Transit Planning

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

NextGen Bus Plan Approved in Los Angeles

Major changes are coming to the Metro bus system in the nation's second largest city. After three years of planning and public feedback, the Metro board has approved the NextGen bus plan.

November 5, 2020 - The Source

Transit Planning

Controversial Bus Rapid Transit Connection Between L.A. and Pasadena Moves Forward

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently released a draft environmental impact report for the NoHo to Pasadena Transit Corridor.

November 4, 2020 - Los Angeles Daily News

Portland Pearl District Streetcar

New Details for Portland's Transit Plan as Voters Head to the Polls

Voters in Portland-area voters will decide on a transportation funding measure for the "Get Moving 2020" plan, with details of four bus rapid transit project targeted for funding announced within weeks of the election.

November 2, 2020 - BikePortland

King County Metro Transit

Transit Spending on the Ballot in Seattle and Washington

Voters in the city of Seattle will consider a sales tax to fund bus transit service, while voters around the state of Washington will have a chance to send new leaders to Congress.

November 2, 2020 - The Seattle Times

Proterra Electric Bus

Studying AI's Potential to Optimize Public Transit Systems

Three projects are underway to optimize the efficiency and cost of public transit systems, thanks to government funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

October 29, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Fort Worth

Trinity Metro Needs Funding the Forth Worth City Council Doesn't Want to Give

The federal government has committed funding to two transit projects in Fort Worth, if local officials can provide matching funding. Fort Worth councilmembers are having trouble parting with the cash.

October 28, 2020 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Coronavirus and Transportation

Backtracking From Ambitious Bus Lane Promises in New York City

Back in June, the city of New York seemed poised for a major shift in transportation priority. In October, reality is setting in about how hard a sell the transformation will be.

October 28, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

Amtrak 2035

Two Railways Diverged: Amtrak Planning Expansion While Cutting Service

Amtrak is presented with the potential for two futures: In one is a $25 billion expansion to update national intercity rail with contemporary patterns of settlement. In the other is fiscal crisis and continued service cuts.

October 27, 2020 - My San Antonio

Public Transit

'Transit Insights' Updated With New Features for Visualizing Public Transit Data

One of the best tools for understanding the consequences and potential of transit planning has been recently updated.

October 26, 2020 - TransitCenter

Traffic

Video Explainer: Why Public Transit Doesn't Work for Most Americans

Vox's popular video explainer production team explains the consequences of U.S. auto dependency, and how to make transit work in the world we live in.

October 25, 2020 - Vox

Downtown Nashville Bus

'Better Bus' Is Nashville's Latest Attempt at Transit Upgrades

The Better Bus plan is the latest effort at rethinking public transit in Nashville.

October 25, 2020 - WeGo Public Transit

Coronavirus and Transportation

D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts

D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts

October 20, 2020 - Greater Greater Washington

Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit Project

Atlanta Bus Rapid Transit Project, a First in Georgia, Moves Along

The first-ever Bus Rapid Transit system for the region surrounding Atlanta is making progress, and ready to hire consultants.

October 18, 2020 - SaportaReport

MARTA Green Line

Transit Sales Tax Hinges on Local Control in Suburban Atlanta

Gwinnett County voters living have rejected proposals to pay taxes for the MARTA transit system before, so the latest proposal for a transit sales tax is going to great lengths to prove its local control bonafides.

October 1, 2020 - SaportaReport

Raleigh, North Carolina

Richmond-to-Raleigh High-Speed Rail Gets Big Funding Win

Federal grant funding awarded recently takes a critical step toward making high-speed intercity rail service a reality between North Carolina and Virginia.

September 27, 2020 - The News & Observer

Regional Transportation District

Pandemic Casts a Shadow Over Today's Big Rail Line Opening in Denver

The N Line between Denver and its northern suburbs opens today to the public, but N Line trains are expected to carry far fewer passengers, and lower frequencies, than originally planned.

September 21, 2020 - The Denver Post

Arlington to D.C.

Key Virginia Rail Bridge Project Completes Environmental Review

A $1.9 billion project to add a second set of rail tracks to the Long Bridge that connects Virginia to D.C. is ready to move forward with a recently completed Environmental Impact Statement.

September 17, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

Seattle light rail

Sound Transit Centers Transit-Dependent Communities in 2021 Service Changes

With the Northgate link light rail expansion project nearing completion and the effects of the pandemic lingering, Sound Transit will change its bus routes in 2021. The transit authority focuses on equity in plotting the route changes.

September 14, 2020 - The Urbanist

Transit Planning

East Link Light Rail Plans Provoke Controversy in Seattle Suburb

A proposal to link local and regional buses with the East Link light rail expansion in Mercer Island, already under construction, threatens to boil over into the courtroom.

September 1, 2020 - Mercer Island Reporter

San Francisco Rail Transit

Compromise Reached to Save Caltrain

The saga of the three-county sales tax upon which the future of Caltrain depends is now in the hands of voters.

August 24, 2020 - KTVU

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.