Transportation

Climate Change

'Inflation Reduction Act' a Mixed Bag for Climate Action, Planning Innovation

A roundup of all the emerging news and commentary regarding the Inflation Reduction Act, which last week broke through a Congressional roadblock to resuscitate some, but not nearly all, of the Build Back Better legislation that failed in 2021.

August 1, 2022 - James Brasuell

Aerial view of I-10 junction over swamp near New Orleans, Louisiana

Louisiana Road Safety Plan Highlights Impaired Driving, Reckless Behavior

The plan focuses traffic safety efforts on distracted and impaired driving, seatbelt wearing, and speeding, with a small nod to infrastructural factors.

July 31, 2022 - Plaquemine Post South

Yellow electric Blue Bird school bus

Electric School Buses Put Power Back Into Grid

A “vehicle to grid” pilot program in a Southern California school district has school buses doing double-duty as electricity storage.

July 31, 2022 - Governing

Civic Center bus terminal in Denver

Major Redesign Planned for Denver-Area Bus System

The Regional Transportation District will make significant changes to bus frequency and routes in an effort to make transit accessible to more Colorado residents.

July 28, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio

Pedestrian Safety

4 Proven Steps for Improved Pedestrian Safety

Experts from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) present four steps for reducing the number of pedestrians killed by drivers.

July 28, 2022 - Smart Growth America

Gas Pumps

Is $7 a Gallon for Gas on the Horizon?

Global oil prices may skyrocket when the European Union, which receives about one third of its oil from Russia, enacts a partial ban on importing Russian oil at the end of the year to stop financing Russia's war in Ukraine.

July 28, 2022 - The New York Times

Sprawl

Connecting Land Use and Transportation Planning to Save the Climate

The United States will have to make major changes to long-standing land use and transportation paradigms to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change. How to make those changes was the subject of a recent podcast.

July 27, 2022 - The Sustainable City Podcast

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Has No Plans To End Parking Minimums

The city’s latest revisions to its Unified Development Ordinance call for expanded parking requirements near residential neighborhoods.

July 27, 2022 - WBTV

Bus stop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with blue bus and passengers boarding

Pittsburgh Regional Transit Moves To Implement Long-Range Plan

After four years of delays, the agency is ready to implement a five-year plan setting the foundation for its long-term goals to improve and expand service.

July 27, 2022 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New York City Subway

Transit Faces a Fiscal Cliff in New York City—Sooner Than Expected

It's like March 2020 all over again.

July 27, 2022 - The City

Downtown Portland

Oregon Makes Historic Parking Reforms. What’s Next?

The state made sweeping reforms that eliminate parking requirements in some jurisdictions, which supporters hope will lead to faster, less expensive construction and the revitalization of vacant properties and underused lots.

July 26, 2022 - Sightline

Road with one green electric vehicle charging lane

The Marriage of Technology and Road Infrastructure

The future of road infrastructure likely includes wireless electric charging, innovative construction materials, and more data collection. Will cities remember to prioritize pedestrian safety, too?

July 26, 2022 - Governing

A rider on a Citibike on a bike lane in New York City

New York Could Use Cameras To Keep Drivers Out of Bike Lanes

A proposed state bill would permit New York City’s transportation department to install up to 50 cameras that would monitor bike lane violations, with drivers that block bike lanes facing a $50 fine.

July 26, 2022 - CityLab

Boston Subway T

Opinion: Funding The T Should Be a Massachusetts State Priority

With ridership revenue still lagging and fatal incidents plaguing the Boston-area transit agency, one writer argues that state lawmakers must step in to fund upgrades for the aging system.

July 26, 2022 - WBUR Cognoscenti

Red Albuquerque bus with man boarding

The State of America’s Free Transit Programs

Dozens of cities made public transit free during the pandemic. Can transit agencies sustain these programs?

July 25, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Los Angeles Street

Could L.A. Be a 15-Minute City?

Advocates argue that even famously car-centric Los Angeles can become a place where residents can easily access their daily needs without getting behind the wheel.

July 25, 2022 - LAist

Blue Boulder bus with people boarding

Boulder Launches ‘Zero Fare for Better Air’

The Colorado city will make public transit free during the month of August to boost ridership and reduce emissions.

July 25, 2022 - City of Boulder

Chicago Train Station

Chicago Passes Equitable TOD Ordinance

The new legislation will promote more development near transit in the city’s underserved neighborhoods and improve safety for pedestrians and other road users.

July 25, 2022 - City of Chicago

A cyclist on a path in Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin

After Repealing Complete Streets, Wisconsin Falls to 29th Most Bike-Friendly State

Despite a rise in bicycling by residents, Wisconsin has dedicated disappointingly low amounts of funding and resources to bike infrastructure.

July 25, 2022 - Sun Prairie Star

Woman riding cargo bike with two small children on Copenhagen street next to a canal

How Cargo Bikes Can Help Women

Cargo bikes have proven an effective transport mode in cities around the world, but American women still hesitate to use them, citing safety concerns.

July 25, 2022 - Women Mobilize Women

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.