Transportation

Aerial view of Cedar Viaduct under construction for California high-speed rail train in Fresno, California.

July Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

California loses high-speed rail funding, rural Texas hospitals risk closure, and housing advocates warn that a proposed DC law would disproportionately harm Black residents.

August 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white 25 mph speed limit sign.

San Diego to Lower Speed Limits on 11 Streets

A 2022 state law allows cities to reduce speed limits for safety reasons rather than relying on average traffic speeds to dictate speed limits.

August 3, 2025 - CBS 8 San Diego

Power plant with palm trees in foreground in California.

Even in California, Energy Affordability Trumps the Environment

A Democratic senator proposes to relax vehicle emissions standards in order to increase the supply of gasoline as the state's oil refinery capacity decreases, thus mitigating increases in gasoline prices in the state with the highest fuel prices.

August 1, 2025 - CBS Sacramento

"More to Discover in Indiana" sign over freeway at state line entering Indiana.

Indiana Proposes Tolls on Interstate Freeways

If the state’s request is approved by the FHWA, it would be the first to charge tolls on interstates within its borders.

August 1, 2025 - Transport Topics

Two-story red brick buildings and street with bike lane in Toronto, Canada.

Ontario Judge Saves Toronto Bike Lanes

A court order bars the provincial government from removing bike lanes, saying the decision would make roads more dangerous and fail to reduce congestion.

August 1, 2025 - CBC News

White box with traffic camera at stoplight with green freeway signs for Northern California towns visible in background.

Studies Repeatedly Show Traffic Cameras Save Lives

Although divisive, speed and red-light cameras significantly improve road safety, but many U.S. jurisdictions remain resistant.

July 31, 2025 - Governing

Yellow vintage Houston streetcar labeled Bellaire parked on display under covered carport surrounded by wrought iron fence in Houston, Texas.

Houston Construction Reveals Former Streetcar Rails

Road construction workers dug up buried streetcar rails and brickwork paving.

July 31, 2025 - Houston Chronicle

Aerial view of traffic in a large intersection in North Carolina.

North Carolina Deploys 2,500 AI-Based Traffic Signals

The signals use AI to collect data and help traffic engineers make decisions and implement changes more quickly and effectively.

July 31, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Group of bikes riding in front of Idaho State Capitol dome.

Idaho Bills Limit New Bike Lanes, Sidewalks

Cities in the county surrounding Boise will have to prove a “secondary benefit” before adding bike lanes or sidewalks to road projects.

July 30, 2025 - Cycling West

Blue electric transit bus in Manhattan with I <3 NY logo on side.

FTA Allows Changes to Low or No Emission Grant Proposals

Grant recipients can change their proposals from zero-emission to low-emission projects, a move the FTA says will offer more flexibility to cities and transit providers.

July 30, 2025 - Mass Transit

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Vision for the Future: LA County Releases Draft Sustainability Plan

Los Angeles County has released the draft 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan — shaped by community input — and is inviting public feedback through August 22 to help guide the County’s path toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.

July 29, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Highway 101 winding through redwood trees with road sign for Eureka, CA partially visible in top right.

Caltrans Plans $2 Billion Tunnel to Save Crumbling Coastal Highway

A roadway connecting Eureka and Crescent City is a lifeline for local residents, but its future is uncertain as rock slides force repeated closures.

July 29, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rendering of new roundabouts at highway intersection in Baxter, Minnesota surrounded by Costco and other large stores.

Opinion: Minnesota ‘Buttonhook’ Project a ‘Highway Engineer’s Fever Dream’

Charles Marohn argues that building six new roundabouts to preserve access to big box stores and strip malls is an ineffective way to reduce traffic.

July 29, 2025 - Strong Towns

Close-up of hand inserting Mobility Wallet card into green Los Angeles Metro ticketing machine.

LA’s ‘Mobility Wallet’ Helps Bridge Transportation Gaps

The city gave 1,000 residents a $150 monthly transportation stipend that covered transit, bike share, ride hailing, and car rentals.

July 28, 2025 - UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

Portland Bus Lane

Oregon Governor Proposes Higher Gas Tax, Vehicle Fees to Fund ODOT

Gov. Kotel called a special legislative session in late August to address the budget gap at the state transportation department.

July 28, 2025 - KTVZ

Dark blue Tesla sedan driving on freeway with green signs for San Francisco.

Tesla Announced Human-Assisted Robotaxi Launch in San Francisco — But State Regulators Say Otherwise

The electric carmaker appears to be both-sides-ing its impending launch, telling regulators it will have human drivers on board while touting the project as ‘robotaxis’ to investors.

July 27, 2025 - Wired

Orange and white plastic bollards delineating bike lane.

Indianapolis Encourages Tactical Urbanism With Lending Library, Grant Program

Residents can apply to receive assistance with traffic calming projects that can provide valuable data and lead to permanent changes.

July 27, 2025 - Mirror Indy

Rendering of Park Street in Jacksonville, Florida with new sidewalks and roundabout.

Jacksonville Completes Park Street Road Diet

The half-mile corridor now features new bike lanes and sidewalks, as well as roundabouts and new landscaping.

July 27, 2025 - News 4 Jax

People on motorbikes driving through busy vibrant Hanoi, Vietnam produce market.

Hanoi to Ban Gas-Powered Two-Wheelers, Later Cars

City officials hope that electrifying motorcycles, a ‘lifeblood’ of Vietnamese transportation, will have a positive impact on air quality and noise in the city’s downtown.

July 27, 2025 - Electrek

Electric 18-wheeler truck plugged into electric charger.

California Set to Increase Electric Truck Chargers by 25%

The California Transportation Commission approved funding for an additional 500 charging ports for electric trucks along some of the state’s busiest freight corridors.

July 25, 2025 - Natural Resources Defense Council

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.

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