Transportation

An Online Portal for Making Sense of Toronto Traffic Data

With so many potential sources of data with which to analyze traffic behaviors and real-time conditions, University of Toronto engineers have created an online portal that could one day help drive a system populated with autonomous cars.

October 25, 2015 - U of T Engineering News

SEPTA Investing $18.3 Million in Energy Efficiency

SEPTA has approved funding for $18.3 million in energy-efficient upgrades to the regional transit network.

October 24, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Railroads Given Three More Years to Install Positive Train Control

Agreement has been reached by Congress to extend the vital but costly safety system said to prevent many train crashes. Had it not been reached, freight railroads warned they would shut down, as would passenger rail lines running on their tracks.

October 24, 2015 - The Hill

Georgia Responds to Funding Uncertainty by Postponing 34 Road Projects

Though the congressional process of providing a bill that sets the funding agenda for the nation's transportation infrastructure seems to finally be moving forward, Georgia couldn't continue waiting.

October 24, 2015 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Regional Bike Trail Plan Extends West from Portland

Washington County, located just west of Portland, is planning a regional trail that could eventually reap benefits for recreation and transportation.

October 23, 2015 - Bike Portland

India Streets

Complete Streets Concepts Are Now Being Applied Worldwide

Dehli announced a major new Complete Streets program that will redesign urban roads to favor walking, cycling and public transport over car traffic. This is very good news. It shows that the Complete Streets concept is now being applied worldwide.,

October 23, 2015 - Todd Litman

Same Old Transportation Policy Found in Texas' Prop 7

By shifting salves tax revenue to highway construction and prohibiting the use of tolls, Prop 7 would ensure that Texas continues on a path of sprawl and congestion, according to opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment.

October 23, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Boston transit station

A Citizen's Wish List for Boston Transportation

As part of the city's long-term Go Boston 2030 plan, residents were consulted about what improvements they would like to see. Answers included an end to fatal crashes and better-integrated, more frequent transit.

October 23, 2015 - Boston Globe

Baltimore MTA Bus

Maryland Governor Pitches Frequent Bus Lines as Alternative to Dead Light Rail Plans

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan infamously killed plans for the $2.9 billion Red Line light rail project earlier this year, but now he's back with an alternative that would spend $135 million to overhaul Baltimore's bus system.

October 23, 2015 - Baltimore Business Journal

Delhi to Implement Complete Streets Policies

Dehli's Aam Aadmi Party-led government announced steps to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users get preference over car users.

October 22, 2015 - The Hindu

Tokyo Pedestrians

The Walking City

What implications does pedestrian activity have on urban design? Creating walkable environments for pedestrians can improve urban conditions according to Arup architect Demetrio Scopelliti. We spoke to him about upcoming research on the topic.

October 22, 2015 - Doggerel

A Case Study of California's Lowest-Ranked Transit Station

Build it and they will come hasn't worked out so well for the Gillespie Field station on the Green Line of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. A recent scorecard rated the station lowest among 489 competitors.

October 22, 2015 - Voice of San Diego

Pothole

Blaming Millennials for Decaying Road Infrastructure

If you thought inflation and fuel efficiency, along with politicians unwillingness to raise gas taxes were the main causes of America's decaying road and bridges, S&P adds another contributing factor—millennial transportation preferences.

October 22, 2015 - Marketwatch

When the Rush to Redevelop a Transit-Adjacent Parcel Spells Missed Opportunity

Haddon Township, a suburb of Philadelphia located in New Jersey, might have been so relieved to finally close a deal on a long-disputed redevelopment project that it neglected the immense potential of the opportunity.

October 21, 2015 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Benefits of Free Transit for College Students

A growing coalition of education and transit advocates are calling for a program that would allow Philadelphia-area college students to access transit for free with their student IDs.

October 21, 2015 - The Philadelphia Citizen

Millennials

Millennials Can't Change U.S. Driving Habits Alone

Yonah Freemark throws cold water on the notion that the country is becoming less auto-dependent. Yes, millennials are less auto-oriented than older were, but they haven't stopped per-capita vehicle miles traveled from increasing.

October 21, 2015 - the transport politic

Fixing the Flood of Congestion at its Source

In pursuit of an honest conversation about congestion, Charles Marohn produces a comparison between roads and stormwater infrastructure.

October 20, 2015 - Strong Towns

Cleveland Planning a New Bikeway on the Model of the Cultural Trail of Indianapolis

The city of Cleveland's first protected bike path has planning commission approval. The protected path is a component of the city's ambitious bike infrastructure plans.

October 20, 2015 - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Construction Begins Raising San Francisco Bike Lane

A small section of the well-used, protected bike lane on San Francisco's busy Market Street will be raised just a few inches to increase bicycle safety. Construction began Monday and should take a month to complete.

October 20, 2015 - ABC7

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Questioning the Wisdom of Light Rail in the Sun Belt States

As Houston, Dallas and other sun belt cities build out their light-rail systems, some are asking if the investment is worth it.

October 20, 2015 - New Geography

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.