Transit Planning

A conceptual rendering of three high-speed rail trains. The middle train is orange; the other two are black.

The California High-Speed Rail Project Illustrates America’s Transit Issues

Slow progress and a bloated budget have plagued the High-Speed Rail project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles, exposing deeper issues with American transit projects.

May 22, 2022 - Eric Carlson

Amtrak Connects US

Political Support for Amtrak’s All Aboard Ohio Plans Follows Federal Infrastructure Funding

Gov. Mike DeWine’s sudden interest in working with Amtrak might have something to do with $66 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding recently announced by the Federal Railroad Administration.

May 18, 2022 - Cleveland.com

A sign for the Elizabeth Line, a subway route in London, at the Liverpool Street Station

$22 Billion Elizabeth Line Finally Opens in London, With the Queen in Attendance

May 17, 2022 was a big day for transit in London.

May 18, 2022 - The New York Times

Bus Stop

Federal Infrastructure Funding a Rare Opportunity to Improve the Nation’s Bus Shelters

Transit systems faced with decreasing ridership could accommodate access to the most widely available form of transit by building bus shelters. The federal infrastructure bill provides a big opportunity to do so.

May 9, 2022 - The Washington Post

A very large yacht at berth in Washington, with wooded hills in the background.

Superyachts Calling the Shots for How Light Rail Gets Built in Seattle

Determinations made by the Coast Guard to accommodate superyachts will affect the price of light rail and other bridge projects in Seattle and environs.

May 4, 2022 - The Urbanist

A map of the North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line.

Controversial North Hollywood-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Line Approved

A controversial project to connect the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys by bus rapid transit has final approval. Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena will have a new connecting transit line as soon as 2024.

May 2, 2022 - LAist

View of Wrigleyville neighborhood before a Chicago Cubs game

Chicago Plans ‘Better Streets for Buses’

The city of Chicago is taking first steps toward a commitment to better bus service in the design and configuration of the city's streets.

May 2, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

King County Metro Transit

A ‘Playbook’ for Better Bus Service, From King County Metro

King County Metro operates one of the nation’s busiest transit systems—without running any trains. The agency recently released a playbook as a guide to transit service.

April 14, 2022 - Transportation for America

MARC train going through the Gaithersburg, Maryland train station

Maryland Legislators Override Governor’s Veto to Support Regional Rail Investments

The latest round of Gov. Larry Hogan v. public transit goes to the latter.

April 13, 2022 - The Washington Post

Bus Priority Zones

New York City Council Pushing for Major Investments in Bus and Bike Lanes

The $3.1 billion requested by the New York City Council to build 500 miles of new bus lanes and 500 miles of protected bus lanes isn't included in New York Mayor Eric Adams's proposed budget.

April 7, 2022 - AMNY

Atlanta Public Transit

Light Rail Plans Could Become Bus Rapid Transit Plans in Atlanta

Light rail on the Clifton Corridor was once a centerpiece of a $2.7 billion, 40-year transit expansion plans funded by a voter-approved sales tax. Now MARTA is considering using bus rapid transit on the corridor instead.

April 5, 2022 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A pair of vintage Siemens–Duewag U2 trolleys roll out of a garage in Memphis.

Memphis Testing Vintage Siemens U2 Trolley Cars—With Service Expected to Open Later This Year

Originally designed for use in Frankfurt, Germany, the Siemens–Duewag U2 was used in Canada and San Diego before now coming to Memphis.

March 29, 2022 - ABC24

Bus Stop

Nominate the Best Bus Stops in the United States

Rather than doing another round of the 'sorriest' bus stops in the country, Streetsblog USA is shifting its focus to the positive, and asking readers to send nominations for America's Best Bus Stop.

March 9, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Sound Transit

Seattle Latest to Cut Transit Service for Lack of Drivers

Sound Transit service designers were hoping that March would be the month to restore service to the transit system in and around Seattle. A shortage of bus drivers is sending the system in the opposite direction.

March 4, 2022 - The Seattle Times

Denver Regional Transit

Underwhelming FasTracks Plan Inspires Transit History Lesson in Denver

FasTracks, one of the most ambitious long-term transit plans in the U.S., has been underway for over 15 years. With the finish line in sight, some locals wonder how useful the new hub-and-spoke system (regional routes connecting to downtown) will be.

February 28, 2022 - Denverite

A woman wears a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic in a large crowd at a transit station in New York City.

Stimulus Funds Not Enough to Guarantee Transit's Future in D.C. and L.A.

In statements that echo the alarm of March 2020, transit officials in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. recently announced plans to reduce transit service.

February 17, 2022 - James Brasuell

A map of a planned light rail line connecting Los Angeles to cities in the Southeast of the county.

$8.5 Billion, 19.3-Mile Light Rail Line Approved to Connect L.A. and Surrounding Cities

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved a plan to build a light rail route currently called the West Santa Ana Branch Project.

February 4, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

British Columbia

New Long-Term Plan for Vancouver Regional Transit Approved

A new 30-year transportation plan, focusing heavily on transit projects and active transportation linkages, was approved recently for the Vancouver, British Columbia region.

February 1, 2022 - TransLink

A Gold Line AnsaldoBreda P2550 train enters Mission Station in South Pasadena on February 25, 2012.

A New Transit Vision for Southern California's San Gabriel Valley

Light rail transit only recently arrived in its contemporary form to the San Gabriel Valley—first to Pasadena in 2003 before heading further east into the valley in 2016. The future of public transit modes in the region are still under negotiation.

January 31, 2022 - Streetsblog LA

ABQ Ride stop

Albuquerque Buses Go Fare-Free for 2022

Albuquerque is the largest U.S. city yet to offer free rides on its entire system of buses with a one-year pilot program that launched at the beginning of the year.

January 6, 2022 - Marketplace

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.