Traffic

Seattle Scrambles to Handle Upcoming Traffic 'Squeeze'
Dubbed the "Seattle Squeeze," heavier traffic is expected in the new year as the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes and downtown construction projects continue. While the city prepares, activists want to use the opportunity to encourage other modes.

Ride Hailing and Travel Behavior: It's Complicated
A pair of new studies add to an emerging scientific model of the effect of transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. The complication: One study reinforces earlier findings, and the other contradicts.

Debunking the Arguments Against Detroit's New Bike Lanes
Protected bike lanes, this writer argues, are just one part of a broader rebuild of Detroit that prioritizes engagement.

Study Reveals the Futility of Building Out of Congestion
Even if widening highways enough to relieve all congestion were possible, it would only benefit a very small number of commuters, according to new research.

Study Finds UberPOOL Adds to City Traffic by Competing with the Subway
Past studies have shown how ride hailing services have added to congestion. A new study by Bruce Schaller suggests that even ride shares add to traffic, because they pull riders off of more efficient transit options like public transit.
More Evidence of the Economic Upsides to Traffic
Because it forces infill and efficient transit, among other things, traffic is actually good per capita GDP and jobs.

Study Finds People Tend to Overestimate How Long It Takes to Walk and Bike
Ninety percent of respondents to a recent survey overestimated the time it would take to walk or bike to work, and those with parking permits were the worst at guessing their commute times.
A Call for Bus Rapid Transit in a Miami Suburb
The Miami suburb of Pinecrest, Florida would benefit greatly from a Bus Rapid Transit line on U.S. 1, argues City Councilmember James McDonald

If Traffic Costs Americans Billions, What About Waiting for Coffee?
The folks over at City Observatory brew up a "Cappuccino Congestion Index" to show that anything can be shown to cost Americans vast sums of money.

A Proven Track Record for Reducing Traffic Fatalities
Vehicle fatalities are trending upward around the United States, but Colombia's capital of Bogotá may have some best practices to share.

Silicon Valley Isn't Really Over
Though a handful of recent articles predicted "peak Silicon Valley," new numbers show the region is still producing lots of good jobs and attracting plenty of venture capital.

Navigation Apps Might Hurt Traffic Congestion More Than Help
Raise your hand if you envisioned a transportation network optimized to full efficiency by navigation apps.

Gondolas Proposed for Boston's Seaport District
Boston's Seaport District has grown rapidly, and traffic is an ongoing concern. Developers have proposed an interesting solution: aerial trams.

Do Rideshare and Goods Delivery Need Their Own Curb Space?
On some busy blocks, Uber and Lyft drivers have nowhere safe to park. Neither do parcel delivery personnel. Shared use mobility zones could address the problem.

Flooded With Navigation App Users, a Town Closes Its Streets
Navigation apps like Waze often reroute drivers onto residential streets that would be quiet otherwise. With some residents unable to leave their driveways, the New Jersey borough of Leonia has taken an extreme measure against the problem.

Study Ranks the 'Traffic Resilience' of Urban Road Systems
The inefficiencies of daily commutes set aside, the road systems of some cities are not prepared to deal with unexpected events that disrupt the transportation system.

Boston Turns to Tactical Urbanism to Improve Bus Service
A particularly frustrating 1.2-mile stretch became a whole lot smoother when simple orange cones turned a parking lane and a bike lane into a lane for buses.

With a 710 Freeway Extension Unlikely, Cities Propose Alternatives
After withdrawing support for a controversial extension of the 710 Freeway, Los Angeles Metro is asking cities for local road improvements to improve traffic flow in its stead.

Op-Ed: Planners Could Do More to Encourage Healthy Communities
In many locales, instruments like traffic studies take pedestrian health into little account. According to Lark Lo, healthy communities haven't been much of a priority at all.

Chicago Needs Congestion Pricing
The Chicago Tribune's editorial board argues that congestion pricing will not only decrease congestion, but also make the city more attractive to people and businesses.
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