Infrastructure
On the Importance of Maintaining Trans-Hudson Rail Capacity
Amtrak's Gateway project is not only key to maintaining and increasing commuter and intercity rail capacity between the Empire and Garden States, but also to ensuring that the $1 billion investment in the new Moynihan Station makes sense.
Relief for Amtrak Travelers to New York's Penn Station Closer at Hand
CityLab's Eric Jaffe provides an update on the two phases of construction of Moynihan Station, an annex to America's busiest train station. Phase One could be completed next year and Phase Two is in need of a "mere" $200 million. But is that enough?
Quantifying the Economic and Employment Impacts of Water
The Brookings Institution takes a closer look at the economic and employment impacts that water has on the United States.
How LEDs Re-Illuminate the Urban Night Sky
Forbes Magazine reflects on the importance and impacts of light-emitting diode (LED) lights as more cities replace their traditional streetlamps with LEDs.
5 Mid-Sized Cities Rethinking the Urban Waterfront
Nick Addamo discusses and outlines the plans of five small and mid-sized cities that are re-evaluating their waterfront and developing them to be more people-focused.
The Urban Design of Burning Man's Black Rock City
Black Rock City is the temporary city initially designed by Rod Garrett in 1997 that springs up for the annual Burning Man festival. Each year the city expands to accommodate more people, but still retains its core utopian characteristics.
Survey: Tolls OK if Revenue Improves Road Conditions
A survey by HNTB Corp. found that 79 percent of respondents would support tolling currently untolled roads, including highways, if the revenue was used to improve traveling conditions on the tolled road.
110-mph Talgo Trains Headed to Michigan [Corrected]
If the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approves the order, two Wisconsin-manufactured Talgo train sets will reduce travel times from Detroit to Chicago by as much as two hours while significantly increasing on-time performance.
Why Placemaking Matters: What's in it for Me?
What's your elevator pitch on why placemaking matters? Here's a couple rounded up by Hazel Borys, and some numbers that help refine their message.
Chinese City Installs Special Lanes for Distracted Walkers
In both a literal and figurative sign of the times, the Chinese city of Chongqing recently installed signage and marking to segregate pedestrian traffic between smartphone users and those walking free of such technological distractions.
Developer Pins Los Angeles' Infrastructure Problems on Bureaucratic Bloat
According to developer and consultant Michael P. Russell, the city of Los Angeles has a chronic shortage of funds for infrastructure due to a bloated bureaucracy, small district city council elections, and term limits.
Uncertainty Ahead for Department of Transportation Funding
While projects funded from the Highway Trust Fund are safe through May, discretionary programs run by DOT from annual appropriations must wait for Congress to approve a budget, which just got more complicated due to Obama's anti-ISIS funding request.
Questioning the Science Behind New York's Storm Proofing Plans for Fire Island
An expert insists that a massive coastal engineering project in a National Park should consider different environmental impacts than a similar project along developed coastline.
Largest TIFIA Loan to P3 Goes to Florida's 'I-4 Ultimate' Project
Transportation Secretary Foxx announced the largest TIFIA loan to be awarded to a public-private partnership will be used to widen 21 miles of Interstate 4 in Florida known as "I-4 Ultimate" by adding four express or toll lanes in the Orlando area.
Op-Ed: Limit Parking to Limit Driving
Matthew Garbet contributes a guest column to the SaportaReport wherein he debunks the "Tipping Point Theory of Transit"—that cities should continue to support cars until a complete transit system is realized.
Detroit Bankruptcy Breakthrough: Regional Water Authority Moves Forward
One of the most politically treacherous proposals of Detroit's bankruptcy plan has finally gained approval—a regional water authority.
Nashville's New Bike-Friendly Bonafides: Bike Boxes
Bike boxes, a European import, may not have received as much attention other novel bike facilities such as protected bike lanes, but they are spreading. Nashville's first bike box accompanies a road diet and buffered bike lanes.
Survey Finds Chicago Drivers Failing to Yield for Pedestrians
A study finds that most drivers disregard for the rights of pedestrians to cross the road. Visual cues, however, provided by street design, greatly increase the likelihood that drivers will yield.
A New Guide to Green Infrastructure
With a growing body of research to support the construction of infrastructure that supports, protects, and even mimics natural systems, the American Society of Landscape Architects has released a guide to green infrastructure.
The United States' Top Large City for Biking Is...
Portland (top city in 2012)? Minneapolis (top city in 2010)? No, it's the Big Apple! New York City leaped from #7 in 2012 to the top spot this year for cities with populations of 100,000 or greater.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
