Transportation

Does it Matter if We Call Crashes 'Accidents'?

Safety experts, like NHTSA, and safety advocates, like bicycle and pedestrian organizations, have replaced the commonly used "accident" with "crash" or similar nouns. Kevin Drum of Mother Jones asks if it really makes a difference.

August 25, 2015 - Mother Jones

Public Opinion Split on I-710 Tunnel Plans in Southern California

The public comment period has ended on one of Southern California's most persistent planning controversies—a proposal to connect the I-710 Freeway between Pasadena and Alhambra. The current plan calls for a long underground tunnel.

August 25, 2015 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Unlikely Sector Supports Increased California Fuel Taxes

Anti-tax, business groups are backing plans to fill the road budget shortfall by increasing fuel taxes and registration fees, but they want general fund dollars diverted to the road budget as well.

August 25, 2015 - Sacramento Business Journal

Light Rail Extension to South Sacramento County Opens Today

Observers are closely monitoring whether a hotly contested light rail extension into Elk Grove and South Sacramento County lives up to its promise.

August 24, 2015 - Sacramento Bee

Open 7 Months Ahead of Schedule: Mesa, Arizona's Light Rail Extension

The Valley Metro Rail system launched a new light rail extension over the weekend that connects the city of Mesa into Phoenix, Tempe and to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

August 24, 2015 - East Valley Tribune

The Passing of One of the Bay Area's Most Effective Bicycle Advocates

Deb Hubsmith, who went from executive director of the Marin Bicycle Coalition to state and federal bicycle advocacy positions, passed away on August 18. She was known throughout California as being a tireless force for the advancement of bicycling.

August 24, 2015 - Marin Independent Journal

Speed Limit

America's Speed Limits Visualized

America's quilt of speed limits now reaches 85 MPH in some states, with increases possible in some western states. MetricMaps has produced a visualization of the top speed limits across the country and even in detail in urban areas.

August 24, 2015 - The Washington Post - Blogs

Terror On-Board European High-Speed Train

Massacre on a Paris-bound train was averted in France on Friday due to the courageous actions of three Americans, one in the Air Force another in the Oregon National Guard, who rushed and subdued a Moroccan man armed with an AK-47 and a handgun.

August 23, 2015 - The New York Times

Bikeshare on its Way to Honolulu

Bikeshare Hawaii is seeking public input on the technology of choice for the eventual roll out of the city's bikeshare system.

August 23, 2015 - KITV4

Bay Bridge Toll Traffic

When a Freeway Goes Bad

At some point, in places all over the country, freeways stopped working as they were intended. What can be done to improve one of the great frustrations of life with a car?

August 23, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Making Traffic Circles Safe for Pedestrians

A post for Greater Greater Washington details the ongoing conversation about how to improve pedestrian safety around Grant Circle.

August 22, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

U.S. DOT Offers Guidance for Bike and Pedestrian Funding

Planning for new pedestrian and bike projects in your community? The federal government recently released a report providing guidance on the Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative.

August 22, 2015 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

NYC Subway Riders

The Most Popular Forms of Alternative Transportation

When it comes to the Census, the term "alternative transportation" makes perfect sense. Eric Jaffe looks at the 15 metropolitan areas with the lowest auto commuting and describes the most popular alternatives.

August 21, 2015 - CityLab

De Blasio Could Open the Times Square Pedestrian Plaza to Cars

Exotic street performers in the plaza have caused Mayor Bill de Blasio to reconsider his initial opposition to street plazas. Unlike his police commissioner and the governor, de Blasio has yet to make a decision on the removal of Times Square plaza.

August 21, 2015 - The New York Times N.Y. / Region

Sound Transit's East Link Rail Line Needs $20 Million More for Engineering

Sound Transit had to deliver bad news last week about cost overruns in the design and engineering phase of the East Link rail project that will cross Lake Washington along the path of Interstate 90.

August 19, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Commute

Mapping the Country's 38 Million Epic Commutes

The Wonkblog team puts new American Community Survey data to good use.

August 19, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

The First Days of Houston's New High Frequency Bus Grid

Houston is making big transportation news this week with the launch of a newly replanned Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) bus system.

August 19, 2015 - Human Transit

Los Angeles Freeway

Next Steps for the City of Freeways

It is difficult to imagine a time when Los Angeles' freeways symbolized access, efficiency, and modernity. Now that the city's love affair with freeways is nearly spent, what future do we envision for them?

August 19, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Traffic Deaths Soar—Is Cheap Gas a Culprit?

An August 17 press release from the National Safety Council indicates the United States is on track to exceed 40,000 road deaths this year, the highest since 2007. A January NPR report links the spike to decreased gas prices.

August 19, 2015 - CNNMoney

Complex Traffic Signals Make for Dangerous Intersections

When it comes to intersections, adding more complexity can do more harm than good, according to a recent, detailed post on Greater Greater Washington.

August 19, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

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.

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.