Transportation

U-Link opening

Seattle Light Rail Extension Already Beating Ridership Expectations

The new Sound Transit light rail link between downtown, Capitol Hill, and the University of Washington is already drawing a crowd.

April 24, 2016 - Seattle Transit Blog

A-Line Map

Earth Day Special: First Electrified Commuter Rail Lines Opens in Over a Century

The new University of Colorado A-Line service opened as scheduled. Free rides were offered Friday and Saturday to thousands of happy children of all ages to enjoy the 23-mile, 37-minute trip from Union Station to Denver International Airport.

April 23, 2016 - The Denver Post

Airport

Chronic Homelessness Persists at New York City Transit Hubs and Airports

Two train stations, two airports, and one bus terminal double as homeless shelters in New York City. When some close for the night, the subways fill in.

April 23, 2016 - The New York Times

Expected Budget Cuts Hurt Port Modernization Prospects in Anchorage

The Alaska Legislature snubbed the Port of Anchorage due to a huge state budget shortfall. The port handles 90 percent of the state's freight and is a vital national security facility.

April 23, 2016 - Alaska Public Media

Chicago Divvy

A New Guide for Siting Bikeshare Stations

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is on a multi-modal roll, releasing two guides to non-automobile forms of transportation in recent weeks. The most recent offers guidance on why, where, and how to site bikeshare.

April 22, 2016 - Next City

Gas Pump

New Jersey Democrats Propose Hiking Gas Tax in Tradeoff for Estate Tax Reduction

The estate tax reduction, plus increasing the retirement income tax exemption, would be traded for an unspecified hike in the gas tax to keep the Transportation Trust Fund solvent. But the $400 million in tax cuts won't satisfy Gov. Chris Christie.

April 22, 2016 - NJ.com

Kansas Highway

Latest Budget Shortfall Hits Highway Projects in Kansas

In an effort to curb spending by $300 million in the next 15 months, the state of Kansas is considering spending cuts that could hit highway projects and universities. This is the fourth time in two years the state's revenues have fallen short of pro

April 22, 2016 - The Wichita Eagle

Sound Transit Link Light Rail

Sound Transit Breaks Ground Today on the $3.7 Billion Light Rail Extension

Sound Transit begins construction on the East Link light rail extension. Next stop: 2023, when the line is expected to serve 50,000 riders a day.

April 22, 2016 - Seattle Daily Journal Of Commerce

Country Grid

Friday Eye Candy: Where U.S. Roads Correct the Grid

Anyone who has traveled long country roads is familiar with the moment when a road makes a sharp turn to deviate from a direct path. Such "grid corrections" provide the subject for a photography project by Gerco de Ruijter.

April 22, 2016 - BLDGBLG

VTA Bus

Silicon Valley Preparing for Switch to a High Frequency Bus Grid

A Silicon Valley columnist debates the tough political questions inherent to the process of redesigning local bus service.

April 21, 2016 - San Jose Mercury News

Traffic

Early Review of the U.S. DOT's New Performance Measurement Rule

An initial review by City Observatory's Joe Cortright doesn't find much to indicate that the new U.S. DOT 's performance measurement rule for transportation systems will set a new transportation policy agenda.

April 21, 2016 - City Observatory

Governor Pete Ricketts

Governor Who Vetoed Gas Tax Increase Happy to Use New Revenue for Road Construction

Among the ten state legislatures, mostly Republican controlled, which passed gas tax increases last year, the one that stood out the most was Nebraska's because it had to override Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) veto of the six-cent gas tax hike bill.

April 21, 2016 - The Omaha World-Herald

Metroway BRT

Now Arriving in the D.C. Area: Bus Rapid Transit

The newly opened section of the Metroway—already D.C. Metro's "premium bus service"—includes the region's first stretch of bus rapid transit.

April 20, 2016 - Greater Greater Washington

Polling Place

Primaries vs. Caucuses from a Planner's Perspective

In the middle of presidential primary season, the debate about the caucus vs. primary processes is hot with criticisms being leveled on both sides. What can planners learn about this debate to help improve community engagement for planning?

April 20, 2016 - Dave Biggs

NYC Subway Construction

New York MTA Departs the American Public Transportation Association

Could the cancellation the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's membership in the American Public Transportation Association be the wakeup call the transit industry needs?

April 20, 2016 - TransitCenter

New York Subway

New York Subway Stumps Both New York Democratic Candidates

Bernie Sanders may have retained his Brooklyn accent, but his knowledge of the subway seems to have stopped 13 years ago. And Chappaqua resident Hillary Clinton obviously hasn't ridden the subway in ages (if at all) based on her 'swiping' technique.

April 20, 2016 - New York Daily News

Chicago Toll Road

Illinois Considering a Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton released a infrastructure funding plan earlier this month that includes a proposal for a vehicle miles traveled tax.

April 19, 2016 - Daily Herald

Abandoned Rail

The New Trend in Britain: Re-Opening Old Rail Lines

What's old is new in Britain, where clogged roads have many communities around the country looking to the past for the future of transportation.

April 19, 2016 - Economist

Rural Bus Stop

New Tool Scores Transit Access and Service

A new tool called AllTransit offers a new way of scoring transit access and service available for any corner of the United States.

April 19, 2016 - TransitCenter

Welc_me to Fabulous Las Vegas

Opposition Emerging to Las Vegas Elevated Expressway Proposal

A pair of articles in recent weeks reveals opposition to a proposal for an elevated expressway connecting McCarran Airport and the Las Vegas Strip.

April 19, 2016 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

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.