Infrastructure

Calling for the Removal of Houston's Pierce Elevated Freeway

Houston's Pierce Elevated, a section of the I-45 freeway, is the latest target in the movement to remove urban freeways.

September 24, 2015 - The Urban Edge

Community Improvement District Considered to Fund Atlanta Beltline Improvements

Stakeholders are considering the implementation of a Community Improvement District along the Atlanta Beltline to help pay for ongoing maintenance and other improvements to the ongoing project of building this singular public facility.

September 23, 2015 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Proactive Approach to Displacement Included With 11th Street Bridge Park Plans

A proposal to design a park at the 11th Street Bridge between Capitol Hill and Historic Anacostia includes a through study of how the new park can connect two neighborhoods without leaving anyone behind.

September 23, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Massachusetts Could Be Next State to Adopt a Road Usage Charge

In the wake of voter rejection of automatic indexing of the state gas tax, Massachusetts legislators may do away with the tax altogether. They are considering a trial of the Oregon model of road usage charge.

September 23, 2015 - Eagle-Tribune

Amsterdam Electric Car

Electric Vehicles: When Too Much of a Good Thing Is Bad

Environmental sustainability on a national level is proving to be financially unsustainable on a local level for an island community in Norway that is counting on $20 tolls, with an electrical vehicle exemption, to pay off a $70 million tunnel.

September 22, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

The Case for an Oil Severance Tax

After Big Oil killed the oil reduction mandate in climate legislation and with a critical transportation bill stalled by anti-tax Republicans, Los Angeles Times political columnist George Skelton opines that taxing oil extraction could pay for roads.

September 21, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Welc_me to Fabulous Las Vegas

Chinese Bullet Train to Come to American Southwest

America's third planned high-speed rail line received good news on Sept. 17, by entering an agreement with China Railway Group to receive $100 million to start building the 230-mile line from Victorville, Calif. to Las Vegas.

September 20, 2015 - Engadget

The Design Decision Behind Cleveland's Backwards Buffered Bike Lanes

The curious case of Cleveland's new "buffered" bike lanes. The question: Why are the buffers placed between the bike lane and the curb?

September 19, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Long-Delayed Silver Spring Transit Center Opens Sunday

Four years behind schedule and $50 million over budget, the Silver Spring Transit Center will be open to bus business on September 20, 2015. Eventually, light rail will also serve the location.

September 19, 2015 - PlanItMetro

Texas Voters Will Again Be Asked to Divert Funds for Transportation

Refusing to raise the 20-cent gas tax, creative Texas legislators have devised another scheme to divert existing revenue streams to roads. Last year it was a portion of the Rainy Day Fund. This year, from general sales and motor vehicle sales taxes.

September 17, 2015 - KCBD

Seattle Makes Grassroots Crosswalk Design Official

Seattle will implement a process by which neighborhoods can take the Tactical Urbanism practice of DIY sidewalks a step further—by officially approving local designs for sidewalks.

September 16, 2015 - Seattle Bike Blog

Colorado Bike Lane

Colorado Governor Announces $100 Million Program for Bicycle-Friendly Infrastructure

Colorado will call on its Department of Transportation to help make the state "the best state for biking" in the country.

September 16, 2015 - The Denver Post

Alabama Road Signs

Alabama Bill Would Hike Gas and Diesel Taxes by a Nickel, and Then Some

A bill to increase both gas and diesel taxes by five cents in Alabama has passed its first committee on a voice vote and goes to the full House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill indexes both taxes using only two-cent increments.

September 16, 2015 - The Anniston Star

Proposed Santa Ana Branch Light Rail Would Connect Downtown Los Angeles and Artesia

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is exploring alignments for a new light rail line.

September 16, 2015 - Urbanize LA

Phoenix Light Rail

Light Rail Leading the Way in the Sun Belt

Cities traditionally thought of as car-centric are putting ambitious light rail plans at the center of ambitious plans for transit.

September 16, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Cuomo and Christie Ask for Federal Funding for Hudson River Tunnels

The bi-partisan duo of governors from New Jersey and New York have penned a letter addressed to President Obama asking for a 50-50 funding share on the critical tunnel project for the Amtrak line connecting the two states.

September 15, 2015 - The Record

White House Smart Cities Initiative Uses Connected Vehicle Technology

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx unveiled a $42 million transportation program in Manhattan that is part of President Obama's new $160 million Smart Cities Initiative. Funds will go to NYC, Tampa, and Wyoming to reduce congestion and crashes.

September 15, 2015 - The White House

Northeast Ohio Regional Planning Efforts to 'Fix It First' in Urban Areas

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has committed to a drastic shift in its transportation planning paradigms.

September 15, 2015 - Green City Blue Lake

What's the Rush on the Highway Bill Reauthorization?

Surprise! A three-month transportation funding bill turns out to have funds for nine months! While unanticipated funds certainly sound like good news, it also takes immediate pressure off the House to working on a six-year reauthorization bill.

September 15, 2015 - The Hill

Legislators, Newspapers Line Up to Oppose Great Lakes Water Diversion Proposal

A controversial application by the small Wisconsin town of Waukesha would allow treated wastewater to flow the Root River and then into Lake Michigan. The proposal has provoked a far-reaching outcry of opposition.

September 15, 2015 - The Political Environment

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.