Transportation

The 60-Mile Traffic Jam

A major route in China has been slammed with a major traffic jam, spanning more than 60 miles and lasting for more than a week.

August 24, 2010 - BBC

L.A. To Test Variable Parking Prices

Los Angeles is planning to undertake a year-long experiment in demand-based pricing on parking in its downtown. The dynamic parking system will be put in place next summer.

August 24, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Cyclists and Elderly Also At Risk on New York City's Streets

New York City's broad study of years of traffic and crash data have given new insight to the city's transportation safety problems. Cyclists and the elderly are especially vulnerable, according to the report.

August 23, 2010 - The New York Times

Downtown Rebirth Through Two-Way Streets

The city of Richmond, Virginia, is hoping to undo years of downtown driving confusion and congestion by converting its web of one-way streets into two-way streets.

August 23, 2010 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Transit Planner Speaks Out Against Slashing Bus Service

A Portland transit planner from the days when buses were the primary means of getting around says the system is headed in the wrong direction and service is declining.

August 23, 2010 - EnzymePDX.com

Gallup Charts "Well-Being" And Commute Times

And the result is fairly obvious - longer the commute, lower the reading. Well-being is a measurement of both physical and mental health, including ailments such as back pain and anxiety. No mention of modal type (e.g, driving, biking, transit).

August 23, 2010 - Gallup

How The Golden Gate Bridge Got Into Transit

Unlike the nearby Bay Bridge that was built to accommodate the Key System streetcars, the Golden Gate displaced existing ferry service. Carl Nolte, the Chronicle's historian, provides the background for the 40th anniversary of its ferry service.

August 22, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Suburban Tax on Traffic

To help pay for transportation needs, a Kansas City suburb approved a "driveway" tax based on the amount of traffic a property is expected to generate.

August 22, 2010 - The Kansas City Star

High Speed Rail Gradually Develops, But Critics Remain Vocal

As high speed rail projects begin to take shape across America, commuters are anticipating eased travel but skeptics remain critical.

August 22, 2010 - CNN

Reducing Cyclist-Pedestrian Accidents in Japan

New rules in Japan say that cyclists are liable for accidents between themselves and pedestrians, especially on the country's sidewalks.

August 21, 2010 - The Mainichi Daily Times

High Density and High Concentrations of Cars

Looking at Census data for urbanized areas and auto ownership, Randal O'Toole argues that denser areas have high rates of auto ownership per square mile, a correlation that is likely to increase congestion.

August 21, 2010 - The Antiplanner

New York Street Redesign Aims to Improve Safety

The Wall Street Journal reports on an extensive street redesign plan in New York City to be completed by 2030. The plan is aimed at an especially dangerous area.

August 21, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

Private Buses Make a Comeback in NYC

Recent MTA budget cuts have forced New York City to axe a few of its bus routes, but they've had the effect of spurring a new wave of private bus initiatives.

August 20, 2010 - Market Urbanism

The Fastest Place on Earth

The Bonneville Salt Flats in Western Utah are where drivers and engineers attempt to break the land speed record -- an activity that has transformed this otherwise unused space into one of the more important sites of modern human history.

August 20, 2010 - Places

Commuter RR To 'Double-Deck' To Increase Capacity

More capacity for the same cost is the case with double-decker commuter cars -- if they can fit into tunnels, that is. Bi-level train were once more common in the commuter trains serving NYC. However, these cars can have their own disadvantages.

August 20, 2010 - The New York Times - N.Y/Region

The Nation's First Bicycle-Only Subdivision

A new themed subdivision is under development in South Carolina. But this is no golf course community. It's a cyclist oriented, car-free experiment called Bicycle City.

August 19, 2010 - Architizer

Boosting Car-Sharing in San Francisco

By expanding its car-sharing requirements on new non-residential buildings, the city of San Francisco is looking to make car-sharing more viable and accessible in the transit-friendly city.

August 19, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

L.A. Reforms Postwar Zoning Codes

The City of Los Angeles Planning Commission has reintroduced sweeping reform of the zoning codes in an effort to streamline planning processes. "This marks the first overhaul of codes since their last revision in 1946," said City Planner Alan Bell.

August 19, 2010 - Architects Newspaper

The Case Against The Centralized City

Kerwin Datu suggests that transit in cities of the future should no longer be organized around a distinct center. "Rather than think of a city as a centre surrounded by suburbs, think of it as a patchwork of specialised districts woven together."

August 19, 2010 - The Global Urbanist

Paying the Bill for High Speed Rail in California

The prospect of a high speed rail line connecting California's major cities has been appealing to many in the state. But with less than a quarter of the money needed for the project, the risks are hard to ignore.

August 18, 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

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.