Planetizen Interchange

Optimal Transport Policy For An Uncertain Future

Todd Litman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:57:39 -0800

As I write this column (2 February) the U.S. House Transportation Committee is debating changes in H.R. 3864, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, which will determine future federal transportation policy.

Faculty Using Web 2.0 to Show Images

Ann Forsyth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:54:22 -0800

Lately as I’ve been trying to help students find information for papers and classes, I’ve stumbled across a few new examples of faculty using the web to give others access to visual data from their research.

Information Sources in Planning: Introduction

Michael Dudley — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:23:19 -0800

For more than ten years now I have been a librarian at the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg, managing a small library dedicated to planning, geography, urban design and environmental issues. I have been extremely fortunate to have had the freedom in this role to evolve a hybridized career involving research, librarianship, teaching, writing and editing.

Liveblog: ULI Rose Center Kansas City Study Visit

Jess Zimbabwe — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:09:42 -0800

I'm writing from the audience of a presentation this morning in the Hotel Phillips in Kansas City. The presentation will cover the initial observations and recommendations of a national team of experts who've been invited here by Mayor Sly James and his team of Daniel Rose Fellows.

The Kansas City Daniel Rose Fellows:

The Law of Traffic Congestion, according to "The Flash!"

Brent Toderian — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:58:42 -0800

Across the world, city-builders who understand the complex relationship between land-use, car infrastructure and road congestion, struggle to communicate it in a simple way that resonates with the public. It's now well-demonstrated in transportation demand management (TDM) research and practice that you can't build your way out of traffic congestion by building roads, and in fact the opposite is true - the more free-ways and car lanes you build, the more people drive and the more congestion and other negative results there are.

Density without walkability

Michael Lewyn — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:35:33 -0800

I had heard of “dense sprawl” and “density without walkability” in the past, but before spending a week in Jerusalem last month, I had never really lived through these problems.

My parents (who I was staying with) rented a unit in a high-rise condo complex called Holyland Tower. Although Holyland Tower was the tallest building in the area, there were numerous mid-rise buildings, and lots of two-and three-story apartment and condo buildings. While walking through the idea, I saw nothing resembling a single-family home. In sum, this area was a pretty dense neighborhood in a pretty dense city (Jerusalem’s overall density is roughly comparable to that of the city of San Francisco).

Yes, We Can Have a Healthy Environment and Economic Development: Reconciling Conflicting Planning Objectives

Todd Litman — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:46:43 -0800

I am sorry to report that, Canada, my chosen country (I immigrated here in 1993), recently withdrew from the Kyoto Accord, which sets international climate change emission reduction targets. It’s worth noting that this decision was made by the ruling Conservative Party which received less than 40% of total votes, but the other four parties split the more progressive votes and are unable to form a coalition, resulting in federal policies that are far more politically conservative than the average Canadian would prefer.

Case Studies: How Planning Students Can Find Interesting Projects Online

Ann Forsyth — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:41:21 -0800

Planning students are often interested in finding examples of planning practice, particularly good examples. Several free online sources list projects that have won awards or been the subject of magazine articles. While winning an award doesn’t mean a project is perfect, such projects are typically m some of the more interesting examples of planning.

Planning to Get an Internship

Ann Forsyth — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:55:24 -0800

It’s winter break for many northern hemisphere planning students so time to start planning for next summer’s internship. I have previously blogged about "making the most of an internship": http://www.planetizen.com/node/51287. Here I briefly talk about the practicalities of getting one.

"And the Winners are...": re:CONNECT Stand-outs Announced!

Brent Toderian — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:26:46 -0800

Last week, at an event attended by over 300 Vancouverites, we announced the winners of our re:CONNECT Open Ideas Competition regarding the future of our Viaducts and Eastern Core. If you missed my past posts on the steps leading up to the big night, it might help to read here and here first.

New Understanding of Pricing Impacts on Travel

Todd Litman — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:13:03 -0800

Bad planning simply extrapolates past trends: “We experienced 2% annual growth during the last decade, so we’ll assume that will continue into the future.” Good planning attempts to understand underlying factors that affect change. Such is the case with the price elasticity of vehicle travel, that is, the changes in vehicle travel caused by a change in transport prices (fuel, parking, tolls, insurance, etc.).

