Transportation
Concept Trains from the Retro-Future
WebUrbanist gathers an extensive assortment of fantastic, futuristic, pseudo-scientific train designs, including a steamship that rolls out of the ocean on tracks.
Bay Area HOT Lanes: Will They Work?
An 800-mile HOT lane 'network' proposed for the Bay Area is now a bill in the state legislature. The MPO estimates it will reduce congestion and emissions while raising funds for transit. U.C. Berkeley's Pravin Varaiya insists it will lose money.
Barbara Boxer Key Figure in Transportation Act
Boxer is chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which is responsible for writing much of the language in the bill. Progressives are concerned that she won't deliver on their agenda of reform.
Americans Driving Less- Temporary, or Permanent?
Nate Silver, the baseball stats guy turned election predictor, takes a look at the statistics showing that Americans are driving less.
Comparing the Fates of Two Exurbs
Reporter Ben Adler travels to Leesburg, VA without a car and reports on the difficulties he experiences getting around. In comparison, Ben walks with ease around Kentlands, a New Urbanist development in Maryland.
Looking Under LaHood
The New York Times asks the question Planetizen readers have been asking for months: Who is this Ray LaHood, and how did he become the choice for Secretary of Transportation?
Happy Water
Levels of lithium in the municipal water of Oita prefecture in Japan have been linked to lower rates of suicide, according to a new study.
Rethinking Infrastructure
The Urban Land Institute's recent report on infrastructure finds fault with the government's lack of planning and vision in regards to infrastructure. 'It's a stupid way to run a country,' says ULI V.P. Maureen MacAvey.
Japan's Stimulus Package Lowers Highway Tolls To Stimulate Travel
Japan's four major highway operators will drastically lower their tolls, thanks to a generous government economic stimulus package aimed to encourage motoring during the major holidays. The operators are preparing for the enormous traffic jams.
Florida Looks At High-Speed Rail Plan
Richard Florida compares the Obama administration's suggest HSR corridors to the mega-regions they will serve and likes what he sees.
Will Removing Traffic Lights Help Congestion?
The Town Council of Ealing, U.K. is experimenting with covering up its traffic lights at certain intersections, which they believe will increase safety and awareness.
The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy
That was the title the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation chose for a hearing on April 28. Panelists: Ray LaHood, DOT Secretary; Steve Heminger, MTC; Jame Corless, T4America; Ann Canby, STPP, and Ned Holmes, TX Transp. Comm.
VMT Fees: The Answer to Traffic Congestion?
Pricing road use by vehicle miles traveled (VMT) with higher fees for using congested roads could reduce travel time, claim researchers at Brookings.
Should Fuel Taxes Pay For Alternative Transportation?
Planetizen has teamed up with National Journal, a weekly politics and policy magazine, to explore transportation issues. As part of National Journal's Transportation Experts blog, we've asked Planetizen Interchange bloggers and National Journal's Transportation Experts whether money from the Highway Trust Fund should be used for non-highway projects like bike lanes and pedestrian walkways.
The Age of Smart Infrastructure
Infrastructure and technology are blending together, creating infrastructure and infrastructural management more responsive and intelligent.
Anchorage Needs to Heed New Bike Plan
Anchorage, Alaska recently completed a citywide bicycle master plan. Despite the costs of the projects in the plan, this oped argues it's exactly the blueprint the city needs to put into action.
Hello, Welcome To Your Commute
A bill that passed the Oregon House last week directs TriMet to hire 'greeters' to work at light-rail stations.
California Cities to Sue Over High Speed Rail Route
A group of cities in the San Francisco Bay Area are going to file a lawsuit next month over the chosen route for California's planned high speed rail route between the Bay Area and Southern California.
TOD Slowly Catching on in Philadelphia
Transit oriented development is lacking near many of Philadelphia's transit stops, but new projects are bringing the city up to speed.
DOT and HUD, Together Again
DOT and HUD announce a joint effort to merge land use and planning to improve livability. CNU's John Norquist comments on the merger.
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.
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
