Rail
Opinion: L.A. Metro Bus Plan Must Put Riders First
A bold proposal to overhaul the region’s bus system will require leaders and government officials who will commit to putting the needs of riders front and center.
Virginia to Pay $3.7 Billion for 225 Miles of Rail Track
New passenger rail improvements for the Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak are on the way in 2020.
Two Years In, a Look at the Twin Cities Fare Discount Program
In 2017, Metro Transit in the Twin Cities raised fares but also started a program for low-income riders to help ease the burden of travel costs.
L.A. Metro Report Examines How Women Travel
Findings from a new study about the mobility needs and concerns of women in Los Angeles will inform future initiatives and planning.
Fewer People Parking at Denver Airport, While Ride Hailing and Rail Numbers Are on the Rise
More people are using the A-Line, Uber, and Lyft to travel to and from Denver International Airport (DIA). With parking numbers down, DIA has scrapped plans for two new parking garages.
Design Thinking Needs a Broader Perspective
A design-focused study of mode choice doesn’t consider the many ways people interact with and travel through urban environments.
Ridership Down for Northern Virginia Public Transit
Metrorail has seen ridership improve in Northern Virginia, but not enough to balance out the losses to bus ridership.
Scarf Depicting Rail Delays Sells for $8,650
A German rail commuter recorded each day’s travel by knitting a scarf.
Chicago and New York: Two Transit Systems, Two Very Different Outcomes
Both cities have aging transit systems in need of major repairs. Chicago’s approach has helped turn the system around while New York is still grappling with its issues.
Plans for Huge Expansion of Rail Service in Chilean Capital
Chile's President, Sebastian Piñera, announced that Santiago's rail system will add two new lines and extend one of its existing train routes.
Two Studies Show How Light Rail Benefits Houston
Finally, the city seems to be reaping benefits from a major investment in public transportation.
Breaking: Mega-Companies Expected to Merge to Stay Competitive in the Rail Industry
Alstom and Siemens are close to a merger in a move calculated to help the companies compete against the Chinese state-backed company CRRC.
$32 Billion for Port Authority Capital Plan
A plan that includes improvements for LaGuardia, new rail transit and more automotive infrastructure to be completed over the next ten years.
Virginia Planning for High-Speed Rail Between Richmond and D.C.
The pieces of the still-speculative Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor—connecting Atlanta to Washington, D.C.—are starting to take shape. The latest leg to come into focus would connect Richmond to D.C.
Swiss Complete World's Longest, Deepest Tunnel in Record Time
The Gotthard base tunnel under the Swiss Alps is an "engineering tour-de-force" at 57.5 kilometres in length. Its nearest rival is the Seikan Tunnel in Japan, at 53.9 km.
U.S. Won Space Race but Lost High Speed Rail Race
The U.S. ranked 19 out of 20 for countries with high speed rail service according to a new survey by GoEuro.
Change of Venue for Denver's Transit CEO: Los Angeles
Phillip Washington will leave his role as CEO of the Denver Regional Transportation District to take the same position at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Trains Are Always Better than Buses, Right?
Josh Barro provide examples galore of why the answer to that question isn't always yes—where costly rail investment has been to the detriment of existing transit. His column targets proposed projects, such as New York's LaGuardia Airport AirTrain.
How Can Rail Complete its Comeback in the United States?
Deepa Sanyal writes the second installment of a series devoted to the idea of "Rail Redux"—this time examining the question of what components are necessary to drive a "true rail resurgence."
California High Speed Rail Update
The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Center offers good news about California's slow-to-start high speed rail.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
