Transportation

Los Angeles and Coronavirus

Proposed Ballot Measure Would Require L.A. To Enforce Own Mobility Plan

The city's 2015 mobility plan was hailed as one of the nation's most ambitious, but progress toward its goals has been less than impressive.

March 8, 2022 - USC Annenberg Radio News

Main Street

The Conservative Case for Urbanism

Although walkable urbanism is often seen as a leftist priority, one writer argues that reducing car dependence actually closely aligns with conservative values.

March 8, 2022 - The Spectator World

Boise Idaho

Boise Looks to Upzoning To Ease Housing Pressures

The rapidly growing city is evaluating ways to increase housing production, reduce car dependency, and make Boise more walkable.

March 7, 2022 - Idaho Statesman

Indianapolis Cityscape

IndyGo Begins Construction on Second BRT Line

The Purple Line is slated to begin service in 2024.

March 7, 2022 - Transportation Today News

A group of cyclists rides on a green painted bike line on the Embarcadero in Sa Francisco.

San Francisco Weighs the Future of its Bike Share System

The city is weighing three potential ownership models after the contract with Lyft ends in 2027.

March 6, 2022 - ABC7

EV charging station with cars at TNB Research, Kajang, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

Companies Eyeing EV Charging as Next Big Opportunity

More electric vehicles on the road will mean more demand for charging stations where drivers can power up away from home.

March 6, 2022 - The New York Times

Gas Pump

The Missing Sanctions on Russia

President Biden took aim at Russia in his State of the Union address for the war it has started in Ukraine, vowing that they will "pay a price" which so far has yet to extend to their oil and gas exports.

March 6, 2022 - The Associated Press

Sound Transit

Seattle Latest to Cut Transit Service for Lack of Drivers

Sound Transit service designers were hoping that March would be the month to restore service to the transit system in and around Seattle. A shortage of bus drivers is sending the system in the opposite direction.

March 4, 2022 - The Seattle Times

Biketown

Traffic Deaths Reach Three-Decade High in Portland

In spite of the city's commitment to Vision Zero goals, more people died on Portland's streets than anytime in the last thirty years, with unhoused people most vulnerable to traffic violence.

March 3, 2022 - KATU.com

Main Street

Federal Highway Administration Moving Toward Complete Streets

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a report to Congress this week that takes initial steps toward making complete streets the default model for funding and designing federally controlled roads.

March 3, 2022 - Federal Highway Administration

Miami Traffic Jam

When Will We Believe in Induced Demand?

The well-documented concept has yet to catch on in state departments of transportation, but acknowledging it could dramatically transform U.S. transportation policy.

March 3, 2022 - Governing

Construction work to replace the bridge deck carrying eastbound I-196 over Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.

Safety or Freight: What's the Top Priority for U.S. 131 Redesign Project in Grand Rapids?

Urban designers are playing the advocate in a Michigan Department of Transportation study that is considering ways to reconfigure U.S. Highway 131 where it curves through Downtown Grand Rapids.

March 2, 2022 - MiBiz

I-84 to I-5 Interstate Freeway in Portland Oregon with Long Exposure Vehicle Traffic Motion

What Is VMT?

A measure of the demand for vehicle travel on public roadways, VMT provides a metric for evaluating the potential impact of road projects and developments and could become an increasingly useful tool for assessing road usage taxes.

March 2, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

walkable street

The Relationship Between Walkability and Public Health

New research indicates that improving public health requires targeted investments in more than just pedestrian facilities.

March 2, 2022 - Popular Science

A freeway sign for an intersection showing Interstate 85 for Durham on the left and Interstate 40 for Raleigh on the right.

Research Triangle Region Cuts Back Highway Widening Plans

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization accomplished a major shift in transportation planning priorities.

March 2, 2022 - News & Observer

Mural

As Projected Beltline Costs Rise, Atlanta Considers Other Options

MARTA's light rail project could cost more than twice original estimates, prompting the agency to weigh different routes and the potential for bus rapid transit as an alternative to rail.

March 2, 2022 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Charlotte Light Rail

Charlotte Transit Agency Calls for New Sales Tax To Improve Service

The agency's CEO says the system needs more funding to make service improvements and make the shift to an electrified fleet.

March 1, 2022 - WFAE

Conceptual rendering of the California High-Speed Rail project in Pacheco Pass.

Environmental Review Complete for Key Northern California Section of High-Speed Rail Project

The San Jose to Merced Project Section Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement could be approved by April 21.

March 1, 2022 - California High-Speed Rail Authority

Two young people wear masks while standing outside in Florida.

CDC Relaxes Guidance to Allow Most Americans to Ditch Masking

In a major reversal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised the metrics and thresholds that determine when masking is recommended. Only 5% of counties met the old metric on Feb. 25; now 70% of Americans need not don a mask indoors.

March 1, 2022 - The Washington Post

Ivy-covered stone wall and cover of Resilience Matters e-book

Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

In this hopeful and frustrating year, contributors to the Island Press Urban Resilience Project celebrate our collective progress and challenges in a new free book of short and sweet articles, op-eds, and interviews. Essential reading for planners!

March 1, 2022 - Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

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.