Transportation
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Houston Construction Reveals Former Streetcar Rails
Road construction workers dug up buried streetcar rails and brickwork paving.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jacksonville Completes Park Street Road Diet
The half-mile corridor now features new bike lanes and sidewalks, as well as roundabouts and new landscaping.
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.
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.
Pagination
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority