Infrastructure

No Shortage of Investors Lining Up to Operate Bankrupt Toll Road

Many were surprised when the Indiana Toll Road's operator declared bankruptcy on September 22. Just as surprising may be all the interest by global investors in bidding to replace the bankrupt Australian-Spanish consortium as the new operator.

October 17, 2014 - Reuters

Report: Expect Regular Coastal Floods Within 15 Years

Climate change and rising seas will mean higher flood risks for cities. But when exactly will impactful flooding become a regular occurrence? New analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists says that time is fast approaching.

October 17, 2014 - Climate Central

How D.C.'s 11th Street Bridge Will Transform Infrastructure into Civic Space

Across the US, cities increasingly view waterfronts as opportunities for green space. Once tied to industrial uses, river fronts now offer a chance to repurpose existing infrastructure for public use.

October 17, 2014 - The Planning Report

Underfunded, Deadly Road Infrastructure in Texas

Bloomberg News investigates a rash of road deaths in the Midland-Odessa region, attributing the fatalities to underfunded road infrastructure, increased population, and truck traffic. A November ballot measure may provide some relief.

October 16, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Tysons Corner

D.C.'s New Metro Line Already Influencing the Suburbs

The Silver Line opened two and a half months ago. Already, with strong ridership in both directions, some businesses are seeing new opportunities.

October 15, 2014 - Elevation DC

Cincinnati's First Cycle Track Overcame Controversy, Now Open for Bikers

The Central Parkway Cycle Track is open in Cincinnati, having overcome the controversies that almost led to the project's demise.

October 15, 2014 - Urban Cincy

An Ancient, Neighborhood-Based Technology could Heat Vancouver

A system similar to that which heated Roman baths could become a key cog in the future of heating in Vancouver, British Columbia.

October 15, 2014 - Citiscope

What Next for 'Rebuild By Design'?

The Rebuild By Design competition attracted plenty of hoopla thanks to its $920 million and the critical need for projects that protect coastal cities as sea levels rise. Now that the winners have been picked, how will they deliver on their promise?

October 15, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Philadelphia Studying Reuse of Defunct Underground Rail Line

Ryan Briggs reports on the planning study bringing new hope to efforts to activate or repurpose the "City Branch," a dormant subterranean rail line in Philadelphia.

October 14, 2014 - Next City

Progress for San Francisco's Ambitious Bike Plans

Ariel Rosenstock updates San Francisco's progress in implementing the vision set forth by the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan.

October 13, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York Department of City Planning Releases Flood Retrofitting Manual

As federal law shifts to address resilience in post-Hurricane Sandy New York, the Department of City Planning has released a new manual to help residents and landowners understand options for retrofitting their buildings to prepare for floods.

October 13, 2014 - New York Department of City Planning

More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible

Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.

October 13, 2014 - AASHTO Journal

How to Solve the Looming Water Crisis

David Sedlak, author of "Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World's Most Vital Resource," explains how the deepening obsolescence of our water infrastructure is reaching crisis status.

October 12, 2014 - Vox

California Refineries Prepare to Receive Cheaper Crude-by-Rail

The surge in oil production has not benefited California, but that's about to change. Shale oil from North Dakota and other states costs $15 less than imported oil. After transportation costs, California refineries would save $3 per barrel.

October 10, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Exploring the 'Finesse of the Avenue'

In his fourth "place-decoding" essay from France, Chuck Wolfe illustrates how a traditional placemaking intervention is especially powerful when underlying urban fundamentals align.

October 9, 2014 - Huffington Post

Chicago's First Shared Street Planned for Uptown's Argyle Street

Following one failed attempt at a similar plan, a popular neighborhood for shopping will soon become a shared street project. The effort is part of a trend in Chicago looking for ways to transform streets into pedestrian friendly destinations.

October 7, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Ranking the Best and Worst Cities to Live and Work with Special Needs

WalletHub recently released the "2014 Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities" to highlight the economic power of providing employment opportunities and livable communities for people with special needs.

October 7, 2014 - WalletHub

ARC Cancellation Leaves New Jersey-New York Rail Connections in Race Against Time

Dana Rubinstein writes that New Jersey Chris Christie may have to answer for more than just the Bridgegate scandal if he throws his hat into the ring in the 2016 presidential campaign.

October 6, 2014 - Capital New York

Study: Domestic Responsibilities Contributing to Biking's Gender Gap

Answering the question of why more women in the United States don't bike, researchers find that infrastructure and design only explains some of the gender gap. Another obstacle for women: a higher share of chores and child-supporting car trips.

October 6, 2014 - The Guardian Bike Blog

Wyoming Reports Road Improvements From 10-Cent Gas Tax Increase

Wyoming legislators passed its gas tax hike in Feb. 2013, an incredible 71 percent increase when the state then had the second to lowest tax. AASHTO reports that the WYDOT has already completed 12 projects with the additional revenue.

October 5, 2014 - AASHTO Journal

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.