Transportation

Old DC Transit

D.C. Officials Dramatically Scale Back Streetcar System

In a recent move, officials from Mayor Vincent C. Gray's administration shortened DC's streetcar system to a much-shorter eight miles.

October 26, 2014 - The Washington Post

Bloomberg Editors Propose a 'Flexible' Federal Gas Tax

Bloomberg's editors ask rhetorically, with gas prices falling due to crashing oil prices, will the federal government raise the gas tax to fund badly needed road infrastructure? They suggest tying the gas tax to oil prices in reverse direction.

October 26, 2014 - Bloomberg View

 Decatur Marta station

Majority of Americans Favor Funding for Transit Over Funding for Roads

In a poll conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, Americans were found to prefer allocating transportation funding towards transit expansion rather than road widening.

October 26, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Researchers Pushing for Even Bigger Chinese Cities

Research suggests China’s current urbanization policy forgoes $2 trillion in growth over the next ten years. That is, unless the government funnels even more migrants into major population centers and develops for density.

October 24, 2014 - Bloomberg News

The Business of Speeding Tickets

Small towns in Georgia, such as Doraville along I-285, are making millions of dollars a year by issuing traffic tickets.

October 24, 2014 - Governing

Freeway houses

Research: Women Living Near Freeways Increase Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

New research from the American Heart Association measures sudden cardiac death and proximity to major roadways, showing that cardiac risks posed by environmental exposure have been under-appreciated. The next step is to find the specific cause.

October 24, 2014 - Science Daily

Tech-Buses Driving South into Los Angeles

In a new coming-of-age sign for the technology industry in Los Angeles, the San Francisco based start-up RidePal unveiled its first private shuttle bus partnership in LA this week.

October 24, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Rethinking the Spectrum of American Multi-Modality

A new study from Virginia Tech reclassifies what defines multi-modal commuters.

October 24, 2014 - CityLab

Could the Silver Spring Transit Center Get a Park After All?

Developments in a story from earlier in the year—the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is receptive to the ideas of local political leaders for a park near the beleaguered Silver Spring Transit Center.

October 23, 2014 - The Gazette

New Jersey Turnpike Widening Project Nearing Completion

The largest project is the largest in the 63-year history of the New Jersey Turnpike will wrap up by the middle of November.

October 23, 2014 - NJ.com

Governor Cuomo Announces Master Plan Competition for New York's Airports

When Vice President spoke earlier this year about the less than world class conditions at New York's LaGuardia Airport he found an audience in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

October 23, 2014 - New York Times

Highway Guardrail

Deadly Highway Guardrail Design Questioned

After five deaths, several states have stopped installing FHWA-approved guardrails which have been said "to turn into spears" when hit by vehicles. An Oct. 20 jury verdict awarded $175 million to a whistleblower to be paid by the rail manufacturer.

October 23, 2014 - The New York Times

Tunnel

$5.4 Billion Freeway Plan Would Tunnel Under South Pasadena

One of Southern California's most controversial and (some would say) critical projects is on the radar again—the 710 extension through South Pasadena. Transportation officials are working on a tunnel plan, expected for public comment in February.

October 22, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Ohio DOT Looking to the Public for Answers

The Ohio Department of Transportation is looking for feedback from the public on how best to expand services to meet growing demand despite an ongoing shortage of funding.

October 22, 2014 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Two-Year 'Action Plan' to Support Early Implementation of 'moveDC' Long Range Plan

The District Department of Transportation released its moveDC "Action Plan" this week. While the moveDC plan sets a 25-year agenda, the Action Plan identifies 36 specific actions for implementation in the next two years.

October 22, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Is It OK to Charge Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Cross Toll Bridges?

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District might charge pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge in a plan to keep the district, which also runs buses and ferries between San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties, solvent.

October 22, 2014 - Marin Independent Journal

San Jose Arterial Street

How Often Do Cities Mandate Smart Growth?

A recent Mercatus Institute paper addresses the frequency of minimum density regulations, maximum parking requirements, and similar regulations.

October 21, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Progress for Cook County's Long Range Transportation Plan; Funding Questions Remain

Chicago's home county this year launched its first transportation since 1940. Initial outreach efforts have produced a draft vision statement and four planning scenarios.

October 21, 2014 - Chi.Streetsblog

Houston's downtown skyline

The New Traffic Forecast: Modest Growth, then Decline

Clark Williams-Derry shares news of what he calls "far and away the most responsible official traffic forecast I’ve seen from any government agency, ever."

October 21, 2014 - Sightline Daily

Obituary: William J. Ronan, Founder of New York's MTA

One of the most important officials in New York State transportation history died Oct. 15: William J. Ronan, who took on Robert Moses to form the country's largest, most diversified transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

October 21, 2014 - The New York Times

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.