Transportation
HOT Lanes Do Not a Toll Road Make
A look back at a controversy from this month's Virginia State Senate election, which produced some seriously misleading rhetoric about "toll roads" (i.e., the proposal was for HOT lanes, not a toll road).
Iowa DOT Chief Takes Novel Approach to Transportation Infrastructure
The strategy of Iowa's Department of Transportation chief, Paul Trombino III, for maintaining the state's "25,000 bridges, 114,000 miles of roadway, and more than 4,000 miles of rail" is not to do so. In a word, "shrinkage" is part of the solution.
Texas Transit Agency Faces Financial Demise
The TAPS transit agency is severely distressed, and continuing to receive bad news about its finances.
Like Amazon, but for Gas
Never go to a gas station again. We're not talking about transit—we're talking about an app that sends people to your car to fill it up with gas with no service charge.
Why Only 330,000 Electric Vehicles on the Road?
The answer to the question posed by the New York Times is surprising. Hint: Don't blame the customer if the sales force isn't trying to sell them on vehicles that never need to go to a service station to purchase fuel.
Bus Riders, Bus Drivers Unify in Memphis
The unions of two groups sometimes pitted against each other in seeking their agenda for the bus system in Memphis have joined together against a common foe: the management of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
U.S. Still Lags Behind in Bike Commuting
Triple Pundit takes a step back to gather some perspective, asking why the U.S. commuters are still so resistant to getting on bikes.
Downtown St. Petersburg Ready for Bus System Changes
St. Petersburg will overhaul its bus system in early 2016, expecting improved efficiency from operating on the downtown city grid as well as upgrades to the area that serves as the current hub of the system.
The 50 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in the United States
This list of the worst places for traffic congestion in the country might cause some rubbernecking of its own.
Critiquing the 2015 TIGER Grants: More Isn't Always Better
According to a scathing critique of the most recent round of TIGER funding, many of the awarded projects fall far below the quality that transit advocates expect.
Time to Take the Self-Driving Car Seriously?
So far, only a small minority of major cities have considered self-driving cars in their long-range transportation plans. The question is, should policymakers embrace them or stand in their way?
Three Ways Mobile Transit Payments Will Change How We Move in Cities
One idea for how to make transit better is rolling out in cities across the country: mobile payment of fares on smartphones.
A Planner's Perspective on Brazil's Water Crisis
With water shortages in São Paulo making headlines around the world, Brazil is rethinking its approach to water infrastructure. Arup's Pablo Lazo gives his perspective on the various entities that are acting for change.
Some Transportation Funding Gimmicks Are Worse than Others
Carl Davis of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy wants a gas tax increase, not gimmicks, to fund the 6-year transportation bill. Not likely. As bad as they are, they are better than resorting to a repatriation tax, notes the press release.
Two-Week Transportation Extension 'Auto-Signed' by President Obama
With transportation taxing and spending authority set to expire on Friday night, President Obama used an auto-pen to sign the extension on a plane to Malaysia. Both chambers must agree to the bill that emerges from the conference committee by Dec. 4.
L.A.'s Expo Line Hasn't Reduced Congestion—But it Has Done a Whole Lot More
A lot of promises get made in the hopes of building political support in transit options like light rail. Perhaps, however, officials in Los Angeles should stop promising that transit will alleviate congestion.
Transportation Tax Has Atlanta-Area Politicians Drawing Lines in the Sand
A half-cent sales tax measure, potentially headed to the ballot in November 2016, has mayors and city councils in metropolitan Atlanta seeking alliances and racing to establish funding priorities.
How Transportation Network Companies Could Improve Paratransit Services
An interesting pitch in Boston: use transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft to provide paratransit services.
This Weekend, Don't Forget: Cheap Gas Prices Aren't Always a Good Thing
There are a lot of people in this country that consider cheap gas to be a form of benevolence. Here are some reasons why they should curb their enthusiasm.
Uber-Noxious
An op-ed appeals to a customer base that doesn't understand the ways in which "sharing economy" companies resemble Wal-Mart.
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
