Transportation

Potomac River

Legal Dispute Grounds Last Remaining Potomac River Ferry Service

Historic White's Ferry, which has crossed the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland since the late 18th century, has announced that it will cease operations.

December 30, 2020 - DCist

Electric Vehicle Charging

EVs Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, but They're Not Pollution-Free

To reduce harmful particulate matter emissions, we need fewer cars on the road—electric or otherwise, according to the findings of a recent report.

December 30, 2020 - Treehugger

Gas Works Park

Washington State Active Transportation Plan Draft Released

The Washington State Department of Transportation is undertaking a legally mandated update of its plan for bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

December 30, 2020 - Seattle Bike Blog

Social Distancing

Pandemic Endgame: The Goalposts are Moving

With most of the nation in the coronavirus "red zone," the endgame to the pandemic in the U.S. is likely through achieving herd immunity, preferably through vaccinations, but the nation's top infectious disease expert has been changing the threshold.

December 30, 2020 - The New York Times

Pedestrianized Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

Miami Beach Could Permanently Pedestrianize Ocean Drive

The city banned vehicle traffic from the popular street during the pandemic. Now, transportation planners hope to make the change permanent as part of a new plan to prioritize pedestrians and improve transportation in the Entertainment District.

December 30, 2020 - The Next Miami

BART Station

New South Bay BART Stations See Disappointing Ridership

Introduced during the pandemic in an area where many residents now work remotely, the new stations have failed to attract new commuters.

December 29, 2020 - Mercury News

Electric Scooters

New York City Rolling Out First E-Scooters in the Spring

After years of outright banning them, New York City is finally giving e-scooters a chance to operate on its streets.

December 29, 2020 - Curbed

Maokong Sky Gondola

Seattle Neighborhood Groups Propose Aerial Gondola to Replace Light Rail Expansion

Impatient with the city's light rail expansion plans, some residents are looking to aerial gondolas as a new mode of public transit.

December 28, 2020 - The Urbanist

Protected Bike Lane

Seattle's Homeless Bearing the Brunt of Helmet Citations

Almost half of bike helmet citations in the city are issued to people experiencing homelessness.

December 28, 2020 - Crosscut

Oakland

I-880 Reconfiguration Takes Another Step Forward in Oakland

The Oakland Alameda Access Project, in the works since 1997, is meant to relieve traffic congestion and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood.

December 28, 2020 - Mercury News

CTA El Train

One Big Step Forward, One Small Step Back for Chicago Red Line Extension

A big approval and a significant delay—but otherwise 2020 has been a positive year for plans to extend the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line by 5.6 miles to the south.

December 28, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Los Angeles and Coronavirus

The Most Popular Urban Planning Articles of 2020

The most-read news, features, and blogs on Planetizen in that year that was 2020.

December 28, 2020 - James Brasuell

Gas Drill

Community Impact Funds Could Subsidize a Fossil Fuel Railroad

A railway project designed to move oil and gas across eastern Utah has received millions in grant money from a fund designed to mitigate the impacts of fossil fuels.

December 27, 2020 - High Country News

Centro Ybor

State Grant Gives Tampa Streetcar a Big Cash Infusion

Next stop: A bigger, better Tampa Streetcar.

December 27, 2020 - Tampa Patch

Car-Free Cities

Watch: The Car-Free City Becomes Reality

The latest City Beautiful video shows off the fruits of car-free initiatives in European cities.

December 25, 2020 - City Beautiful

Both Ways

Jaywalking Legalized in Virginia

Beginning in March, police will no longer be able to stop people for crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, a small component of reform intended to protect BIPOC from the historically discriminatory application of traffic laws.

December 25, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

Montreal Light Rail

Big Light Rail Expansion Planned in Montreal

Montreal officials recently announced details of a major expansion of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).

December 25, 2020 - CBC

Pennsylvania

Lawsuit Challenges PennDOT's NEPA Process on Erie Bayfront Parkway

Despite 80% of survey respondents wanting a reduction in volume on Erie's waterfront parkway and improved pedestrian and bicycle access to the city's waterfront, PennDOT plans instead to double traffic as part of a $120 million high-speed bypass.

December 24, 2020 - Earth Justice

Washington D.C. Street

COVID Stimulus Details for Planners

A few last minute changes were included in the version of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, approved by Congress last night.

December 22, 2020 - APA Advocates via Twitter

Pedestrians

2019 Crash Fatality Data Reveals Relative Calm Before the Storm

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's latest crash fatality data for 2019 showed improving safety conditions for road users from the year prior. That progress is likely to vanish when the data for 2020 are complete.

December 22, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

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.