Transportation
Infrastructure Funding Boosts Likely in 2009
Repairing the nation's infrastructure is a good move on to-be President Obama's part, as it also creates jobs "that lead to the creation of still more jobs."
GM Killed Mass Transit: Now it Must Help Repair it
Now that General Motors is facing financial ruin and seeking a federal bailout, Harvey Wasserman argues that before it receives any help, GM must redress its participation in the conspiracy to destroy America's mass transit system.
The Obama Administration: An Opportunity to Rebuild and Renew America
Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon thinks that an Obama administration, working with Congress, could effect change and create a new vision to Rebuild and Renew America.
Developers Sweeten Deals With Transit, Carshare Options
New developments in Oakland and San Francisco are luring in eco-conscious homeseekers with free transit passes and discounts on carsharing programs.
Rush Hour for Lunch
At lunchtime, traffic in Tysons Corner is even worse than during the morning commute, causing officials to launch a lunchtime shuttle to keep more cars off the road.
U.S. Rail Renaissance
California's $10 billion high speed rail bond was not the only transit initiative to pass on Election Day. Over 70% (double the customary rate) of all transportation initiatives passed, including 18 that raise sales or property taxes.
Ottawa Kills Millions in Road Project for Mass Transit
The new master plan for Ottawa calls for a radical rethink of priorities, postponing at least $84 million in road building to focus on creating a 'compact, transit city'.
CNU to Focus on Networks
Mike Lydon of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company reports on the recent Transport Summit in Charlotte, NC, where presentations ranged from discussions of 'context-sensitive' road design to crafting the 2009 federal transportation bill.
Has SF Opened the Door for Tax-Free Transit Benefits?
San Francisco recently became the first city to mandate tax-free transportation benefit plans for companies with more than 20 workers. Currently unbeknown to many employers, the move may cause other cities to catch on.
Op-Ed: Legislature Blew It By Not Leasing PA Turnpike
In this op-ed, the former Secretary of the PA D.O.T. bemoans the lost opportunity to lease the PA turnpike to receive $12.8 billion from a private investor group, placing the blame squarely on the state legislature and the Turnpike Commission.
In Total, $75 Billion Approved for Mass Transit
Last week, a majority of transportation initiatives were approved by voters. This is good news for transit advocates, but risks still loom.
A Biofueled Car- That Flies?
The Skycar is a combination parasail, swamp boat and dune buggy. Sponsored by a British knight and arctic adventurer, the design team is planning an expedition from London to Timbuktu in January of 2009.
Billion-Dollar Transportation Plan Announced in Oregon
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has proposed a suite of tax and fee increases to create more than $1 billion for transportation projects in the state. The package will hit the legislature in January.
NYC Imposes Bike Parking Requirements
New office and apartment buildings in New York City are now mandated to provide a certain proportion of secure bike parking spaces.
Estates for All
Wendell Cox looks at how single-family detached housing came to be, and why it's likely to remain a popular option for the middle class.
European Bike Sharing Programs Transform Cities
Paris' bike sharing program is well-known, but not alone - these programs are flourishing throughout Europe. The key to their proliferation lies in the new technology they utilize. This article highlights the 'third-generation' Barcelona program.
Freight Rail Flourishes Due To Innovations
In a time of plummeting oil prices, one might think rail would lose business to trucks, but the freight business is more detailed. In this interview with Burlington Northern Santa Fe CEO Mathew Rose, one gains an insight into freight rail's future.
New U.S. Streetcars A Boon to European Makers
A surge in streetcar system construction in the United States is benefitting a number of tram builders like Siemens of Germany and Skoda of the Czech Republic.
Cycle-Friendly Cities
Urban Velo Magazine updates readers on new methods for making cities cycle-friendly, and provides a brief history of cycles in cities.
China's Rail Investment Needs Pricing Reform
As China embarks on the greatest rail-building investment since the U.S. built its transcontinental railroad, this article points to the urgent need to reform its state-controlled pricing system, both for freight and passengers, to make it effective.
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
