Trains

View of snowy Union Station building in Cincinnati, Ohio

Ohio Debates Expanded Rail Service

The state has the chance to apply for a piece of $2.3 billion in federal funding to improve and expand Amtrak service.

December 11, 2022 - Governing

Rendering of Brightline West train passing through Southern California desert

L.A.-Las Vegas High Speed Rail Could Break Ground Next Year

The privately funded train would shuttle passengers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in half the time it takes to drive and could take 3 million vehicles off the road.

December 4, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Amtrak Sunset Limited train viewed from the side passing low desert hills in West Texas

Passenger Rail Could Return to the Gulf Coast

Although the details of the deal remain murky, Amtrak and the freight companies that share tracks in the region have agreed to restore passenger train service east of New Orleans.

November 29, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Intercity Rail

Virginia Amtrak Ridership Soars Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The four state-managed Amtrak lines are seeing increases of as much as 65 percent in ridership.

November 15, 2022 - WRIC

View of Dulles International Airport terminal

New Rail Line Connects D.C. Area to Dulles Airport

The Silver Line extends passenger train service into Loudon County and adds new connections to the region’s airports.

November 10, 2022 - The Washington Post

Construction "Road Closed" signs for Los Angeles Metro Purple Line

Database Analyzes Global Transit Project Costs

Researchers are cataloging the costs of transit projects around the world in an attempt to identify ways to bring costs down and spend transit funding more efficiently.

November 2, 2022 - Governing

Amtrak Sunset Limited train passing by forested area in Cade, Louisiana

More Delays for Restoring Gulf Coast Amtrak Service

Conflicts over freight rail and funding are holding up the restoration of New Orleans-to-Orlando service on Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line.

October 30, 2022 - Governing

Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train on California coast

Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train

A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.

October 28, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Orange Line platform with woman waiting with suitcases, Boston, Massachusetts

Lessons from Boston’s Orange Line Shutdown

A month-long shutdown of one of the region’s busiest lines prompted the city to experiment with temporary bus lanes, reoriented streets, and free bikeshare.

October 6, 2022 - Governing

Fairview Heights K Line station, Los Angeles

K Line to South L.A. To Open October 7

The line, part of L.A.'s effort to expand its public transit system ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, was originally scheduled to open in 2019.

September 26, 2022 - The Source (Metro)

San Francisco Bay bridge and Treasure Island aerial view

Maps for Proposed San Francisco Bay Tunnel Revealed

Planners presented two options for new tunnels that would help connect more parts of the Northern California megaregion to San Francisco and Oakland.

September 23, 2022 - San Francisco Examiner

Jersey City, NJ - November 13, 2016: Train passing through the Exchange Place PATH station located at Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey, adjacent to the Hudson River at Paulus Hook.

New York and New Jersey Agree To Fund Gateway Hudson Tunnel

The two governors signed an agreement to fund the construction of two new rail tunnels to improve service between the two states.

July 10, 2022 - CBS New York

Rendering of subterranean subway station

A Look at Austin’s Proposed Subway Stations

The Texas capital is planning an ambitious light rail system that will include subterranean stations.

July 8, 2022 - KUT

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

California Budget Includes $4.2 Billion for High-Speed Rail

The recently approved state budget directs $4.2 billion in bond funding to the Bakersfield-to-Merced leg of California’s long-awaited high-speed rail project.

July 5, 2022 - Sfist

Conceptual rendering of proposed Dallas bullet train station

Central Texas Bullet Train Loses Steam

A proposed bullet train project between Houston and Dallas may have stalled for the last time as the Texas Central Railway CEO steps down.

June 17, 2022 - Houston Chronicle

MARTA Station

Atlanta Transit Agency Issues $1.3 Billion Budget

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority says it is ‘well-positioned’ to resume pre-pandemic operations and make capital improvements in the coming years.

June 15, 2022 - Mass Transit

An Amtrak passenger train is shown on a spring day, rolling through a rural area in Missouri.

Amtrak Seeks $200 Million for Chicago Improvements

The agency wants to upgrade infrastructure and fix ‘long-standing deficiencies’ in its Chicago-area operations.

June 13, 2022 - Trains.Com

Denver Regional Transit

Colorado Proposal Would Fund Free Summer Transit

The state is weighing a plan to offer free transit rides during ozone-heavy months in an effort to improve the state's air quality.

March 30, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio

Orlando Rail Transit

Orlando Rail Driving Transit-Oriented Development

Central Florida's SunRail commuter train is spurring dozens of transit-oriented housing projects near its stations.

March 29, 2022 - Orlando Business Journal

SEPTA Station

Riders Getting Stuck in SEPTA Tunnels Due to Increased Security Measures

As ridership dropped during the pandemic, Philadelphia's transit agency started locking station doors to keep unhoused people from using the tunnels as shelter. Now, riders are becoming trapped inside.

March 21, 2022 - Billy Penn

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.