Transportation

The High Price of Raising Low State Gas Taxes

Now that an increase in New Jersey's gas tax is before the legislature, Christopher Maag of The (New Jersey) Record looks at how neighboring states Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York have met their transportation needs.

November 20, 2014 - The Record

Capital Bikeshare

A Planning Career to Help People Share—Bikes, of Course

The following interview, as published in the 4th Edition of the Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs, features Kimberly Lucas, bicycle program specialist for the District Department of Transportation.

November 20, 2014 - Kimberly Lucas

Defending the Metropolitan Council as Political Support for Regional Planning Wanes

An editorial in the MinnPost supports the regional planning of the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities metro area, which has been beset by a string of controversial decisions.

November 19, 2014 - MinnPost

Did Obama Bet on the Wrong Electric Vehicle Technology?

With Toyota's long-waited fuel cell electric vehicle (FCV) hitting showrooms in the U.S. this week, Kenneth Chang, science reporter for The New York Times, delves further into the technology, starting with how it fared under two administrations.

November 19, 2014 - The New York Times - Environment

Arlington County Nixes Streetcar Plans to Chagrin of Fairfax County

A decision by Arlington County to cancel plans for the Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar projects has dealt a blow to Fairfax County's redevelopment efforts. The line was expected to open in 2020.

November 18, 2014 - The Washington Post

Michigan May Drop Fuel Excise Tax for Wholesale Sales Tax

The Republican-controlled Michigan State Senate voted November 13 to increase the state's 19-cents per gallon fuel tax by converting it to a wholesale fuel sales tax, resulting in an anticipated $1.2 billion annual revenue increase.

November 18, 2014 - The Detroit News

Prospect Park Bike Lane

The Chicken and the Egg: Gentrification and Bicycling

Shaun Courtney examines the current politics surrounding gentrification and bicycling throughout the country and what planners can do to address the issue.

November 18, 2014 - Urbanful

How Congress Skews Commuter Benefits

Current commuter benefits favor employees driving to work instead of taking public transportation, despite years of advocacy and lobbying efforts in Congress.

November 17, 2014 - The Washington Post

Leinberger Op-Ed Supports Streetcars as Economic Development Tool

"Opposing streetcars and light rail today would be like opposing the building of freeways, the Beltway and Metrorail in the 20th century," writes Chris Leinberger in an op-ed for the Washington Post.

November 17, 2014 - The Washington Post - Opinions

Citing High Rate of Adoption, Los Angeles Considers Expanded Freeway Toll Lanes

The use of toll lanes on two of the Los Angeles region's freeways has proven popular enough that county transportation planners are considering expanding the system.

November 17, 2014 - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Switching to Transit in Atlanta—Affordable but Unlikely

Darin from ATL Urbanist picks up on a recent report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finding that residents of Atlanta can save big money by ditching their cars and riding transit.

November 17, 2014 - ATL Urbanist

Dallas Launches Fledgling Bikeshare Program

Meant as the precursor for a larger program and delayed from an expected summer launch, Dallas launched its first bikeshare system with two rental kiosks for use around Fair Park.

November 17, 2014 - The Dallas Morning News

San Francisco Parking

An Unintended Consequence of Unbundling Parking from Housing

Transportation and affordable housing advocates advocate unbundling parking from housing to provide an incentive to own fewer vehicles while reducing housing costs and increasing supply. But should parcel taxes be applied to parking spaces?

November 17, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Silicon Valley BRT

BRT Planned for the Silicon Valley

A region dominated by automobile-friendly infrastructure has released a Draft EIR for a bus rapid transit project connecting central San Jose to Palo Alto via El Camino Real.

November 16, 2014 - Human Transit

If Keystone Bill Becomes Law, Would it be Built?

It's not a foregone conclusion that President Obama would veto a bill expected in the Senate next week to allow the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. But if it were to pass and Obama signs it, would it be built? CNBC investigates.

November 15, 2014 - CNBC

Late Night Bus Stop Request Program for Women Launches in Brasilia, Brazil

The new safety law allows women to request a stop at any location along a bus route after 10 pm, in an effort to increase women's safety in transit.

November 15, 2014 - The City Fix

Bay Bridge Bike Path: Cheaper is Better

The existing bike path on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge meets an abrupt dead end, though it will be extended to Yerba Buena Island next summer. Plans are underway to extend the path to San Francisco, but it won't be cheap.

November 15, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

The $100 Billion Question Facing the New Republican Majority

A huge challenge for the next Congress will be finding the funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent when the current patch expires on May 31.

November 14, 2014 - The Washington Post

Louisville's 'Neighborways' Plan to Make Streets Bike Friendly

The Broken Sidewalk blog provides details about an ongoing plan to transform Louisville's low volume streets into "Neighborways."

November 14, 2014 - Broken Sidewalk

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.

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

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