Infrastructure

Finding Public Space Wherever They Can in Cairo

Dense Cairo has few sanctioned public spaces. So residents make do wherever they can.

June 21, 2009 - The New York Times

A Frank Conversation With Ray LaHood

In this 'anything-goes' Q & A between the NYT Magazine with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, we learn about the derivation of his name, the car he drives, and more appropriate topics liks HSR, infrastructure, and George Will.

June 18, 2009 - The New York Times - Magazine

Denver's 16th Street Mall Rehabilitation Proposal

At 27 years old, Denver's 16th Street Mall is in need of an upgrade. A team of consultants has recently released their recommendation of what needs to be done to rehabilitate one of Denver's premier public spaces.

June 18, 2009 - The Denver Post

Masterplanning the Architecture of the Near Future

As the population rises, underused and empty spaces are going to fill in. How well the transition works depends on shifts in demographics and infrastructure, as well as architecture. A studio of UCLA architecture students were asked to plot that transition. But before they could be architects, they had to be planners.

June 18, 2009 - Nate Berg

Parkour Enthusiasts Rediscover The American City

While urbanists have long used the built environment as their playground, the French sport of parkour is connecting residents of America's cities to their surroundings in a new, if not extreme manner.

June 18, 2009 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Transit's Big Dig Begins In Jersey

New Jersey Transit has broken ground on what may be the nation's most costly transit project: a commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River to a new Penn Station Expansion that, to the chagrin of transit advocates, will not connect to Penn Station.

June 15, 2009 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Miami-Dade Busway Could Open Up to Cars

Officials in Miami-Dade County are considering a move to lift car restrictions from an underused two-lane commuter busway. One plan is to convert the busway into a tollroad.

June 12, 2009 - The Miami Herald

Smart Grid for a Smart City

Amsterdam has taken its smart grid live, installing solar panels and 300 electric car recharging stations throughout the city.

June 11, 2009 - Business Week

Nation's Largest Mass Transit Project is under Way

The second passenger rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River will link New Jersey with New York and will also double the capacity on the nation's busiest rail corridor.

June 10, 2009 - CNN

End Of The Infrastructure Privatization Craze

It was hailed as the solution to America's infrastructure spending deficit, but the influx of private funds has come to halt along with the failure of banks and the huge investment from the Recovery Act. Plus, many schemes aroused taxpayers wrath.

June 8, 2009 - The New York Times - Economy

Transportation Reauthorization Battles Ahead - Funding & Revenue Split

The transportation reauthorization bill will be hotly debated this fall on at least two fronts - finding a sustainable funding source and apportioning the revenues. The 18.4 cent gas tax, its funding source, declined 33% due to inflation since 1993.

June 8, 2009 - The New York Times - U.S.

Biden Plugs CA High-Speed Rail For Funding

Notwithstanding a $24.3 billion state budget deficit, CA is well-positioned to receive at least 10% of the Recovery Act funding for high speed rail, says Biden. Two corridors in southern and northern CA have been identified for funding.

June 7, 2009 - Los Angeles Times Blog

Finding the Silver Lining in California's Drought

Water Lawyer Michael George details the causes and effects of the current California drought, and sees hope that pinched water supplies may drive innovation and collaboration in building sustainable water systems in the West.

June 4, 2009 - The Planning Report

LaHood To Learn From Spain On HSR

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is visiting Spain, hoping to glean some knowledge from the country's recent successes with high-speed rail.

June 1, 2009 - The New York Time - Energy & Environment

AASHTO Releases A National Rail Vision

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has released a report, "Achieving the Vision: Intercity Passenger Rail" to guide investment of the $8 billion Recovery Act and future funding on passenger and freight rail.

May 29, 2009 - AASHTO Press Release

An Aerotropolis for Atlanta

Construction begins on Aerotropolis Atlanta, an unusual "live-work-play mini-city" development going up close to Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport- so close, in fact, that there will be a connecting walkway directly to the new international terminal.

May 27, 2009 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PBS Doc Examines Development In Denver, Portland, and NYC

Three cities - three directions on how their transportation infrastructure was shaped by national transportation and housing legislation, and the role of influential leaders like CO Gov. Lamm, OR representative Earl Blumenauer, and NY's Robert Moses.

May 26, 2009 - PBS

Making 'Smarter' Roads

States are hoping to use federal stimulus money to add technological advancements to their streets and highways to create "smart" roads.

May 23, 2009 - Stateline

Guerilla Greywater Goes Public Policy

Once guerrilla, now becoming policy, greywater reuse is picking up in cities across the country.

May 23, 2009 - Governing

Bus Stop of the Future

MIT's SENSEable City Lab is featuring a prototype of a futuristic bus stop, complete with real-time route mapping, e-ink surfaces, and estimates of your exposure to pollutants along the way.

May 22, 2009 - MIT's SENSEable City Lab

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.