Transportation

A pair of crash test dummies in a car after a crash with air bags deployed.

Acceptable Deaths

What can we learn from our Covid response?

May 5, 2022 - Angie Schmitt

Cyclist riding on a downtown Pittsburgh bike lane

Pittsburgh Plans Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover on Downtown Street

Pittsburgh’s Smithfield Street could gain wider sidewalks, a bike lane, and more green space.

May 5, 2022 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Economic Impacts of Climate Change

RAISE Proposals Are in; What Will it Mean for Climate Change?

The deadline for the first discretionary program to accept applications since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law was April 14, marking the day as one of the most consequential in America’s response to climate change.

May 5, 2022 - Robert Fischer

A very large yacht at berth in Washington, with wooded hills in the background.

Superyachts Calling the Shots for How Light Rail Gets Built in Seattle

Determinations made by the Coast Guard to accommodate superyachts will affect the price of light rail and other bridge projects in Seattle and environs.

May 4, 2022 - The Urbanist

Lime Scooter

San Diego To Consider Tightening Regulations on E-Scooters

Proposed regulations would limit the popular micromobility devices to two operators, impose new fees, and require more accountability for safe scooter use and parking.

May 4, 2022 - NBC San Diego

The Las Vegas Strip, pictured at night with lights and illuminated and Las Vegas Boulevard congested with cars.

NFL Draft Inspires Proposal to Block Cars From the Las Vegas Strip

The NFL draft shut down the Las Vegas Strip to car traffic. Some people liked the change so much that a new law proposes to permanently block cars from the street. Yes, you read that correctly.

May 4, 2022 - Fox 11 Los Angeles

Houston Metro Bus

Houston Transit Ridership Highest Since the Pandemic Began

Ridership on Houston trains and buses rose sharply in March, thanks in part to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a limited return to offices.

May 4, 2022 - The Houston Chronicle

Portland Street

What Is Automobile Dependency?

Automobile dependency is a term used to describe households who must rely on private vehicles for everyday transportation, often due to a lack of safe pedestrian infrastructure, ineffective or absent public transit options, and sprawl.

May 3, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Houston City Park

How Houston Is Growing its Bike Infrastructure

The famously car-centric city is investing more than ever in bike infrastructure, with ambitious plans to build 1,800 miles of protected bike lanes and trails.

May 3, 2022 - The Houston Chronicle

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Study: Transit Boards Don’t Reflect Their Ridership

Across U.S. cities, transit agency boards are overwhelmingly more suburban than their riders, causing a disconnect between decisionmakers and the people who regularly use transit.

May 3, 2022 - Governing

Airplane landing at San Diego International Airport

People Mover Proposed for San Diego Airport

The $4 billion project promises to connect San Diego to its international airport in under ten minutes.

May 3, 2022 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

Report: United States Could Cut Transport Emissions by 34 Percent by 2030

The U.S. transportation sector is on track to reduce emissions by 19 percent by the end of the decade, but a new report indicates the public and private sectors could implement policies that would cut emissions by as much as 34 percent.

May 3, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

A map of the North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line.

Controversial North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line Approved

A controversial project to connect the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys by bus rapid transit has final approval. Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena will have a new connecting transit line as soon as 2024.

May 2, 2022 - LAist

I-45 and I-69

A Freeway Rebellion Rises in the Unlikeliest of States: Texas

“There’s no train, there’s no bus, there’s no anything that supports mass transportation. It doesn’t exist.” -Houston resident Fabian Ramirez.

May 2, 2022 - The Guardian

View of Wrigleyville neighborhood before a Chicago Cubs game

Chicago Plans ‘Better Streets for Buses’

The city of Chicago is taking first steps toward a commitment to better bus service in the design and configuration of the city's streets.

May 2, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

View of Madisonm Wisconsin with state capitol building

Madison To Create Transit-Oriented Zoning

The city plans to create a TOD overlay district to encourage density and affordable housing near transit.

May 2, 2022 - City of Madison

The San Diego Convention Center is illuminated at night with the backdrop of public transit lines and high-rise buildings.

Day One of the National Planning Conference—Reunions, Pandemic Planning, Equity, and VMT

The American Planning Association gathers for its first in-person National Planning Conference since 2019. Planetizen is in attendance, and here is some of what we saw on the first day of the conference.

May 1, 2022 - James Brasuell

Madison Bike

Wisconsin Republicans Block Congestion, Pollution Funds From Bike and Ped Projects

It was always a risk that states would use funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to double down on the transportation systems that create congestion and air pollution.

May 1, 2022 - Wisconsin Examiner

View of Capitol building on Pennsylvania Avenue

Three Concepts for a Pennsylvania Avenue Makeover

The Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative seeks to redesign the capital’s most famous thoroughfare to include more park space and pedestrian amenities.

April 29, 2022 - WTOP

Pedestrians

Leading Pedestrian Intervals an Effective, Low-Cost, Pedestrian Safety Solution

Bellevue, Washington is acting on the data and giving pedestrians head starts at busy intersections around in the city’s downtown.

April 28, 2022 - The Urbanist

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.