Transit Planning

Commuter Rail

Post-Pandemic Transit Planning: A New Era for Commuter Rail

Ridership on the nation's commuter rail services has plummeted more than other forms of transit during the pandemic. Serving a more affluent, professional ridership, commuter rail is looking more likely to face long-term cuts after the pandemic.

January 28, 2021 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Bus Priority Zones

Survey Says New Yorker Want More Protected Bike and Bus Lanes, Less Parking

A new survey reveals broad support for a less car-centric approach to capital investment in the city of New York.

January 27, 2021 - Gothamist

BART Train

Change of Plans: Transit Funding Priorities Shift in the Silicon Valley

Santa Clara County cities rebel against the agency's proposed plan to spend most of the Measure B funds on a Silicon Valley BART extension.

January 22, 2021 - The Mercury News

Sound Transit Seattle

Price Tag Jumps for Seattle Light Rail Projects

Land values and construction costs have increased since voters approved the Sound Transit 3 ballot initiative.

January 12, 2021 - The Seattle Times

Masked Passengers at Rainway Station

Transportation Equity Lessons from the Pandemic

Almost a year into the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Urban Institute assesses what we've learned about transportation equity—and what these lessons mean for the future.

January 12, 2021 - Urban Institute

High Line

Proposal Would Connect the High Line to the New Moynihan Train Hall

The High Line has a chance to add the role of civic connector to its list of plaudits.

January 12, 2021 - The New York Times

Baltimore Rail

Report Highlights the Need for Local Governance in Baltimore Transit

The unique structure of the Maryland Transit Administration leaves local stakeholders out of decision-making.

January 7, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Norfolk, Virginia

Next Up for Bus System Redesign: Norfolk, Virginia

The Norfolk City Council will vote in February on a draft transit system redesign organized around the principle of a high frequency grid, similar to system redesigns in other cities in recent years.

January 6, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

14th Street Busway New York City

Judge Clears the Obstacles for Queens Busway Project

One piece of New York City's Better Buses Action Plan has been relieved of legal resistance.

January 6, 2021 - amNew York

Brookline, Massachusetts

Dedicated Bus Lane Planned for Boston Neighbor

Bus lanes are catching on in the Boston region. The city of Brookline is the latest example.

January 1, 2021 - Streetsblog Mass

My First Ride

Federal Funding Could Vastly Improve Transit Services

With a $17 billion federal investment, every city's public transit could look like Chicago's.

December 31, 2020 - GOVTECH.COM

CTA El Train

One Big Step Forward, One Small Step Back for Chicago Red Line Extension

A big approval and a significant delay—but otherwise 2020 has been a positive year for plans to extend the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line by 5.6 miles to the south.

December 28, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Montreal Light Rail

Big Light Rail Expansion Planned in Montreal

Montreal officials recently announced details of a major expansion of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).

December 25, 2020 - CBC

Bus Lane

Pandemic Bus Lanes Show Promise as Permanent Solutions

As cities streamline approval processes for bus-only lanes during the pandemic, transit experts hope the projects will lead to lasting change.

December 21, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Thomas/Central Avenue Station

$544 Million in Transit Capital Investment Funding Announced

The latest round of funding for the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant funding program was announced this week.

December 20, 2020 - Federal Transit Administration

New York City Subway

What's in the New Economic Stimulus Package for U.S. Transit Agencies

A new economic stimulus package that appears headed for approval as of this writing will give $15 billion to public transit, far less than transit advocates had hoped, but far better than nothing.

December 17, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Texas State Capital

Austin Hopes to Buck Tradition with Anti-Gentrification Measures in its New Transit Plan

Project Connect promises to prioritize equity and inclusion with $300 million dedicated to anti-displacement efforts.

December 17, 2020 - City Monitor

New York Subway

New York, Boston Transit Agencies Back Off Proposed Cuts

News of a potential economic stimulus package in Congress is followed by news that two of the nation's most prominent transit systems are reducing cuts proposed to address plummeting revenues.

December 17, 2020 - Spectrum News

Coronavirus and Transportation

L.A. Metro Plans for an Equitable Recovery

The pandemic has forced difficult confrontations with inequities that existed long before the novel coronavirus. L.A. Metro planners are responding by charting a path toward a transportation system that reverses and improves those previous realities.

December 16, 2020 - James Brasuell

Purple Line Extension Construction

New Database Quantifies the Costs of Transit Construction in the United States

The Eno Center for Transportation launched the first institutional investigation of the cost of transit projects earlier this year and recently released its initial findings, with promises for more in-depth case studies to come.

December 15, 2020 - Eno Center for Transportation

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.