Indianapolis

Lightning

Indianapolis: Where the Streets Have No Lights

The IndyStar shines a light on the city of Indianapolis' neglect of its infrastructure.

September 22, 2016 - Indystar

Communities of Faith Backing Indianapolis Transit Funding Referendum

Transit investments in Marion County, Indiana, could be funded through a proposed increase of income taxes. The proposed funding referendum has the backing, and the phone-banking, of a coalition of local church congregations.

August 21, 2016 - Indystar

Indianapolis Street

Indianapolis Cooler than Brooklyn? Defining the Coolness Factor of Cities

How do you define a cool city? What makes a street or neighborhood hip? It's not too difficult to identify the right ingredients; it's putting them together that becomes the challenge.

July 31, 2016 - Indianapolis Business Journal

Indiana State Capital

Indianapolis Installing New Streetlights for the First Time in 35 Years

Indianapolis officials including Mayor Joe Hogsett gathered this week to celebrate the installation of the city's first new streetlight in 35 years.

June 10, 2016 - Indianapolis Business Journal

Should San Diego Imitate Indianapolis by Building a Downtown Stadium?

In the debate over two ballot initiatives in San Diego that would facilitate a combined convention center and stadium project, proponents have pointed to Indianapolis's Lucas Oil Stadium as a successful example. But is it?

April 17, 2016 - UrbDeZine

City Hall

Introducing 8 Newly Elected Mayors

There's no doubt that cities provide important leadership on countless issues—here are eight new elected mayors tasked with providing the political leadership to make it possible.

December 29, 2015 - Governing

Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful With Pocket Parks

A local non-profit recently announced funding for the development of five public green spaces in the coming year. The projects represent incremental progress toward a larger, shared vision.

December 17, 2015 - Indystar

South Mall Parking Lot

On the Life Cycle of Suburban Malls

Using Greenwood, Indiana as an example, Eric McAfee discusses how the value of individual suburban malls depreciates over time. Shiny new shopping centers compensate for inevitable vacancies in older ones.

November 14, 2015 - Urban Indy

Indianapolis Will Test Ambitious Electric Car Sharing System

The Technology section of the Money website expresses some surprise that the ambitious BlueIndy electric car sharing program is bound for Indy, and not some tech haven like San Francisco, Boston, or Austin.

September 5, 2015 - Money

Indianapolis Puts Design Ideas to the Test With Pedestrian-Friendly Pilot Project

As it works to gather the $60 million necessary to implement permanent changes to Monument Circle, Indianapolis is testing ideas for how to make the location more pedestrian friendly.

September 2, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Report Finds Tremendous Economic Benefits From Indy's Cultural Trail

A $63 million investment to build the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis has returned $1 billion in increased property value and other economic benefits since 2008.

August 25, 2015 - The Indianapolis Star

Will Indianapolis Rezone to a Less Car-Centric Future?

With backing from Mayor Greg Ballard, Indianapolis' new zoning ordinance has been "tweaked" to allow developers to lower parking minimums if options to reduce driving are provided. Also, EV rift between charging stations and parking spaces reported.

July 20, 2015 - The Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis Street

Interview with Indianapolis' Young Gun: Planning Director Adam Thies

The first in the "Planners Across America" series features Indianapolis' Adam Thies, who shares insights into doing more with less, the limits of long range planning at the municipal level, and why planners should be real estate experts.

April 30, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Federal Backing, Local Momentum for 'Indy Connect' Transit Plans

With federal support from the Obama Administration's LadderSTEP program now secured, Indianapolis' $1.2 billion proposal for mass transit upgrades has new momentum.

April 27, 2015 - The Indianapolis Star

Should We Expect Transportation Network Companies to Make Airport Trips?

Only a few cities allow transportation network companies (TNCs) to pick up and drop off passengers at airports. According to one line of thinking, that service separates "first-tier" cities from the rest.

April 8, 2015 - The Indianapolis Star

Downtown Cincinnati

60 Years of Midwestern Urban Renewal

Researchers at the Institute for Quality Communities at the University of Oklahoma prepared a set of images to show the indelible impact of mid-20th century urban renewal on Midwestern cities.

December 18, 2014 - Institute for Quality Communities

Google Maps Methane Leaks in Three U.S. Cities

Google, partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund, has created a series of maps locating methane leaks around three cities in the United States. The question of just how much methane is leaking in a given city comes down to infrastructure.

July 19, 2014 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Powersource

County Income Taxes for Transit? Hoosiers to Decide

When it comes to allowing voters to decide whether to increase local or state taxes for transportation, the most common option by far is the local or state sales tax. But what about income taxes; has it been tried before? And for public transit only?

March 28, 2014 - Nuvo

Indianapolis Revival Is a Team Effort

What's made the difference in the trajectories of similarly-sized Midwest cities Detroit and Indianapolis? According to David Masciotra, cross-sector partnerships centered around sports entertainment have been the driving force behind Indy's success.

August 13, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Indiana and California Among States Yet to Decide to Subsidize Amtrak Lines

Ron Nixon provides an update on the implementation of the Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act of 2008 that requires states to subsidize shorter Amtrak routes in order to reduce Amtrak's federal subsidy. 28 routes in 19 states are at stake.

May 6, 2013 - The New York Times - U.S.

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.