Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New York Subway

Regardless of Cost, New York Must Rehabilitate its Crown Jewel: the Subway

Depending on what's included, the cost to rebuild the ailing 665-mile system could be $111 billion, but the city's future depends on it. A feature-length New York Times Magazine piece looks at its history and suggests ways to finance rebuilding.

January 12, 2018 - The New York Times Magazine

New York Public Transit

MTA's 'Genius Transit Challenge' Finalists Have Plenty of Resources to Muster

The headline on the New York Times when the "Genius Transit Challenges was announced: "M.T.A. Asks Transit Fans, ‘Who Wants to Be a Subway-Saving Millionaire?’" Now it looks like the winner will already be a millionaire.

December 27, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York Public Transit

New York Mayor: Tax the Rich to Pay for Transit

Mayor Bill de Blasio is looking for new ways to fund transit improvements and access.

August 7, 2017 - The New York Times

NYC Subway Riders

New York Crowdsourcing Solutions to Subway Challenges—$3 Million in Rewards Offered

Three "genius" citizen planners will be awarded $1 million in return for the best and brightest ideas for improving the New York subway.

July 7, 2017 - The New York Times

MTA Bus

MTA Proposes Bus System Overhaul for Staten Island

Staten Island is getting what appears to be the biggest trend in transit planning: a bus system makeover.

June 2, 2017 - Staten Island Advance

nyc. subway.

New York MTA Proposes 6-Point Plan to Reduce Subway Headaches

The new plan to reduce delays on New York's subway system will rely on short-term fixes, rather than long-term modernization projects.

May 19, 2017 - The New York Times

New York Subway Ridership Hits 65-Year High While Bus Ridership Declines

Subway ridership statistics for 2014 were cause for celebration at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), but the city's bus lines are not experiencing the same growth in popularity.

April 27, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

New York MTA Increases Transit Fares to Fund Capital Investments

The latest fare increase for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority comes against the backdrop of record ridership and a $15 billion funding gap for the system's five-year capital plan.

January 23, 2015 - New York Times

The High Price of Raising Low State Gas Taxes

Now that an increase in New Jersey's gas tax is before the legislature, Christopher Maag of The (New Jersey) Record looks at how neighboring states Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York have met their transportation needs.

November 20, 2014 - The Record

MTA's Five-Year Capital Plan Calls for $32 Billion in Investments

The Wall Street Journal takes an advance look at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2015-2019 capital plan.

September 23, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Train Derailment Halts America's Busiest Train Line

A Friday evening collision between two Metro-North trains near Fairfield, Conn. injured 60 people, 5 of them critically. It's not known when service will be restored along the busiest train line in the nation.

May 20, 2013 - The New York Times

Screened Subway Platforms Ruled-Out for NYC

The front page photo, "Doomed" on the New York Post on Dec. 4 of pushed subway rider, Ki Suk Han attempting to lift himself from the tracks as a train approaches has captivated many - yet a proposal to prevent it from repeating it is doomed as well.

December 12, 2012 - Capital New York

The One Form of Public Transit That Sandy Didn't Shut Down

Though fewer in number, taxis had no competition with subways, buses, and commuter rail all shut down in advance of the Monday night storm. Matt Flegenheimer continues his update on how Hurricane Sandy affected pubic transit and roads in New York.

October 30, 2012 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Two Opinions on NYC's Proposed Subway Fare Increase

Editorializing on the expected fare increase for New York City's 8.5 million transit riders, the Times suggests ways to soften the blow. Writing in response, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission suggests looking toward motorists.

October 23, 2012 - The New York Times - Opinion

NYC Cleans Up Subways by...Removing Trash Cans?

It seems to work for the spotless Tokyo subway system, but in grimy New York? A pilot program that removed trash cans in select NYC subway stations resulted in decreased trash hauls (duh) and cleaner stations (huh). Now it's being expanded.

September 1, 2012 - The New York Times

Should American Tax Dollars Stay in America?

Madeline Janis, former commissioner on the board of L.A.'s Community Redevelopment Agency, argues that American job creation should be a top priority when awarding transit contracts.

May 31, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

A Block Too Pretty For Subway Entrances?

East 69th Street is mobilizing to halt the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to add subway entrances on their tony block - needed to handle displaced crowd flows from adding required ADA elevators at the 68th Street entrances.

February 27, 2012 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Irene Preparation Causes Shut Down Of NYC Metro Transit System

In preparation for Hurricane Irene, the MTA is shutting down buses, subways, and commuter rail in the New York City metro area. Transit operated till noon on August 27, then will begin the 8-hour process to store the vehicles and prepare for Irene.

August 28, 2011 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Bay Area MPO Cleared Of Racial Bias Charges

A federal appeals court upheld a federal district court ruling that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area's transportation planning and funding agency, does not discriminate against minorities in the way it funds buses and trains

February 22, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

MTA Head Jay Walder: One Year Later

Walder’s arrival from London, where he transformed a flagging bus and subway system, brought high hopes for New York’s transit system, says Michael Grynbaum. But is he meeting the expectations of riders and officials?

October 26, 2010 - The New York Times

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.

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.