Transportation Planning

Zakim Bridge and Tobin Bridge

Legal Settlement a Major Win for High-Capacity Transportation in Massachusetts

A decision by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to rescind a carpool lane has not resulted in a significant expansion of transit and carpool capacity on Interstate 93 north of Boston.

November 22, 2020 - Streetsblog Massachusetts

Downtown Dallas

The Right Planning Consultant Could Make All of the Difference

Between DART service optimization and deciding the fate of I-345, Dallas has big of decisions to make. The right consultant, who understands accurate framing of planning issues, could help choose a route that best serves Dallasites.

November 20, 2020 - D Magazine

Highway Widening

A Texas Freeway Revolt

The thirst for urban expansion and new highway capacity hit a roadblock on the fringe of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis.

November 19, 2020 - D Magazine

Texas Freeway

TxDOT Wants to Build the I-35 Capital Expressway to 20 Lanes

After releasing "public scoping" details for a massive widening project in Downtown Austin, a writer slams the Texas Department of Transportation for its car-centric approach to transportation planning.

November 17, 2020 - Austin Towers

Boeing Freeway

Widening, Other Improvements Planned for the 'Boeing Freeway'

The Washington State Department of Transportation is proposing a series of changes to State Route 526 that includes a new eastbound travel lane.

November 17, 2020 - Washington State Department of Transportation via Patch

Regional Transit

Affluent Bay Area Suburb Adopts New 'Rethinking Mobility' Plan

The city of Walnut Creek has adopted a new five-year transportation plan designed to get drivers into more efficient modes of transportation.

November 3, 2020 - The Mercury 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

New York City, New York

Staten Island Expressway Gains a Lane

The Staten Island Expressway is expanding in the name of congestion relief.

October 30, 2020 - Staten Island Advance

Presidential Campaign

For Transportation, Real Reform Can Only Happen at the State and Local Levels

Without buy-in for new ways of thinking at the state level, the presidential election is not likely to change much about the ways the United States plans and funds transportation infrastructure.

October 28, 2020 - theTransportPolitic

Highway Widening

Key Planning Agency Rejects Maryland Highway Widening Proposal

A plan to widen interstates 495 and 270 failed a critical step on the way to approval, in a decision likely to lead to a lawsuit when the Maryland Department of Transportation settles on a final plan.

October 26, 2020 - Maryland Matters

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

Wynyard Quarter

Considering Transportation Impacts on Well-Being and Livability

The New Zealand Transport Agency’s new report, "Transport Impacts on Wellbeing and Liveability" provides guidance for transportation planning that achieves fairness, neighborliness, respect, community identity, pride, fitness, and health.

October 23, 2020 - Transport Impacts on Wellbeing and Liveability: Literature Summary

Mobile Phones

Location Data Could Unlock a Less Car-Centric Future

A report from the Brookings Institution shows how planners can use new types of anonymized data to inform mobility planning decisions.

October 22, 2020 - Route Fifty

Trump and Biden Ballot

Potential Presidential Election Outcomes for U.S. Transportation Policy

Experts opine on the consequences of the presidential election for U.S. transportation policy.

October 20, 2020 - CNN

Cleveland i-80

Equitable Transportation Planning Initiative Advances in Northeast Ohio

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is moving forward with a groundbreaking policy to consider regional economic inequities when evaluating potential highway projects.

October 13, 2020 - The Plain Dealer

Highway Construction

$1 Billion in Transportation Grants Announced by U.S. DOT

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced $1 billion in BUILD transportation grants, once again showing a preference for car-centric, rural projects in selecting the winners of this competitive grant process.

October 12, 2020 - Transport Topics

Transportation Planning

Portland Voters to Consider Largest Ever Transportation Investment in November

The Get Moving 2020 transportation plan will face voters in thee Portland, Oregon region in November.

October 8, 2020 - KGW

Carbon Tax

Reducing Emissions From Transportation Would Produce Huge Health Benefits, Study Says

New research suggests that cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector would have tremendous benefits to public health.

October 7, 2020 - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Crosswalk

An Excellent New Book: Right of Way

In Right of Way, Angie Schmitt explains why U.S. pedestrian fatalities have increased in recent years.

October 5, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Interstate 77

Local Opposition to Ohio DOT's I-77 Widening Plans Near Akron

The Ohio Department of Transportation wants to add lanes to Interstate 77 outside Akron to reduce congestion. Some local officials think the project will connect the region to the East Coast; others think the money would be better spent locally.

September 30, 2020 - Cleveland.com

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.