Transit Planning

New York City Subway

How Rail Transit Ridership Changed During the Pandemic

Almost all heavy rail transit stations lost riders in 2020, but some stations lost far fewer riders than others. The data reveals lessons for transit planning beyond the end of the pandemic (whenever that happens).

December 20, 2021 - Urban Institute

New York City Subway

New York MTA to Cap Weekly Transit Fares

Public transit agencies are getting creative in the effort to bring riders back to buses and trains.

December 15, 2021 - The New York Times

Downtown Austin with Lady Bird Lake in the foreground. Multiple bridges are crossing the lake and small personal water-crafts dot the water.

Light Rail and Buses and More, Oh My!

A light rail bridge proposed for Lady Bird Lake, still pre-design, is causing controversies about whether adding buses to the bridge would be too dangerous for the other non-automotive modes.

December 13, 2021 - KUT

A Metro Los Angeles bus driver is behind the wheel while wearing a mask.

Equity and Transit Go Hand in Hand for the Pandemic Recovery

Equity illuminates the light at the end of the tunnel for U.S. transit agencies, according to a recent report by the Urban Institute.

December 3, 2021 - Urban Institute

San Francisco, California

Once San Francisco's 'Grandest Boulevard,' Van Ness Almost Done With Another Makeover

The Van Ness Improvement project took almost two decades to cross the finish line, but it's almost there.

November 29, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rescue Bus

Driver Shortages and Service Reductions: The Crisis in Public Transit Continues

While transit systems around the country had reason to celebrate the new funding made available in the federal infrastructure bill, long-term concerns about operational capacity have not been resolved.

November 18, 2021 - Detroit Free Press

A busy street in Duluth, full of cars and buses.

New High-Frequency Bus Service Dubbed 'Go Lines' in Duluth

The city of Duluth's reimagined bus transit system will go into effect in Summer 2022 along green and blue "Go Lines."

November 4, 2021 - Duluth News Tribune

Ohio

Transit Funding Sales Tax Approved by Toledo-Area Voters

Toledo is one of the last corners of Ohio to approve a transit funding sales tax. In effect, voters committed to raise about twice as much as existing property levies currently generate for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority.

November 3, 2021 - The Toledo Blade

public transit streetcar at Milwaukee Public Market, Third Ward Station in Downtown Milwaukee.

Second Bus Rapid Transit Line Planned for Milwaukee

The Milwaukee County Transit System could be adding a bus rapid transit line to the existing PurpleLine.

November 1, 2021 - Urban Milwaukee

View east along Maryland State Route 927 (Montrose Road) at Interstate 270 (Washington National Pike) in Potomac, Montgomery Cou

Study: Montgomery County Needs Dedicated Bus Lanes, Rail Extension

A report from Montgomery County planners prioritizes the need for a robust network of bus lanes and the extension of the Red Line to accommodate the region's growing population and reduce car trips and congestion.

October 28, 2021 - The Washington Post

Bus Priority Zones

Bus Lane Plans Continue Retreat in New York City—This Time it's Fifth Avenue

The de Blasio administration caved to the interests of a Manhattan real estate developer and shelved a plan to prioritize bus transit over private automobiles on one of the most famous corridors in the world.

October 26, 2021 - The New York Times

LaGuardia Airport

LaGuardia AirTrain, Pet Project of Ousted Governor, Paused by Successor

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has instructed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to rethink the plan for the $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain, a contentious plan championed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

October 13, 2021 - AMNY

Sound Transit Seattle

The Northgate Link Extension Is Great, But Voters Want More

A recent survey of Seattle voters finds widespread support for the continued expansion of the Link light rail system in Seattle.

October 3, 2021 - Seattle Transit Blog

Seattle Transit

Northgate Link Extension—Opening This Weekend—Expected to Transform Seattle in More Ways Than One

The long awaited Northgate Link Extension, which will connect rapidly changing neighborhoods in North Seattle to downtown in 14 minutes, will open to the public on Saturday, October 2.

September 28, 2021 - The Seattle Times

Port Authority of Allegheny County

New Long-Range Transit Plan Adopted for Pittsburgh Area

A long list of transit projects is included in the NEXTransit long-range plan approved recently by the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

September 27, 2021 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New York Bus

New York's Bus System Redesign—Delayed by the Pandemic—Moves Forward Again

A plan to redesign the bus system in New York City for faster, more frequent service is off the shelf and moving forward again after being paused at the beginning fo the pandemic.

September 21, 2021 - AMNY

DART Bus

Dallas Bus System Overhaul Rolling Out in January. Will it Succeed?

The Dallas City Council recently approved a long-awaited and much-delayed bus system redesign for DART. Riders should require fewer transfers and shorter wait times starting in January 2022.

September 16, 2021 - The Dallas Morning News

Lynx Light Rail

New Light Rail Station Coming to Charlotte

A new station will be added to the Lynx Blue Line light rail route in a quickly growing, industrial part of the city.

September 15, 2021 - The Charlotte Observer

A bus stop in Philadelphia, where people wait under a glass shelter for a bus as it arrives.

Calculating Bus Stop Spacing for 43 U.S. Cities

New research documents the distance between bus stops in U.S. cities—a key question for service designers that determines a lot about the public transit user experience.

August 24, 2021 - Transport Findings

Coronavirus and Transportation

What Is the Future for Transit After COVID? - A Debate

Critic Randal O'Toole and advocate Todd Litman debate how communities should plan for public transit in the post pandemic future. Should it contract or expand?

August 12, 2021 - Pairagraph

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.