Where are the projected 400 million air travelers coming to London supposed to land? Prime Minister David Cameron is caught between two politically difficult choices for how to manage the projected growth in passengers.
Coming off the crush of Olympic-sized tourism, pressures are again upon London to continue its expansion of its transportation network, this time at its airports. One such proposition is the construction of a brand-new airport. "The most ambitious is advocated by Norman Foster, one of Britain's most celebrated architects, who has called for an integrated air and high-speed rail hub built partly on reclaimed land adjacent to the Isle of Grain, on the south side of the Thames estuary about 40 miles from central London," reports The New York Times' John F. Burns.
With costs estimated to reach $80-$100 billion and a multi-decade timeframe, the new airport is a sizable gamble. The other option, building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, was canceled by Cameron's government two days after taking office.
Yet, as Burns states, "[w]ithout the additional runway [at Heathrow Airport], or a commitment soon to a new estuary airport, experts say, Britain will eventually become an aviation backwater." That, and concerns regarding the general economy remain high in Britain. The proposed estuary airport could create as many as 100,000 jobs.
FULL STORY: New Urgency on Airport Plan for Britain’s Cameron

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie