Virginia

Faulty Wiring Needs to be Replaced on All of D.C. Metro's New Subway Cars
The WMATA's Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance & Oversight office delivered bad news to the beleaguered transit service.
Trump Administration Proposes to Freeze Fuel Economy Standards at 2020 Level
On Thursday, the U.S. DOT and U.S. EPA announced one of the Trump administration's most consequential rollbacks of environmental and efficiency regulations that will have a detrimental effect on climate change, air pollution, and oil consumption.

Parking Fee Pilot Project Extended for D.C. Metro
A parking experiment will continue at transit stations in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) system.

Defanging a Pollution Watchdog
The coal industry is pushing legislation to limit the power of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission.

Expansion of Maryland Toll Lane Project Increases Cost Five-Fold to $1.1 Billion
A $210 million project to add a single, 7-mile express toll lane on Interstate 95 north of Baltimore was just expanded to two lanes for 10 miles. Financing will rely on toll revenue. Unlike HOT lanes, every motorist will pay to use the lanes.

The Chesapeake Bay Comeback
Scientists say the Chesapeake Bay hasn't been this healthy in more than three decades. It's a testament to federal environmental regulations.

Capitalism at Work on an Interstate Highway
Traffic speeds during the peak eastbound commute on the 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway have dropped to 35 mph. "Toll-tweaking" and changing the algorithm are achieving limited success on this dynamically-tolled stretch.

Study: Unbundle Parking for the Most Effective Transportation Demand Management
A new study by Mobility Lab makes a strong case for unbundling parking from rent to inspire more sustainable transportation choices.

Raising the Meal Tax to Pay for Affordable Housing
Is anybody up for happy hour in Alexandria?

Details Emerging About the Big Pedestrian Bridge Proposed for Arlington County, Virginia
A proposal first revealed in November 2017 has already undergone a substantial amount of planning.

Apple Could Make Northern Virginia a Tech Industry Powerhouse
Apple is pondering a major move into Northern Virginia. For comparison, state officials have pitched sites covering about half the desired size of Amazon's second headquarters and two-thirds the size of the Pentagon.
Roanoke, Virginia's Evolving Economy Moves Beer-ward
Once, trains dominated the city’s economy, now it's "brains, bikes and beer," according to city officials.

SafeTrack Over, Metro D.C.'s Ridership Continues to Decline
Greater Greater Washington's "Metro Reasons" column analyses the latest ridership data from the D.C. Metro system. Riders have not returned to the system after the SafeTrack repair program concluded in 2017.

Express Lanes Toll Revenue Benefits Bus Riders, Carpoolers, and Bike Riders
The new 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway made headlines when one-way tolls topped $40. Max Smith of WTOP News reports how revenues are used in Northern Virginia. Bus transit and shuttles to park-and-ride lots are two of the biggest beneficiaries.

Electric Vehicles to Lose Important Perk in Southern California
One of the major reasons for purchasing an electric vehicle in California is the ability to use a carpool lane as a solo driver and use an express lane toll-free. The latter perk will soon disappear for solo-occupant EVs on two freeways.
A Subway Breakdown Causes Tolls to Skyrocket on 66 Express Lanes
An illustration of the intricate relationship between public transit and highways occurred on April 5 when two lines of the D.C. Metro broke down during the peak morning commute, sending many would-be riders to drive I-66 to D.C. instead.
Construction of I–66 Toll Lanes Outside the Capital Beltway Begins this Weekend
Widening of Interstate 66 for 22.5 miles in Northern Virginia will accommodate two toll lanes in each direction, accessible to trucks. The $3.7 billion project, to be built by public-private partnership at no cost to the state, will open in 2022.

Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia
Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.

Where Population Declines but the Economy Grows
While the scale of Detroit's population loss is well known, the lesser known that the city's economy has grown steadily in recent decades. It's not alone.

D.C. Metro Could Get a Big Funding Boost from Virginia and Maryland
In some respects, D.C. Metro has been the poster child for dysfunctional transit systems in recent years, but the states of Virginia and Maryland are close to ensuring a new source of funding that could help stabilize the transit agency.
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.
Ascent Environmental
Borough of Carlisle
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