Transportation
Maryland Taps Feds for $360m in Rail Projects
Seeking federal stimulus dollars for its own set of "shovel ready" projects, Maryland submitted an application to the Federal government for $360 million to improve its passenger rail system.
Is Short Sea Shipping A Traffic Solution?
Short sea shipping involves moving freight on the sea around the coast without crossing an ocean. The City of Miami is looking at extending the process to relieve traffic pressure, getting some big rigs off the freeway.
Can Local Stores Have An Impact on Global Warming?
A revival of small, neighborhood retailers could be an important strategy for countering climate change, enticing people to run errands without driving their cars.
Speaking of Clunkers
For serious transportation policy wonks lately every day is like Christmas. Climate change, bailout, deteriorating infrastructure, reauthorization, aging baby boomers, bailout, stimulus, new administration, economic development, global competition, urban redevelopment, bailout, etc. One has all they can do to just keep up with all the relevant news and positioning say nothing of understanding it. In fact, I don’t understand it.
Can "Walkable" and "Bucolic" Go Hand in Hand?
There is controversy over new sidewalk laws in Washington, DC.
Amtrak Routes Now on Google Transit
A recent partnership between Google and Amtrak will allow users of Google Maps / Google Transit to see Amtrak routes as a possible mode of travel, Webwire reports.
Where Are We Going To Charge Our Cars?
Cities need stations where electric cars can recharge in order for the new technology to take off and become a reality in the future, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Chicago Suburbs See Fewer Freight Trains, Not More
Where are all the trains? Chicago suburbs worried about an expected increase in freight trains due to the CN purchase of a rail spur through their backyard, but that worry has not materialized after the acquisition.
$7 Billion Stop-Gap Measure for Highway Fund
On Weds., the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7 billion in stop-gap funding for road, bridge and transit projects until SAFETEA-LU can be reauthorized.
24% Reduction in Emissions Possible by 2050
Changing changing transportation habits and land-use patterns in America could result in a 24 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, says a new report from Cambridge Systematics.
Midwest Governors Coordinate to Seek High Speed Rail Funding
At the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit today in Chicago, an agreement was struck between eight states to work cooperatively to achieve Recovery Act funding to develop the Chicago Hub High Speed Rail Corridor - also called the Midwest corridor.
Taking to the Road? More Power to You
Two inventors explain devices that would allow energy to be harvested along highways and from the highways themselves.
Rybczynski on the History of Airport Architecture
Witold Rybczynski provides an illustrated history of airport architecture on Slate [Slideshow].
Fordlandia: Henry Ford's Misguided Amazon Utopia
Author Greg Gardin travels from Michigan to the Amazon to show how the Fordist economy's reductionistic search for efficiencies led to its own -- and Detroit's -- downfall.
How Much Green for the 'Green'?
As attention to energy efficiency and climate change continue to pervade the thinking and planning of the future transportation system, we are increasingly challenged to make very real decisions about the prudence of various investments. The current context for decision-making offers perhaps the greatest uncertainty regarding the future witnessed in the lifetimes of people in the planning profession today.
Fewer Cars for Better Cities
Cities are warming up to the idea that planning for the future means more car sharing programs and fewer parking spaces.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Transit Oriented Development Benefits
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) refers to communities with high quality public transit services, good walkability, and compact, mixed land use. This allows people to choose the best option for each trip: walking and cycling for local errands, convenient and comfortable public transit for travel along major urban corridors, and automobile travel to more dispersed destinations. People who live and work in such communities tend to own fewer vehicles, drive less, and rely more on alternative modes.
The BMP Map Really Sucks?
Los Angeles released the first piece of its Bike Master Plan and received a variety of reactions.
Win $50,000 by Solving Congestion
A new contest challenges planning professionals and ordinary people to submit their solutions for improving congestion in the United States.
Quirky Bus Stops Across the World
This slide show includes pictures of unorthodox bus stops all over the world, including Yellowstone National Park, Estonia, Japan and Brazil.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
