12, 2016 - The Washington Post

Google Bus

Facebook: Solo Commutes Increasing After Loss of Tech Shuttle Stops

Public pressure led the city of San Francisco to cut and relocate tech shuttle stops. Now the cities at the other end of the commute might be dealing with the consequences of those decisions.

July 11, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

RTD Train

Denver's Commuter Rail Cars: Same as SEPTA's But Without the Defects

Denver's transit agency is running very similar Hyundai Rotem EMUs on their new A Line to the airport. The car shells are imported from South Korea and assembled in the same Philadelphia plant as SEPTA's problem-plagued Silverliner V cars.

July 11, 2016 - Billy Penn

Greatest Barrier to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California: Gas Prices

Gas prices are down and sales are up, and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, the largest source of the state's emissions, are up, even though overall they dipped. In addition to increased driving, sales of EVs and hybrids dropped.

July 11, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Atlanta and Suburbs to Hold Separate Transportation Sales Tax Votes in November

The 13 suburban cities of Fulton County agreed to a roads-only, .75-cent sales tax measure that needs to be approved by the county, while Atlanta voters will decide on a MARTA-only .50-cent sales tax. MARTA serves eight of the cities.

July 11, 2016 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Parking

Playing 'Telephone' with Transportation Data

The transportation policy debate regularly falls victim to incorrect or incomplete "facts" getting passed around like the game of telephone.

July 11, 2016 - Steven Polzin

Montreal Freeway

Montreal Begins Demolition of Downtown Elevated Expressway

Montreal will include one less elevated highway—so long Bonaventure Expressway.

July 10, 2016 - Montreal Gazette

London Bus

It's Time to 'Londonize' Bus Transit in the United States

Bike advocates have Copenhagen to provide a real-world case study of a multi-modal vision of the future. It's time bus advocates had their own exemplar.

July 10, 2016 - City Observatory

RTD Bus

$26 Million Civic Center Station Renovation Breaks Ground in Denver

Few cities in recent years have broadcast as many headlining transit investments as Denver. The renovation of a station handling 15,000 passengers a day is the latest.

July 9, 2016 - The Denver Post

Self-Driving Car

Will First Fatality Affect the Development of Self-Driving Cars?

A May 7 crash of a Model S Tesla in Florida may have outsized implications for the future of driverless technology. The details of the single-fatality crash were made public in a June 30 blog by Tesla though they were reported immediately to NHTSA.

July 9, 2016 - Planetizen

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Coming in 2018: Direct Rail Connection Between Forth Worth and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Fort Worth residents will soon have a direct rail connection to the airport, similar to the one currently enjoyed by Dallas residents.

July 8, 2016 - Railway Gazette

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.