Transportation

New York City to Debut Bus Rapid Transit

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced the launch of New York City's first Bus Rapid Transit project, called "Select Bus Service," which will connect Northern Manhattan with the Bronx. Program expansion hinges on the adoption of congestion pricing.

March 27, 2008 - Streetsblog

Salt Lake Transit Authority Accused of Misusing Funds

In Salt Lake City, advocates for bus riders have asked the state attorney general to investigate whether the Utah Transit Authority has skewed its ridership figures to gain public support for major investments, which they say is a misuse of funding.

March 26, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Land Value Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit: The Case of Bogotá’s TransMilenio

During the last decade, bus rapid transit (BRT) has revolutionized regional transportation planning in much of the developing and developed world.

March 25, 2008 - Lincoln Institute, Land Lines

New York's Congestion Pricing Plan Enters Final Stretch

Officials in New York are pleading their case for a congestion pricing plan before city councilors as the April 7 deadline for approval approaches.

March 25, 2008 - The Daily News

Costs May Keep Rising for Honolulu's Rail System

The costs of Honolulu's planned commuter rail system have been estimated at nearly $4 billion, but that price tag is expected to rise further as the system develops.

March 25, 2008 - The Boston Globe

Review Halted for Major L.A. Housing Project

Review of a project that would have added more than 5,500 homes to the fringes of Los Angeles has been halted after a recent City Council vote. Many expect this to be the death knell for the project.

March 25, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Tempe Colors its Bike Lanes

The city of Tempe, Arizona, is experimenting with brightly colored bike lanes to try to improve bicycle safety.

March 24, 2008 - East Valley Tribune

Who's Ready for Peak Oil?

Report ranks largest 50 US cities by their readiness for $4+ a gallon gas and $100+ a barrel oil prices

March 24, 2008 - Common Current

New NY Governor Backs Manhattan Congestion Pricing

New York's new Governor, David Paterson, added his support to the idea of charging drivers to enter the busiest sections of Manhattan. The city's congestion pricing project is one of the largest toll system projects in the US.

March 24, 2008 - The New York Times

Locals Apprehensively Excited About Sydney's Big Transit Plans

A recently announced $12.5 billion metropolitan rail system plan for Sydney has many in the region excited about finally getting a good mass transit system. But they are also wary, as many other proposals promising similar services were never kept.

March 24, 2008 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Long Beach Cruisers

The city of Long Beach, California, has initiated a bike sharing program for city officials. The program consists of 16 shared bikes, usable by city employees for short trips and errands around the city.

March 22, 2008 - Press Telegram (Long Beach, CA)

Why Culture Matters: Do as Others Do, Whether In Eating or Cycling

Why Americans don't cycle in the cold and rain, and why they do in Amsterdam.

March 22, 2008 - Streetsblog

'Make My Day' Meets 'Hasta La Vista'

In a classic Hollywood showdown that could only happen in California politics, Gov. Schwarzenegger axed actor-director-former Carmel, CA mayor Clint Eastwood from the Parks Commission at the expiration of his term after his 'no-vote' on a toll road.

March 21, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Friday Funny: The End of America's Love Affair with the Car

Assuming everything is fine in its long-time relationship with America, the car comes home to an unhappy surprise in this cartoon from Streetsblog.

March 21, 2008 - Streetsblog

Comprehensive Tolling Idea Meet Criticism in D.C.

A proposal to place tolls on many of the highways around Washington D.C. is being blasted by critics, who say planners should place more emphasis on providing better transit services than charging commuters left with few options.

March 21, 2008 - The Washington Post

Biking In Indianapolis Like 'Russian Roulette'

High rates of accidents and few bike lanes make Indianapolis a dangerous place to ride a bike, according to this article.

March 21, 2008 - The Indianapolis Star

The Pains of Popularity

San Diego's downtown trolley service is becoming too popular, causing officials to propose equipment upgrades to handle the rising crowds. But the bigger trolleys will take out some car lanes and affect traffic lights, and many are unhappy about it.

March 21, 2008 - San Diego City Beat

The Limits of Bicycling in the Power Broker's New York

A 70-year-old document sheds light on the attitude of master builder Robert Moses towards bicycling.

March 20, 2008 - Streetsblog

Smog Follows Hungary's Appetite for Sprawl

Sprawl around Budapest has created a major smog problem for the Hungarian capital.

March 20, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

Traffic Calmed

This video from StreetFilm shows the extensive traffic calming efforts taken by one beach community in Australia.

March 19, 2008 - Streetsblog

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.

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.