Transportation

Ghost Bike

Michigan Tragedy Highlights Dangers of Rural Roads to Cyclists

Five of the nine experienced cyclists who were mowed down by a pickup truck on a rural road in Kalamazoo on June 7 died. While most bike crashes occur on urban roads, there are hidden dangers in biking in uncongested rural areas.

June 21, 2016 - The Huffington Post

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Traffic Projections Missing from $6 Billion Tampa Bay Express Toll Road Plans

A Tampa Bay Times columnist continues a crusade against the faulty projections that enable toll road construction projects in Florida, and the sprawling development patterns that follow.

June 21, 2016 - Tampa Bay Times

Justin Trudeau

Trudeau Wary of Unintended Consequences in Dealing with Vancouver's Housing Crisis

Prime Minister Trudeau took sides on one controversial issue central to the debate about the cost of housing in Vancouver, but stopped short of suggesting a clear policy agenda for the federal government to improve the problem.

June 21, 2016 - CBC News

Austin Traffic

Austin Debates Competing Visions for Transportation Investments

The city of Austin's political leadership has proposed a package of competing bond proposals to raise money for large congestion relief measures in the fast-growing city.

June 20, 2016 - Austin Statesman

Highway

How Self-Driving Cars Could Lead to More Sprawl

Much of the focus on the potential of self-driving cars to effect change in the built environment has focused on dense, urban environments. But what is self-driving cars mostly enable continued outward expansion?

June 20, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Downtown Oakland

Oakland Gets a Department of Transportation

Oakland's new DOT will take a "complete streets" approach to transportation planning.

June 19, 2016 - Piedmont Patch

Tampa Has a New Protected Bike Lane

The new Cass Street bike lane is the latest example of a city making unprecedented progress in bike infrastructure.

June 19, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Cincinnati Streetcar

Cincinnati Streetcar Exempt from Open Records Law

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports on the local effect of a long-standing state law.

June 19, 2016 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Digital Billboards

A Lack of Action Despite Evidence of Safety Risks Posed by Digital Billboards

The Eno Center for Transportation lays out a clear appeal for action to regulate the time, place, and manner of digital billboards.

June 18, 2016 - Eno Center for Transportation

A Line

Denver's New Commuter Train to the Plane Achieves Record Ridership

Ridership on the electrified A Line, which opened to great fanfare on Earth Day, reached a weekday average of 16,910 as of June 5. The 23-mile line operates from Union Station to Denver International Airport. Not all is perfect though.

June 18, 2016 - The Denver Post

Staten Island Ferry

Details of New York's Ferry Service 'Gamble'

An ambitious and aggressive plan to launch new ferry service connecting all five boroughs in New York is scheduled to launch in January 2017.

June 18, 2016 - The New York Times

Bus Lane

San Francisco Transit-Only Lane Controversy Heating Up

Public opinion is split on the red transit-only lanes found around San Francisco. Next week, the public will get a chance to air their grievances, or defend their territory.

June 17, 2016 - Curbed SF

Cicyclist

Study Finds a Way to Make Biking Less Environmentally Friendly Than Driving

Momentum Mag picks up the news of a study out of Harvard University that will produce more than one double take.

June 17, 2016 - Momentum Magazine

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

First Bicycle Traffic Signals Come to Los Angeles

The traffic signals are part of the Los Angeles Street 'full-featured' protected bike lane that also includes transit stop islands and two-stage turn queue boxes. Ribbon-cutting for the cycle track, the third in the city, was held Thursday.

June 17, 2016 - Streetsblog LA

Uber Driver

Boston-Uber Data Partnership Falling Short of Expectations

A data-sharing partnership announced in January 2015 has so far produced underwhelming results.

June 17, 2016 - Boston.com

Dallas Freeway Removal

Planetizen Week in Review: June 17, 2016

A two-minute-and-twenty-three-second tour of the news and events from the week in planning.

June 17, 2016 - Planetizen

Open Streets

10 of the Most Beloved Open Streets Events

Mike Lydon shares ten of his favorite open streets events with USA Today.

June 16, 2016 - USA Today

Portland Cycling

Downtown Portland Moves Forward on Bike Lanes

Portland, Oregon is known for its transit and pedestrian advantages. But many cyclists say protected bike lanes would make it easier for the two-wheel crowd to get around. After some delays, it looks like the project is on course.

June 16, 2016 - Bike Portland

La Rambla

Barcelona 'Superblocks' Aim to Cut Down on Cars

Seeking relief from noise, pollution, and incessant traffic, the city of Barcelona has a bold plan to repurpose street space. "Superblocks" will route cars around the perimeter, leaving interior streets open for walkers and bikes.

June 16, 2016 - The Guardian

Speed hump

Study Finds Speed Humps May Have a Pollution Problem

The forced slow-and-go caused by speed humps may have the unintended consequences of increasing the release of the tiny particles that have proven harmful to health within a concentrated area.

June 16, 2016 - The Telegraph U.K.

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.