Transportation

Political Hurdle For VMT Fees Proves Too High For The Netherlands And Oregon

Two years ago a Dutch city embarked on a trial for distance-based pricing that placed a meter on the dashboard showing the price of the trip. The plan was scratched due to an election. In OR, VMT fee legislation for electric vehicles has stalled.

August 12, 2011 - The New York Times - Environment

Businesses Claims That Bike Lanes Ruin Business

In downtown Vancouver, where bike lanes have replaced parking spots on some strips, shop owners have complained that they are bad for business. A new study disproves the theory - kinda.

August 12, 2011 - The Vancouver Sun

Experts Say Detroit's Transit Disagreements Can Be Resolved

Despite a lack of cooperation on regional transit issues, Detroit area transportation agencies can find a way to fix the region's broken system, according to a panel of officials and experts.

August 12, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

Mica To Obama: No Compromise On Transportation Bill

The WSJ report indicates that the debate that led to the FAA ticket tax suspension was just a prelude as to what to expect on Sept. 30 when the federal gas tax expires.

August 11, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal/Politics

County Could Railroad Atlanta Region Transit Tax

Voters in the Atlanta region will vote on a 1-cent sales tax for new transit projects. But one major county could stand in the way if its own project is not included.

August 11, 2011 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Making Money in Public Transit

Public transit is expensive, and most transit agencies don't make money. But Hong Kong's MTR is different.

August 10, 2011 - Citiwire

FAA Impasse Is Omen For Rural America

Four thousand FAA workers furloughed and 70,000 contractors were laid off as a result of a congressional disagreement on subsidies to rural airports and a labor provision.

August 10, 2011 - Los Angeles Times - Opinion

Bringing New Life to Urban Rail Lines

Cities across the country are breathing new life into abandoned and disused inner city rail lines.

August 9, 2011 - The New York Times

Pedestrians' Dangerous Walk in Mumbai

The doubling of car traffic in the past 20 years in Mumbai has created a transit culture that has become dangerous for pedestrians. More than 44 percent of Mumbai citizens walk to work, and 78 percent road fatalities are pedestrians, a study finds.

August 9, 2011 - The Times Of India

Suburbs Clamor for Light Rail

Detroit's Oakland County suburbs are pushing to extend a light rail extension into their neighborhoods with such fervor that they may accomplish what the political system couldn't, says reporter Matt Helms.

August 8, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

From One Crisis to the Next: Congress Must Pass a Transportation Bill for All Users

The U.S. is going from one financial crisis directly into another, as SAFETEA-LU, the omnibus transportation bill, expires next month, writes Roxanne Blackwell of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

August 8, 2011 - Roxanne Blackwell

Linking American Individualism to Transportation Planning

Author Russell Shorto claims that "the willingness of Europeans to follow top-down social planning" makes public transit and bicycling more feasible in European cities than they are in the States where people don't always agree with technocrats.

August 8, 2011 - The New York Times

No New Taxes = No Renewed Federal Gas Tax?

Matthew Yglesias writes on the upcoming expiration of the federal gas tax as the next political hurdle facing a divided Congress that has enormous infrastructure and budget deficit implications. The Republican 'no new taxes' pledge may apply.

August 7, 2011 - Think Progress

Transit Project Brought in Under Budget

Not only is the Utah Transit Authority debuting two new light rail lines at the same time, they were brought in 20% under budget.

August 6, 2011 - The Source

L.A. Mayor Pushes Bus-Only Lanes

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced plans to implement more bus-only lanes throughout the city.

August 6, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Sure These Cars Can Talk, But Do They Listen?

Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) announces the winners of the Connected Vehicle Challenge that asked people to submit ideas, using the Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology to its full potential.

August 6, 2011 - Transportation Nation

Making Bicycle Ambassador A Real Job

Matt Seaton argues that "after significant investment in cycling infrastructure, biking needs better PR." Would a bike ambassador make the difference?

August 6, 2011 - The Guardian

Parking Location Makes All the Difference

The location of parked cars can either destroy walkability or enhance it, writes urbanist Steve Mouzon.

August 5, 2011 - The Original Green Blog

Putting Alternative Fuel Stations on the Map

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy released an interactive map displaying thousands of alternative fuel stations around the nation.

August 5, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

New MIT Data Analysis Tool Aims To Rationalize Planning

Andres Sevstuk, lecturer at MIT and head of the City Form Research Group describes how the new Urban Network Analysis Toolbox is, "taking a much more rigorous approach to look at the work of urban design."

August 4, 2011 - The Boston Globe

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.