Illinois

'Lincoln Hub': A Polka Dot Makeover for Chicago Intersection

The intersection of Lincoln Ave, Southport Avenue, and Wellington Avenue in the South Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago is in the process of a major upgrade in pedestrian-friendly placemaking.

April 16, 2015 - Chi.Streetsblog

'Hooray' for a Six Cents Gas Tax Bill in Missouri

This St. Louis Patch-Dispatch editorial analyzes the legislature as well as the bill to raise gas taxes two-cent a year for three years, taking aim at Republican House members who will be "automatic no votes." Illinois may also increase its gas tax.

April 15, 2015 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Fear Factor Behind the Success of Shared Streets

An editorial explains that the fear inspired by shared streets—the idea that pedestrians, bikes, and cars have equal claim to navigate the street without the regulatory layer implemented by traffic engineers—is exactly why they work.

April 11, 2015 - The American Conservative

Chicago Bikers

Chicago Sources River Ideas from Citizens

The Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago wants to get in on the recent upswing in crowdsourced planning solutions. They are looking to the public for input on the Chicago river system's future.

March 29, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

Legal Ruling a Major Setback for Chicago's Lucas Museum Plans

Greg Hinz reports on a high profile ruling that throws up a major obstacle for the proposed development of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Chicago.

March 16, 2015 - Crain's Chicago Business

Crude-by-Rail's New Workhorse No Better than the Old Workhorse

The new oil tank cars were supposed to be key to preventing the fiery explosions associated with oil-train derailments. However, four recent explosions since Feb. 14, with two occurring last Thursday and Saturday, all involved the new tankers.

March 10, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Chicago to Scale Back Red Light Camera Program

The nation's largest automated red light enforcement program will get a trim. How much is mayoral election politics responsible for the change?

March 9, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bus

Bus Advocates: Chicago BRT Plan Could Be Better

The Central Loop BRT project, scheduled to break ground this month, will improve commuter travel times. But a collection of compromises means many ideal BRT components won't be installed.

March 8, 2015 - CityLab

Cause of Crude-by-Rail Explosions Identified

The Wall Street Journal's senior energy reporter, Russell Gold, is interviewed on NPR about the February 16 derailment and explosion in West Virginia of an oil-train hauling 109 tanker cars of Bakken crude from North Dakota.

March 6, 2015 - NPR

Report: Divvy Proving Safe for Chicago Bikers

DNAInfo Chicago reports on new data showing the relative safety of bikeshare operations in Chicago.

February 16, 2015 - DNAinfo Chicago

The Cubs Remaking Wrigleyville as the 'Disney World of Baseball'

A Chicago Tribune article reveals some of the behind-the-scenes moves made by the Chicago Cubs to control more of the commercial interests in a neighborhood already famously devoted to its team.

February 14, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

A Postmortem on the FutureGen 'Clean Coal' Project

Earlier this month the Energy Department pulled the plug on the FutureGen "clean coal" project. The media has been sifting through the ashes to make sense of where the project went wrong.

February 13, 2015 - The Hill

Chicago's Pullman Park District to Achieve National Monument Status

President Barack Obama is expected to announce the Pullman Park neighborhood in Chicago as the country's newest national monument. The move is part of a larger effort to recognize more diversity in the country's public lands.

February 10, 2015 - The Washington Post

A New Interactive Mapping Tool Showcases Chicago Region's Mobility Infrastructure Needs

A new interactive mapping tool, created by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, makes the case for a renewed, regional focus on the infrastructure that moves the region.

February 2, 2015 - Next City

Emanuel Campaign Announces Neighborhood-Level Infrastructure Plans

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, busy on the campaign trail for re-election this week, made a big push for infrastructure investments at the neighborhood level.

February 1, 2015 - Rahm for Chicago

Chicago Transit Facing $36 Billion Capital Investment Shortfall

Chicago transit agencies are falling behind its needed capital investments. A new report estimates that the CTA, Metra, and Pace will need to spend $36 billion over the next decade to catch up.

January 24, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago, IL

Urban Millennials Stuck in the Three Largest U.S. Metros

For a variety of economic reasons in addition to urban preferences, young people are not leaving the country's three major metropolitan areas: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and that's not good for the nation's economy nor the individuals.

January 23, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Land Swap could Bring Obama Presidential Library to Chicago's South Side

Chicago is putting the pieces in place to land the Obama Library. One proposal hinges on the availability of parkland on the South Side near the University of Chicago.

January 22, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Haitians Lay Foundation for Hope 5 Years After Earthquake

Despite what some see as slow progress five years after an earthquake rocked Haiti, architect and sustainability consultant Dave Hampton writes about how he and others see hope for the future.

January 21, 2015 - UrbDeZine

Bucktown and Wicker Park, Chicago

When 'Gentrification is Good'

Looking a little closer at a city not called New York, San Francisco, or Boston, one writer argues that gentrification is often a good thing.

January 16, 2015 - The Corner Side Yard

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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