Transportation

Personal Rapid Transit for Google?

Advanced Transit Systems is pitching the city of Mountain View on using the PRT system developed for Heathrow Airport to connect the downtown train station, NASA Ames and Shoreline businesses like Google.

September 17, 2009 - Mountain View Voice

Toronto Condo Will Provide Carsharing Instead Of Parking

A 42-storey condo building to be built in Toronto will include parking for nine car-share vehicles and 315 bicycles but no on-site parking spaces for residents’ private automobiles.

September 17, 2009 - Toronto Star

Debate Over Letting Kids Walk To School

The New York Times goes over the debate over whether it is acceptable to let children walk to school nowadays. The topic has many parents expressing mixed feelings about the issue.

September 17, 2009 - The New York Times

Judge Rules Against Efforts to Stall California's High Speed Rail

A judge has overruled challenges from two northern California cities over the siting of the state's proposed high speed rail line. Environmental studies can now move forward.

September 17, 2009 - San Jose Business Journal

SPECIAL REPORT: A Lobbying Free-For-All

Thousands of special interest groups are competing to influence the new transportation bill. Reporter Matthew Lewis sheds light on the most significant players, in an extensive report from the Center for Public Integrity.

September 17, 2009 - Matthew Lewis

DC Goes NU

New Urban News looks at the growing influence of New Urbanists and their ideas in Washington, from the appointment of former CNU director Shelley Poticha to a HUD position to the new Livable Communities Act proposed by Sen. Christopher Dodd.

September 17, 2009 - New Urban News

Jeff Speck reviews the NY Street Design Manual

Suburban Nation co-author Jeff Speck cracks the new New York Street Design Manual and finds a lot of useful material and some that falls short.

September 16, 2009 - Design Observer

Charlotte Light Rail May See Six Year Delay

In an effort to give themselves more time to pay for it, transit officials in Charlotte may delay an 11-mile light rail extension for six years.

September 16, 2009 - The Charlotte Observer

Guaranteeing You Won't Get Stranded By Transit

An often cited reason for not using alternative transportation is the unpredictable: what if I need a car for something unexpected? A non-profit is now offering guaranteed rides to those who ride transit, bike, or walk, up to $100 per year.

September 15, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Are Bike Lanes Less Safe?

A new study from the University of Leeds claims that drivers are more careful and leave more room for bikers when there is no bike lane.

September 14, 2009 - WorldChanging

Inside David Byrne's Livable City

Using a mishmash of highlights from cities around the world, musician and artist David Byrne talks about his personal vision of a perfect, livable city.

September 14, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

New Light Rail Line Ushers Age of Rail Growth in Portland

A new line of Portland's MAX light rail system has opened, prefacing the coming decades of rail growth in the region.

September 13, 2009 - The Oregonian

Remaking Market St.

San Francisco's Market St. is the main street in town, but has had mixed success as a public space and a history of accidents involving pedestrians and bikes. Mayor Newsom has announced a new effort to improve safety and the public realm.

September 13, 2009 - Streetsblog

Kenyan High-Speed Rail On Track

Kenya's national railway operator is planning a high speed rail line to transport freight and passengers and could pose a challenge to the South African consortium that currently runs rail services between Kenya and Uganda.

September 12, 2009 - Business Daily

AASHTO Picks Top 10 Transportation Projects

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has selected finalists in its 2009 America's Transportation Awards competition. Projects range from lane-widening in Delaware to HOT lanes in Miami.

September 11, 2009 - AASHTO

Dubai's New Metro Opens

A new rail system has opened in Dubai, becoming the world's longest fully automated, driverless metro system. But some wonder whether the system will see much use in the oil-rich Emirate.

September 11, 2009 - Der Spiegel

Partial Closure Planned on San Francisco's Market Street

San Francisco's notoriously congested Market Street will soon see a lighter load of traffic, as officials roll out a pilot project that will ban private vehicles from the roadway.

September 11, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

LA's Wilshire Blvd. Bus-Only Lane Moves Forward

In an important step toward a bus-only lane on LA's busy Wilshire Blvd., the city council approved beginning an Environmental Impact Report for the project, to only minimal skepticism from the councilmember from the wealthier part of the area.

September 11, 2009 - LA Streetsblog

New Use for Phone Booths

As cell phones have eliminated the need for phone booths, unused booths could play a key role in Spain's electric car revolution as charging stations.

September 10, 2009 - The Guardian

Tapping Outside Experience to Build U.S. High Speed Rail

As the race for high speed rail stimulus dollars gets underway, international firms stand to gain the most benefit as few if any U.S. firms are capable of building the rolling stock the new systems will need.

September 10, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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.