Transportation

Riding D.C. Metro's Silver Line: the Great Suburban Retrofit

CityLab provides an in-depth analysis of the planning efforts surrounding the D.C. Metro's forthcoming Silver Line in Tysons Corner, Virginia. At stake, according to the article: "the future of the American suburb as we know it."

June 11, 2014 - CityLab

Chicago Divvy

Chicago Accumulating Bike-Friendly Bonafides

Chicago officials hope that nearly 5 percent of the city's commutes will be by bike in 2020. The goal requires a lot more work (biking's share of daily trips rose to 1.3 percent in 2012 from 0.5 percent in 2000), but there are many signs of a shift.

June 11, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

One-Way Street in Louisville

Two-Way Streets Can Fix Declining Downtown Neighborhoods

America’s multi-lane one-way streets are a disaster for neighborhoods. A recent study, released at the International Making Cities Livable Conference and led by John Gilderbloom, finds benefits to converting such streets to two-way traffic flows.

June 11, 2014 - John Gilderbloom

Tolls vs. Taxes: Wisconsinites Choose Their Preference

All taxes are not equally disliked—some are more tolerated than others. Jack Craver of The Cap Times examines an academic poll and speaks with policy makers and one advocate about the least objectionable options to pay for roads in Wisconsin.

June 10, 2014 - The Cap Times

California Takes Legislative Steps to Address Growing Crude-by-Rail Shipments

While regulated on the federal level, there is still much that can be done on a state level, including adding per-barrel fees to pay for cleanup plans. Plus, a new regulation took effect requiring railroads to notify states about Bakken crude trains.

June 10, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Buffalo Light Rail

Urbanists Soak Up Buffalo: PlaceMakers Empty Their Notebooks

Many of you attended CNU in Buffalo last week, but for those of you who couldn't make it, here's a quick collection of a few of the ideas shared.

June 9, 2014 - PlaceShakers

The Inside Scoop on Portland's Street Signal System

A new installment of the BikePortland podcast reveals the technical considerations in the city’s signal system that contribute to bike and pedestrian safety.

June 9, 2014 - BikePortland

Philadelphia City Council Moves Bikeshare Proposal Forward

A council committee has approved a bill that would pave the way for Bicycle Transit Systems to set up a bikeshare program in Philadelphia. The bill now moves to the full council.

June 9, 2014 - Philadelphia Daily News

Green Light for Red Light Cameras in California

A decisive California Supreme Court ruling on June 5 made life easier for jurisdictions to enforce red-light laws using traffic camera technology by stating that the photos have the "same presumption of validity as other types of photos and videos."

June 8, 2014 - KTVU.Com

Bike Commuter

French Employees Get Paid to Bike to Work

French companies attempt to boost bike commutes by paying employees who cycle to work.

June 8, 2014 - Reuters

Commute

Arguing for Cars, Not Transit, as a Poverty Solution

Data show that cars are more effective than transit in providing poor people to jobs and economic opportunity. But does that mean transit systems are fundamentally inadequate or just currently inadequate?

June 6, 2014 - The Daily Beast

MARTA's 2015 Budget Expands Rail Service

While many transit agencies around the country have increased fares in recent months to deal with budget deficits, Atlanta's MARTA has reported good financial news and has even proposed a 2015 budget that expands rail service.

June 6, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Study Evaluates Protected Bike Lanes in the United States

The National Institute for Transportation and Communities released a new study this week called "Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S."

June 6, 2014 - Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium

Meet Boston's New Tech-Enabled 'Pop-Up' Bus Service

A private bus service launched this week in Boston that decides service based on crowdsourced data on where and when people need to travel.

June 6, 2014 - New York Times

Bay Bridge Toll

Op-Ed: User Fees, Not General Funds, Should Fund Transportation

The Washington Post editorializes against the use of general funds to fill the Highway Trust Fund shortfall ($18 billion annually), whether they be dedicated funds or offsets, and evaluates proposals from President Barack Obama and House Republicans.

June 6, 2014 - The Washington Post - Opinions

Skateboarders

The New Transportation Mode of Choice for Urban Professionals: Skateboards

Although the skateboard's been around for a while, recent modifications to traditional designs are targeting skateboards for an older, wealthier demographic.

June 5, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

How to Build Grassroots Support for Urbanism

Andrew Keatts interviews Benjamin Ross, of Maryland's Purple Line advocacy fame, about what it takes to build local support for transit and urban design.

June 5, 2014 - Voice of San Diego

Could Viable Transportation Options End Drunk Driving?

A recent article by Sommer Mathis fills a void in supportive arguments for alternative forms of transportation: giving people more and better options not to drive, especially while drunk, is a massive public safety issue.

June 5, 2014 - CityLab

Google Self-Driving Car smaller

Did Google Find a Low-Speed Shortcut to Fully Automated Vehicles?

Google's bold new design for a self-driving car has no steering wheel or pedals. And it has a top speed of 40 km/h. Here is a look at Google’s plans and the role low-speed automated vehicles could play in urban transportation.

June 5, 2014 - Antonio Loro

MoveDC Long Range Transportation Plan Available for Public Comment

The Washington Post has a look at the initial draft of MoveDC, Washington D.C.'s Multimodal Long Range Transportation Plan, which will guide the city's transportation plans until 2040. The plan is available for public comment until July 6, 2014.

June 4, 2014 - The Washington Post

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.