Utah

Reservation System Possible for Zion National Park
The National Park Service is looking for solutions to overcrowding at its most popular parks. The idea of an online reservation system might get its first test in Utah.

Climate Change Is Shrinking the Colorado River
Documenting the effects of climate change on the West's most vital source of water.

Odd Years are Good for Hiking State Gas Taxes
Already California, Indiana, Montana, South Carolina (overriding a governor's veto), Tennessee, and Utah* have raised gas taxes this year, while last year was a drought—only New Jersey increased its gas tax.

Interior Secretary Wants to Reduce Bears Ears National Monument
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in an early decision to come of a nationwide review of national monument designations, recommends that President Trump reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument.

Friday Fun: Toddlers Take to the Race Track
The hot new wheels of choice for little ones to learn how to ride bikes are called balance bikes. "Welcome to the Tour de France of Toddler Racing," says the Wall Street Journal.

Inside the Interior Department's Review of National Monuments
The fate of 26 national monuments hangs in the balance, as the Interior Department holds a review process. Public comment is open until July 10.

Antiquities Act Executive Order Calls for Review of Large Designations
The Executive Order does not roll back the Antiquities Act nor rescind any designations made by presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, or Obama, but does call for their review if over 100,000 acres. President Trump feels that the act has been misused.

Provo-Orem Bus Rapid Transit Project Wins Court Battle
A district judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging local authority to approve an under-construction bus rapid transit project in Utah.

Legislature Wants to Change How Utah Transit Authority Operates
A bill introduced in the Utah State Legislature would curtail the UTA's ability to partner in new transit oriented development projects.

Revoking a National Monument Not Easy, Even with Republican Congress
But that's no reason not to try, figures Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah, chair of the powerful House Natural Resources Committee, who has his sights on the Bears Ears National Monument, barely a month old.

Federal Lands Transfer Bill Withdrawn
Facing backlash from hunting and angling groups, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdrew legislation that would have transferred millions of acres of federal lands to state governments in the West. But news wasn't good for other environmental bills.

The Most Ambitious Land-Use Planning Effort in the U.S.—Not Where You Might Think
A 20-year, voluntary, bottom-up, large-scale, long-term planning effort in Utah has managed to bridge the divide between Mormons and non-Mormons, environmentalists and mining interests, farmers and city-dwellers.

Obama Designates Two New National Monuments
Before this week, President Obama added more acreage to national monuments than any previous president. The final 1.35 million acres, designated this week, are a controversial final flourish.

Which States Grew and Which Didn't
Texas and Utah were the leaders in growth for the 2015-2016 fiscal year; Illinois lost more residents than any other state.

The State with the Worst Drivers…
A new study from Quote Wizard finds Utah and Rhode Island have the worst and best drivers, respectively.

Housing Advocates Push Affordability Agenda in Salt Lake City
With an estimated housing gap of 7,500 units and an apartment vacancy rate of 2 percent, Salt Lake City needs to do more to address an affordable housing shortage, advocates say.

Wouldn't It be Nice if Legislators Were Rewarded for Voting to Increase the Gas Tax?
Surprisingly, legislators are rewarded for supporting new gas taxes: they get reelected, according to a new analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. What's more, they overwhelmingly hail from red states.

Study: Time to Prepare for the Worst for Lake Powell's Water
The reservoir on the Colorado located above the Grand Canyon is dropping fast. A new study proposes a contingency plan to reduce the risk of catastrophe.

A Developer's Plan to Build a Mormon Utopia in Vermont Hits Opposition
Plans drawn up for a new, futuristic 20,000-person community in Sharon, Vermont, based on town plans originally conceived by Church of Latter Day Saints founder Joseph Smith, have hit a roadblock with locals and the church itself.

Algae Blooms: There's More Where That Came From
Some are calling it the summer of Algae—from Utah to Florida to Australia, the world is encountering massive amounts of the stinky, dangerous sludge.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service