Transportation

Segregation Sends Women To The Back Of The Bus

Certain bus lines in Israel have an informal but strict practice of gender segregation, forcing women to sit in the back of the bus. Many women have protested this separation system, which is mainly enforced by riders in orthodox neighborhoods.

April 26, 2007 - BBC

Federal Workers Taking Government For A Ride

The Government Accountability Office has revealed major fraud and abuse of transit subsidies for federal employees -- many of whom are selling their transit vouchers on eBay, pocketing the money, and then driving to work.

April 25, 2007 - The Washington Post

Roads Can't Keep Up With Atlanta's Revitalization

As suburbanites who moved to the City of Atlanta to avoid crushing traffic congestion are ironically realizing, over-stressed in-town roads are buckling under the pressure of exponentially increasing usage. But help may not be on the way.

April 25, 2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Reason's Frequently Asked Questions On Transportation

Reason publishes three short "Frequently Asked Questions" documents on road-building financing tools like public-private partnerships, leasing toll roads, and high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes.

April 24, 2007 - Reason

Valet Your Bike?

Cities across California are taking extra steps to encourage people to use their bikes, offering such services as full-service bike stations equipped with showers, and even valet bike parking.

April 24, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Lawmakers Won't Let Go Of Commuter Rail Option

Legislators in Texas are proposing the creation of a commuter rail line running throughout the fast-growing border region near the Rio Grande River. Though the proposal was voted out of the state senate in early April, proponents are pushing forward.

April 24, 2007 - AP via Express News

Utah's Light Rail Encourages TOD

The expanding light rail system in metropolitan Salt Lake City, Utah, is giving many developers opportunities to build transit-oriented housing and retail projects, especially in the suburbs.

April 23, 2007 - The New York Times

Raising The Roof On America's Malls

The tide in mall development is changing to incorporate elements of nostalgia for 'Americana' and a hometown feel, complete with story lines, but concerns over traffic congestion and over-development persist.

April 23, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Stockholm To Reintroduce Congestion Charge In August

In a September 2006 referendum, Stockholm voters supported a trial period of congestion pricing between January and July 2006. Consequently, the traffic-reducing scheme that charges drivers for entering the city will return in August 2007.

April 22, 2007 - AP via International Herald Tribune

Protesting The Use Of Ancestral Lands

Mohawk Indians in Canada have parked a bus on a busy rail line, effectively cutting off transit between Toronto and Ottawa. They are protesting against the government's use of their ancestral land for gravel mining.

April 21, 2007 - BBC

NYC Long-Term Plans Expected To Include Congestion Pricing

In an Earth Day speech, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to unveil a plan for the future that is sure to have contentious elements, the most provocative being a congestion pricing scheme that he has long resisted.

April 21, 2007 - The New York Times

The Ethanol Hoax: How The U.S. Is Losing Its Edge

In transportation, energy, and green technology the U.S. is falling behind, writes Nicholas Von Hoffman.

April 20, 2007 - The Nation

Going Regional With Light Rail

As Kansas City pushes forward with light rail plans, the mayor wants to expand the system to a regional scale.

April 19, 2007 - The Kansas City Star

TOD Needed For Proposed Streetcar's Success

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is considering the development of a half-mile streetcar line to act as a test phase before a proposed 11-mile system is approved. Consultants say the system shouldn't be built without transit-oriented development.

April 19, 2007 - The Sun News

Long Commutes Are Bad For Your Health

While long solo car commutes are tough on the environment (and increasingly the pocketbook), new research shows they has a negative effect on a person's health as well.

April 18, 2007 - Austin American-Statesman

Colorado Toll Road Goes Private

The Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority, owner of Colorado's newest toll road (opened 2003), has finalized the bid for leasing the 11-mile road after revenue did not match expectations.

April 18, 2007 - The Denver Post

Ten Ideas For Fixing L.A.'s Traffic

Transit experts Jim Moore, Don Shoup, Joel Kotkin, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Ted Balaker, Joel Reynolds and Brian Taylor all offer suggestions on how to affordably fix Los Angeles' traffic problems.

April 17, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

New Thinking About Bicycles: 'Complete Streets'

Louisville has adopted a "complete streets" policy which makes the provision of sidewalks, bike lanes and bus stops mandatory. Neal Peirce discusses the plan in his column, and offers some international examples.

April 17, 2007 - The Seattle Times

Environmental Lawsuits Fuel Roadbuilding In California

California's Department of Transportation has resorted recently to forcing developers to pay impact fees to fund freeway projects, to the chagrin of developers, local governments, and taxpayer groups.

April 16, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

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.