Texas
The Danger of Federal Money for Local Projects
Scott Beyer provides four reasons why federal money is the wrong policy mechanism for delivering the best possible transportation outcomes in the United States.
On the Death of the San Antonio Streetcar
When former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro began his new job as secretary of HUD, the all-but-built Modern Streetcar project fell prey to gathering Tea Party forces.
Coming Soon to Downtown Houston: the City's First Dedicated Bike Lane
Reflecting a series of recent initiatives by city leadership in Houston to promote bike safety and road diets, a vehicle lane will soon be removed and handed over to bikers in Downtown Houston.
The Community Reinvestment Act Gets a Makeover
Jonathan Walters details the new thinking that is redefining how Community Reinvestment Act funds are invested.
Growing Opposition to Toll Road Plans in North Texas
North Texans aren't happy with a planned network of toll roads, claiming that they're taxed and tolled enough already. A series of public hearings is intended to spread more information about the growing network of toll roads.
Arriving in Texas: the Shinkansen Bullet Train
The Houston to Dallas high speed rail train will be built with the cooperation of Japan's Central Railway, a longtime successful and profitable operator of Shinkansen bullet train lines. Securing the private financing is key to the project.
Sating Food Deserts with Frequent Transit Networks
According to Jarrett Walker, one solution to alleviating food deserts is by providing residents access to frequent transportation networks.
Open Today: Light Rail Connection to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Called the "biggest accomplishment" in DART's 31-year history, city leaders are hoping the new airport connection brings more international cachet along with tourists, conventions, and investments in downtown.
Austin Voters To Decide on Light Rail and Freeway Bond Measure
The Austin City Council unanimously approved a $1 billion bond measure on August 7, subject to voter approval on Nov. 4 to provide $600 million toward a $1.4 billion, 9.5-mile light rail line and $400 million for freeway improvements.
Fear of Density Faulted for Lack of Open Spaces in Dallas
Planners and residents are concerned about the lack of green space requirements in the booming area of Uptown in Dallas. Instead of delivering amenities, some say, developers are often engaged in battles over density.
Exercise in Futility: Pressing the Button to Cross the Street
An article in the Dallas News find the devil is in the details: namely, the difficulty in maintaining the little things that make a multi-modal street work—like the little push buttons (some call them "beg buttons") at crosswalks.
Can Conservation and Drilling Coexist?
That's the question facing the nation's largest environmental organization (not the Sierra Club but The Nature Conservancy) regarding the management of its preserve in Texas. There is no question for Naomi Klein, who writes about it in her new book.
San Antonio Streetcar Plans at Risk
San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor is calling for a "pause" on the city's proposed streetcar. Meanwhile a charter amendment from project opponents could be headed to the ballot and a county judge has called for the project to be put on hold.
An Anti-Fracking Initiative...in Texas?
The fracking rebellion has finally spread to The Lone Star State. Citizens of Denton have had enough with environmental woes from fracking close to homes and gathered signatures. Plus: the outcome of litigation against Colorado 's first fracking ban.
The Value of Fast Transit—Under Construction in Paris
The proposed Grand Paris Express program, which began construction this summer and is expected for completion in 2030, will serve 2 million people a day at "wildly fast speeds." Then there's light rail in the United States.
Meet Dallas' New 'Bike Czar'
In an article for the Dallas Morning News, Tom Benning introduces Ashley Haire as the city of Dallas' new bike coordinator. Haire comes to the job of delivering more bicycle infrastructure to Dallas by way of Portland and TxDOT.
Stuck in a Development Slump, Texas Suburb Shrinks Transit District
After plans to create a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly district in the Austin suburb of Leander fizzled due to the recession, the city has cut back minimum height and density requirements in the hopes of attracting more investment.
World's Largest Carbon Capture and Storage Project Breaks Ground in Texas
Construction began July 16 on the Petra Nova project, 27 miles from Houston. President Obama and many climate experts are banking on CCS to mitigate carbon emissions from the world's largest source of carbon emissions: coal burning power plants.
Op-Ed: Comprehensive Plan Needed to Replace Dallas' Aging Traffic Lights
An editorial calls for a comprehensive plan to address Dallas' growing need to overhaul its streetlights—80 percent of which are now older than their recommended 25-year life span.
Sans Litter Ban, Tubers Trash Rivers in Texas
Tubers and tourists had their right to litter protected by a district judge in Texas. What they got as a result was…a lot more litter.
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
