Transportation

Should Doctors Help Address America's Epidemic of Road Deaths?

As a leading cause of death in the U.S., car collisions are one of the country's foremost public health problems. But a review of the last century of medical literature reveals increasing reluctance by the profession to weigh in on the subject.

January 13, 2014 - DC.Streetsblog

St. Louis Puts Complete Streets Program on Hold

A complete streets program once thought to be on the fast track to approval has provoked strong opposition and is likely headed back to the drawing board in the Gateway City.

January 13, 2014 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Boston transit station

Ambitious Boston Rail Expansions Planned for Next Decade

This week, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced how it aims to spend $12.4 billion on road and transit projects over the next five years. Expansions of Boston's Fairmount Indigo Line and Green Line are planned.

January 10, 2014 - Boston Magazine

Outreach Delays New Diverging Diamond Intersection in Colorado

The diverging diamond interchange system planned for an exit off Interstate 70 in Grand Junction, west of Denver in Colorado, has been delayed so officials can educate the public about the new traffic pattern.

January 10, 2014 - Denver Post

BART Rolling Out New, Modern Fleet

BART and Bombardier Transportation have completed a two-part, $1.5 billion deal to modernize the BART fleet. The new cars are expected to test in 2015 and commence operation between 2017 and 2021.

January 10, 2014 - The Press Republican (Northeastern New York)

Alternatives Floated for Replacing Traffic Delay Analysis in California

California's Office of Planning & Research has been tasked with moving environmental analysis away from standards based solely on level of service. The agency has released its preliminary evaluation of alternative methods of transportation analysis.

January 10, 2014 - California Planning & Development Report

Rescuing Cities Fraught with Freight Conflicts

Big trucks and big cities just don't mix. But a federal panel that's developing a strategic plan for national freight transportation is reportedly paying little attention to the conflict. Tanya Snyder explains why that may not be a bad thing.

January 10, 2014 - DC.Streetsblog

PDX Bus iPhone App

Phones to Replace Farecards Aboard U.S. Transit Systems

New York and Washington D.C. are among the U.S. cities looking to revamp the payment systems for their trains and buses over the next several years. Many will ditch paper and plastic farecards in favor of credit cards and smartphones.

January 9, 2014 - The Washington Post

Google Ferry joins Google Buses

The Google ferry was launched Jan. 6 at the Port of San Francisco for its inaugural trip to Redwood City, where Google workers would presumably be bussed to its Mountain View HQ. No word yet whether it was greeted by protests met by its buses in S.F.

January 9, 2014 - SF Gate: The Tech Chronicles

Making the Case for Speeding

Not everyone likes the idea of slowing down, but sometimes advocacy for increased speed limits can come from surprising sources, like the editorial director of a UK journal for architects.

January 8, 2014 - The Architects' Journal

Despite Denials, Emails Suggest Christie’s Top Aides Ordered Lane Closure to Punish Foe

Bridge-Gate just got a lot juicier. Despite Governor Christie’s denials, recently released emails suggest that his close aides helped orchestrate the closure of lanes to the George Washington Bridge as part of a politically-motivated vendetta.

January 8, 2014 - NorthJersey.com

L.A. Leaders Play Politics with Pedestrian Infrastructure

A $3-billion street repair bond measure being drafted for the November ballot reflects L.A.'s traditional preference for automobiles over other modes of transport. Pedestrian advocates are fighting to fund sidewalk repairs. Will the pols listen?

January 8, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Troublesome Shuttles Will Pay for the Use of S.F. Muni Bus Stops

The infamous shuttle buses using Muni stops in San Francisco to transport workers to companies outside the city will require permits and payments under a new 18-month pilot program.

January 8, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Why are Crude Oil Trains Exploding Across North America?

Crude oil may be flammable, but until recently was not thought to be explosive. However, three recent oil train explosions all involving crude oil from the Bakken formation have prodded investigators to determine why Bakken crude is more explosive.

January 8, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

Neither Snow nor Rain nor Polar Vortex Will Stay Citi Bike

Citi Bike's recent ridership is far from its autumn peak, but record cold has not prevented thousands of riders from using New York's popular bike-share system each day this month.

January 8, 2014 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Federally Funded BRT Expansion Meets Local Resistance in Suburban Oregon

Despite steady increases in ridership since opening in 2007, a proposed expansion of the Lane Transit District’s EmX bus rapid transit system between Eugene and Springfield is meeting local resistance.

January 7, 2014 - The Register Guard

Jerry Brown's Hail Mary Pass for High Speed Rail

California's embattled high speed rail, which appears to be on life support following a Nov. court ruling, will receive funds from the state's carbon cap & trade program in Gov. Brown's budget to be released Friday. But will it make a difference?

January 7, 2014 - The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert

Oil-by-Rail a Pending Disaster for Cities, says Economist

Jeff Rubins, a Canadian economist with a track record of predictions come to pass, warns that fast increasing rail shipments of crude oil are a ticking time bomb for the North American cities en-route such as Chicago and Toronto.

January 6, 2014 - Maclean's Magazine

Seattle Light Rail Construction

North America Will Invest More Than $80 Billion in New Transit in 2014

Yonah Freemark assembles his annual review of the year ahead in transit expansion by analyzing the dozens of projects that will start, continue, or complete construction this year in North America. Nearly every metro region is investing in transit.

January 6, 2014 - the transport politic

Portland Bike Safety Signage

The Number One Reason Why Portland is a Bike-Friendly City

In one word: safety. And, as Sarah Laskow explains, the more folks take to riding, the safer the streets become, so it builds on itself. Critical to road safety is bike infrastructure, like protected bike lanes, bike boxes and bike traffic signals.

January 6, 2014 - Grist

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.