Light Rail

Are Ride-Hailing Services Complementing or Competing with Rail Transit?
A news report on Charlotte's Lynx Blue Line looks at whether ride-hailing services are complementing rail transit by providing vital first mile-last mile service or whether customers are forgoing the transit trip entirely. Ridership has been falling.

Rail Transit: You Get What You Pay For
Seattle Transit blog compares rail investments from five cities around the country.

What L.A.'s New Expo Line Extension Won't Do
The $1.5 billion, 6.6-mile light rail extension from Culver City to Santa Monica is projected to double trips on the line by 2030, giving commuters a viable alternative to driving. Just the same, don't expect the extension to reduce congestion.

What It's Like to Ride the New Expo Line to Santa Monica
For a bit of fun, take this animated ride on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new Expo Line extension.

Boise Tackles the Tough Question: Go Light Rail or Go Bus?
A new circulator system for Downtown Boise, Idaho is in the works, with the mayor gently throwing his support behind a light rail system. But questions over costs remain.

Cities Discovering the Limitations of Half-Baked Rail Plans
Presenting less of an argument against transit than an argument for good transit and land use planning, Streetsblog surveys some of the country's worst performing rail lines.

Parking Crunch Hits New Light Rail Station
The number of people parking at the new Gold Line light rail station in Azusa, California is outstripping the available supply of parking spaces, forcing many onto surrounding residential streets, which now has neighbors up in arms.

Seattle Light Rail Extension Already Beating Ridership Expectations
The new Sound Transit light rail link between downtown, Capitol Hill, and the University of Washington is already drawing a crowd.

Friday Funny: The Death Star's Transit System Is the Best
If you've been waiting for a nice crossover of the Star Wars universe and the planning and urban design universe, here it is.
Purple Line Light Rail Gets Critical Go-Ahead in Maryland
The Purple Line light rail route will connect Bethesda and New Carrollton in Maryland.
Seattle's New Light Rail Line Proving Good for Business
Since a March opening greeted with fanfare for its on-time and under budget delivery, local business are crediting the new light rail line connecting Downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill with big sales bumps.
Light Rail Extension Opens on Saturday in Seattle
A $1.9 billion light rail extension, connecting to the University of Washington campus and the Capitol Hill neighborhood, will open to the public this weekend.
Transit Sparks Generational Conflict in Virginia's Hampton Roads
A controversy has emerged over the future of transportation in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, especially as it relates to demographics of the coveted "millennial workforce" variety.
Nashville Leaves Room to Maneuver on Transit Planning Future
Nashville residents are being asked to choose their preference among a menu of transit planning options. The most expensive version of the plan would cost $5.4 billion, the least $800 million.

Las Vegas Transit Plan Includes Light Rail
To alleviate tourist traffic and serve residents, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has unveiled a long-term plan to invest billions in transit improvements including light rail and an expanded monorail.
Houston's Big Year in Transit Pays Off in New Ridership
It was a big year for transit in Houston: two new light rail lines launched operation and the regional bus system got a makeover on the high frequency grid model. Ridership is also up.
Big Transit Happenings Expected for the Sun Belt in 2016
A streak of landmark years for public transit in Sun Belt cities from the West Coast to the Florida Panhandle will continue in 2016.
Civil Rights Activists Target Baltimore Red Line Cancellation
A complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation alleges that Maryland Gov. Hogan's decision to cancel the long-planned Red Line rail project violates the Civil Rights Act.
Can Jerusalem's Light Rail Pull the City’s Past Into the Future?
Since 2011, the controversial Jerusalem Light Rail system has been a driving force behind the renewal and reintegration of some areas of the old city. In addition, the Jerusalem Business District is being planned as the city's new economic hub.

Study to Address Staten Island Transportation Deserts
Residents of Staten Island suffer from very long commutes, and many rely on cars. The New York City Council has proposed a study to determine how additional transit could be implemented in the borough.
Pagination
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research