Transit Service

Op-Ed: Expand Chicago's Transit Beyond its Successful Status Quo

Yonah Freemark writes an op-ed that argues for the Chicago Transit Authority to do more than maintain the status quo.

November 3, 2014 - Crain's Chicago Business

Kansas City Streetcar to Provide Frequent, Late Night Service

Under construction and expected to launch service in Fall 2015, the Kansas City Streetcar will provide frequent service in Downtown Kansas City.

October 31, 2014 - The Kansas City Star

Why the Federal Government Should Require Minimum Service Standards for Rail

According to Yonah Freemark, there's folly in the way the federal government has been funding rail transit projects but failing to set standards for minimum service—a key indicator of transit ridership success.

August 21, 2014 - the transport politic

Study Identifies Chicago's 'Transit Deserts'

A new report challenges assumptions about Chicago's transit system, identifying well-populated neighborhoods that are cut off from frequent transit service.

August 4, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Study: Bikeshare Replaces Transit Trips in Minneapolis, Washington D.C.

Eric Jaffe dives into evidence that bike share should be considered an essential component of a multi-modal public transit network.

July 30, 2014 - CityLab

Toronto GO Transit

How Toronto is Making its Commuter Rail More Like Rapid Transit

Fifteen years in the making, Toronto is finally seeing increased ridership of its main commuter rail system, GO Transit, by changing its model from primarily serving suburban commuters to providing "all-day regional transit service."

July 30, 2014 - the transport politic

Paris Metro Train

The Value of Fast Transit—Under Construction in Paris

The proposed Grand Paris Express program, which began construction this summer and is expected for completion in 2030, will serve 2 million people a day at "wildly fast speeds." Then there's light rail in the United States.

July 24, 2014 - the transport politic

New Orleans Transit Service Not Keeping Pace with Recovery

A pair of articles in the Times-Picayune, along with a new study from advocacy group Ride New Orleans, finds the transit system in New Orleans doing less with more.

July 17, 2014 - The Times-Picayune

'Go Forward' Plan Would Expand Bus Service in Cincinnati

With 41 percent of the Cincinnati region’s 1 million jobs located in neighborhoods without public transportation, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority is developing the "Go Forward" plan to lean on bus service to fill the gap.

July 8, 2014 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Famous Mexico City traffic

Why and Where Driving is a Rational Choice

A recently released tool for analyzing the efficiency of travel modes in cities around the country reveals that driving is almost always a better choice—at least in travel time—than transit.

July 8, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

BART Rendering

Explaining the Limitations of Travel Time Comparisons

Jarrett Walker details the nuances of travel time comparisons, following on a recent Boston Magazine article comparing MBTA transit service to the new Bridj private bus service.

July 2, 2014 - Human Transit

Can Data Help Boston Improve its Nightlife?

Boston is considering regulatory changes that would extend the hours of late night services like alcohol sales and transit. An editorial in the Boston Globe recommends a data-driven approach for deciding where to implement the nightlife experiment.

June 16, 2014 - Boston Globe

MARTA's 2015 Budget Expands Rail Service

While many transit agencies around the country have increased fares in recent months to deal with budget deficits, Atlanta's MARTA has reported good financial news and has even proposed a 2015 budget that expands rail service.

June 6, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Broken Bus

Transit Irony: The More You Rely on It, the More They Cut

Transit authorities often push cuts on the people most dependent on public transit, sometimes called "captive riders." Instead, they focus resources on luring tourists and "choice riders" out of their cars. An article by Samantha Winslow explains.

May 5, 2014 - Labor Notes

Residents Upset with Dallas Streetcar's Short Service Hours

Residents in Dallas are concerned about the short hours of service for a forthcoming streetcar line connecting Dallas Union Station to Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

May 5, 2014 - RailwayAge

Can the MTA Speed Implementation of Communications-Based Train Control?

New York City is lagging behind cities like London, Paris, and Tokyo in implementing Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC). A recent report provides recommendations on how to speed up the process.

May 4, 2014 - Next City

How Important is High Frequency Transit Service?

Earlier this month, Portland’s TriMet restored high frequency bus service to ten bus routes around the city. Jarrett Walker makes the case that the frequency of service can make or break a city’s transit system.

March 24, 2014 - Human Transit

Detroit Motor Bus

The Derelict State of Detroit’s Buses

In a recent article for the Washington Post, Matthew Dolan details the sub-par state of bus service in Detroit—a city where residents live without cars in quickly growing numbers.

March 21, 2014 - The Washington Post

St. Louis at a Transit Crossroads

A recent article tackles the counter-intuitive state of transit investment in the St. Louis region: “While the abundance of transit possibilities create a veneer of progress, the region is quietly in a public transit state of crisis.”

March 12, 2014 - nextSTL.com

Mini Metro

Friday Fun: Build Your Own 'Mini Metro'

It's been available since September 2013, but news of the "Mini Metro' subway layout game recently hit the web. Finally, a test for all those armchair enthusiasts who think they can make the trains run on time.

March 7, 2014 - Dinosaur Polo Club

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.