Norfolk

Virginia Receives Nearly $3 Million Reconnecting Communities Grant
Two Virginia cities were awarded federal funding aimed at improving connections between neighborhoods cut apart by freeway construction.

Virginia’s Intercity Rail Investments Paying Off in New Ridership
State-supported rail lines in Virginia set a new ridership record in July.

Latest to Say '20 Is Plenty': Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk joins several other cities in smoothing the way for 20 MPH speed limits on neighborhood streets to promote its Vision Zero goals.

How Virginia Communities Are Encouraging 'Missing Middle Housing'
Local leaders hope that streamlining permit processes and eliminating restrictive zoning regulations will set the groundwork for increased production of small and mid-sized multi-family housing.

Norfolk's 'Missing Middle Pattern Book' Aims to Streamline Permitting for Multi-Family Housing
Acknowledging the region's dire need for more diverse housing stock, city leaders hope the pre-approved designs, along with necessary zoning reforms, will encourage more construction of 'missing middle housing.'

Norfolk Plans for Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
The Ohio Creek Watershed Project aims to protect the city's coastline and prepare for future sea level rise.

Next Up for Bus System Redesign: Norfolk, Virginia
The Norfolk City Council will vote in February on a draft transit system redesign organized around the principle of a high frequency grid, similar to system redesigns in other cities in recent years.

A New Transit Vision for Norfolk
Transit ridership in Norfolk, Virginia, has been lagging, and the city hopes that changes to the bus and rail systems will turn things around.
Virginia Interstate Widening Would Convert Free Lanes to Toll Lanes
The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization is proposing a 45-mile network of high-occupancy toll lanes on I–64 that includes conversions of 16 miles of carpool and three miles of general-purpose lanes. No unpriced lanes would be added.

Coastal Virginia Testing a New Approach to Flood Planning
A new flood plan for Norfolk, Virginia aims to establish a new model for coastal resilience.

Insurance Industry Reacting as Flooding Moves From Risk to Certainty
Federal legislation and rising sea levels are changing the way homes are insured against flooding. According to this feature article, in fact, flood insurance "is serving as a kind of advance scout into a more difficult future."

This Light Rail Line Lowers Nearby Home Prices
Not every transit project has a positive effect on adjacent property values. A study finds that people do not, in fact, want to live next to Norfolk, Virginia's Tide light rail.

Toll Rates at Center of Controversy in Public-Private Partnership in Virginia
Elizabeth River Tunnels, a complex project involving a new tunnel, rehabilitating two existing tunnels, and extending an expressway, is financed by a public-private partnership that includes tolls that Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) called "exorbitant."
Transit Sparks Generational Conflict in Virginia's Hampton Roads
A controversy has emerged over the future of transportation in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, especially as it relates to demographics of the coveted "millennial workforce" variety.

Virginia Shows How Not to Do Public-Private Partnerships
A public-private partnership to build a tunnel connecting Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth under the Elizabeth River in Virginia has gone awry, saddling the public with increasing costs and, likely, more expenses in the future.
The Keys to Virginia's Urban Revitalization: Live/Work/Play
An op-ed makes the case for the benefits of mixed-use development in Virginia, namely the creation of 24/7 environments for living, working, and playing.

Back to Basics: the Diggs Town Public Housing Revitalization
Some of the most effective solutions in urban design involve the simplest design changes. Revitalizing public housing is difficult, but not impossible, as shown by Ray Gindroz and his team at Urban Design Associates in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Challenges of Being a Chief Resilience Officer
The seriousness of resilience for cities to plan and prepare for is evidenced by the creation of a new position called the chief resilience officer.
Tolls are not Taxes, Rules Virginia's Supreme Court
They are fees, ruled the court on Oct. 31, overturning a May 1, Portsmouth circuit judge ruling in a major victory for both tolling and public-private partnerships. It allows tolls to fund the Elizabeth River Crossings, VDOT's P3 tunnels project.
Should Taxpayers Have to Keep Waterfront Homes Afloat?
William Brangham takes a look at Norfolk, Virginia, where rising sea levels have made major floods increasingly commonplace – and increasingly burdensome for taxpayers.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research