Transportation

Cleveland's Zagster Bikeshare Business Model Is Tailored for Mid-Sized Cities

Cities that don't have the population and demand of say, New York City or Washington D.C. need a different business model for bikeshare. Enter Zagster, recently launched in Cleveland.

September 22, 2014 - Next City

On the Importance of Maintaining Trans-Hudson Rail Capacity

Amtrak's Gateway project is not only key to maintaining and increasing commuter and intercity rail capacity between the Empire and Garden States, but also to ensuring that the $1 billion investment in the new Moynihan Station makes sense.

September 22, 2014 - Asbury Park Press

Relief for Amtrak Travelers to New York's Penn Station Closer at Hand

CityLab's Eric Jaffe provides an update on the two phases of construction of Moynihan Station, an annex to America's busiest train station. Phase One could be completed next year and Phase Two is in need of a "mere" $200 million. But is that enough?

September 21, 2014 - CityLab

Grand Ambitions for $7 Billion Investment in Washington D.C.'s Union Station

The Washington Post provides all the details, renderings, history, commentary, and more that one could want about Amtrak's proposed $7 billion investment in Daniel Burnham's historic Union Station.

September 20, 2014 - The Washington Post

San Francisco's Red Transit-Only Lanes Improving Service

For years, San Francisco has set aside transit-only lanes. However, with a fresh coat of red paint, the city has seen significant service improvements.

September 20, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Transit Survey Answers the Who and Why of American Transit Use

A new survey from TransitCenter surveyed 11,846 Americans on their transit use, living environment, upbringing, and personal characteristics.

September 20, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Examining the 'Vehicular Cycling' vs. 'Segregated Cycling' Debate

Joseph Stromberg provides an explainer post detailing both sides, and the common ground, of the "vehicular cycling" versus "segregated cycling" debate.

September 20, 2014 - Vox

BRT Planning Effort in Philadelphia: Launched by TIGER

The U.S. DOT's release of TIGER grant funding last weekend included funding for Philadelphia to begin planning a potential BRT route for snarled and dangerous Roosevelt Boulevard.

September 19, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Report Details Shortcomings in Chicago's Transportation System

In many ways, Chicagoland's transportation system is the envy of other American cities, but a new report says that lack of coordination and fragmented authority costs the area in economic development potential.

September 19, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

A Cloud-Based Firewall to Stop Car-Data Hackers

Using a cloud-based computing setup, the third largest maker of luxury vehicles unveiled a new set of protections from hackers in the face of driverless travel.

September 19, 2014 - Bloomberg News

First All-Electric Garbage Truck Hits the Road in Chicago

The first and only all-electric garbage truck in North America gets rolling in Chicago, working on residential refuse and recycling routes.

September 18, 2014 - PR Newswire

Transit Ridership

Study: Reducing Car Dependence Would Save $100 Trillion by 2050

A study examines the impact of a worldwide shift away from automobile infrastructure and finds a staggering amount of potential benefits by the year 2050.

September 18, 2014 - UC Davis

Survey: Tolls OK if Revenue Improves Road Conditions

A survey by HNTB Corp. found that 79 percent of respondents would support tolling currently untolled roads, including highways, if the revenue was used to improve traveling conditions on the tolled road.

September 18, 2014 - The Hill

Ovarian Psycos

Women on a Mission: The Ovarian Psycos Ride for the Health of their Communities

The first in a series profiling grassroots activism to increase biking among the diverse populations of Los Angeles County. In this installment, we spoke with Karen Díaz, a core member of the Ovarian Psycos bicycle brigade.

September 18, 2014 - Maayan Dembo

Survey: Most Americans Support Increased Spending on Public Transportation

A new survey finds growing public support for increased federal spending on public transportation, even if that means increased taxes.

September 17, 2014 - The Hill

110-mph Talgo Trains Headed to Michigan [Corrected]

If the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approves the order, two Wisconsin-manufactured Talgo train sets will reduce travel times from Detroit to Chicago by as much as two hours while significantly increasing on-time performance.

September 17, 2014 - The Detroit News

Highway Decisions Make Dallas a 'Paradox City'

Dallas Morning News Architecture Critic Mark Lamster pulls no punches in writing of Dallas as the "Paradox City," even describing Michael Morris, the director of transportation for the North Texas Council of Governments, as a new Robert Moses.

September 17, 2014 - Dallas Morning News

Progress Rises from the Bikelash

Bikelash: some cities dish it out more than others and some bike advocates deal with it better than others. But could it be a sign that the pro-bike agenda is advancing?

September 17, 2014 - CityLab

Late-Night Buses to Run When BART Service Stops

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit* and Bay Area Rapid Transit are considering a one-year pilot program that would provide transit service after BART's Cinderella-esque closing time.

September 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Hybrid Vehicle Sales Take a Dive

A new study revealed that more car buyers are choosing plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) while fewer are choosing traditional hybrid vehicles. Both types are considered to be electric vehicles, and hybrid sales far outnumber PEV sales.

September 16, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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

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.