Transportation
Honolulu Light Rail Taking Shape
After clearing two lawsuits in February, and weathering a contentious mayoral election, the Honolulu light rail project is under construction.
Denver Opens New Union Station Bus Terminal to Great Expectations
Denver's Union Station Bus Terminal opened over the weekend, the latest step in its ongoing transformation into a hub of intermodal activity as well as a bridge between the contemporary and the historic.
U.S. Census: Bikes Most Increased Commute Mode Since 2000
Many U.S. cities are seeing an increase in bicycle commuters, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released last week. Of all commute modes, biking increased the most from 2000 to 2012. Walking, however, held steady.
Senate Committee Releases Six-Year Transportation Reauthorization Bill
The bill to reauthorize the current surface transportation law, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century", a.k.a. MAP-21, was released on Monday and will be "marked up" on Thursday. Spending is kept at current levels of $50 billion a year.
Preventing Illegal U-Turns through the Pennsylvania Avenue Bike Lanes
The effort to protect bikers from cars making illegal maneuvers continues in Washington D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue. Because the street holds regular inauguration parades, planners can make a limited number of permanent changes.
Can Somerville, Massachusetts Keep Transit Oriented Redevelopment Affordable?
With six new Green Line stations coming to Somerville, Massachusetts in the next few years, planners and political leaders are trying to find the right balance between transit oriented redevelopment and its more expensive consequences.
Waterways Infrastructure Bill: Prelude to Highway Bill Agreement?
Last Thursday, House and Senate leaders announced agreement on an $8.2 billion waterways infrastructure bill, and if they have their way, it won't be their last major agreement. On Monday, a successor highway bill (to MAP-21) will be released.
West Palm Beach, Florida Explores Downtown Walkability
West Palm Beach, Florida is undertaking a walkability study of its downtown; wide streets and a confusing mix of jurisdictions provide substantial challenges to the effort.
Report: 9.8 Miles of New Train Track on Long Island Could Generate More Than 14,000 Jobs
A report from the Long Island Index explores the economic impact of a new Third Track on the Long Island Rail Road.
Massive Bus System Overhaul Proposed for Houston
Houston has proposed a large-scale overhaul of the Metro bus system. Based primarily on a high-frequency grid, the proposed plan would make sweeping changes to routes, nomenclature, and more. The plan will be a "must watch" for planners.
Should Bikes Be Allowed to Roll through Stop Signs?
Joseph Stromberg discusses the "Idaho Stop"—so named because Idaho has been allowing bikers to roll through stop signs since 1982.
Safety Program Launched to Combat Distracted Driving in I-95 Work Zones
Some 1,500 workers are building the 95 Express Lanes in Virginia, south of Washington D.C. Meanwhile, most of the drivers commuting the corridor are using their cell phones while they drive.
Making Metro Cool
Michael Lejeune is the creative director for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and as such he's tasked with making transit cool in a city that long worshipped the automobile.
China Considering High Speed Rail Project—to the United States
Reports from Beijing are that Chinese officials are considering a high speed rail project that would connect China to North America. The project sounds like science fiction—but the question remains whether China would or could pull off the project.
New Research Suggests Collaborative Approaches Produce Better Plans
Open Access to Deyle, Robert E., and Ryan E. Wiedenman. "Collaborative Planning by Metropolitan Planning Organizations A Test of Causal Theory."
Filtering Permeability With Traffic Diverters
Traffic diverters can be designed as a hybrid of permeable greenways and woonerfs to make walking and biking easier, safer, and even more pleasant than driving.
A Transportation Redline that Obama is Required to Keep
If Congress can't agree how to fund the Highway Trust Fund shortfall, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx warned state DOTs that he will be unable to reimburse them for funds already spent. The redline is the $4 billion mark projected to come July.
How Fair Were Reports of Portland's Light Rail Shortcomings?
After a recent report questioned the value Portland's light rail investments, a local journalist and a TriMet representative provide countering metrics of success.
Mapping the D.C.'s Region's 267 Miles of Proposed Transit
Proposals for light rail, streetcar, and BRT lines spread in every direction from Washington D.C. into nearby climes. Although some are more realistic than others, one blog dares to dream about what the full extent of the proposals would look like.
Why BRT Needs to Go Downtown
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is controversial all over the country. Controversy can often lead to compromises, such as mixing the buses into traffic. A recent article makes the case for overcoming controversy and committing to BRT in downtowns.
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
