Metro

Protest Crowd

L.A. Metro CEO Challenges Trump on Infrastructure Funding

President Trump’s most recent transportation budget is projected to cut transportation spending by 13 percent, potentially undercutting many of Los Angeles' ambitious projects to continue the build-out of a full public transportation system.

July 3, 2017 - The Planning Report

D.C. Metro

D.C. Metro Approves Fare Hike, Service Cuts

For months, transit advocates have dreaded the decision to raise fares and cut service throughout the D.C. Metro system. That day arrived last week. Changes take effect on July 1.

March 27, 2017 - The Washington Post

LA Metro, Wilshire and Western

Purple Line Extension Gets $1.6 Billion Boost in Los Angeles

The Purple Line subway extension is picking up momentum in Los Angeles. With construction already underway on the first phase, the second phase should commence in 2018.

January 5, 2017 - The Source

Foothill Transit

Local Buses Among the First to Benefit from L.A. County's Measure M

Fifteen municipal or regional bus services in Los Angeles County that receive funding from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be among the first to benefit from a newly approved transportation sales tax.

November 30, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

D.C. Metro

D.C. Metro's Proposed Service Cuts Would Disproportionately Affect Communities of Color

Planning and urbanism writers in Washington, D.C. agree that a proposal to cut service to 20 stations in the Metrorail system would have harmful effects for minorities in the region.

October 18, 2016 - The Washington Post

Transit Oriented Development

Pasadena Eases Into Bikeshare, Complete Streets

Located northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is a "destination city" of its own. A recent push to make its streets more bike-friendly coincides with the upcoming arrival of bikeshare.

August 31, 2016 - Pasadena Star-News

D.C. Metro

D.C. Metro to Test Free WiFi at Six Subway Stations

The beleaguered D.C.-area transit agency finally had something to talk about besides repair schedules, delays, and debt.

August 30, 2016 - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Expo Line

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.

May 23, 2016 - Wired

Transit Fail

About That Shocking Twitter Storm by @SFBART

The word "shocking" above could also have been "depressing," and the word "storm" could have also been "rant." Or it could have been "honest" and "victory." When it comes to transit, everyone sees what they want to see.

March 18, 2016 - James Brasuell

L.A. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Opens Today

All Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Gold Line riders will enjoy complimentary rides on Saturday to celebrate the opening of the $1 billion, 11.5-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension in the San Gabriel Valley.

March 5, 2016 - South Pasadena Review

Green Line, Los Angeles

Targeting Another Gap in the System, L.A. Metro Looks to Expand Eastward

The potential 2.8 mile expansion of the Metro Green Line would connect light rail to the Norwalk MetroLink Station, opening up new transit options to users throughout the region.

January 19, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

'Transit-Oriented Communities': A New Agenda For L.A. Metro

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is implementing a new vision for "transit-oriented communities."

December 29, 2015 - The Planning Report

Bus Stop

Does Consolidating Bus Stops Speed Up Buses?

The practice of consolidating bus stops—or stop thinning—is a controversial method to speed up buses. Los Angeles Metro is considering consolidation as part of its ongoing Strategic Bus Network Plan.

September 28, 2015 - Streetsblog LA

The First Days of Houston's New High Frequency Bus Grid

Houston is making big transportation news this week with the launch of a newly replanned Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) bus system.

August 19, 2015 - Human Transit

Chicago Bus

Seattle Lowers Transit Fares for Low-Income Residents

Joining Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, and Kansas City, Seattle now offers reduced bus fares to low-income residents. Some worry the program entrenches class differences and doesn't truly aid social mobility.

May 14, 2015 - Governing

Houston Approves Transit System Reimagining Plan

Jarrett Walker shares the news that the city of Houston gave final approval to overhaul its public transit system, including the implementation of a frequent network grid. The changes are expected to be complete by August 2015.

February 15, 2015 - Human Transit

Poking around the New York Subway for Germs

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College have spent the last 18 months scouring the New York Subway in the search for a DNA profile of the system. They even created a map of the 15,152 microbes they found.

February 6, 2015 - Science Daily

Mapping Income Inequality on D.C.'s Metro Lines

MIT's You Are Here mapping and data visualization project has produced a map of income levels, as tracked by the routes of the Metro subway system in Washington D.C.

January 29, 2015 - The Washington Post

Private Planning Effort Spearheads Los Angeles River Bike Path Proposal

Looking for a way to connect the separate pieces of the bike path along the Los Angeles River, a local developer took planning and designing a new path into his own hands.

January 26, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

San Fernando Valley Playing Catch Up in the Los Angeles Transit Boom

Dakota Smith reports that the Los Angeles transit renaissance is leaving the political leadership in the San Fernando Valley feeling left behind.

December 29, 2014 - Los Angeles Daily News

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.