Transportation

Take the A Train: A Musical Inspiration for Planners
"Take the A Train" is a beautiful celebration of rail transit, urban sophistication, and the Harlem Renaissance all packed into the most danceable 2:54 minutes of musical teamwork ever recorded on a 78 disk. It's my inspiration for great planning!

How Can NYC Keep its 'Open Streets' Post-Pandemic?
A debate over one Queens 'open street' project illustrates the challenges of maintaining open streets.

New Infrastructure Bill Guts Transit, EVs, and Safety Programs
The proposed bill keeps road funding almost intact while cutting funding for electrification, rail, and community development.

Post-Pandemic Traffic: Easier Morning Commutes, Heading for Afternoon 'Peak Spreading'
The Boston Globe recently published an analysis of Boston-area traffic through the pandemic, finding that congestion is finally recovering to pre-pandemic levels, but in new patterns.

Can Portland's Bike Boom Outlast the Pandemic?
"Anytime the city does something to dramatically improve streets for people and limit car access...it’s hard to take them back."

One Pandemic Real Estate Bet: Condos for Cars
The possibility of many more urban dwellers driving than ever before, even in transit-rich locations like New York City, is still very real.
New Mobilities: Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies
A recent Eno Foundation webinar critically evaluated the benefits, costs, and equity impacts of 12 emerging transportation modes and services. It's a timely and fun discussion. The video and slideshow are available for free.

Quality Bike Infrastructure Saved Lives During the Pandemic, Study Says
Evidence from Arlington, Virginia.

What Is the Future for Transit After COVID? - A Debate
Critic Randal O'Toole and advocate Todd Litman debate how communities should plan for public transit in the post pandemic future. Should it contract or expand?

Report: How L.A.'s Transportation System Fails Women
According to an LADOT study, the city's women face disproportionate barriers in accessing safe, efficient transportation.

Opposition to LaGuardia AirTrain Plan Emerges After Cuomo Resigns
A highly criticized project has new critics among staffers at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Opinion: Chicago Needs an Office of Parking Management
The city of Chicago needs a local agency empowered to planning, studying, or managing parking, according to a recent opinion piece published by Streetsblog Chicago.

Permanent Car-Free Streets in Manhattan's Meatpacking District
The local Business Improvement District has decided to permanently block cars from a large swath of Manhattan's Meatpacking District.

Bipartisan 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' Passes the Senate
A final vote of 69-30, with 19 Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues in the Senate, will send the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to the House.

Video: The Athletic Feats Required to Navigate NYC
A video from Transportation Alternatives highlights the infrastructure failures that can make getting around the city an Olympian feat.

Too Much Focus on EVs in Infrastructure Bill
Funding the electrification of personal vehicles won't move the needle on climate change nearly as much as investing in infrastructure that lets people get out of their cars, mode shift advocates argue.

More Details from the Massive Infrastructure Bill and its Amendments
The bill's more than 400 amendments include a VMT pilot, a Texas megahighway, and funding for accessibility at transit stations.

Why Infrastructure Spending Should Center Equity
To begin to reverse decades of discrimination and disinvestment, future infrastructure spending must put equity at the forefront.

Sacramento Plans for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The city wants to install a network of more than 3,000 charging stations, with a focus on underserved communities.

Road Design Still Privileges Cars
Author Jeff Speck discusses the progress made since he first wrote Walkable City–and how far we still have to go to build streets that are safe for all.
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