Transportation

Brazil Fights to Untie Its Transportation Noose

Vincent Bevins reports on recent efforts by Brazil's leaders to modernize the country's transportation network, and ease the gridlock entangling the country.

April 10, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Trying to Save Beijing's Iconic Bikes

Debra Bruno laments the "de-bikification" of Beijing and profiles the efforts of one NGO to stem the tide.

April 9, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Do Compact Cities Dream of Electric Cars?

New research suggests that the electrification of automobiles can undermine planning efforts to create denser development patterns and may work against policies that encourage non-motorized forms of mobility, such as biking and walking.

April 9, 2012 - European Planning Studies

Winning an Uphill Battle for Transit

Marie Cusick reports on a community driven effort to bring bus service to a challenged neighborhood in Albany, New York.

April 8, 2012 - NPR

Is Generation Y Weaning Off the Automobile?

Angie Schmitt discusses new research from U.S. PIRG indicating youngsters are relying on their cars less than the generation before them, motivated by more than just thinning pocketbooks.

April 8, 2012 - Streetsblog

High-Speed Rail's Cap & Trade Gamble

While the revised business plan did shave off $30 billion, there remains a $55 billion funding shortfall. Dependent on federal and private funds that may never appear, could revenue from the sale of carbon credits bridge the funding gap?

April 7, 2012 - San Jose Mercury News

Monumental Regional Plan for Southern California Gets Final Approval

As the largest council of governments in the country adopts a $525 billion transportation and land use plan for the next two decades, Josh Stephens marks the beginning of Southern California's age of climate-friendly, smart-growth regionalism.

April 5, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

Do Hybrid Cars Make Cents?

According to Nick Bunkley, and data compiled by TrueCar.com, probably not. Aside from two hybrids and a diesel car, gas would need to cost $8 a gallon before most hybrids cover their increased initial cost versus a similar, non-hybrid model.

April 5, 2012 - The New York Times

Asking What Comes Next, as Maryland Tries to Move Beyond Sprawl

McKay Jenkins looks at the challenges confronting Maryland as the state tries to reckon with the devastating consequences of the era of sprawl and prepare for an additional one million people over the next twenty five years.

April 5, 2012 - Urbanite

Twin Cities Undergoing Transit Revolution

A light rail line linking Minneapolis and St. Paul, a new intermodal transit hub, and the area's first bus rapid transit system are among the projects being funded by a quarter-cent sales tax for transit approved in 2008.

April 5, 2012 - Star Tribune

Campaign for Atlanta Transportation Referendum Kicks Off

Atlanta area business and civic groups are starting an advertising campaign this week to build support for a historical referendum to fund transportation projects for the region, reports Ariel Hart.

April 4, 2012 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Majority Support MBTA Bailout

Eric Moskowitz reports on the results of a recent Boston Globe pool which shows Massachusetts voters support a publicly financed bailout of the state's cash-strapped transit agency.

April 4, 2012 - The Boston Globe

Bus Rapid Transit: from Adelaide to Zurich

Emily Badger profiles a new web-based information resource on all things BRT, launched this week by EMBARQ, with the International Energy Agency and the Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence.

April 4, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

As It Turns 100, MUNI Showing Its Age

On the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency's (MUNI) centennial birthday, Zusha Elinson reports on the sad fact that service is slower than it was when it began 100 years ago.

April 3, 2012 - The New York Times

How You Benefit From Increased Biking, Without Ever Touching a Pedal

Jay Walljasper chronicles the growing influence of the bicycle lobby, and their persuasive argument that policies that are good for bicyclists actually benefit everyone.

April 3, 2012 - Shareable

A Precipitous Price Drop for California's High-Speed Rail

Knowing that a $100 billion project stood a poor chance of passing muster in a budget-conscious state legislature, Gov. Jerry Brown shaved off $30 billion by using a "blended rail" strategy in the Bay Area and South Coast, i.e. sharing tracks.

April 2, 2012 - The Sacramento Bee - Transportation

Can MTV Save the Car Industry?

Jordan Weissmann explores why Millennials are delaying car ownership and whether automakers can look to marketing partners such as MTV to bring back interest in car culture among a younger generation.

March 30, 2012 - The Atlantic

Historic Agreement Reached To Fund Caltrain Electrification

An agreement has been reached to electrify Caltrain from San Jose to San Francisco, using early investment High-Speed Rail funds, but will Bay Area HSR opponents take notice?

March 30, 2012 - Palo Alto Online News

Decline in Chicago Parking Demands Have Developers Taking Notice

Mary E. Morrison reports on a precipitous drop in the percentage of renters leasing parking spaces in new downtown Chicago residential buildings, causing developers to rethink the way they build and market their buildings.

March 30, 2012 - Crain's Chicago Business

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.