Transportation
Washinton D.C. Becomes Latest City To Launch Bike Share
Washington D.C. became the latest city to launch a bike share scheme Monday. "Like bees tumbling from the nest, scores of riders on ruby-red bicycles swarmed from a lot near Nationals Park to establish Capital Bikeshare," writes Ashley Halsey.
Amtrak Appoints Albrecht Engel To Head High Speed Rail Department
As Amtrak seeks to create and expand high-speed passenger train operations in the United States, the company on Thursday named Philadelphia rail expert Albrecht "Al" Engel to head its new high-speed rail department.
The Car as Protector, and Prosthetic
Asrai Ord explicates Rebecca Solnit's belief that "the car has become a prosthetic… for a conceptually impaired body or a body impaired by the creation of a world that is no longer human in scale."
2,000,000,000 Cars
In 15 years, the number of cars on the road worldwide is expected to hit 2 billion. Dan Sperling thinks focusing on electric vehicles and low carbon fuel standards will allow us to hit number and survive.
Immigrant Growth Powers Houston As A Global City
The growth of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Continental Airlines' largest hub but also one of he principal destinations away from the coasts for international carriers, has vastly increased passenger traffic and allowed Houston's reinvention.
Daley's Success As Chicago's 20-Year Mayor
Neal Pierce argues that retiring Mayor Daley's achievements in Chicago "stand out as beacons for mayors, American and worldwide, to emulate." He attributes some of his success to sheer political skill, but also examines seven effective policy shifts.
Broadway's "Self-Reinforcing Cycle"
In the last 2 years, New York's Broadway has given up 3.5 miles of traffic lanes and parking to bike lanes and pedestrian access, and gained a significant improvement in congestion and accident rates.
Turning Cars into the Last Resort in San Francisco
As San Francisco update its strategic plan, the rhetoric in the boardroom is increasingly about reducing car traffic and use in the city.
Will Light Rail Kill Businesses?
Rick Harrison tells a parable of a small businessman who's auto shop is decimated when a traffic engineer decides to put a median on the adjoining road, eliminating left turns into his shop. Will light rail essentially do the same?
Anti-Rail Republicans Could Sink High-Speed Network
Republicans are taking a strong position against high-speed rail funding, and with the increasing likelihood that November will see a strong showing from the GOP the national HSR plan could be in serious jeopardy.
Rough Roads Cost Drivers
A new report from TRIP, a transportation research group based in Washington D.C., cites San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco-Oakland as the urban regions where rough roads lead to higher vehicle operating costs.
Who Killed the Streetcar?
It's an article of faith among many that GM, Firestone, and Standard Oil destroyed the streetcar networks of the early 20th century. Stephen Smith suggests that Progressive Era and New Deal planners and politicians should shoulder more of the blame.
Want to Get Away With Murder? Just Run Over a Bicyclist
A drivers license in the wrong hands can feel like a hunting license to bicyclists who have few legal protections and even fewer enforcement options negligent drivers. When bikers are injured or killed, police are often reluctant to investigate why.
California Set To Adopt Emissions Targets From VMT Reduction
The fruition of a lengthy state planning process required by SB 375 may come as early as Sept. 23 when the CA Air Resources Board may adopt targets for 18 metropolitan regions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled.
Forward Thinking and Backward Practices
Transportation authorities are working with tools that no longer fit the challenges of modern travel or environmental necessity, says David Kooris, vice president of the Regional Plan Association.
Fighting Traffic With Smarter Traffic Lights
Do traffic signals need to be predictable? Researchers are experimenting with giving traffic lights a mind of their own, with the power to change with the flow of traffic, sensing when it would be most advantageous to be red or green.
PRT (podcars) ready for prime time
San Jose hosts the 4th Podcar Conference, Oct 27-29, part of San Jose's Green Vision.
'Self-Regulating' Traffic Lights Reduce Waiting Time
Researchers in Europe are experimenting with a new kind of traffic light that better responds to traffic by monitoring the actual amount of cars on the road and estimating how long lights should stay green.
Why the Infrastructure Bank is Right On
Columnist Neal Peirce throws his weight behind the Obama Infrastructure Bank proposal.
Bikers Behaving Badly: Is Street Design to Blame?
Cyclists who disobey traffic laws are the No. 1 police complaint among residents of Manhattan's Upper East Side. Could the built environment be the real culprit?
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
