Transportation

Double Deckers Hit NYC

Double-decker buses haven't been seen on New York streets since the 1970s. MTA is conducting a trial run for a month to see if they might be worth resurrecting.

September 12, 2008 - New York Times

Winnipeg to Get Bus Rapid Transit

Winnipeg, for years Canada's largest urban center without rapid transit, has just announced the construction of a bus rapid transit system with associated transit-oriented development.

September 10, 2008 - The Winnipeg Free Press

The Benefits of Personal Rapid Transit

The future of getting around may lie in personal rapid transit, or the "podcar." Catherine Burke highlights the system's reported safety and cost-effectiveness.

September 10, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Congress Considering More Funding for Public Transportation

New funds have already been allocated to public transit agencies, but unexpected increases in ridership have called for even more. The funds come as part of a new energy bill intended to reduce foreign oil dependence.

September 10, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

The Downside of Bike-Sharing Programs

Greg Beato enumerates how American bike-sharing programs fall short of their Parisian counterparts. Until the program evolves some more, the autonomy afforded by the private car or bicycle will continue to prevail.

September 9, 2008 - Reason Online

A Snapshot of Cycling in Upstate New York

An Albany newspaper takes a look at cycling in the Capital District: cycling is up, and advocacy groups are working to take advantage of it.

September 9, 2008 - Metroland

Huge Taxpayer Bailout Of Highway Fund

Taxpayers, not transit users, will bail out motorists to keep the highway trust fund solvent. The administration had initially proposed to use transit funds and veto using general funds, but with the fund scheduled to go bust in Oct., they relented.

September 9, 2008 - Los Angeles Times via San Francisco Chronicle

Cars Left Behind in Most Trips to Vancouver's Core

A recent study shows that about 60% of all trips into the urban core of Vancouver are not by car.

September 8, 2008 - The Vancouver Sun

Looking for a Parking Spot? Go Online

A collection of links to online sources for parking spots.

September 8, 2008 - Mashable

Tokyo's Robotic High-Tech Bike Parking

Tokyo finds solution to commuter bicycle parking shortage by building high-tech robotic garages.

September 8, 2008 - The Washington Post

Shipping Sickness

The enormous traffic in imported goods is generating a huge amount of disease-causing pollution in and around ports, and along trade routes.

September 6, 2008 - AlterNet

Friday Funny: Masking the Smells of Public Transit

Stinky trains may become a thing of the past in Berlin, where officials are sniff-testing new fragrances to mask the odors of public transit.

September 5, 2008 - Der Spiegel

Railroad at the Top of the World

On Canada's arctic Baffin Island, engineers are preparing to construct the world's most northerly railway, a 143 kilometer line across permafrost to transport iron ore to Europe.

September 5, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Smart Growth Isn't Smart Without Transit

California's SB 375 could have a big impact on the way the state grows, but without more funding for public transit, any gains would be offset by continued congestion and traffic problems.

September 5, 2008 - Beyond Chron

CA Senate Approves HOT Lane Legislation

The CA Senate voted to approve the HOT lane/transit investment plan of the LA MTA for two freeways, making LA eligible for $210 million in federal congestion pricing funds if the governor signs the bill.

September 4, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

'Collision Course' for Toronto's Competing Transportation Plans?

The City of Toronto and Ontario's transportation agency Metrolinx are offering competing long term transportation plans for the Toronto region.

September 4, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

A Big Idea: Solar-Powered Cargo Ships

Toyota has hired two firms to build solar panels to augment the diesel engines on their car-carrying behemoths. The result will be a cut in CO2 emissions of 1 to 2 percent per year, or about 20 tons.

September 4, 2008 - Wired

China Takes Bus Rapid Transit Seriously

China is investing in complete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in cities from Beijing to Kunming.

September 3, 2008 - chinabrt.org

Architect Says 'Stop Planning For Cars'

Columnist and architect Arrol Gelner comes to grips with the end of the automobile era.

September 3, 2008 - Inman News

Gas at 87-Cents a Gallon? Yes, But it's GAS!

Utah appears to be just what Texas oilman, T. Boone Pickens, had in mind with his new energy plan that calls for widespread use of natural gas to replace gasoline and diesel, even though only one vehicle is manufactured to run on it.

September 3, 2008 - The New York Times

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.

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.