Transportation

Seattle's Bikeshare Opens Today!

Expect to see 500 new green-and-blue shared bikes on Seattle streets or docked at 50 stations on October 13. A press conference at Pioneer Square's Occidental Park will launch Pronto Cycle Share, largely sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

October 13, 2014 - Puget Sound Business Journal

More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible

Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.

October 13, 2014 - AASHTO Journal

The fronts of three double-decker buses in London

Can the Bus Be Sexy?

Transit agencies are increasingly turning to branding and advertising to improve their images. But can conservative bureaucracies embrace what it means to be "cool"? More importantly, can they attract riders?

October 12, 2014 - InTransition Magazine

Urban Amenity: Pick Up UPS Packages at the Dry Cleaner or Pharmacy

Tired of coming home and seeing the "We Missed You" slip hanging from the door of your apartment building rather than receiving the package you had ordered online? UPS has an app for that.

October 12, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Study Rates Car 'Infotainment Systems' for Levels of Distraction

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety assessed the mental demands required of six hands-free, in-vehicle systems dialing phones and changing radio stations.

October 11, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

California Refineries Prepare to Receive Cheaper Crude-by-Rail

The surge in oil production has not benefited California, but that's about to change. Shale oil from North Dakota and other states costs $15 less than imported oil. After transportation costs, California refineries would save $3 per barrel.

October 10, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Strong Ridership for Tucson Modern Streetcar's First Months

Early reviews and returns on Tucson's Modern Streetcar appear positive, according to an article for Arizona Public Media.

October 10, 2014 - Arizona Public Radio

Profile in Success: Keith Parker, General Manager and CEO of MARTA

A profile piece for Governing focuses on the work of Keith Parker, who since 2012 has been leading the ninth-largest transportation agency in the country: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

October 10, 2014 - Governing

Surface Parking

Friday Funny: The Onion has Been Reading Donald Shoup

The satirical news site The Onion is back with another take on the concerns of planners and transportation engineers. This time The Onion takes a page out of Donald's Shoup playbook.

October 10, 2014 - The Onion

Amsterdam Bikes

Shifting the Message to Attract More Bike Riders

In a speech to the Arlington County Commuter Services, Veronica O. Davis argues for bicycle advocates to shift from focusing solely on commuter riders.

October 9, 2014 - Mobility Lab

Like the Old Days: Average Fuel Economy Declines in the United States

A recent study at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute showed that September saw the largest decline in average fuel economy, from 25.8 mpg to 25.3 mpg, since December 2011.

October 9, 2014 - 24/7 Wall Street

Study Compares Job Access by Transit in 46 U.S. Metropolitan Areas

The Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota has released the Access Across America: Transit 2014 report.

October 9, 2014 - The Transportationist

Kids Biking

Unsafe Streets on National Walk and Bike to School Day

Today, October 8, is National Walk and Bike to School Day, and yet street conditions across the United States continue to prevent kids from getting to school safely without being chauffeured. Lynn Richards of CNU says we can do better.

October 8, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Los Angeles Breathing Easier Due to Reductions in Airborne Toxins

The improvement in air quality comes from reductions in toxic emissions from autos, trucks, and ships. Enjoying the cleaner air were tens of thousands of Angelenos riding on miles of streets closed to auto traffic for the 10th CicLAvia event.

October 8, 2014 - Take Part

Millennials and Gen Xers Commuting Less by Car

Following up on earlier reports about the latest commuting data from the U.S. Census 2013 American Community Survey, Joseph Kane and Adie Tomer find different trends in commute choice between age groups.

October 8, 2014 - The Brookings Institution

Expo Line

The Koch Brothers vs Transit

Two of the more famous examples of the economic interests of the fossil fuel industry, Charles and David Koch, are battling transit projects, by any means necessary, all over the country.

October 7, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

National Institute for Transportation and Communities Releases Complete Streets Design Guide

Principal investigator Marc Schlossberg and co-investigator John Rowell, of the University of Oregon, have complete a guide to help communities of all varieties realize the benefits of complete streets.

October 7, 2014 - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium

Orlando Street

Traffic Safety Silver Bullet: Prohibit the 12-Foot Traffic Lane

Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, argues that reducing the width of traffic lanes would be a panacea for the disastrous public health outcomes of traffic safety.

October 6, 2014 - CityLab

Newest Fuel Cell Vehicles: Trains!

Alstom Transport uses technology similar to that of hydrogen fuel cell automobiles. Railway Gazette reports that German rail authorities hope to develop Zero Emission Trains by purchasing fuel cell trainsets.

October 6, 2014 - Railway Gazette

ARC Cancellation Leaves New Jersey-New York Rail Connections in Race Against Time

Dana Rubinstein writes that New Jersey Chris Christie may have to answer for more than just the Bridgegate scandal if he throws his hat into the ring in the 2016 presidential campaign.

October 6, 2014 - Capital New York

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.