Transportation

New Rail Line Connects D.C. Area to Dulles Airport
The Silver Line extends passenger train service into Loudon County and adds new connections to the region’s airports.

DOT Scraps Safety Plan for Two Brooklyn Avenues
An ambitious proposal to build protected bike lanes and install traffic calming measures on two dangerous Brooklyn avenues has been nixed by the agency, which plans to develop a new proposal in the coming months.

Tracking Boston’s Emissions Reduction Progress
The Boston Foundation published the “Inaugural Boston Climate Progress Report” earlier this month. Other U.S. cities should follow their lead.

2022 Midterm Election Results for Land Use, Transportation, and the Climate
The most closely watched midterm election since the last midterm election offered voters an opportunity to decide on matters of consequence related to land use, housing, transportation, and the environment.

Airport-Adjacent Seattle Suburb Aims for a Transit-Oriented Overhaul
The challenges and opportunities of transforming from a car-centric to a transit-oriented, affordable built environment are on display in a Seattle suburb.

Transit Agencies Increasingly Dependent on Federal Funding
After dramatic losses of riders and operators during the pandemic, transit agencies around the country are supplementing operational costs with federal relief dollars.

New Data Reveals Shared Mobility's Significant Impact on Emissions
Two new studies show that the adoption of shared micromobility can reduce transportation-related emissions and congestion by substantial margins.

The Disruptive Power of ‘Minimobility’
Small, lightweight vehicles similar to golf carts could eliminate many Americans’ need for a second car and make roads safer for all users.

SpaceX Removes Hyperloop Test Tube
After blocking sidewalk access for years, a tube segment in front of SpaceX’s Hawthorne office was removed at the city’s request, signaling a broader retreat from the project.

Crash Analysis Studio Brings ‘Standard of Care’ to Traffic Fatalities
A new tool from Strong Towns provides a model for comprehensively evaluating the causes behind deadly crashes and how to prevent them.

No Bragging Rights for Passing the Infrastructure Act?
You'd think the passage of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure act would convey bragging rights for Democratic congress members facing competitive midterm elections today. Ironically, Republicans who opposed the bill are taking credit.

The Elections and Transportation
The Eno Center provides a list of transportation ballot measures to keep an eye on today.

Detroit Opens Segment of Joe Lewis Greenway
The newly opened segment, which features playground equipment and public lawns, is part of a 27.5 mile greenway that will loop through four cities.

Seattle Planning Commission Urges Reimagining of the City’s Streets
In a set of recommendations submitted to the city, the commission calls for revised land use and transportation policies that reclaim public space from cars and shift focus away from vehicle throughput to more pedestrian-oriented uses.

IndyGo Revisits the Bus System Redesign it Paused for the Pandemic
The IndyGo board of directors scrapped a bus system redesign planned for launch in June 2020 as part of its Covid-19 emergency response. The transit agency is now seeking public feedback on a new map with similar changes.

Traffic Safety Declining in U.S., Bucking Global Trend
While other countries are seeing fewer road deaths, traffic violence in the United States is back on the rise.

‘Reconnecting Communities’ Could Fund Highway Expansions
Applications to the program reveal a pattern of state agencies requesting funds for projects that perpetuate car-centric development with only nominal equity components.

New Shared Mobility Tax, More Traffic Cameras Could Be Headed to Seattle
Proposals before the city council include a per-vehicle tax on shared bikes and scooters and a hike to the city’s vehicle registration fee.

Groups File Suit Over Penn Station Redevelopment
A coalition of community groups claims that current plans are designed to benefit developers and don’t guarantee improvements for transit riders.

The Fight to Improve Tribal Transportation
Advocates for tribal communities argue that the bipartisan infrastructure bill does not direct enough money to tribal transportation needs, but USDOT and local leaders can ensure more equitable distribution of funds to projects on tribal lands.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service