Transportation

Funding Transportation Through User Fees, Not Sales Taxes

While sales tax increases have proven popular, road tolls and other user fees are better methods to fund transportation improvements, says transportation expert Martin Wachs.

November 7, 2006 - Arizona Daily Star

Record Funding For Transportation On Election Day Ballots

33 transportation-related ballot measures worth more than $55 billion face voters this election.

November 6, 2006 - Center For Transportation Excellence

News Summary and Analysis - October 2006

As part of monthly series, we present a summary and analysis of some of the most interesting news to appear on Planetizen over the month of October 2006. This is the transcript of an audio segment that originally aired on the nationally syndicated radio program "Smart City".

November 6, 2006 - Nate Berg

Road Widening Doesn't Work: Just Ask Atlanta

A recent op-ed bemoans the state of Atlanta's traffic congestion, and calls a reversal of current road widening policies, which have done little to help solve the region's transportation woes.

November 5, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Honolulu Picks Light Rail

The city's council chooses to proceed with plans for a new light rail system -- with a possible price tag of over $5 billion dollars.

November 4, 2006 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

New Atlanta Regional Transit Board Misfiring On All Cylinders

Created nine months ago as the latest -- and perhaps last -- tool to develop regional transit in Metro Atlanta, the Transit Planning Board now struggles to even make a quorum.

November 3, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Environmental Groups Sue To Block Highway Construction

Environmental Defense and the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club say they plan to file a lawsuit to prevent the construction of an 18-mile segment of highway which they claim will violate clean-air standards.

November 3, 2006 - The Washington Post

Location, Location, Accessibility

When it comes to real estate, the mantra has always been "location, location, location". But now, as congestion and sprawling development increase rapidly, that mantra is being modified to include "accessibility".

November 1, 2006 - Business Day

New Locations For Federal Offices Create Sprawl

De facto master planning by Federal Government creates more sprawl in the Washington, D.C. region. For example, the FBI field office is moving from Tyson's Corner to Manassas, farther from the Alexandria courts where federal cases are heard.

November 1, 2006 - The Washington Post

Virginia To Discuss Increasing Bike And Pedestrian Network

The Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to change its rules on creating new bicycle and pedestrian lanes to increase the state's walk- and bike-ability.

October 30, 2006 - The Roanoke Times

Seattle Considers Replacing Highway With Park

Seattle considers replacing an earthquake-damaged major shoreline highway with a waterfront park.

October 29, 2006 - The New York Times

Los Angeles Transit 'Consent Decree' Expires

Court oversight of the LAMTA, part of a ten year old settlement of a landmark civil rights lawsuit, will be will end after a federal judge rules that the agency, which has spent more than $1 billion to improve bus service, had complied with the agreement.

October 27, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

New York City Announces Plans for Bus Rapid Transit

New York City's Department of Transportation says that it will have five new high speed bus lines up and running by 2008.

October 26, 2006 - Streetsblog

Pedestrian Mall Proposed For 42nd Street

Urban planners in New York City are proposing that the historic 42nd Street be transformed into a pedestrian mall that would cross the entire city.

October 26, 2006 - amNew York

Planners Grapple With Creating 'Complete Streets'

Planners in Seattle and Sacramento are learning it isn't just nice to share the road -- it is necessary.

October 24, 2006 - Sacramento Bee and Seattle Times

Rock Music Meets Public Transit

A free concert by the rock group The Secret Machines at Los Angeles' Union Station hopes to get more people to consider riding buses and trains.

October 23, 2006 - LA Daily News

Public Transit's Role In Disaster Planning

As both a major target of terrorism and a valuable evacuation tool, disaster planning officials are taking a closer look at the vulnerabilities and possibilities for mass transit.

October 23, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Walking, Not Driving, On Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive could change its name to Rodeo Promenade as Beverly Hills considers designating one block of the famous shopping street for pedestrians only.

October 22, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Bicycling In Denmark

Aaron Naparstek of Streetsblog visits Copenhagen and reports on that city's outstanding bicycling facilities.

October 19, 2006 - Streetsblog

TOD Banks On Offices, Not Housing

Developers for a new 35-acre mixed use TOD at the end of Denver's new light rail line are hoping to succeed with more office space than is typically used.

October 19, 2006 - The Rocky Mountain News

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.