Infrastructure

Rail Project on Chopping Block After Voters Reject Gas Tax Indexing

The rollback of gas tax indexing is projected to lose $1 billion for the Bay State over the next decade. Initiative proponents claim that the legislature can increase the gas tax anytime, though last year's tax increase was the first since 1991.

November 7, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Canyon the Grids

Friday Eye Candy: 'Crayon the Grids' City Mapping

Artist-scientist Stephen Von Worley is taking on a new project— mapping the world's city streets based on a complex set of algorithms and psychedelic colors.

November 7, 2014 - Urbanful

Einstein's Bike Shop

Study Ties Bike Infrastructure to Increased Active Commutes

A study led by researchers from the University of North Carolina finds a connection between bike-friendly infrastructure investments and positive public health outcomes.

November 6, 2014 - ScienceDaily

Los Angeles Considering Diagonal Crosswalks

With a plan to add diagonal crosswalks at several intersections in Los Angeles on the table, will the recent shift toward pedestrian friendly streets be enough to make the idea stick?

November 6, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

recycled greywater

U.S. Water Use Hits 45-Year Low

Recent data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the country is using less water even as its population grows.

November 6, 2014 - United States Geological Survey

Campaign 2014 Results: Bay Area Transportation, Land Use, and Soda Tax Measures

Votes exceeded the two-thirds threshold to pass two vital transportation funding measures in San Francisco and Alameda counties. In Berkeley (which passed the nation's first soda tax) and Menlo Park, voters resoundingly reject anti-growth measures.

November 6, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

The High Revenue Potential of a Mileage-Based Driving Fee

Based on a comparison to a list of federal revenue options to make the Highway Trust Fund sustainable, one stands out far above the others—a mileage-based user fee which, surprisingly, is also one of its disadvantages, writes Eric Jaffe of CityLab.

November 5, 2014 - CityLab

North Carolina DOT to Consider Fees for Developers, Billboard Companies

One of the arguments against sprawl and its variety of manifestations is the large amount of public subsidies, for private benefit, required to make it work. North Carolina will consider a small step in ending the free ride.

November 5, 2014 - Charlotte Observer

One Way Sign

Downtown Denver Converts 18th Street to Two-Way Traffic

Efforts to reshape Downtown Denver to complement the recently re-opened Union Station have now taken to the streets.

November 4, 2014 - The Denver Post

Ohio Takes Two Steps Back on Energy

"After a few years of progress, a new national ranking of state energy efficiency policies confirms that Ohio is now falling fast behind competing states," reports David Beach.

November 3, 2014 - Green City Blue Lake

America's Crumbling Water Infrastructure

The country's aging water infrastructure is growing more wasteful and expensive to fix with every year. What will it take to re-engineer our drinking water supplies?

November 3, 2014 - NPR

Disney Shuttle

Disney's Political Donations Increase as Anaheim Considers a Streetcar

Disney says its supports pro-business candidates for City Council in Anaheim, but some see a proposed streetcar as the connection behind an uptick in the company's local political support.

November 3, 2014 - Orange County Register

Op-Ed: Expand Chicago's Transit Beyond its Successful Status Quo

Yonah Freemark writes an op-ed that argues for the Chicago Transit Authority to do more than maintain the status quo.

November 3, 2014 - Crain's Chicago Business

The End of the World's Fastest, Free Drive?

The free part, not the fast part that is. Perhaps it was just a matter of time before Germany considered a toll for its autobahn network like neighbors Switzerland and Austria do. Germans could deduct the annual toll from their vehicle taxes.

November 2, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Campaign 2014: Rolling Back Gas Tax Indexing

Massachusetts voters will decide on Question 1 on Tuesday—an initiative petition to eliminate the automatic, annual indexing of its 26.5-cent gasoline excise tax to inflation, implemented with a three-cent gas tax increase last year.

November 2, 2014 - T4America Blog

Campaign 2014: Louisiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin Transportation Measures

Maryland and Wisconsin will not ask voters to raise taxes for transportation, but will ask them to adopt constitutional restrictions to ensure gas tax funds are not diverted for other purposes. Louisiana hopes to create an infrastructure bank.

November 1, 2014 - Governing

New Study Finds California’s Local Streets and Roads In Perpetual Disrepair

The biennial California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment survey found a $78.3 billion funding shortfall over the next 10 years.

October 31, 2014 - PublicCEO

Checking in on Lake Erie's $3 Billion 'Project Clean Lake'

A rainwater retention facility in Cleveland represents a small step forward with a controversial 25-year, $3 billion plan to clean Lake Erie.

October 30, 2014 - Cleveland.com

Traffic Lights

Lesson from Houston: Crashes Double after Red Light Cameras Removed

Red light cameras are usually controversial. In Houston voters chose to remove 50 cameras at high-risk intersections. Since then, crashes have increased 117 percent.

October 29, 2014 - Houston Chronicle

It's a Hydropower World

Around the world, countries are building new dams for hydroelectric power at a frenzied pace. Vox examines the benefits and drawbacks of hydroelectric power.

October 29, 2014 - Vox

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.