Can't Buy Me Love--Or Plan For It

Jeffrey Barg — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:55:24 -0800

This morning I embarked with three dozen volunteers to plant 10 trees in Pigeon Town, a neighborhood in western New Orleans. The group was completing an eight-hour training on urban greening initiatives, learning everything from pruning methods to how to work with municipalities to find funding for beautification projects—which have been proven to improve everything from real estate values to crime statistics.

The training did not, however, cover what we were supposed to do when we heard gunshots ring out. That we had to improvise.

What Transit Agencies Should Ask Their Customers About

Michael Lewyn — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:48:34 -0800

After reading this story about a transit agency surveying their customers, I thought to myself: do riders really want another survey asking whether they are satisfied or how clean the stations are? Although clean stations are certainly better than unclean stations, I suspect that these are not transit riders' major priorities. (And when I say "transit riders" I really of course mean "myself").

Sustainability Allows Us to Manufacture Time

Rick Abelson — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:06:26 -0800

Go ahead, define sustainability. Everyone knows countless, tangled and unconvincing definitions for this word which is quickly losing steam. The problem is that we’re not sure about how sustainability relates to us except in planetary ways. We’re bombarded with many concepts that if we reduce this by 20% then we’ll get that in 30 years which helps the earth survive. All’s well, except we’re almost numb because we won’t feel the aggregate effects for quite some time. Obviously, we’re an impatient lot.

New Visions for the Viaducts - Vote for your Favourites!

Brent Toderian — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:04:01 -0800

As my last post profiled, Vancouver is creatively working to define the future of our Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts - infrastructure that I've referred to as "the asterix" beside the statement that Vancouver has no freeways within our city. One of several inputs into that process is an open ideas competition called re:CONNECT.

The Value of Transportation Enhancements; Or, Are Walking and Cycling Really Transportation?

Todd Litman — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:13:08 -0800

An important current policy debate concerns whether the next U.S. federal surface transportation reauthorization should require spending on “enhancements,” which finance projects such as walkways, bike paths, highway landscaping and historic preservation. This issue receives considerable attention, despite the fact that enhancements represent less than 2% of total federal surface transportation expenditures, because it raises questions about future transport priorities, particularly the role of walking and cycling. In other words, should non-motorized modes be considered real transportation.

On the Risks and Responsbilities of Living (in Cities)

Samuel Staley — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:10:56 -0800

Last summer, most of the nation was justifiably outraged when Raquel Nelson was convicted of vehicular homicide because her four-year old son stepped off a median into oncoming traffic and was killed. Common sense alone should have kept this case from going to trial, but I believe this case should have raised a bigger and more encompassing issue for planners and a question of social ethics: What is the responsibility we take as individuals for the choices we make living in an urban environment?

Planning Accreditation Board seeks public comments on proposed new accreditation standards

Bruce Stiftel — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:24:56 -0800

The PAB is proposing a substantial revision of the standards and criteria for accreditation of university planning programs. A public comment period on the proposal has just opened and lasts through 15 December. Here's what PAB says about the changes:

"PAB is pleased to introduce a comprehensive revision of its accreditation standards and criteria. The goals of the change process include:

Should states have environmental review statutes for rezonings?

Michael Lewyn — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:54:57 -0800

After reading an article on the misuse of CEQA in California,* I took a short look at New York law. In New York, city planners must prepare an environmental assessment when property is rezoned, and must prepare a more detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) if property has a significant effect on the environment.

What Yesterday’s Elections Results Mean for Cities and City Government Across the U.S.

Jess Zimbabwe — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:02:25 -0800

If you can make it past rhetoric around healthcare, abortion, collective bargaining, and immigration, the November 8th election results tell a more cohesive and calming story about American’s political sentiment. Despite a widespread expressed attitude of “throw the bums out,” incumbent mayors won in every big city race on the ballot yesterday: Baltimore, Charlotte, Houston, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.