Massachusetts

Offshore Wind Power Picks Up Momentum Along the Atlantic Coast

The potential for offshore wind power along the Atlantic Coast has moved closer to reality in fits and starts. Recent leases, however, indicate what the future of the industry could looks like.

November 12, 2015 - The Hill

Boston Seaport

Something's Missing in Boston's Reinvented Seaport

Boston would hardly seem capable of resembling "Anytown, USA" but that might be precisely what's happening in the Seaport neighborhood of the city's waterfront.

November 11, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Ultimate Tech Guide to Boston

Whether you're a lifelong resident of Boston, just moving there, or simply passing through, this guide has 18 apps and services for navigating and enjoying the city life to its fullest.

November 9, 2015 - Netted

Boston transit station

A Citizen's Wish List for Boston Transportation

As part of the city's long-term Go Boston 2030 plan, residents were consulted about what improvements they would like to see. Answers included an end to fatal crashes and better-integrated, more frequent transit.

October 23, 2015 - Boston Globe

High-Tech Lego Model Provides Interactive Transit Planning Test Bed

The process of building tactile models of neighborhoods as tools for planning outreach just got an upgrade with a high-tech, interactive Lego model built for the Boston area.

October 19, 2015 - CityLab

How to Build a Real-Time LED Display of Your City's Transit System

One MIT student's love of transit means no one in his house will ever miss the T.

September 26, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Boston Mayor Considering Shoup-Style Makeover for Downtown Parking

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Chris Osgood, the latter Boston's new "chief of streets," are looking to San Francisco as a model of dynamic parking.

September 25, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Massachusetts Could Be Next State to Adopt a Road Usage Charge

In the wake of voter rejection of automatic indexing of the state gas tax, Massachusetts legislators may do away with the tax altogether. They are considering a trial of the Oregon model of road usage charge.

September 23, 2015 - Eagle-Tribune

Cambridge Looking to Value Capture Transit Funding

The city of Cambridge is proposing a new transportation enhancement fund that would charge developments to fund upgrades Red Line’s Kendall/MIT Station or enhanced bus service.

September 10, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Pricetag for MBTA's Green Line Extension Jumps $1 Billion

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is scrambling to resolve a major cost overrun for the planned Green Line extension—in peril is potential rail service to one of the most densely populated cities in the country.

August 26, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Somerville, MA City Hall

Somerville Reaches for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

The city has launched a program of collaboration with the green tech industry.

August 6, 2015 - Governing

A Really, Really Big Fuel Cell Vehicle Possibly Coming to the Bay Area

This vehicle would be larger than a Hummer, a bus, and even an 18-wheeler. Then again, it would not travel on land. The proposal goes by an appropriate acronym: SF-BREEZE. Think fresh air over the bay.

August 3, 2015 - AASHTO Journal

Lessons in Waterfront Revitalization from Boston and Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's Riverlife recently hired Vivien Li from the Boston Harbor Association. Li's career trajectory helpfully informs the kinds of decisions that drive good waterfront planning.

July 29, 2015 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Foundations for First U.S. Offshore Wind Power Towed to Construction Site

Last week the foundations for five wind turbines were towed into place off Block Island, 13 miles east of Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Scheduled to go online in 2016, they will be the first offshore wind turbines in the United States.

July 29, 2015 - The New York Times - Business Day

Boston Out of the Olympics Game for 2024

After a protracted controversy, the United States Olympic Committee officially terminated the bid for Boston to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

July 28, 2015 - New York Times

Boston Aerial

Boston Olympic Plan Includes 8,000 Units of Housing

As it vies to host the 2024 Summer Games, Boston's plan envisions two new permanent neighborhoods built with a mix of public and private investment. The final decision will take place in September.

July 26, 2015 - Boston Globe

Is Boston Ready for Gold Standard Bus Rapid Transit?

Gold Standard is the term used by the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy to define world-class BRT service. A recently released ITDP study, underwritten by the Barr Foundation, argues for more Gold Standard service.

June 24, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Boston Hopes to Make it Easier for Developers to Prepare for Rising Seas

Several agencies with the city of Boston will begin studying how to retrofit the city's building codes to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

June 22, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Boston Aerial

Boston Confronts the Origins of Its Lousy Architecture

For the first 300-or-so years of its history, Boston built some of the most handsome, historic neighborhoods in the country. Lately, says critic Rachel Slade, it has given in to mediocrity. Mayor Marty Walsh is trying to undo the damage.

June 4, 2015 - Boston Magazine

MassDot Planning a New Bridge Into Cape Cod

A potential public-private partnership would add a third bridge into Cape Cod.

May 26, 2015 - The Boston Globe

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.