Transportation
$25 Billion Paris Métro Extension—Grand Ambitions Included
The scale of the Line 14 subway extension is enough to impress any American transit advocate.
Transportation Secretary Foxx Wants to Go Out With a Bang
Governing profiles Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx's ambitious goals to change the way the country thinks about transportation.
Compromise Struck: Virginia Will Widen I-66 Inside the Beltway
Some local advocates and officials had hoped that tolls and transit could salve the congestion on I-66. Now it will be tolls, transit, and an extra lane.
'Smart Cities Challenge' Attracts a Crowd
A competition with $50 million at stake, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, recently completed its submission deadline. The U.S. DOT reported shock at the level of interest in the competition.
Google's Self-Driving Car Had a Big Week
Breaking news came in a pair this week for Google's self-driving car technology.
The Bicycle as a Tool of Social Justice
Philosopher Ivan Illich believed that the bicycle could connect users back to the pace of community-oriented life, that the right of free movement does not lapse just because cities have strapped themselves into ideological seat belts.
Big Expansion Approved for Austin-Area Highway
The Transportation Policy Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a big spending increase for a project to widen U.S. Highway 183.
Breaking Down D.C.'s Bike Commuter Map
A map of bike commuters also maps the political conflicts in a changing Washington, D.C.
How to Make Bikeshare More Popular
While bikeshare is popular with planners and local officials all over the country, in some cities it still hasn't proven popular with people. One author has some thoughts on how bikeshare can begin to attract larger numbers.
Toll Road Cautionary Tale: Florida's Suncoast Parkway
The Suncoast Parkway has produced $22 million a year in revenue after a consultant said it would bring in $150 million a year. Yet the Florida Department of Transportation wants to expand the road.
A New Generation of Subway Cars Coming to New York
The first "open gangway" subway cars are due to arrive in New York in 2020. These cars enable passengers to freely walk between cars without having to struggle to open doors to access an adjacent car.
$1.4 Million Needed to Bailout Seattle's Pronto! Bikeshare
After missing out on the latest round of TIGER grants and being stuck in acquisition limbo with the city of Seattle, the bikeshare system of Pronto is running out of money and time.
How One University Will Become Less Car-Centric
Fresno State University in California has released plans for a suite of changes that will redefine its approach to transportation—away from a devout focus on cars and toward more transportation options.
Formidable Barriers Threaten Penn Station Renovation
Last month N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed that Empire Station replace Penn Station, but many challenging parts, e.g., the Hudson River Tunnels, moving Madison Square Garden, could derail it. A related piece delves into the prior ARC tunnel project.
Minnesotans Clash Over Organized Trash Collection
Instead of letting trash collection companies compete to serve customers, several Minnesota cities are negotiating contracts on behalf of their citizens. The measure, which reduces garbage truck traffic, has prompted backlash.
Why So Big? Rethinking Fire Truck Design
When they're not extinguishing actual flames, fire trucks can seem comically over-sized on city streets. Replacing portions of the fleet with smaller response vehicles might save money without sacrificing capability.
Uber Drivers to Protest on Super Sunday
It's easy to see why Uber would look on a Super Bowl hosted near its Bay Area home would look on the event as a large PR opportunity. Disgruntled Uber drivers see it the same way.
Tunnel Projects Pitched to Ease London's Traffic
London's mayor has proposed a solution to tackle the city's congestion and an expected population increase of 20 percent by 2030: build a system of tunnels to alleviate automobile traffic.
Kayoola: Uganda's Solar Powered Bus
The Kiira Motor Corporation of Uganda has developed a 35-seat bus that includes solar panels on the roof. The bus travels up to 50 miles on two rechargeable batteries. Due to its limited range, the Kayoola is intended for inner-city travel.
Obama's Bold Transportation Funding Proposal Likely to Go Nowhere
President Obama, long opposed to increasing the gas tax, has proposed a $10-per-barrel oil fee to be paid by energy companies. It will fund his 21st Century Clean Transportation System to reduce carbon emissions and promote new vehicle technology.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
