Transportation
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday Funny: Bringing Back the '80s to Pitch Transit Apps
Metro Los Angeles produced a retro-style music video to raise awareness about transit app options in Los Angeles. Miami Vice wardrobes and Atari-grade graphics contribute to the cause.
Underfunded, Deadly Road Infrastructure in Texas
Bloomberg News investigates a rash of road deaths in the Midland-Odessa region, attributing the fatalities to underfunded road infrastructure, increased population, and truck traffic. A November ballot measure may provide some relief.
Millennials Are in Motion, But Not Necessarily by Car
A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group shows mounting evidence that the Millennial generation’s dramatic shift away from driving is more than temporary. Planning must change to accommodate these demands.
D.C.'s New Metro Line Already Influencing the Suburbs
The Silver Line opened two and a half months ago. Already, with strong ridership in both directions, some businesses are seeing new opportunities.
Why Millennials Drive Less: Many Possibilities, Few Answers
Millennials are less likely to get driver's licenses, they tend to take fewer, shorter car trips, and they use alternative modes of transportation more than their predecessors. The question for the ages is why.
Cincinnati's First Cycle Track Overcame Controversy, Now Open for Bikers
The Central Parkway Cycle Track is open in Cincinnati, having overcome the controversies that almost led to the project's demise.
How Not To Measure Traffic Congestion—Hold the Hyperbole, Please!
The new INRIX congestion costing report is another good example of bad analysis. We just want accurate information; hold the hyperbole, please.
Chicago's Red Light Camera Mess Now Features Yellow Lights
After switching vendors on its red light camera program last spring, the city of Chicago has had difficulties enforcing tickets (and thus, traffic laws) because of fluctuating times for yellow lights.
Philadelphia Studying Reuse of Defunct Underground Rail Line
Ryan Briggs reports on the planning study bringing new hope to efforts to activate or repurpose the "City Branch," a dormant subterranean rail line in Philadelphia.
Progress for San Francisco's Ambitious Bike Plans
Ariel Rosenstock updates San Francisco's progress in implementing the vision set forth by the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan.
Bicycle Collisions, Fatalities Increasing in Boston's Suburbs
The Boston Globe crunched the numbers in a recent Massachusetts Department of Transportation report.
Seattle's Bikeshare Opens Today!
Expect to see 500 new green-and-blue shared bikes on Seattle streets or docked at 50 stations on October 13. A press conference at Pioneer Square's Occidental Park will launch Pronto Cycle Share, largely sponsored by Alaska Airlines.
More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible
Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
