Transportation

Black banner with white text "We're building the future - Little Tokyo/Arts District Station" in Los Angeles, California.

How Did Transit Projects Fare in 2024?

A comprehensive list of public transit expansions and new lines that opened in 2024, and projections for 2025.

January 7, 2025 - the transport politic

PEople on bikes, pedestrians, and a bike share station under Pont Neuf in Paris, France.

Cycling Doubles in Paris After Infrastructure Improvements

The city’s efforts to improve its bike infrastructure are paying off in spades.

January 7, 2025 - Momentum Magazine

Pedestrian and bike trail under Miami Metroline elevated tracks.

Miami’s Underline Linear Park Offers Recreation, Transportation, Conservation

A 10-mile park that runs under the Miami Metrorail is nearly complete and features bioswales for water conservation and public recreation facilities.

January 7, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Close-up of yellow pedestrian crossing signal button with text "Push button for accessible signal" and diagram of person holding cane, indicating blindness.

Accessibility and Car-Free Zones

Some critics of car-free zones call them exclusionary to people with disabilities, but other experts argue that, when properly planned, pedestrian enhancements improve safety and accessibility for everyone.

January 6, 2025 - Mother Jones

Accessibility and Car-Free Zones

Some critics of car-free zones call them exclusionary to people with disabilities, but other experts argue that, when properly planned, pedestrian enhancements improve safety and accessibility for everyone.

January 6, 2025 - Mother Jones

Sillhouette of cyclist riding on path among trees with downtown Cleveland, Ohio skyline visible across water in background.

Cleveland To Build First Protected Downtown Bike Lane

The city is taking steps to build out a more comprehensive bike lane network to connect downtown destinations.

January 6, 2025 - Cleveland Scene

Sprawl

Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty

Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

January 6, 2025 - Science Blog

View of traffic on bridge going into Manhattan, New York City at night.

NYC Congestion Pricing Goes Into Effect

The long-awaited congestion pricing program began on January 5.

January 6, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Elevated viaduct in Seattle, Washington being demolished.

Highway Removal Slowed by Outdated Policy, Lack of Committed Funding

Resistance from state transportation departments and precarious funding sources mean highway removal projects are few and far between, despite their benefits.

January 6, 2025 - Next City

Boston Red Line train with skyline in background.

Boston Rail Network Sees Significant Increases in Speed After Eliminating ‘Slow Zones’

A year-long project that upgraded rail infrastructure and equipment has resulted in faster trips on all rail lines.

January 5, 2025 - Mass Transit

Aerial view of busy NYC crosswalk with pedestrians and blurred traffic.

NYC Pedestrian Deaths Rose in 2024

The city’s Vision Zero efforts seem to have stalled.

January 5, 2025 - The New York Times

Graphic illustrating street with various lanes designed in Streetmix.

Reimagining Your Street

How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.

January 3, 2025 - Urbanism Speakeasy via Substack

Keeper of the Plains Sculpture/Bridge over Arkansas River, Wichita Kansas.

Wichita 2024 Bike Plan Calls for 80 Miles of New Bike Lanes

The city’s draft bike plan aims to connect more of its existing bike lanes, which often end abruptly.

January 2, 2025 - The Wichita Eagle

Woman walking two small children across crosswalk.

How Urban Design Can Benefit Parents and Kids

Designing thoughtful, child-friendly public spaces can ease the burdens of modern parenting and offer safe spaces for children to learn self-reliance and resilience.

January 2, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Close-up of person riding green and white Lime e-scooter.

NYC E-Scooter Program Threatened Despite High Ridership

Rental scooters in Queens and the Bronx provided close to two million trips in 2024, with many trips starting or ending near transit. Some city officials want to remove them.

January 2, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Close-up of yellow pedestrian crossing signal button with text "Push button for accessible signal" and diagram of person holding cane, indicating blindness.

Chicago Made Hundreds of Accessibility Upgrades in 2024

The city has improved over 200 bus stops and 400 of its nearly 3,000 intersections to make them safer for people with disabilities.

January 1, 2025 - City of Chicago

Large group of cyclists on city street.

Bike Resolutions for the New Year

A list of ways people can enhance their biking experience, appreciate the joy of cycling, and support safer bike infrastructure.

January 1, 2025 - Momentum Magazine

Pedestrians in a busy city intersection with a cirty bus passing behind them.

Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach

Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

January 1, 2025 - Beth Wemple

White Waymo self-driving car on street in San Francisco, California.

Waymo Robotaxis Often Fail to Stop for Pedestrians

One journalist recorded more than a dozen instances of Waymo autonomous cars speeding by when he tried to cross the street.

December 31, 2024 - The Washington Post

Close-up of round blue, white, and red Chigato Transit Authority "cta" logo on exterior of building.

Chicago Transit Authority Announces Service Boosts Ahead of NYE

The agency says it will reach pre-pandemic service levels by the end of the year.

December 30, 2024 - Streetsblog Chicago

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.