Transportation

Transit Can Drive Growth

Yonah Freemark dives into the 2010 Census, and finds clear evidence that focusing dense development around transit works to focus development.

February 7, 2011 - the transport politic

The Implications of Transit Lingo

What do you think of when you think of the word "route" in relation to transit? What about the word "line"? Jarrett Walker argues that the language used to describe transit can influence how people think about it.

February 7, 2011 - Human Transit

Caltrain In Freefall

Service will be cut 44%, half the stations to close, elimination of mid-day and weekend service - that is the scenario laid for Caltrain, the West's oldest commuter rail, unless $30 million can be found - unlikely.

February 7, 2011 - San Jose Mercury News

New TOD Residents Become Anti-Transit NIMBYs

King Farm, a 440-acre development in the D.C. suburbs, was designed to be the perfect transit-oriented development, with a light rail to be built later. Now, residents have decided they don't want the transit to ever be built.

February 6, 2011 - NRDC Blog

A Community Built to be Green

The Vauban District in southern Germany is a small community built around a green transportation scheme, but it has become much more: a model of cooperative decision-making, sustainability and eco-planning.

February 5, 2011 - The Cereplast Blog

Bus-Only Lane in Los Angeles Faces Political Trouble

The decade-long plan for a proposed bus-only lane on Wilshire Blvd. faces yet another political battle as politicians relent to public complaints.

February 5, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

The City of the Future is an Air Hub

New Songdo City in South Korea is the model for new cities, according to Greg Lindsay and John D. Kasarda, who argue that its airport is its most important element.

February 5, 2011 - What Matters

BRT on the Rise Globally

Bus rapid transit is growing in popularity throughout the world, though implementation is lacking in the U.S.

February 4, 2011 - THE DIRT

Transportation at a Standstill in Cuba

Many Cubans encounter difficulties in traveling throughout Havana as well as the entire country.

February 3, 2011 - The Huffington Post

Moving Past Traffic in Perugia, Italy

The small town of Perugia, Italy has left its traffic worries behind by implementing various driving restrictions and transportation solutions like escalators and a "minimetro".

February 3, 2011 - National Geographic

Investing in the Future of Air

The demand for air travel may seem to be on the decline, but it's actually rising -- and playing a major role in determining which places are more economically successful.

February 3, 2011 - The New York Times

The Cup-of-Coffee Test

What makes effective transit-oriented development? Transportation planner Alan Huynh makes a good argument for the proximity to a cup of coffee as a defining characteristic of quality TOD.

February 1, 2011 - The Alan Note

Bay Bridge Congestion Pricing May Spread

If a San Mateo County agency has its way, congestion pricing will be applied to two toll bridges to create additional revenue and reduce congestion as was done successfully on the S.F./Oakland Bay Bridge last July - but there are major differences.

February 1, 2011 - San Mateo County Times via Mercury News

Sharrows Have Their Limits

Sharrows are a great way to give cyclists access to the full traffic lane without designating a bike lane, but as this case in San Francisco illustrates, not all applications are good ones. The presence of a bus-only lane created the problem.

January 31, 2011 - The Bay Citizen

Car Pooling on the Decline in the U.S.

The amount of people commuting in car pools has nearly halved since 1980.

January 31, 2011 - The New York Times

The Future of Transportation Funding in Uncertain Times

In this Q&A, urban planning professor Mitchell Moss explains how budget crises at the federal, state and local levels will affect transit funding in New York City and other places.

January 31, 2011 - The Shoshin Project

New Jersey Stiffs FTA on ARC Expenses

Governor Chris Christie announced the state would not repay the $271 million the Federal Transit Administration claims it is owed for the canceled trans-Hudson rail tunnel, reports Jim O'Grady.

January 29, 2011 - WNYC

Republican Plan to Shortchange Rail May Be Shortsighted

Eric Jaffe pushes back on the Republican Study Committee's proposal to cut over $6 billion in rail funding over the next ten years.

January 29, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

Distinguishing Taxis From Livery Cars

Do you know the difference between taxis and livery cars? This op-ed by a taxi driver/author explains the difference. It is timely because Mayor Bloomberg will propose a rule that will make the two more similar, and (yellow) cab drivers oppose it.

January 29, 2011 - The New York Times - Opinion

Friday Funny: Bicycle Rights!!

Portlandia is a new TV show spoofing the self-righteously urban culture of Portland. In this clip, a hyper bicycle rights activist zips around the city decrying the evils of automobiles.

January 28, 2011 - My Damn Channel

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.