Transportation
Cities Seek To Reclaim Streets
American cities are increasingly making moves to reclaim their streets. In this column, Neal Peirce looks into the trend.
Railroads Gaining Ground
Rail freight providers are ramping up as the cost of transporting a shipping container by truck becomes prohibitive.
PA Turnpike Lease Saga Coming To A Head
The mother of all toll road leases appears to come to a head next month, and though the chances of the near $13 billion lease of the the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike to Citigroup-Abertis team are most uncertain, the PA saga is worthy of study.
California High Speed Rail Proposal Heading to Ballot
Rapidly approaching a ballot deadline, CA Gov. Schwarzenegger caved in his pledge to veto any bills sent to him prior to receiving a budget by signing a bill that modernizes the 2002 high speed rail bond. Prop 1A will now appear on the Nov. ballot.
Dramatic Dining on Broadway's New Esplanade
Cafe seating overlooking New York's Broadway traffic is popular in spite of safety concerns.
Last Call for Bar Cars
Chicago's Metro is closing down its rolling taverns- not for reasons of temperance, but because they need the room for the growing number of rail commuters.
Extreme Commuting: A 23-Mile Run
Gas prices are driving a select few die-hards to trade in their cars for running shoes.
Beijing's Temporary Clean Air Policies May Stick
With some of the its cleanest air in decades, Beijing is warming up to some of the pollution-cutting regulations officials have enacted during the Olympics. Some may become permanent.
The Future of the Electric Car
Shai Agassi, who's not quite the household name T. Boone Pickens is, has an even more radical plan to end the planet's oil addiction.
Cities React as Drivers Become Cyclists
Across the country, cities are trying to figure out how to handle the rising tide of cyclists riding through their streets. A common reaction is to offer classes on safe cycling.
Behind the Scenes at the L.A. Subway
Josh Stephens illuminates the debate on subway expansion plans in Los Angeles and the forces on all sides.
Should Drivers Pay For Climate Protection?
AAA and the Chamber of Commerce fight environmentalists and transit planners who want to allow California voters to decide to add regional driver’s fees, either variable registration surcharges or new gas taxes, to fund climate protection measures.
Where the Subway Ends
The New York Times surveys the end of every subway line in the city, from Ozone Park to Coney Island. At most stops, they find a gritty existence. A beautiful page of photos accompanies the article.
Downtown Dallas Has 'Turned a Corner'
A new interest in urbanism and public transit is attracting businesses to downtown. One proponent says, 'I can't remember a time since the early 1980s that we had a bigger year for downtown Dallas.'
Landmark Smart Growth Bill Close to Passing in CA
CA's landmark smart growth bill, SB 375, is close to passing. It aims to reduce global warming by requiring regions to devise "sustainable community strategies".
Controversial Plan To Tackle Bike 'Bumping' On Trains
Should a packed commuter train remove seats to make room for cyclists or charge to bring bikes on board during peak hours? The Caltrain line between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the first to accommodate cyclists, is wrestling with this issue.
To Succeed, BRTs Need 'AYFs'
"Attractive young females" may be the bellwether of success on new public transit systems, according to a transit consultant who was in the Twin Cities to advise about a planned bus rapid transit line.
Fighting Bike Lanes and Emissions in San Francisco
One vocal San Francisco man has halted progress on the city's expansive bicycle master plan, claiming that the more space allotted to bicycles, the more traffic congestion -- and greenhouse gas emissions -- there will be.
Bikers vs. Environmentalists
Planners in Montgomery County, MD are nixing a proposed bike path because of its nearness to 'ecologically sensitive parkland'. Bicycle proponents think this argument doesn't hold water. Says one,'they're already running a big highway through there.'
Congressperson Asks Americans To Drive Slower
One of Congress' newest members sees it fitting that Americans should drive slower to save fuel - an appropriate sacrifice for a war she sees partly waged for oil. Her first bill, HR 6458, lowers speed limits to 60/65 mph (urban/rural areas).
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
