Transportation

Interstate 95/395 reversible HOV lanes

Solo-Occupant Hybrid Vehicles Lose Access to Carpool Lanes

A change in federal law on Monday meant that over 16,000 Virginia motorists must double or triple-up when using carpool lanes in Virginia. Next month, electric vehicles will need three occupants to drive free on I-395 when HOV lanes become HOT.

October 2, 2019 - The Washington Post

Bay Area Rapid Transit

A $100 Billion Wishlist for Bay Area Transit

Project priorities for the Faster Bay Area ballot initiative, speculatively proposed for the November 2020 election, have not yet been specified. But BART's new general manager has ideas about the money could be spent.

October 2, 2019 - The Mercury News

Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Planning a Big Addition to Multi-Modal Trail System

The proposed Ashland to Petersburg Trail would build on the success of the Virginia Capital Trail.

October 2, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Rock Island Line

Another New Commuter Rail Station for Chicago's South Side Transit Deserts

A South Side Chicago neighborhood with a history of neglect and disinvestment will soon be adding a new train station on the regional commuter system.

October 2, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Minneapolis Alternative Transportation

A Test Ride for Mobility Hubs

Offering multiple, non-automobile options for transportation in one place is the idea behind mobility hubs. The city of Minneapolis is now testing the concept at four locations.

October 1, 2019 - Star Tribune

Port of Oakland

Two New California Laws Take Aim at Pollution from Heavy-Duty Trucks

Trucks, which disproportionately contribute toward air pollution, will soon be subject to similar types of smog checks that apply to light-duty vehicles. A second bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will spur movement toward cleaner alternatives.

October 1, 2019 - The Mercury News

Denver, Colorado

Plans to Expand I-25 Through Denver

Colorado transportation officials are making plans for a major overhaul of a five-mile stretch of Interstate 25, one of Colorado’s busiest highway corridors.

October 1, 2019 - The Denver Post

Manhattan Bus

What's the Right Price for Congestion Pricing in New York City?

On this episode of the price is right, a city of more than 8 million people tries to determine the most effective cost for driving in a dense part of its downtown.

October 1, 2019 - Fast Company

Pedestrian Mall

The Past and Future of Pedestrian Malls

Pedestrian malls, a common urban design goal of the 1960s and 1970s have so fallen out of fashion that failed examples from history are cited as boogeyman like "bridges to nowhere" and "big digs."

October 1, 2019 - Curbed

Virgin Trains USA

Doubts Raised About the Private Equity Firm Behind High-Speed Rail to Vegas

Trouble in the Desert? The sources quoted in this article by Bloomberg aren't betting on the success of a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and San Bernardino County in California.

September 30, 2019 - Bloomberg

Virginia Interstate Widening Would Convert Free Lanes to Toll Lanes

The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization is proposing a 45-mile network of high-occupancy toll lanes on I–64 that includes conversions of 16 miles of carpool and three miles of general-purpose lanes. No unpriced lanes would be added.

September 30, 2019 - The Virginian-Pilot

Seattle C.A.P.

I-5 Freeway Lid Plans Take Step Forward

A plan to build a cap over Interstate 5 in Downtown Seattle has taken a small but significant step forward.

September 30, 2019 - The Urbanist

New York City

Three Studies That Show Density Doesn't Determine Car Travel

Thirty years after a seminal study attempted to connect increased density with decreased automobile use, several new studies are raising doubts about that central assumption of contemporary planning.

September 30, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Chicago Commuter Rail

What's Hindering Regional Transportation in the U.S.?

Public transportation that serves regional areas makes sense, but the United States has been slow to pursue strategies and policies that foster these types of systems.

September 29, 2019 - the transport politic

Green Electricity for Lime Scooters

A new program that will incentivize scooter "juicers," the people who collect and charge electric scooters for a fee, to switch to green energy.

September 29, 2019 - CityLab

Mobile Phones

Report: Dangers of Pedestrian Texting Overblown

Distracted walking is never a great idea. But in New York City at least, texting while walking only led to 2 out of 534 pedestrian deaths from 2014 through 2017.

September 27, 2019 - New York Daily News

Pedestrians

U.S. Lagging in Making Streets Safer for Pedestrians

Pedestrian deaths are on the rise in the United States, but cities have been slow to implement effective policies and road design measures to change the trend.

September 27, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Cars

California Needs More EV Chargers to Keep Up with Demand

Electric vehicle sales continue to rise, but the need for more charging infrastructure is increasing as well.

September 27, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

English Architecture

Friday Funny: If BART Went Tudor Style

Trigger warning: this is going to get ugly.

September 27, 2019 - Twitter

Bike Lane Debate Continues in San Antonio

As a project to re-engineer Broadway in San Antonio continues, questions about where to put bike lanes persist.

September 27, 2019 - Rivard Report

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.