North Carolina

Scrutiny for Charlotte Silver Line Light Rail Plan
Cost and economic development considerations supersede mobility considerations in the planning for Charlotte's planned light rail line.

Duke Faculty Support N.C. Rail Project; University Opposes It
Duke University will not sign an agreement for a regional rail project that has widespread support from the campus community.

The 'Decolonial Planning' Project
A potentially radical point of view that must be considered by planners: moving the field forward will require soul searching that confronts an overcomes the disposition and exploitation that defined the past and continues to influence the future.

Affordable Housing Tipping Point in Charlotte
Charlotte saw the writing on the wall, and decided to act decisively in addressing its lack of affordable housing options.

North Carolina Reconsidering its Stance on Climate Change
Two hurricanes later, residents of North Carolina aren't so willing to deny the need to do something about the effects of climate change. A Democratic governor and a changing State Legislature have already produced action.
Nation's Newest Toll Road Opens in North Carolina
For a small fee, motorists can now bypass a congested arterial road with two dozen traffic lights outside of Charlotte. Built and operated by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, the 18-mile, electronically tolled Monroe Expressway opened Nov. 27.

Investigation Reveals the Failures of 'Clean Coal'
As the federal government sends massive subsidies to encourage so-called clean coal technology, coal-burning power plants aren't sending less pollution into the air and into the earth.

Climate Change Won't Be Kind to the Carolinas
The 4th National Climate Assessment brought the reality of climate change to the regional and local level. The Carolinas provide a particularly poignant case study.

Cities Positioning for an Expanding Venture Capital Market
Cities outside of the big coastal tech hubs have characteristics well suited for the high-tech sector.

‘Nudging’ Durham Commuters Toward More Sustainable Modes of Travel
Behavioral science is informing the city’s efforts to change the way people commute.

State Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences
The environment and climate change may not be top issues in the nation's hotly contested gubernatorial contests next Tuesday, but their outcomes can cause policy changes. Take North Carolina and the election of Roy Cooper, a Democrat, two years ago.

For Many Charlotte Residents, Affordable Housing Still Isn’t Affordable
Over the last decade and a half, the city has put millions of dollars into affordable housing. But the help is not reaching Charlotte’s neediest residents.

How to Understand Your City's Eviction Crisis
Other cities could learn from efforts to lower eviction rates in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Hurricane Florence Causes Coal Ash Spill at Former Coal Power Plant
The breach of the coal ash landfill by a former coal-burning power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina serves as a reminder that even after coal plants are shuttered, the by-products of the world's most polluting fossil fuel can still cause harm.

Don't Blame Climate Change for Hurricane Florence
But you can blame climate change for 6 inches of storm surge resulting from sea level rise. Florence made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday as a Category 1 storm with wind speeds of 90 mph.

Raleigh Could Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units—With Lots of Strings Attached
Residents in parts of Raleigh would be allowed to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property, if a majority of their neighbors approve the idea.

Light Rail From Durham to Orange Finds Final Funding Piece
Planners behind a new 17-mile light rail system that will connect the cities and employers in the Research Triangle in North Carolina overcame a change of funding plans by the state.

Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan Focuses on People, Not Cars
Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan is "among the more ambitious long-term urban planning projects in American cities," this article. Released in 2015, the plan's work is not done.

Evidence of Race's Role in Land Use Decisions
Analysis of a city's zoning and land use decisions over seven decades reveals the role race plays in decision making.

In Sprawling Charlotte, Traffic Jams Point to Climate Solutions
A look at the relationship between sprawl and climate change mitigation in the fast-growing North Carolina city.
Pagination
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research