Indiana
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.
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.
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.
Big Plans for Fort Wayne's Downtown Waterfront
Situated at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee Rivers, Fort Wayne, Indiana is flush with funding for an ambitious waterfront revival project.
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.
Planning for Climate Change on the Shores of the Great Lakes
Two academic researchers explain the planning and landscape architecture opportunities offered by the "dramatic fluctuations" and "emergent shorelands" of the Great Lakes Coasts.
The Rise Of the Smart Growth Suburb
Most of the suburbs of the 20th century weren't designed to last more than a generation or two. As many suburbs decay, or get replaced by farther-flung rings of new bedroom communities, Carmel, Indiana is trying something different.
Trees are Good for People—and Vice Versa
Sarah Laskow reports on recent research on the surprisingly two-way connection between the happiness of urban trees and the happiness of urban humans.
U.S. EPA Announces New 'Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center'
The U.S. EPA recently announced the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center "as a resource to communities to improve their wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems." Two reports show why it's the new resources are so badly needed.
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.
Struggling Toll Roads Make for Good Investments
In another example of a struggling toll road attracting no shortage of investors, the poor revenue performance of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency in Orange County, California has not dissuaded investors, as the returns are high.
Tolls vs Taxes and the State of the American Highway
Making up only seven percent of U.S. interstate miles, the future of toll roads is bright according to Brooking's Robert Puentes and Diane Rehm's other guests in a 52-minute, wide ranging discussion on gas taxes, toll roads, and privatization.
No Shortage of Investors Lining Up to Operate Bankrupt Toll Road
Many were surprised when the Indiana Toll Road's operator declared bankruptcy on September 22. Just as surprising may be all the interest by global investors in bidding to replace the bankrupt Australian-Spanish consortium as the new operator.
Great Lakes Leaders Call for Drinking Water Protections
In light of August's drinking water catastrophe in Toledo, Ohio, Great Lakes mayors gathered this week to call for policy action to protect water resources round the Great Lakes.
Another (Surprising) Toll Road Bankruptcy
It wasn't supposed to go this way. When Indiana leased the state's namesake, but failing, 157-mile toll road for $3.8 billion to an Australian-Spanish consortium in 2006 for 75 years, analysts predicted a handsome return for investors.
110-mph Talgo Trains Headed to Michigan [Corrected]
If the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approves the order, two Wisconsin-manufactured Talgo train sets will reduce travel times from Detroit to Chicago by as much as two hours while significantly increasing on-time performance.
How One Town Cut Operations to Invest in Capital Projects
A detailed case study of Kokomo, Indiana, which has achieved an impressive record of investments in streetscape and other capital projects, even as it struggled to deal with the effects of the recession.
International Effort Needed to Prevent Recurrence of Lake Erie Algal Bloom
On Monday, August 4, half a million people in the Toledo, Ohio metro region could once again drink from their water taps after a weekend without safe drinking water due to a toxin resulting from an algal bloom in the city's water supply, Lake Erie.
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.
Missouri Legislators Vote to Cut Income Tax, Raise Sales Tax for Transportation
After voting to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of an income tax cut, legislators agreed to allow voters to determine whether to increase the state sales tax by .75% in November for ten years to increase funding for transportation programs.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
