Transportation

Bus Stop

'Muni Forward' Brings Big Changes to San Francisco's Transit System

The perpetual project to improve transit service in San Francisco has a new chapter.

March 7, 2017 - Hoodline

Pumping Gas

Legal Loophole Will Allow Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards

On Tuesday, the Trump administration anticipates unraveling two signature Obama environmental regulations: fuel efficiency standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles and beginning the undoing of the Clean Power Plan.

March 7, 2017 - The New York Times

Image of Chicago Lake Shore Drive Freeway

Proposal: Bury a Section of Chicago's Lake Shore Drive

In an ambitious plan dating back to the early 20th century, some Chicagoans want to build out park space over Lake Shore Drive's Oak Street S-bend. The project wouldn't be a straightforward one.

March 7, 2017 - Curbed Chicago

Commuter Rail

Trumps Infrastructure Promises Might Not Include California

Electrifying Caltrain is low-hanging fruit for Infrastructure spending. Unfortunately, the fruit may spoil on the vine because the California GOP and Donald Trump have put the project on hold.

March 6, 2017 - Medium

Los Angeles

Why Elon Musk Is Wrong about His Boring Solution to L.A.'s Traffic Congestion

Herbie Huff of the UCLA's Lewis Center and Institute of Transportation Studies pens a well-reasoned opinion for the Los Angeles Times as to why a market-based strategy to manage demand is the best approach to traffic congestion in Los Angeles.

March 6, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco

S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center: Grand Central Station of the West, or Billion Dollar Bus Station?

The developers of San Francisco’s Transbay Transit Center say it has the potential to change travel patterns in the region and land use in the neighborhood, as did New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. How realistic is this promise?

March 6, 2017 - Linda Day

Pedestrian and Bike Access Included at Planned U.S.-Canada Border Crossing

A request for proposals for the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor, includes a mandate to include pedestrian and bike infrastructure across the span.

March 6, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Pedestrians

Monday Inspiration: The Best School Crossing Guard in the Business

Meet Penni Robertson, also known as America's Favorite Crossing Guard.

March 6, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Silicon Valley

California Investing In 'Transformative Climate Communities'

The California Strategic Growth Council has $140 million in cap-and-trade revenue for the new Transformative Climate Community program. The aim of the program is to catalyze environmental and economic investment in disadvantaged communities.

March 5, 2017 - The Planning Report

Speed Limit

Emergency Speed Limit Change Under Consideration in Portland

After a series of pedestrian deaths, Portland considers an emergency speed limit change on SE Division.

March 4, 2017 - The Oregonian

Austin Bus

Big Changes Coming for Austin Transit System

After a long survey process, Austin looking to update its transit system focusing on frequency on its busiest routes.

March 4, 2017 - Capital Metro Blog

Plunger

Friday Funny: Rogue Plunger Enthusiast Unclogs Wichita Bike Lanes

An unknown bike safety activist wields toilet plungers for safety and justice, just as the Thor of legend once wielded Mjölnir.

March 3, 2017 - Next City

Lincoln Tunnel

Are Tiles Falling in Manhattan Tunnels?

In advance of unveiling his infrastructure plan on Tuesday night, President Trump pointed to the hazards posed by "missing tiles" in two New York City tunnels and wondered aloud how many had fallen on motorists. Answer: none.

March 3, 2017 - amNew York

Favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio's Pricey Sky Gondola Goes Full Stop

The sky gondola system built prior to the Rio Olympics has ground to a halt, leaving residents of the city's favelas with little to show for such a grand investment in infrastructure.

March 1, 2017 - DW.com

North Dakota

State Legislation Could Make Parking Meters Legal in North Dakota Again

A law making its way through the North Dakota Legislative Assembly would challenge a prevailing assumption in the state that free parking is a human right.

March 1, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Downtown Kansas City

On-Demand Public Transit in Kansas City Leaves a Lot to Be Desired

Kansas City's novel effort to handle transit’s last mile problem has failed to attract ridership.

March 1, 2017 - TransitCenter

Biketown, Portland, Bike Share

Portland's Biketown to Include 'Adaptive Bikes' to Ensure Universal Access

The city of Portland is wearing the Yellow Jersey on equity issues connected to the Biketown bikeshare system.

March 1, 2017 - Bike Portland

Waze

Israel Plans to Harness the Power of Waze to Save Wildlife

Just in time for United Nations World Wildlife Day, a new initiative in Israel has launched to identify deadly road crossings for animals by harnessing data collected from the Waze app.

February 28, 2017 - The Jerusalem Post

Downtown Highway

Big Idea: One Less Highway Through Kansas City

Eric Bunch argues that removing I-70 from downtown Kansas City presents a big opportunity for the city.

February 28, 2017 - Bike Walk KC

Self-Driving Car

Trump Administration Reviewing U.S. DOT's Automated Vehicle Guidelines

Among the many guidelines and rules going back to the drawing board (or ceremonial execution by executive order) at the federal level are guidelines for self-driving cars released only months ago by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

February 28, 2017 - Reuters

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.