Transportation

Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters

Streets aren't just for driving, and cities are starting to realize it. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan explain why street design matters and where we are today in terms of designing the "street space."

July 23, 2009 - Amber Hawkes

Stimulus Projects Bring Delays to Nation's Roads

Thousands of stimulus-funded transportation projects are underway this summer, creating thousands of delays on the nation's roads.

July 22, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Charging Cyclists to Build Bike Infrastructure

Officials in Washington's Clark County are considering a plan to enact an annual fee for bicyclists to fund bike-related infrastructure.

July 22, 2009 - The Columbian

Study Showing Danger of Cellphone Driving Buried

The former head of the NHTSA has admitted that he was encouraged to bury the results of a study showing the mounting risk of cellphone use by drivers. The study is being released today under a Freedom of Information Act request.

July 21, 2009 - The New York Times

CA's High Speed Rail Hampered By Controversy

In this political column, Sac Bee columnist Dan Walters opines that the $.9 billion of CA's HSR $9.9 billion bond measure may be the only realistic accomplishment of Prop 1A due to budgetary and political hurdles the train may not be able to succumb.

July 21, 2009 - The Sacramento Bee

TOD Around Vancouver's New Rapid Transit, But What Kind?

As a planned rapid transit line gets closer to completion in Vancouver, there's a debate brewing about what sort of development should spring up around it.

July 21, 2009 - The Vancouver Sun

Why Can't Americans Get Their Heads Around Roundabouts?

They're safer, faster, require less fuel use and enhance public space. So why do Americans tend to reject proposals for roundabouts?

July 21, 2009 - Slate.com

Oberstar Predicts The Future of Transportation

In this radio interview covering high speed rail, streetcars, bicycling, and paying for the proposed $500 billion transportation bill, Chairman Oberstar of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee discusses the future of transportation.

July 20, 2009 - Living on Earth

Putting the 'Urban' in 'Suburban'

The suburbs are steadily becoming more urban, with denser development, taller buildings, and a greater mix of uses.

July 20, 2009 - USA Today

The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure

Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is a part of transportation, whether some elected officials like it or not. In this piece from Citiwire, Neal Peirce writes that this fact is becoming increasingly clear.

July 19, 2009 - Citiwire

How Transferable is Holland's Bike Culture?

Cyclists hear a lot about how much better the biking is in Europe. The Brooklyn Paper takes a look at why, and whether or not the lessons of Amsterdam are applicable in the US.

July 19, 2009 - The Brooklyn Paper

How Does Fuel Fuel American Lifestyles?

Americans will be forced to change their lifestyles as fuel prices rise. NPR's "Talk of the Nation" talks to author Chris Steiner about the good that might result.

July 19, 2009 - National Public Radio

Taking Tuk-Tuk to Task

Tuk-tuks are mechanized rickshaws - a cheaper alternative to taxis - that can be found throughout the developing world, from Latin America to Africa to southeast Asia and India. Environmental think-tank Enviu is trying to reduce rickshaw emissions.

July 18, 2009 - New York Times

Denver to El Paso High-Speed Rail?

Colorado, Arizona and Texas have come together to apply for a $5m grant to research a possible high-speed rail link connecting Denver, Albuquerque, and El Paso.

July 18, 2009 - Transport Politic

More Ped Plazas On The Way

With the successful launch of the 17th St. park, San Francsico's "Pavement to Parks" project is moving to its next location, the corner of Guerrero and San Jose. Activist Gillian Gillett has been pushing for something to happen there for years.

July 18, 2009 - Streetsblog

Randal O'Toole: The Man, The Contrarian

In the wake of his appearance on Capitol Hill, The New York Times delves into what makes Randal O'Toole tick.

July 17, 2009 - The New York Times

A Bus-Powering, Rider-Paying Bike Share System

A new city bike sharing design concept not only gives people access to bikes, but also provides power for the local bus system and even pays riders to do it.

July 16, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

London Transit Guru Moves to New York's MTA

An American-born transit planner who help usher in congestion pricing and smart transit card technology in London has been nominated to chair New York's transit system.

July 16, 2009 - The New York Times

Canada Finds Electric Car Infrastructure Already In Place

In the cold climes of Canada, parking lots come equipped with 120-volt outlets to keep engine blocks warm. Planners see these outlets as a stepping stone to a future of electric cars for the country.

July 16, 2009 - The Vancouver Sun

LaHood on the Stimulus Package

Speaking today at the Center for National Policy in D.C., Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood touted the success of the ARRA stimulus package and answered questions on transportation bill reauthorization and other topics.

July 15, 2009 - TheCityFix

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.