Georgia

Atlanta Voters to Decide on $250 Million Infrastructure Bond

States aren't the only ones looking for new ways to fund crumbling transportation infrastructure. Atlanta voters, for instance, will consider a $250 infrastructure bond proposal in the March election.

February 16, 2015 - Atlanta Creative Loafing

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Trains Are Always Better than Buses, Right?

Josh Barro provide examples galore of why the answer to that question isn't always yes—where costly rail investment has been to the detriment of existing transit. His column targets proposed projects, such as New York's LaGuardia Airport AirTrain.

February 11, 2015 - New York Times - The Upshot

Atlanta Skyline

How to Revive a Transit Agency

Under CEO Keith Parker, Atlanta's formerly desperate transit agency is picking up steam after suffering annual deficits of up to $33 million. The service area has expanded, the fleet is being modernized, and voters approved a new transit tax.

February 6, 2015 - CityLab

Friday Funny: What Makes a Nerd-Friendly City?

Movoto has produced a pair of rankings: "The 10 Nerdiest Cities in America" and "The 10 Nerdiest Small Cities in America." According to the lists, there must be something in the water in Georgia.

February 6, 2015 - Movoto Blog

Atlanta Suburb Pitches Gaming Resort for Economic Development

An Atlanta suburb is moving forward with a plan to create a gaming report, unprecedented in the state, to invigorate a languishing part of town.

February 3, 2015 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Obama to Open Controversial Atlantic Region to Offshore Drilling

A mere day after the Interior Department announced it would permanently block drilling in much of the Arctic Refuge by designating it as wilderness, it proposed allowing drilling in the Gulf, along Atlantic coast, and surprisingly, offshore Alaska.

January 28, 2015 - McClatchy Washington Bureau

Op-Ed: Transportation Funding is Only One Part of a Fair Budget

A guest column on the Saporta Report offers a reminder of the many critical public needs that compete with transportation funding for state dollars.

January 27, 2015 - Saporta Report

Poll: Voters Remain Opposed To Raising State Gas Taxes

Notwithstanding plummeting gas prices, Keith Laing of The Hill reports on poll results that reveal an uphill battle for political leaders in Utah, Georgia, and New Jersey, who are advocating gas tax increases to fund roads, bridges, and transit.

January 26, 2015 - The Hill

Riding New Atlanta's Streetcar for a Week: a Commuter's Diary

The debate about the effectiveness of streetcars as an alternative form of transportation (rather than just a driver of property values) isn't going anywhere. The latest test case for the ongoing experiment: Atlanta.

January 21, 2015 - Atlanta

A Small Town Supports Citywide 25-mph Speed Limit

One town in Georgia recently conducted a public opinion poll finding that most of its 19,000-plus citizens support reduced speed limits on all city streets.

January 16, 2015 - Decatur Metro

Atlanta Streetcar

Atlanta Streetcar Finally Opens

It's 'back to the future' for Atlanta's $98 million investment that opened Dec. 30, although these will be modern, not vintage, streetcars that operate on a small loop. Streetcars last operated here in 1949. Mayor Reed intends to lengthen the route.

January 3, 2015 - The New York Times

Atlanta International Airport

RFQ Released for Atlanta's Planned 'Airport City'

The city of Atlanta is moving forward with a plan to upgrade the world's busiest airport to "Airport City" status.

December 29, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Georgia Transportation Funding Debate

Georgia's experience emerging from the recession as revenues increase after years of government belt tightening is common around the country. The question now: How to finance the improvements to the state's neglected transportation infrastructure?

December 13, 2014 - SaportaReport

Revealed: $400 Million Mixed-Use Development Adjacent to Cobb County Baseball Stadium

The Atlanta Braves Major league Baseball team made a splash last year by deciding to decamp to suburban Cobb County for a new ballpark. Still to be determined: Can the new ballpark spur development and integrate into the community?

December 11, 2014 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

The End of the Era of Cheap Water

In many places around the country, the price of water is increasing, quickly. While the reasons for the increase vary depending on the location, common to the issue is the ability of planning to either help or hinder the problem.

December 9, 2014 - Governing

Walk Along with an Atlanta Road Safety Audit

Metropolitan Atlanta accounts for half of the pedestrian fatalities in Georgia. One pedestrian advocacy group is doing the legwork to begin the process of improving the city's pedestrian infrastructure.

November 30, 2014 - PEDS

Collisions Trouble Atlanta Streetcar Testing

Some would argue that introducing streetcars to auto-oriented streets is a recipe for collisions. Drivers in Atlanta are already having trouble mixing with streetcars, before the system even launches.

November 25, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Report Details Best Practices for Land Banks

A recent report collects data from the experience of cities using land banks as a method for addressing vacant and blighted properties.

November 19, 2014 - Community Progress Blog

Switching to Transit in Atlanta—Affordable but Unlikely

Darin from ATL Urbanist picks up on a recent report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finding that residents of Atlanta can save big money by ditching their cars and riding transit.

November 17, 2014 - ATL Urbanist

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

The Biggest Transportation Winner on the Nov. 4 Ballot

The ballot measure generating the most new transportation funds approved by voters this month was in Alameda County, Calif. Voters chose to double an existing sales tax to one percent and extend it to 2045, raising $7.8 billion over 30 years.

November 16, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

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.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.