Transportation
In Defense of Sharrows
A response to recent research that cast doubt on the effectiveness of sharrows.
How Schools Can Address Idling Cars
Schools can do more to reduce the environmental threat posed by idling cars during drop-off or pick-up. School districts could also improve their buses with that aim in mind.
Brooklyn Queens Streetcar Hopes to Learn from D.C. Streetcar's Mistakes
The long-awaited opening of the D.C. Streetcar on Feb. 27 brings time for reflection on Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposed $2.5 billion Brooklyn Queens Connector, part streetcar, part light rail. D.C.'s line took a decade of planning and construction.
The Changing Nature of Retail: The Impact of Online Shopping on Cities
As consumers increasingly buy online, technology is changing the shape of our cities, reducing demand for retail space, increasing freight congestion, and leaving parking lots empty.
When Other Transit Modes Won't Do, There's Always Sky Gondolas
One Toronto-area man is hoping that cable cars in the sky will one day complete the metro's transit system, but transportation experts see limited use for the technology.
D.C. Streetcar Began Service Saturday (Seriously!)
Yes, this is the real deal. After years of delay and planning and construction mishaps, the long-awaited $200 million, 2.2 mile line streetcar line down H Street began service Saturday. Not all media were kind to the streetcar, even on opening day.
How San Antonio Is Working Toward Vision Zero
A post on the Rivard Report details the efforts underway in San Antonio, Texas, to reduce traffic fatalities.
In Chicago: Faster Trains, Faster Trips
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has eliminated 20 miles of slow zones since 2011.
Raleigh Bikeshare Debate Intensifies
Opposition to a bikeshare proposal in Raleigh, North Carolina, centers on whether enough people will use the system to justify its cost.
When a 3-Foot Clearance for Passing a Cyclist Is Not Enough
Sharrows and 3-foot passing laws are meant to make biking safer in streets in the absence of bike lanes. Bike activists in Iowa want to take safety a step further by requiring motorists to move to another lane, just as they would if passing a car.
Op-Ed: Facial Recognition on Transit Goes a Step Too Far
Despite its insistence that the technology would only target criminals, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) should reconsider using facial recognition software to address crime. The potential for abuse may be too high.
San Francisco Offers to Refund $6 Million in Overpaid Parking Tickets
You might not believe it, but the city of San Francisco is offering refunds after realizing it overcharged on parking tickets.
California's Gas Tax Continues to Plummet
Last February, the state Board of Equalization voted to reduce the gas tax by 6-cents. On Tuesday, it voted 3-2 to continue the decrease by 2.2 cents. The vote is required by an arcane rule that translates into tax *decreases when gas prices fall.
Houston Releases Ambitious Bike Plan Aimed Toward Casual Riders
The newly revealed Houston Bike Plan targets an estimated $300 million to $500 million in investments into the city's bike infrastructure.
Michigan DOT Set to Launch $1 Billion Highway Widening Project
The Michigan Department of Transportation will start a $1 billion, 14-year construction project later this year, on I-75, north of Detroit. Some community members are still wondering if the project is necessary.
Update: Atlanta's $8 Billion Transit Plan Moving Forward
A once-in-a-generation moment for transit is taking shape in Atlanta.
Pittsburgh-Area Buses Due for a Fare Overhaul
Public hearings have begun for a proposal that would implement a flat fare system on the Port Authority of Allegheny County transit system.
Ten States Could Hike Gas Taxes this Year
With gas prices the lowest since 2009, ten state legislatures and governors consider raising state gas taxes, though many are accompanied by fiscally questionable tax shifts. Some tried and failed last year. All of the proposed increases are modest.
Sacramento Region Approves New Transportation Plan
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments put the finishing touches on the 2016 update to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (2016 MTP/SCS) last week.
Kentucky Governor Rules Out Bridge Tolls — Could Jeopardize Federal Funding
Gas taxes and road and bridge tolls are not very popular, but important nonetheless. Gov. Matt Bevin (R) will sign a bill that prohibits tolls on a new Ohio River bridge, and might also endanger federal funding.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
