Transportation

Blue CT Transit bus in Hartford, Connecticut with state capitol building in background

Connecticut Extends Free Bus Fares

Local leaders applaud the move, but are calling on the state to keep fares free permanently.

December 5, 2022 - Mass Transit

New York MTA subway station

Deficit Plan for New York MTA Includes Fare Hikes, More Relief

A series of federal relief funding in 2020 and 2021 helped the New York MTA keep its head above water over the past three years, but the funding is running out and the books still have to be balanced for a post-pandemic world.

December 5, 2022 - The Center Square

Light Rail Project Proposed Route

$1.9 Billion in State Budget Surplus Requested for L.A. Transit Projects

L.A. transit officials hope the state budget surplus can be used to fund regional transit project, including one highly anticipated light rail project that broke ground on Friday, December 2.

December 4, 2022 - Los Angeles Daily News

Rendering of Brightline West train passing through Southern California desert

L.A.-Las Vegas High Speed Rail Could Break Ground Next Year

The privately funded train would shuttle passengers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in half the time it takes to drive and could take 3 million vehicles off the road.

December 4, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Highway sign with "Stop the strak of TX traffic fatalities" against blue sky

Texas Road Safety Messaging Blames Pedestrians, Ignores Structural Flaws

Critics of the state’s ‘Be Safe. Drive Smart.’ campaign say the messaging puts the onus on pedestrians and cyclists while failing to address the lack of robust pedestrian and bike infrastructure in many of its cities.

December 4, 2022 - Next City

Rendering of Van Ness Avenue with Bus Rapid Transit

Some States Use More Highway Funding for Transit Than Others

A news study brings the receipts on state and regional transportation spending.

December 2, 2022 - TransitCenter

Station with rown of red Capital Bikeshare parked bikes on Washington, D.C. sidewalk

Bikeshare Ridership Up From Pre-Pandemic Levels

Shared micromobility, particularly docked bikeshare systems, are seeing record growth, but ‘scooter inflation’ may cool riders’ enthusiasm.

December 2, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Metro Bus

Free Rides, Overnight Service Considered for Metro Transit in D.C.

Washington, D.C. councilmembers are making a bold commitment to public transit.

December 2, 2022 - The Washington Post

Bus stop in Boulder, Colorado with snowy tree and snowy mountains in background

Colorado Free Transit Program Boosted Ridership

Many local transit agencies that took advantage of a state program that funded free fares throughout August have seen increased ridership even beyond the program’s end.

December 1, 2022 - The Colorado Sun

University Ave and Dundas Street in downtown Toronto

Canada's Car Commuting Roars Back as Transit’s Rebound Remains Slow

Car commuting rates are returning to pre-pandemic levels, while public transit and active transportation rates are slower to recover.

December 1, 2022 - The Globe and Mail

Kansas City electric streetcar

The Limits of Kansas City’s Fare-Free Experiment

For the Missouri city, the economic and social benefits of eliminating transit fares outweigh the costs, but can their success be replicated in bigger cities more dependent on farebox revenue?

December 1, 2022 - Governing

People examining parked goMARTI vans at launch event

Grand Rapids Tests First Rural Autonomous Shuttle

The town launched a five-vehicle fleet aimed at improving mobility for residents in the rural community.

November 30, 2022 - The Daily Yonder

View of large black SUV from behind with blurred small child on bicycle wearing helmet riding in front of car

Why Are U.S. Roads So Deadly?

Despite an abundance of Vision Zero pledges, U.S. roads remain some of the most dangerous in the developed world.

November 30, 2022 - The New York Times

Old brick buildings line Central Avenue in Baltimore. The street is filled with construction equipment.

Protected Bike Lanes, Vehicle Lane Reductions Cause Stir in Baltimore

Residents and business operators say they weren’t warned about a road diet planned for a major thoroughfare in Baltimore. Planners and advocates say the changes have been a long time coming.

November 30, 2022 - The Baltimore Sun

A conceptual rendering of new buildings around the Huntington Metro station in Virginia.

A New Transit Oriented Vision for Fairfax County, Virginia

A new transit station area plan is reaching the finishing line for the Huntington Metro station, serving the WMATA’s Yellow Line in Northern Virginia.

November 30, 2022 - FFX Now

Dark parking garage, empty except for one car covered with a red tarp

Advice for a Post-Parking Mandate World

After abolishing parking requirements, what can cities do to make the most of new space and revenue and avoid backlash?

November 29, 2022 - Next City

The Boring Company

Detailing the Boring Company’s Poor Track Record

Elon Musk’s promised solution for congestion—the Boring Co.—has proven most successful at disappearing on the governments that trusted them.

November 29, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

Aerial view of COlorado Springs, Colorado at dusk

Colorado Springs Updates Transportation Plan

The city made the first revisions to its transportation plan in twenty years, acknowledging the changing transportation needs of the region’s growing population.

November 29, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio

Two-lane street in Detroit's Greektown with American and Greek flags strung across the street

Detroit To Build New Parking for Small Businesses

The city will invest $9 million in an initiative to build customer parking on city-owned lots to boost economic development.

November 29, 2022 - Bridge Detroit

Amtrak Sunset Limited train viewed from the side passing low desert hills in West Texas

Passenger Rail Could Return to the Gulf Coast

Although the details of the deal remain murky, Amtrak and the freight companies that share tracks in the region have agreed to restore passenger train service east of New Orleans.

November 29, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

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.