Transportation

Highway Construction

Federal Report: Highway Construction 50 Percent More Expensive Than in 2020

An FHWA index that tracks the costs of highway building shows a sharp increase in materials and fuel costs.

April 19, 2023 - Eno Center for Transportation

Aerial view of freeway cutting through green forest in Clayton County, Georgia

Study: Transit Cuts Can Increase Poverty, Unemployment

An analysis of Clayton County, Georgia, which lost access to public transit for five years, shows a significant increase in unemployment rates and poverty during that timeframe.

April 19, 2023 - Governing

White public bus on street in Baltimore, Maryland with brick buildings in background

Maryland Assembly Passes ‘Fair Fares Act’

If signed by the governor, the act will halt a scheduled fare increase previously tied to inflation.

April 19, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

Person on subway platform holds phone and looks toward track

Transit Agencies Could Lose Access to Twitter Updates

Twitter announced it would start charging for access to its API, which many transit and government agencies rely on to provide real-time service updates.

April 18, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

View of wide residential street in Dallas, Texas neighborhood with one white car parked at the curb and large tree with yellow fallen leaves around it

Texas State Bills Would Let Cities Lower Speed Limits

The proposed legislation would give cities the ability to reduce neighborhood speed limits without having to produce expensive traffic studies.

April 18, 2023 - The Dallas Morning News

Portland Transit

Opinion: Improving Transit More Important Than Free Fares

More investments in high-quality transit service coupled with income-based discounts could offer a better way to boost ridership and help low-income riders.

April 18, 2023 - Route Fifty

Cyclists of All Ages Enjoy a Sunday Morning Ride on the Neuse River Trail.

The East Coast Greenway Is Stitching Together a 3,000-Mile Trail Network

The ever-evolving greenway connects biking and walking trails from Maine to Florida.

April 18, 2023 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Denver, Colorado skyline with park and lake in foreground and mountains in background

Denver Residents Lack Transit Access to Local Parks

Despite an early plan to run rail lines to the city’s mountain parks, they are not easily accessible to Denverites without cars.

April 17, 2023 - Colorado Public Radio

Electric big rig truck plugged into charging station

Can Federal Emissions Standards Hasten the Transition to EVs?

The EPA unveiled two far-reaching rules to tighten emission standards for light, medium and heavy duty vehicles that can only be met by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. The proposal is certain to be challenged in court as an agency overreach.

April 17, 2023 - The New York Times

Walking

How Little Do Americans Walk?

Despite the high cost of car ownership, Americans walk less than almost any other nation, even for short trips that could be done on foot.

April 17, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Pedestrians crossing a busy crosswalk on New York City street with tall buildings in background

Tracking Mobility in New York City

A new program uses sensors to detect how people move and using which modes, but road safety advocates argue the city already knows how to make streets safer for vulnerable users.

April 17, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

MARC train going through the Gaithersburg, Maryland train station

Maryland Moving Forward with Inter-State Partnerships for ‘Run-Through’ Rail Service

The great unification of D.C.-region rail transit is well underway, thanks to recent agreements between transit planners in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

April 16, 2023 - The Washington Post

New York City Zoning Map

The Myth of Local Control

One common argument against statewide zoning reform is that local control of zoning is a venerable democratic norm. But in fact, state government often controls local land use in a variety of ways.

April 16, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Regional Transit

$14 Billion in Federal Transit Funding Announced

The annual formula funding grants support transit facilities and maintenance, electrification and equipment upgrades, and expansion of service.

April 14, 2023 - Federal Transit Administration

D.C. Metro Bus

D.C. Metro Sets ‘Lofty Goals,’ but Admits It Can’t Follow Through

The bus network redesign set to be unveiled next week is ambitious, but the agency says it doesn’t have the resources to implement it.

April 14, 2023 - DCist

White Waymo self-driving car on San Francisco street

Driverless Cars Blocking Buses, Traffic in San Francisco

Footage from buses and trains show self-driving cars from Waymo and Cruise frequently make unscheduled stops, blocking transit vehicles and causing traffic snarls.

April 13, 2023 - Wired

Interstate 787 with Albany buildings in background

Freeway Removal Projects Gain Momentum

Thanks to decades of activism and newly available federal funding, state and local governments are starting to understand the negative impacts of highway construction and working to reverse the effects on cities around the nation.

April 13, 2023 - Congress For New Urbanism

Rendering of proposed South Loop Link Park over I 670 in Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Requests State Funding for Freeway Cap Park

The city has been working to raise $200 million to create a 5.5 acre park spanning a portion of Interstate 670.

April 13, 2023 - KCUR

Grassy wildlife crossing overpass over a multilane road in The Netherlands

USDOT Federal Grant Program Will Fund Wildlife Crossings

The funding will support projects that reduce the risk of vehicle-wildlife collisions and improve habitat connectivity.

April 13, 2023 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Bike Infrastructure

New York Cyclist Deaths Spike, Worrying Bike Advocates

The number of people killed on bikes in the city has already surpassed 2018’s total for the entire year.

April 13, 2023 - Curbed

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.