A recent Eno Foundation webinar critically evaluated the benefits, costs, and equity impacts of 12 emerging transportation modes and services. It's a timely and fun discussion. The video and slideshow are available for free.
New transportation technologies and services are coming online faster than ever. Micromodes, bike- and car-sharing, ridehailing, electric and autonomous vehicles, public transit innovations, air taxis (flying cars), tunnel roads, telework, pneumatic tube transport, mobility prioritization and logistics management are all under development or becoming commercially available. How should communities prepare? Which New Mobilities should be mandated, encouraged, regulated, restricted, or forbidden?
While many of these emerging technologies can help to expand our world and provide benefits, they need to be evaluated critically. In a recent Eno Foundation webinar, Todd Litman, author of the book New Mobilities: Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies, described and evaluated 12 emerging transportation modes and services. Litman summarized their benefits, costs and equity impacts, and discussed some often overlooked challenges.
For example, when should transportation agencies dedicate special lanes to allow autonomous vehicles to platoon (drive close together at relatively high speeds), and how much should users pay for the privilege? How much should governments subsidize electric vehicles? Will New Mobilities increase or reduce traffic problems? How should planners address these questions?
The webinar video and slideshow are now available free at the Eno Foundation website.
FULL STORY: WEBINAR: THE NEW MOBILITIES: SMART PLANNING FOR EMERGING TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES
Toward More Comprehensive Multi-Modal Transport Planning
Transportation planning is undergoing a paradigm shift. The new paradigm is more multi-modal and comprehensive, and so can better respond to changing travel demands and emerging community needs.
Planning Trends for 2025: Creative Housing Solutions, Ongoing Transit Woes, and the Ever-Creeping Tentacles of AI
Urban planners have no shortage of urgent issues to delve into, from a deepening housing crisis to an increasingly unpredictable climate to a new federal administration bent on slashing key funding for everything from electric cars to housing assistance.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland