Transportation

Uber Car

Uber Creeping Into Transit Territory

One of the great, looming questions of transportation is whether transportation network companies will complement or compete with transit. A recent promotion moves toward the compete end of the spectrum.

July 16, 2016 - The Huffington Post

Bollards

Pedestrians Need Protection from Motor Vehicles Used as Deadly Weapons

As of press time on Friday, the death toll from the Nice Bastille Day massacre is 84, injuries exceeding 200, a record for an act of alleged terrorism committed by a single person. It also sets a record for death by the use of a motor vehicle.

July 16, 2016 - NBC News

Toronto Transit

Toronto Transit Plans Take First Step Forward

The first phase of Toronto's 15-tear transit plan took a crucial step forward this week.

July 15, 2016 - Urban Toronto

Arguing the Merits of Protected Bike Lanes in Denver

The Denver Business Journal editor spoke out in opposition to a proposal to add bike lanes to Broadway in Denver. Streetsblog responded.

July 15, 2016 - Streetsblog Denver

Mexico City

Friday Eye Candy: A World Tour of Creative Crosswalks

Take a look at these creative crosswalks and add your own examples.

July 15, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Road Rage

Survey: Nearly 8 out of 10 U.S. drivers engage in aggressive behavior

Majority of drivers in the United States admit to anger, aggression, or road rage at least once in the past year.

July 15, 2016 - WTOP

Tech Shuttle

Better to Appease Irate Neighbors Than Decrease Car Commuting

A San Francisco Chronicle editorial supports the decision by the Municipal Transportation Agency to 'bow' to complaints from residents about the large tech buses by reducing their stops in their neighborhoods even if it means increasing car trips.

July 14, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

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and much of the rest of the country, says Andrew Said, the laws governing speed limits and enforcement are dangerously outdated, especially where pedestrians and cyclists are concerned.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

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.