Minnesota
VMT Fee "Inevitable", Claims Minnesota DOT Chief
MnDOT Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle needs to fill a $12 billion gap over the next 20 years. The most common question he's asked: "Can it be done without raising fees or taxes?" He stopped by The Mankato Free Press for an interview.
27 Ideas for Keeping the Twin Cities Prosperous
A study prepared for the McKnight Foundation’s Food for Thought series has searched far and wide for lessons for keeping Minneapolis-St. Paul a prosperous and livable place.
Coal Plants Go Low-Tech to Meet Green Goals
Motivated in part by the E.P.A.'s proposed rules to reduce power plant emissions, Minn. Power is burning a greener variety of coal by adding wood to the fuel, helping to meet its renewable power goal and reduce conventional air pollutants and CO2.
Could a Little Black Box Transform Road Funding in the U.S.?
Southern California's powerful regional planning association is one of the many public agencies across the United States that sees the future of road funding in a new technology called a 'black box'.
Minneapolis' Influential Modernist "Park Plaza" Saved from Demolition
The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) have reached a settlement with the City of Minneapolis to preserve and rehabilitate Peavey Plaza, ending a lawsuit brought by the groups to prevent demolition.
Could Minneapolis' Skyways Actually Enliven the City's Streetscape?
Although they've been derided by urbanists near and far, Minneapolitans overwhelmingly support the city's Skyways. James Corner Field Operations embraces the skyway system as a key element in its proposal for the city's Nicollet Mall Redesign.
Will Portland Lose its Status as America's Bike Commuting Champion?
While bike commuting is gaining nationwide, it's actually dropping in Portland which has held the enviable title of tops in bike commuting for large cities since 2005. Minneapolis and Seattle, #2 and #3 respectively, are gaining, warns BikePortland.
Want Happiness? Live Near Transit
According to a study by U. of Minn's Jason Cao published in the journal, Transportation, there is a positive correlation between living near light rail transit and satisfaction with life. He based it on the Hiawatha light rail line in Minneapolis.
Deal Clears Way for Construction of Minneapolis' "Grand Central"
After a year of closed-door negotiations, the Twins and Hennepin County have reached agreement on a plan to transform the rail hub being built adjacent to the team's new ballpark into an engine for revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood.
Small Cities Explore Sustainable Energy Solutions
From solar panels to waste-to-energy to geothermal systems, small cities across Minnesota are exploring ways to take advantage of the latest in distributed energy generation technologies to reduce costs and improve local economies.
Land Rush Is On as Builders Try to Catch Up to Housing Demand
As the housing market roars back to life, the price of "dirt", or developable land, is surging in America's most desirable areas - including the outer suburbs. A shortage of lots is said to be hampering the housing recovery.
Will HOT Lane Usage Decrease When Drivers Realize How Little Time They're Saving?
Perhaps it's not surprising to learn that HOT lane usage increases when prices increase. Higher prices, after all, signal congestion up ahead. What is surprising is the amount drivers are willing to pay to shave mere minutes off their commute.
To Maintain Its Vitality, Twin Cities Must Hone Its Story
In the first of two articles looking at how Minneapolis-St. Paul can remain a prosperous and livable place, Jay Walljasper examines the Twin Cities' identity crisis.
'Teardown Enforcer' Eases Mansionization of Minneapolis Suburb
In an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota's first 'residential redevelopment coordinator' works as a buffer between aggressive builders and residents upset about the side effects of mansionization.
Experimental BRT Route Debuts in Twin Cities
A $112 million BRT route is set to debut this weekend in the Twin Cities, the first route of its type in the area. Officials hope that with strong ridership, the service will become a model for statewide expansion.
Commuter Rail Lines Multiply, But Where Are the Riders?
Despite a flurry of new commuter rail lines in operation, ridership increased a mere .5% during a record year for transit. Worse yet, some of the newer lines saw the greatest decreases. The answer: increase service to attract riders.
Efforts to Boost Walkability Meet Hostility in Twin Cities’ Suburbs
A fragmented network of sidewalks is commonplace in the suburbs of Hennepin County, Minnesota. Mary Jane Smetanka reports on controversial efforts to fill in the gaps and retrofit these suburban neighborhoods as walkable places.
$400 Million Redevelopment to Transform Downtown Minneapolis
Developers have announced plans for 'one of the largest real estate projects in Minneapolis history.' The ambitious proposal for a five block area in the city's downtown east neighborhood could be a catalyst to transform the 'largely barren' area.
Dramatic Bridge Collapse Snarls Washington Traffic
Two cars plunged off the I-5 truss bridge, 60 miles north of Seattle, into the frigid Skagit River at the end of Thursday's commute, but no deaths nor serious injuries occurred. The likely cause appears to be a big-rig hitting the 58-year-old bridge.
The Three Elements That Attract People to Place
Addressing Minneapolis business leaders last week, Katherine Loflin, lead consultant to the Knight Foundation's Soul of the Community Project, explained the key factors that drive people's attachment to a city and how to lure young professionals.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
