So how do you permit and build a 4,000-mile undersea communication cable system? And why do we care?Infrastructure
China Using 10 Times More Cement Than Anyone Else
The Oil Drum charts recent figures released by the U.S. Geological Survey, which show a stunning growth in cement use (and therefore, presumably, building activity) in China as compared to world usage.
The Oil Drum
Public Art That's Popular
People love to complain about public art, but an installation in Emeryville, CA is almost universally loved. One expert says, 'It creates something that is thought-provoking. It isn't just decorative.'
The San Francisco Chronicle
Municipal WiFi: Boon or Boondoggle?
Santa Monica, CA is succeeding where other larger cities have failed, creating a public WiFi system that actually makes money.
Marketplace
Key New York City Council Member Predicts Future for Congestion Pricing
Council Member David Yassky was one of congestion pricing's earliest and most vocal proponents, and he hasn't yet given up on the prospect of charging tolls to drive in Manhattan.
The Planning Report
Goldman Sachs Sees Gold in Humboldt, CA
Humboldt's port shows promise, but would require massive investment. Goldman Sachs expresses an interest, surprising locals.
Times-Standard, Northern California
Agrarian Past Drives South Atlantic Sprawl
North Carolina bills itself as the "good growth state." But as North Carolina's population heads toward 10 million, the state's low-density pattern of development is straining the infrastructure.
California Planning & Development Report
New York Regional Plan Association Advocates 'America 2050' Plan
According to RPA Executive Director Robert Yaro, global competition requires that the United States focus on regions for future infrastructure investment.
The Planning Report
Bandwidth-Oriented Development
Sat, 04/26/2008 - 08:56
So how do you permit and build a 4,000-mile undersea communication cable system? And why do we care?
Two Things People Hate: Density and Sprawl
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 14:13
We’ve been conducting public meetings for years. And it used to be easier. Present the plan. Discuss the plan. Talk about how your plan is better for the neighborhood/community/city/region and provide the conclusion. But things have changed.
Miami Moves Forward With Bicycle Planning
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 06:39
If you think of the most bicycle-friendly cities in America, surely you do not think of Miami. In fact, if you have ever been to the "Magic City," or perhaps live here, you probably shudder at the idea of using two wheels instead of four. That may be changing.
Israel Fencing off Judean Desert Habitat
Israel's 450-mile long "security fence" is causing controversy not just because of the opposition of Palestinians in the West Bank, but because it will run through sensitive habitat and affect the ability of wildlife to access food and water.
Orion
Transportation Infrastructure "Stressed To the Breaking Point"
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 09:25
In an editorial posted yesterday in Popular Mechanics, national security expert Stephen Flynn argues that Americans are relying on decades-old infrastructure intended for a much smaller passenger and vehicle load.
Borrowed time
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 07:06
The collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis puts the spotlight on the unsexy topic of infrastructure maintenance. But a smart growth policy, "Fix it First," has been focused in the area for some time. The policy, in place in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and for the last four years in Massachusetts, states that no new highways or bridges can be built until all existing infrastructure is in a state of good repair. Generally this meant stuff that was in and around existing cities; thus it's a smart growth policy, as the makeovers make cities and older suburbs more liveable and functional, while sprawl-enabling highway construction is limited.
