Transportation Planning

Houston, Texas

Environmental Study Released for $7 Billion Houston Highway Project

The final environmental impact statement for the controversial North Houston Highway Improvement Project is available for public comment, courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation.

September 29, 2020 - Community Impact Newspaper

MAX line in front of Pioneer Courthouse

Big Business in Portland Doesn't Want to Pay for Metro Transportation Funding Measure

A heated dispute over a $5 billion Metro transportation funding ballot measure has erupted between climate activists and a group representing Portland's big business interests.

September 28, 2020 - The Portland Mercury

Oil

Gone by 2035: Gas-Powered Car Sales Have an Expiration Date in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday an executive order that would ban the sale of cars powered by internal combustion engines by 2035. California is the first state in the country to take such action.

September 24, 2020 - Palm Springs Desert Sun

Highway Construction

Tolls Not Included: Toll Proposals Keep Ending Up in the Dustbin in Texas

Another example of the growing political and planning opposition to the idea of tolling new roads in Texas.

September 22, 2020 - Houston Chronicle

Recreational Vehicle

Constitutional Amendment Would Shift Some Gas Tax Revenue to Transit Spending in Nevada

Democratic legislators in Nevada are considering a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to use gas tax revenues for transportation projects other than road construction, maintenance, and repair.

September 20, 2020 - The Nevada Independent

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

Historic Third Ward

Tracking Complete Streets Progress in Milwaukee

The city of Milwaukee's commitment to Complete Streets is still in early stages, as a new progress report details with an eye toward the future.

September 10, 2020 - Urban Milwaukee

Highway Widening

Big Highway Widening Plan Faces Public Scrutiny in Maryland

First proposed in 2019, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's highway widening plan has been trimmed everywhere but the bottom line.

September 10, 2020 - Maryland Matters

Kids Crossing the Street

Debunking Traffic Safety Myths as Pedestrian Fatalities Increase

Angie Schmitt, former editor at Streetsblog USA, has written a new book about pedestrian fatalities, which works to dispel some of the myths about traffic safety in the United States.

September 9, 2020 - Curbed

Interstate 664 Virginia

Virginia DOT Bound by New Law to Study Transportation Demand Management

A new requirement for the Virginia Department of Transportation took effect on July 1. The state's transportation planners and engineers now must study Transportation Demand Management as an approach to congestion management.

September 9, 2020 - The Virginia Mercury

Al Fresco Streets

Beyond Complete Streets: Could COVID-19 Help Transform Thoroughfares Into Places for People?

Key considerations for those with a vision to make change on city streets.

September 7, 2020 - Dan Hemme

Marquam Bridge

Audit Faults Oregon DOT for Lack of Public Engagement

Faulted for lack of attention to pedestrian and bike advocates, the Oregon Department of Transportation will soon have opportunities to redeem itself.

September 6, 2020 - The Oregonian

Traffic

The Outdated Models That Continue to Guide Transportation Planning

Transportation demand models offer predictions that are used to make important decisions, but their accuracy is questionable. The real issue, however, might be about the goals of planning and how urban life and livability are quantified.

August 31, 2020 - Vice Magazine

Walking

Professional Planners Anticipate Post-Pandemic Active Commuting

Many planners say they want to try out active commutes when in-office work becomes possible. How will a fresh look at their local streets influence planning professionals and planning practice?

August 27, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Autonomous Vehicle

Book Review: 'Ghost Road' and Visions for Autonomous Transporation

Anthony M. Townsend's new book goes beyond autonomous automobiles to examine autonomous transportation in a larger context.

August 26, 2020 - Inside Higher Ed

Freeway Interchange

Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Explained and Evaluated

Knowing is half the battle, and most people have a lot to learn about metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and how they maintain the status quo of transportation planning and spending in the United States.

August 12, 2020 - DOTs and State Level Steez

Image of Chicago Lake Shore Drive Freeway

Bus Lanes, Desired by Advocates for Chicago's Lake Shore Drive Project, Back on the Table

After releasing a list of project alternatives that didn't include new bus lanes in the existing roadway, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has changed its mind.

August 5, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Cleveland i-80

New Layer of Equity Analysis Considered for Regional Planning in Northeast Ohio

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is considering a new policy that will add considerations about regional economic inequities when evaluating potential highway projects.

July 27, 2020 - The Plain Dealer

Cars Traffic

The Future of the Typical, Solo Car Commute

A study finds that a third of workers would prefer to work remotely every day of the workweek, potentially removing nearly 50 million cars from U.S. roadways.

July 24, 2020 - Streetsblog USA

Beltway Traffic

Car-Centric Choices Shortchange the Walkability Goals of the 2010 Tysons Comp Plan

Ten years after Tysons, an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, approved an award winning comprehensive plan, there's still work to be done to achieve its ambitious goals.

July 21, 2020 - The Washington Post

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.