Transportation

Minneapolis Getting Bike Friendlier

The city of Minneapolis will add 30 miles of protected bike lanes to its city, especially around Downtown.

April 25, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Income Tax Cut Fuels South Carolina Gas Tax Debate

The nation's third lowest gas tax will likely see a 10-cent gas tax hike—with or without Gov. Nikki Haley's signature, who insists on a larger income tax reduction than in the bill that overwhelmingly passed the House and is now in the Senate.

April 25, 2015 - WSOC

Freeway Construction

U.S. DOT Will Allow and Encourage Local Hiring

The U.S. Department of Transportation has changed its rules in favor of local hiring: a pilot program will even encourage it. Minorities traditionally barred from high-paying construction work stand to benefit.

April 24, 2015 - Next City

Complete Streets

Report: Complete Streets Deliver More Than Just Good Vibes

Better safety and multimodal ease are not the only benefits offered by complete streets. According to this report, on the average they pay for themselves and then some.

April 24, 2015 - ASLA The Dirt

TxDOT Planning Realignment of Interstate 45 in Downtown Houston

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is currently planning a significant realignment of I-45, which runs downtown. The plan could remove an elevated portion of the highway known as Pierce Elevated.

April 24, 2015 - Houston Public Media

New App Alerts Drivers Before Traffic Lights Turn Green

A suburban city in the East Bay Area will allow commuters to use a new app that links their smartphones to traffic lights.

April 24, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Idaho Surprise: Gas Tax Hike Signed Into Law

The legislature passed the seven-cent increase on April 11, the final day of the legislative session. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed the bill on April 21, also increasing registration fees by $21. On April 1, the bill had been considered dead.

April 24, 2015 - Northwest Public Radio

I Million Trek Bikes Recalled in U.S., Canada

Many Trek bikes produced in the past 15 years could be subject to a recall, after three crashes resulted from an open quick release mechanism on the front wheel coming into contact with the disc brake.

April 23, 2015 - New York Daily News

Japan Sets Train Speed Records Twice in a Few Days

Maglev trains owned by Central Japan Railway were clocked traveling at speeds of 603 km/h, less than week after traveling 590 km/h to set a record last set in 2003.

April 23, 2015 - The Guardian

Minnesota Shows Creativity on Transportation Sales Taxes

A transportation sales tax can be a designated state or local sales tax where revenues are used for transportation, or a sales tax applied to fuel sales. A bill in Minnesota would grab sales taxes paid on auto parts, car rentals and leases.

April 23, 2015 - KARE 11

Study: Speeding Drivers More Likely to Ignore Pedestrians in Crosswalks

A new study finds that as travel speed increases, so too does the likelihood that drivers will fail to yield to pedestrians crossing legally with the right-of-way.

April 23, 2015 - State Smart Transportation Initiative

The First Transportation Demand Management Program for Public School Teachers

In a program called the first of its kind in the nation, the Arlington County will implement a transportation demand management program for public school employees.

April 23, 2015 - Mobility Lab

Millennial on the bus

Millennials Really Are Buying Fewer Cars Per Capita

Recent articles in The Atlantic and Bloomberg News claimed that Millennials buy more cars than Generation X, but these failed to account for cohort size. Millennials actually purchase fewer vehicles per capita than previous generations.

April 22, 2015 - City Commentary

Why I'm a Shoupista

Bill Fulton tells the story about how he became a Shoupista—thanks in part to Donald Shoup's love of Hello Dolly!

April 22, 2015 - California Planning & Development Report

Amsterdam Public Transit's Big Move to All-Electric

Europe is well known for electric powered trams and trains, but cities still operate diesel buses, just like in the United States. That will change in Amsterdam—all diesel buses will be replaced by battery-electrics by 2025, reports Dutch News.

April 22, 2015 - Dutch News.nl

Minneapolis Celebration

Why Is Minneapolis Growing Faster Than Chicago?

The data shows Minneapolis recovered from the recession more quickly than Chicago. And its growth rates continue to surpass those of its larger neighbor. Why did this happen, and which policies deserve credit?

April 22, 2015 - Metropolitan Planning Council

Orange Line Bus

Los Angeles May Upgrade Orange Line BRT to Rail

The San Fernando Valley's Orange Line bus rapid transit enjoys solid ridership. For an area of the city especially under-served by trains, investing in light rail might be a viable option.

April 22, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Trends Toward Single, Car-Free Living in Chicago

Chicago magazine reports on how developers are responding to a growing share of Chicago residents who don't own a car.

April 21, 2015 - Chicago Magazine

How Many Americans Know How to Ride a Bike?

A Five Thirty Eight article reveals the data on the ubiquity, and relative lack thereof in certain populations, of the ability to ride a bike.

April 21, 2015 - Five Thirty Eight

Will This Bipartisan House Bill to Index the Gas Tax Succeed?

The Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act is taken seriously in Congress. With 17 bipartisan co-sponsors, it would index the gas tax to inflation, thus increasing the Highway Trust Fund revenue and bridging to a sustainable revenue source.

April 21, 2015 - The Hill

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.