New Mexico

Big Transit Happenings Expected for the Sun Belt in 2016

A streak of landmark years for public transit in Sun Belt cities from the West Coast to the Florida Panhandle will continue in 2016.

December 27, 2015 - The Urban Edge

How Rural Towns Succeeded in Keeping Amtrak's Southwest Chief Running

Cities as far-flung as Trinidad, Dodge City, and Lamy joined their efforts in recent years to keep the iconic Southwest Chief Amtrak route running.

November 10, 2015 - The Denver Post

Fire

On the Altered Landscapes of the Wildfire West

The heightened intensity of wildfires in the Western United States, along with other human factors, are short-circuiting the natural processes of rebirth.

September 21, 2015 - The New York Times

The Case For and Against Red Light Cameras

Eric Jaffe of CityLab looks at what went wrong with what should have been a clear way to employ technology to reduce crashes and save lives, and what can be done to stem the tide of cities removing red light cameras.

August 18, 2015 - CityLab

EPA Causes Massive Spill, Discoloring a Colorado River

The Environmental Protection Agency finds itself in a peculiar place. Normally it investigates spills caused by the private sector. Now it's cleaning up a massive spill it caused while investigating a leak at an abandoned mine in southwest Colorado.

August 10, 2015 - The New York Times - U.S.

Desert Road

Restoring the First Cross Country Interstate in the Southern States*

Partly absorbed by 1-10 and party given over the ravages of time—the Old Spanish Trail was the first to highway to connect the East Coast to the West Coast through the southern states.

August 9, 2015 - Atlas Obscura

10-Mile Bus Rapid Transit System Planned in Albuquerque

Albuquerque is working on a multi-modal reconfiguration of the old Route 66.

June 16, 2015 - Albuquerque Journal

SimCity 2013

Full-Scale 'SimCity' Will Be Tech Testing Ground

Devoid of a human population, the Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation (CITE) is a planned, privately-operated trial lab for the smart city. The CITE design calls for a small, fully-functioning ghost town.

June 11, 2015 - Wired

Downtown ABQ Skyline

British-Backed Megadevelopment Slated for...Albuquerque

A master-planned community proposed for land owned by the British bank Barclay's on the outskirts of Albuquerque would be New Mexico's second-largest city on full build-out. Opponents say it would also be a major water hog in a painfully arid state.

May 31, 2015 - The Guardian

Grant Funding Rewards Innovation in Community Engagement

The Citi Foundation and Living Cities announced $3 million in grant funding to help cities adopt innovative practices in community engagement. Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Seattle will have 18 months to empower citizens.

May 22, 2015 - Next City

drinking water fountain

The Equity of Tiered Water Pricing

A tale of two water-parched cities, one in California, the other in New Mexico, and the critical role played by tiered water pricing. Long known as an effective economic strategy to reduce consumption, tiered pricing also influences equity.

May 7, 2015 - The New York Times

Teotihuacan

Study: Ancient Cities Grew Much Like Modern Cities

Scientists from the Santa Fe Institute have discovered basic patterns underlying the way cities have always grown. The mechanics of "urban scaling" may have something fundamental to tell us about how large settlements evolve.

March 1, 2015 - Christian Science Monitor

Coming this Spring: Bikeshare Pilot Program in Albuquerque

A coalition of public and private interests have come together in Albuquerque to launch New Mexico's first bikeshare program.

February 28, 2015 - Albuquerque Business First

Albuquerque Set to Update Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code

The city of Albuquerque joins the ranks of the cities around the country overhauling their zoning and planning mechanisms.

February 9, 2015 - Albuquerque Journal

Now Singing: Route 66 in New Mexico

The pavement along Old Route 66 in New Mexico will now play "America the Beautiful"—but only if you're driving the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour.

October 28, 2014 - ABC News

Census: More Americans Living in 'Poverty Areas'

In the most recent analysis to come from a bounty of data releases this week from the U.S. Census, Governing examines the growth of poverty, especially the areas where it concentrates.

July 4, 2014 - Governing

Half the Country Now Facing Drought

On the flip-side of the polar vortex in the climate news department, drought conditions are worsening across the country. In much of the West, the drought means water supply challenges and a growing threat of fire.

May 16, 2014 - Vox

Boston innovation district banner with lofts

Urban America's 'Reconnaissance Mission for Progressive Politics'

Recent commenters have described cities as the locus for a new type of liberalism that benefits a broader swath of demographics. Dissenters wonder whether certain progressive cities, enabled by privilege, are merely drivers of inequality.

May 9, 2014 - New York Times

Mapping the U.S. Mexico Border Fence

Journalists at the Center for Investigative Reporting undertook the herculean task of mapping the extent of the secretive and sometimes strange fence between the United States and Mexico.

April 11, 2014 - Center for Investigative Reporting

Bus Rapid Transit on Track in Albuquerque

Following three years of study, Albuquerque Mayor RJ Berry declared a “tipping point” in the city’s BRT plans. The city will require a federal matching grant to proceed.

March 7, 2014 - KRQE.com

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.