Transportation
Is Travel Behavior Changing? What the New Data Says
Over the past few weeks, the Federal Highway Administration released new data reporting annual 2014 travel levels, and analysts are busy interpreting and, in some cases, spinning the results.
Better Streets: Whatchu Whatchu Whatchu Want?
Public support of people-friendly infrastructure is not automatic. Get your streets right by getting the conversation right. (Includes lots of great shareable graphics.)
First 'Parking-Protected' Bike Lane Opens in Los Angeles
The parking-protected bike lane on Reseda Boulevard in the Northridge neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles opened to bicycles on April 2. Also, Detroit broke ground on its first protected bike lanes—with or without the parking protection.
Highway Trust Fund Expiration Pushed Back to July or August
Congress just got one or two months of extra breathing room to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent. Heretofore the patch bill was said to exhaust its funding on May 31, but the new word from Transportation Secretary Foxx is that it will be later.
Suburbs Try to Figure Out Transit
Of the many reasons why the suburban lifestyle is falling out of favor with young Americans, reliance on automobiles is near the top of the list. Some suburbs are now figuring out that, to attract Millennials, they must also invest in better transit.
Report: Michigan's Roads Go from 'Poor to Terrible'
Michigan—the state that spends less per capita on its roads than every other state—just got bad news about the state of its roads. Will it be enough to convince voters to pass a sales tax initiative to generate $1.2 billion in funding for roads?
Bay Area Bike Share Poised to Grow from 700 to 7,000 Bikes
The regional system would expand to the the East Bay cities of Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville. Bikes would be added in San Jose and San Francisco.
Fitness Apps Are the New Planning Tool
Many smartphone users have a fitness app that they use to track their routes and progress on fitness goals. The data in these apps is a gold mine for planners, helping lead to better infrastructure investments.
Georgia to Increase Gas Tax Through Conversion to Excise Tax
Gov. Nathan Deal will sign legislation to increase gas taxes through a state sales tax conversion to an excise tax. With new weight-based truck fees, motel fees, and electric vehicle fees, it will add $1 billion in new transportation funding.
Learning from London's Mobility Achievements
Transport for London has a remarkable span of jurisdiction over transportation in the city—allowing TFL to pursue innovative projects with a relative degree of ease.
Obama Administration Drafts Transportation Bill; May 31 Deadline Looms
In all likelihood the $478 billion transportation bill proposed by the Obama Administration earlier this week is dead on arrival. But can the federal government get a long-term bill together by the May 31 deadline?
Florida Transportation Official Has Work Cut Out for Him
Florida would seem to be the ideal place for walking and biking. It's flat as can be. But the state developed very much with the car in mind. Billy Hattaway, at the Florida Dept. of Transportation, wants to change that.
Metro's Latest Light Rail Crash Sparks Rail Safety Debate
The March 28 crash on Metro's extensive light rail system shouldn't have happened. All the safety measures acted as they should have. Could more have been done to prevent the motorist's fateful turn across the tracks as a train approached?
Big Changes, Additions for Citi Bike
Big changes are taking place at Citi Bike as the Big Apple looks to improve on its earliest efforts at bikeshare.
Data, Communications, and the Future of Urban Mobility
Qualcomm and Arup recently published a report on their vision for the future of connected cities. We spoke to Chris Luebkeman, Arup Fellow and Global Director of Foresight, Research and Innovation, and Qualcomm's Kiva Allgood to learn more.
Pricey AirTrain To Oakland Airport Proves Popular with Riders
The eight-minute elevated, driverless tram costs twice as much as the AirBus shuttle it replaced, which riders aren't happy about, but you wouldn't know it from the ridership numbers. The new connector service opened just over four months ago.
Hard to Get to Class in Charter-Only New Orleans
In a district now comprised entirely of charter schools, many New Orleans children face hour-plus journeys. This makes for increased stress on low-income families and a potential rise in chronic absenteeism.
New York Will Phase Out C Train 'Brightliners' By 2017
Once the subway's pride, R-32 'Brightliner' trains that operate on the C line will soon disappear from service. Mid-century promo videos notwithstanding, the line's rolling stock was in dire need of an update.
$55 Million Overhaul Proposed for Memphis' Central Station
A transformative project is in the works for the South End neighborhood of Downtown Memphis.
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Connection Due On Time, Under Budget
The thing of legend will come to pass: the TriMet Portland-Milwaukie light rail construction project is expected for delivery on time and between $10 and $40 million under budget.
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.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
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
