Transportation

Not Enough T in the DOT?

The federal government is paying more attention to the land use impacts of the transportation projects it's funding. Next American City's Yonah Freemark worries they may be paying too much attention.

July 22, 2010 - Next American City

Could China Fund L.A. Transit?

With the notion of a national infrastructure bank dead for now and Wall Street reluctant to invest in infrastructure projects, Joel Epstein argues that Chinese investment in L.A.'s 30/10 Transportation and Jobs Initiative is worth considering.

July 22, 2010 - Huffington Post

London's 'Cycle Superhighways'

The City of London has opened up two "bicycle superhighways".

July 22, 2010 - Press Association

Can BART Afford It's Expansions?

The Bay Area's 104-mile heavy rail system, BART, is planning major expansions. But many transit supporters, rather than cheering the new service and ridership the extensions would produce, are sounding alarms.

July 21, 2010 - San Francisco Examiner

$77 Billion Needed to Fix U.S. Transit

A new study by the Federal Transit Administration sets the price tag for getting the U.S.'s transit infrastructure up to snuff at 77.7 billion dollars.

July 21, 2010 - Sacramento Business Journal

Transit Discovers Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are becoming standard components of transit agencies' strategies for outreach and keeping riders informed.

July 20, 2010 - InTransition Magazine

Why Streetcar Spending Is Good For Charlotte

Charlotte just won $25 million in grants from the federal government to combine with $12 million of local funds to build a streetcar system. Some say it's a waste of money. This editorial from The Charlotte Observer argues its case.

July 19, 2010 - The Charlotte Observer

Hoboken's Innovative Car Sharing Program

Hoboken, New Jersey has instituted a new car sharing service -- one run by a rental car company that pays the city for the right to operate.

July 19, 2010 - The New York Times

Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally

Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.

July 19, 2010 - Wall Street Journal - U.S.

"Library-Quiet" Train Cars For Commuters Who Want Peace

Northeast Corridor NJ Transit has announced that beginning in September they will feature "quiet cars" on their trains for passengers who prefer peace and quiet over cell phones and chatter.

July 19, 2010 - Gothamist

Playing with Ridership Numbers

Jarrett Walker argues that reports of the decline of public transportation ridership have been exaggerated.

July 18, 2010 - Human Transit

Natural Gas Will Play Much Larger Energy Role

In this WSJ Opinion, MIT professor and former under secretary of Energy John Deutch explains how the BP gusher and discovery of vast supplies of unconventional natural gas will combine to increase natural gas energy usage by replacing coal, then oil.

July 18, 2010 - Wall Street Journal: Opinion Journal

Bendy Bike For Easy Lockup

Kevin Scott is a 21-year old designer and new graduate who has designed a bicycle that bends in the middle, giving the rider the ability to wrap it around a pole and lock both tires at once.

July 17, 2010 - DiscoveryNews

Ten Most Terrifying Airports in The World

The Web Urbanist counts down the ten most hair raising airports. "Flying may be one of the safest methods of travel but it doesn't always look that way."

July 17, 2010 - Web Urbanist

Designers Produce HSR Concept to Entice Legislators

In an effort to entice the British government, designers PriestmanGoode have released this video displaying a shiny new bullet train slicing through country that invented the locomotive.

July 16, 2010 - Fast Company

Turning Car Parking into Bike Parking

This post from Spacing Toronto gives a personal look at the conversion of a car parking space into a bicycle parking area -- and how quickly the facility filled up.

July 15, 2010 - Spacing Toronto

Charlotte Bags Federal Streetcar Funds

Charlotte recently won a $25 million federal grant to begin construction on a streetcar system. The Charlotte Observer goes over some of the system's basics.

July 15, 2010 - The Charlotte Observer

A Sinking Ship? Heading Chicago's Transit Agency

Like many transit agencies across the country, the economic recession has limited the capacity of Chicago's CTA to maintain itself. Governing talks with the man tasked with saving -- and recreating -- the troubled system.

July 14, 2010 - Governing

Chicago Drivers Inch Toward Congestion Pricing

After three years of false starts, there is renewed interest in a congestion pricing plan for the Chicago area.

July 14, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Bronx Freeway Fight Takes National Stage

The local environmental justice movement to remove a short, recently renovated Bronx expressway has taken on national prominence. On July 13, NY DOT is expected to release three options that may decide its future, including one to remove it.

July 13, 2010 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

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.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.