Transportation

An aerial view of a park and the streets and high-rises of Downtown Omaha.

Downtown Omaha Planning for its Post-One-Way-Streets Era

The Omaha City Council has decided to reverse the transportation model adopted in the city in the 1950s, for the benefit of traffic safety and local retail activity.

June 9, 2023 - KETV

Amtrak train with large curved windows passing through scenic Rocky Mountain red rock canyon

Amtrak Calls for Expansion, Citing Close to 100 Requests for New Lines

The agency told a House committee it has received more than 90 applications for new intercity rail lines from cities around the country.

June 8, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Two young boys wearing bike helmets looking right before crossing the street on their bicycles

‘Kidical Mass:’ The Bike Bus Movement Comes to America

Parents and students around the country are organizing into ‘bike buses’ to keep children safe while biking to and from school.

June 8, 2023 - The New York Times

Blue Citi Bike bike share bikes parked at a station near Times Square in New York City

Op-Ed: New York Should Double Down on Micromobility

The growing popularity of Citi Bike, shared e-scooters, and other small devices signal a need for the city to quickly expand its support of new modes with safe roads, charging infrastructure, and secure parking options in all parts of the city.

June 8, 2023 - Center For An Urban Future

Interstate 55 with cars and green freeway signs in Chicago, Illinois

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation

Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

June 7, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

Close-up of front og MARTA public transit bus in Atlanta, Georgia with logo wrap

What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’

Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.

June 7, 2023 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Welcome to Texas" road sign with Texas flag and "Drive Friendly - the Texas way" slogan

Report: Austin’s State Roads Deadlier Than City Roads

Traffic fatalities and serious injuries grew on state-owned roads in the Texas capital, even as city-owned streets saw death rates plateau.

June 6, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of black parking meter with blurred street in background

Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit

The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.

June 6, 2023 - Next City

Close-up of black and white Livonia Avenue subway sign with blue accessibility symbol

New York Subway Begins Accessibility Improvements

The MTA is putting its effort to improve the system’s century-old stations to make them more universally accessible in high gear, adding elevators, boarding upgrades, and mechanical improvements.

June 6, 2023 - The City Life

Empty Muni underground train platform

Activists Mourn Potential Death of Bay Area Transit With Mock Funeral

In an action meant to draw attention to the financial crisis facing California’s public transit agencies, activists held a mock funeral for BART and Muni, citing the cause of death as ‘neglect.’

June 5, 2023 - SFGate

Blue Connect 1 bus at nighttime in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee’s First BRT Line Celebrates Grand Opening

The nine-mile route covers the city’s busiest east-west corridor and will offer free rides through the summer.

June 5, 2023 - Urban Milwaukee

Route 6 highway in Massachusetts with fall trees on either side

Provincetown Proposes New Car-Free Trail

An underused highway could become a pedestrian and bike trail connecting the Cape Cod town to its beaches.

June 4, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Self-driving Mercedes semi truck on highway with white semi truck behind it

California Moves to Limit Autonomous Trucks

A bill passed by the State Assembly and moving on to the Senate would require autonomous semi trucks to have a trained human operator in the vehicle.

June 2, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee

Minnesota state capitol building with red flowers on green front lawn

Minnesota Budget Includes Significant Transit Investments

After a contentious debate, the state legislature passed a budget that changes how transportation projects are funded and supports increased transit service in the state.

June 2, 2023 - Governing

Aerial view of freeway interchange in Los Angeles with low-rise housing on either side and mountains in the background

GAO: Reconnecting Communities Lacks Clear Goals and Metrics

The program, aimed at supporting highway removals and other projects that work to reverse the impacts of freeway construction, is light on accountability and performance measures, according to a new report.

June 2, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Antioch, California

Op-Ed: To Survive, Bay Area Transit Needs Integration

Advocates for ‘seamless’ transit are calling on California state leaders to tie a consolidation study to a one-time injection of funding into the Bay Area’s transit systems.

June 1, 2023 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Aerial view of historic Oxford, England street with old buildings and red double-decker bus

When Planning Issues Become ‘Culture Wars’

‘Commonsense’ urbanism projects are being painted by opponents as sinister plots to limit movement and erode property rights.

June 1, 2023 - Governing

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Rendering with map overlay of Southwest Greenway route

New Greenway Segment Opens in Detroit

Another part of the 27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway made its debut in Corktown.

June 1, 2023 - Urbanize Detroit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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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.