Transportation

Speed Limit

America's Speed Limits Visualized

America's quilt of speed limits now reaches 85 MPH in some states, with increases possible in some western states. MetricMaps has produced a visualization of the top speed limits across the country and even in detail in urban areas.

August 24, 2015 - The Washington Post - Blogs

Terror On-Board European High-Speed Train

Massacre on a Paris-bound train was averted in France on Friday due to the courageous actions of three Americans, one in the Air Force another in the Oregon National Guard, who rushed and subdued a Moroccan man armed with an AK-47 and a handgun.

August 23, 2015 - The New York Times

Bikeshare on its Way to Honolulu

Bikeshare Hawaii is seeking public input on the technology of choice for the eventual roll out of the city's bikeshare system.

August 23, 2015 - KITV4

Bay Bridge Toll Traffic

When a Freeway Goes Bad

At some point, in places all over the country, freeways stopped working as they were intended. What can be done to improve one of the great frustrations of life with a car?

August 23, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Making Traffic Circles Safe for Pedestrians

A post for Greater Greater Washington details the ongoing conversation about how to improve pedestrian safety around Grant Circle.

August 22, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

U.S. DOT Offers Guidance for Bike and Pedestrian Funding

Planning for new pedestrian and bike projects in your community? The federal government recently released a report providing guidance on the Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative.

August 22, 2015 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

NYC Subway Riders

The Most Popular Forms of Alternative Transportation

When it comes to the Census, the term "alternative transportation" makes perfect sense. Eric Jaffe looks at the 15 metropolitan areas with the lowest auto commuting and describes the most popular alternatives.

August 21, 2015 - CityLab

De Blasio Could Open the Times Square Pedestrian Plaza to Cars

Exotic street performers in the plaza have caused Mayor Bill de Blasio to reconsider his initial opposition to street plazas. Unlike his police commissioner and the governor, de Blasio has yet to make a decision on the removal of Times Square plaza.

August 21, 2015 - The New York Times N.Y. / Region

Sound Transit's East Link Rail Line Needs $20 Million More for Engineering

Sound Transit had to deliver bad news last week about cost overruns in the design and engineering phase of the East Link rail project that will cross Lake Washington along the path of Interstate 90.

August 19, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Commute

Mapping the Country's 38 Million Epic Commutes

The Wonkblog team puts new American Community Survey data to good use.

August 19, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

The First Days of Houston's New High Frequency Bus Grid

Houston is making big transportation news this week with the launch of a newly replanned Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) bus system.

August 19, 2015 - Human Transit

Los Angeles Freeway

Next Steps for the City of Freeways

It is difficult to imagine a time when Los Angeles' freeways symbolized access, efficiency, and modernity. Now that the city's love affair with freeways is nearly spent, what future do we envision for them?

August 19, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Traffic Deaths Soar—Is Cheap Gas a Culprit?

An August 17 press release from the National Safety Council indicates the United States is on track to exceed 40,000 road deaths this year, the highest since 2007. A January NPR report links the spike to decreased gas prices.

August 19, 2015 - CNNMoney

Complex Traffic Signals Make for Dangerous Intersections

When it comes to intersections, adding more complexity can do more harm than good, according to a recent, detailed post on Greater Greater Washington.

August 19, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

New Funding, New Priorities for Georgia Department of Transportation

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution checks in with new leadership at the state's department of transportation.

August 18, 2015 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Case For and Against Red Light Cameras

Eric Jaffe of CityLab looks at what went wrong with what should have been a clear way to employ technology to reduce crashes and save lives, and what can be done to stem the tide of cities removing red light cameras.

August 18, 2015 - CityLab

Google Mobility

Transportation Apps Designed to Ease the Commute

We all travel, so it's great when a handy new mobile app makes it easier to move around. Whether it is navigating the city, parking, or making our ride safer, there is likely a transportation app for that.

August 18, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Young Driver

Yes, Urban Millennials Do Drive Less

Proof from the Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey on commuting by auto shows that millennials, if they live in cities, do indeed drive less. Census researcher Brian McKenzie describes the finding in the bureau's blog, Random Samplings.

August 18, 2015 - Random Samplings

Bus Stop

Is it Time to Rebrand 'Transportation Demand Management'?

As people re-evaluate their transportation decisions, the argument to support transportation demand management might not be what policy makers expected.

August 17, 2015 - Mobility Lab

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

Support for Rail Heats Up in Phoenix

A seven-year-old light rail line has beaten ridership projections and transformed neighborhoods in Phoenix. Now, one of the nation's most sprawling cities considers where to expand the system—and how to pay for it.

August 17, 2015 - Governing Magazine

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.