Transportation

New Jersey Turnpike Widening Project Nearing Completion

The largest project is the largest in the 63-year history of the New Jersey Turnpike will wrap up by the middle of November.

October 23, 2014 - NJ.com

Governor Cuomo Announces Master Plan Competition for New York's Airports

When Vice President spoke earlier this year about the less than world class conditions at New York's LaGuardia Airport he found an audience in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

October 23, 2014 - New York Times

Highway Guardrail

Deadly Highway Guardrail Design Questioned

After five deaths, several states have stopped installing FHWA-approved guardrails which have been said "to turn into spears" when hit by vehicles. An Oct. 20 jury verdict awarded $175 million to a whistleblower to be paid by the rail manufacturer.

October 23, 2014 - The New York Times

Tunnel

$5.4 Billion Freeway Plan Would Tunnel Under South Pasadena

One of Southern California's most controversial and (some would say) critical projects is on the radar again—the 710 extension through South Pasadena. Transportation officials are working on a tunnel plan, expected for public comment in February.

October 22, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Ohio DOT Looking to the Public for Answers

The Ohio Department of Transportation is looking for feedback from the public on how best to expand services to meet growing demand despite an ongoing shortage of funding.

October 22, 2014 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Two-Year 'Action Plan' to Support Early Implementation of 'moveDC' Long Range Plan

The District Department of Transportation released its moveDC "Action Plan" this week. While the moveDC plan sets a 25-year agenda, the Action Plan identifies 36 specific actions for implementation in the next two years.

October 22, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Is It OK to Charge Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Cross Toll Bridges?

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District might charge pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge in a plan to keep the district, which also runs buses and ferries between San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties, solvent.

October 22, 2014 - Marin Independent Journal

San Jose Arterial Street

How Often Do Cities Mandate Smart Growth?

A recent Mercatus Institute paper addresses the frequency of minimum density regulations, maximum parking requirements, and similar regulations.

October 21, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Progress for Cook County's Long Range Transportation Plan; Funding Questions Remain

Chicago's home county this year launched its first transportation since 1940. Initial outreach efforts have produced a draft vision statement and four planning scenarios.

October 21, 2014 - Chi.Streetsblog

Houston's downtown skyline

The New Traffic Forecast: Modest Growth, then Decline

Clark Williams-Derry shares news of what he calls "far and away the most responsible official traffic forecast I’ve seen from any government agency, ever."

October 21, 2014 - Sightline Daily

Obituary: William J. Ronan, Founder of New York's MTA

One of the most important officials in New York State transportation history died Oct. 15: William J. Ronan, who took on Robert Moses to form the country's largest, most diversified transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

October 21, 2014 - The New York Times

Pedestrian Intersection

Intersection Designs that Prioritize Pedestrian Safety

Following the idea that pedestrian safety takes its cues from planners, Rachel Dovey's article on pedestrian safety lists six intersection designs that "actually prioritize pedestrians."

October 20, 2014 - Next City

Transit Oriented Development

The New Transit User Fee: Real Estate Rent

Driven by a need to meet growing costs amid unstable federal subsidies, metropolitan transit agencies are eying their properties, particularly parking lots, as money makers from new residential and commercial development.

October 20, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

A SEPTA R5 commuter train heading for Doylestown, Pennsylvania from Lansdale station.

Philadelphia's Overcrowded Commuter Rail in Need of New Trains

The newest members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's fleet of commuter trains, 120 Silverliner V trains that have arrived since 2010, have not been sufficient in alleviating crowded rail lines.

October 19, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Bikes Early Ridership Outpaces Expectations for Cincy Red Bikes

A surprise opening in September has given way to ridership that exceeds expectations for Cincinnati's fledgling Red Bikes bikeshare system.

October 19, 2014 - Local 12

Mobile Phone-Enabled Train Tickets Coming to Chicago's Metra

Mobile phones are doubling for tickets onto airplanes and into concerts all over the world. Why not commuter trains too?

October 19, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Transform's New GreenTrip Parking Database

A new database from the Oakland-based Transform group maps and tracks unused parking spaces in multifamily housing developments.

October 18, 2014 - Streetsblog LA

Freight Rail Conundrum: Speed vs. Safety

Safety would win hands down for passenger rail, but for-profit railroads have a bottom line to consider. Regulators have proposed reduced train speeds, opposed by railroads, to prevent fiery derailments that have resulted from shipping shale oil.

October 18, 2014 - The Gazette

No Shortage of Investors Lining Up to Operate Bankrupt Toll Road

Many were surprised when the Indiana Toll Road's operator declared bankruptcy on September 22. Just as surprising may be all the interest by global investors in bidding to replace the bankrupt Australian-Spanish consortium as the new operator.

October 17, 2014 - Reuters

California Supreme Court Rebuffs High Speed Rail Opponents

The California Supreme Court gave a green light to the state's embattled High Speed Rail Authority to begin issuing $8.6 billion in voter-approved bonds by rejecting the appeal by Central Valley opponents of the project.

October 17, 2014 - Bay Area News Group

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

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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.