Norfolk

View of empty multi-lane freeway next to historic brick buildingin Richmond, Virginia

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.

February 24, 2023 - WRIC

Amtrak

Virginia’s Intercity Rail Investments Paying Off in New Ridership

State-supported rail lines in Virginia set a new ridership record in July.

September 2, 2022 - Sun Gazette

20 MPH speed limit sign

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.

November 12, 2021 - WTKR

Roanoke, Virginia

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.

August 12, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Skyline of Norfolk, Virginia

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.'

August 5, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Ohio Creek Watershed Project

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.

March 21, 2021 - Bloomberg Green

Norfolk, Virginia

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.

January 6, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Tide Light Rail

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.

December 1, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

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.

September 30, 2019 - The Virginian-Pilot

Extreme Weather

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.

January 17, 2019 - The Virginian-Pilot

Hurricane Ike Damage

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."

April 18, 2017 - The New York Times Magazine

Tide Light Rail

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.

December 16, 2016 - Next City

Toll Road Truck

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."

May 2, 2016 - PBS NewsHour

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.

March 9, 2016 - The Virginian Pilot

Norfolk Midtown Tunnel

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.

November 6, 2015 - The Washington Post

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.

March 12, 2015 - Virginia Business

Diggs Town

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.

December 15, 2014 - Robert Freedman

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.

November 17, 2014 - Next City

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.

November 4, 2013 - Bloomberg

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.

May 3, 2012 - Grist

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.